TrueNorth 100 Facet Diamonds
TrueNorth is our signature 100 facet diamond, cut with nearly twice the facets of a traditional brilliant.
Where a classic round brilliant is cut with 58 facets, every TrueNorth stone is cut with 100 — more polished surfaces to catch light, break it apart and send it back to your eye. The result is a diamond that reads brighter and livelier from across a room, not just under a jeweler's lamp.
TrueNorth diamonds are available only through authorized jewelers. In Vernon Hills and Chicago's north suburbs, that's Lustig.
What makes a 100 facet diamond different
Nearly twice the facets
A traditional round brilliant has 58 facets. A TrueNorth diamond has 100. Each facet is another tiny mirror, and adding them changes how light behaves inside the stone: it is split more times before it returns, which produces a finer, more scattered sparkle rather than a few large flashes. Side by side with a conventional cut of the same weight, most people notice the difference immediately, even without knowing what they are looking at.
Cut for light, not for weight
Cutting extra facets means giving up rough. A cutter chasing maximum carat weight will not cut 100 facets, because it costs material. TrueNorth stones are cut to proportion, polish and symmetry first, and the weight lands where it lands. That is the whole premise of the stone, and it is why the sparkle is the thing you notice rather than the number on the certificate.
Lab-grown and certified
Every TrueNorth diamond in this collection is lab-grown and comes with its own grading certificate. Chemically and optically, a lab-grown diamond is a diamond — the same carbon crystal, the same hardness, the same fire. What changes is the origin and the price, which is why a lab-grown center lets most couples move up considerably in size and quality for the same budget.
Available shapes
The collection is cut in ten shapes, so the 100 facet treatment is available whether you want something classic or something unusual:
- Round — the traditional choice, and the shape where the extra facets are most obvious
- Oval — elongating on the finger, and the most requested shape we sell
- Emerald — long step-cut flashes rather than scattered sparkle
- Radiant — the emerald silhouette with brilliant-cut fire
- Princess — crisp square corners, a clean modern look
- Marquise — dramatic points that make a carat weight look larger
- Pear — a teardrop that flatters a slender hand
- Heart — the hardest shape to cut well, and unmistakable when it is right
- Elongated cushion — soft corners with a vintage feel
- Hexagon — a geometric shape for someone who does not want a traditional ring
A few from the collection
Wear it as it is, or make it yours
Many of these rings can be had exactly as shown. Every one of them can also be changed, because the setting is a starting point rather than a fixed product.
- Change the center. Any shape, and any size from roughly one carat up past five.
- Change the metal. 14k or 18k, white, yellow, rose, two-tone, or platinum.
- Change the setting. Add or remove a hidden halo, adjust the shank, alter the profile.
- Match the band. Most engagement settings have a contoured band designed to sit flush against them.
Tell us what you have in mind and we will price it and, if anything needs to be built or brought in, give you a realistic date before you commit.
Why buy TrueNorth at Lustig
We have been selling diamonds in Chicagoland since 1949, and the Helfer family has been in the diamond business since 1933. That matters most when you are buying something you cannot easily judge yourself.
- You see it before you commit. We will bring stones in for you to compare in person, next to conventional cuts, in daylight.
- Our jewelers work on site. Sizing, setting and future repairs happen in our Vernon Hills showroom, not at an outside shop.
- Cleaning and inspection are free, forever. Bring the ring in any time we are open.
- No pressure. Consultations are free and relaxed, and we will tell you honestly when a smaller stone is the better buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 100 facet diamond?
It is a diamond cut with 100 facets instead of the 58 found on a traditional round brilliant. The additional facets divide light more times as it passes through the stone, which produces a finer and more continuous sparkle.
Are TrueNorth diamonds lab-grown or natural?
The TrueNorth rings in this collection are set with lab-grown diamonds. A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond with the same crystal structure, hardness and optical properties as a mined one. If you would prefer a natural stone in one of these settings, we can source one.
Are they certified?
Yes. Every TrueNorth center stone comes with its own independent grading certificate, which we go over with you before you buy.
Why are prices not listed?
Price depends on the center stone, its size and the metal, and most of these settings can be built more than one way. Rather than post a figure that will not match the ring you actually want, we quote each piece. Contact us and we will price exactly what you have in mind.
Can I see one in person?
Yes, and we recommend it. Sparkle is difficult to judge from a photograph. Come in and we will show you a 100 facet stone next to a conventional cut so you can decide whether the difference is worth it to you.
How soon can I have it?
Often sooner than you would expect. Many pieces are available now, and anything we build or modify for you typically takes a few weeks. We will give you a realistic date before you commit, and we will tell you honestly if your timeline is too tight.
Can I use a diamond I already own?
Often, yes. If you have inherited a stone or are repurposing an older ring, bring it in. We will look at it and tell you honestly whether it suits the setting you have in mind.
Come see them
The best way to understand a 100 facet diamond is to stand in front of one. Stop in, or book a free consultation and we will have stones ready for you.
Lustig Jewelers
Aspen Pointe Shopping Center
281 W. Townline Rd. #120
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
(847) 680-7300