Natural Diamonds
Round Shape
Princess Shape
Oval Shape
Heart Shape
Cushion Shape
Emerald Shape
Diamond Shapes
Diamonds are often referred to as a woman’s best friend, and there is a diamond to suit every woman. Each diamond has its own unique story, and the shape you choose can be as important a decision as choosing the person who will give it to you. From the classic and versatile round brilliant, which makes up more than half of all diamonds sold today, to the more unusual and eccentric Marquise cut, which harkens back to the glamour of the golden age, there are many options to choose from.
Beyond personal taste, each diamond shape is also specifically cut to highlight the best features of the diamond. So whether you prefer the classic round brilliant or something more unique, it’s important to consider which shape will showcase the diamond’s beauty to its best advantage. Ultimately, choosing the right diamond shape can be one of the most significant decisions you will ever make, and it’s important to choose the one that speaks to you and represents your personal style.
Round Brilliant
The round brilliant diamond is a classic and versatile choice that is known for its exceptional fire and brilliance. With its clean lines and timeless elegance, it is no surprise that the round brilliant accounts for more than half of all diamonds sold today. If you’re considering a surprise for your partner and are unsure of what they might like, the round brilliant is a safe choice that is sure to be appreciated. Its versatility and ability to complement any setting make it a popular choice for any occasion.
Princess
The Princess cut is a classic and elegant diamond shape with a contemporary edge. Its sharp corners and brilliant facets allow it to capture the simple elegance of the round brilliant while still maintaining a modern style. This shape is a great choice for those who want to combine timeless elegance with a touch of modernity.
Oval
The oval cut diamond has a beautiful brilliance that is similar to a round-brilliant cut diamond. Its oval shape combines the sparkle of round shapes with an elongated outline that can make the finger look slimmer. If you want something a little more unique but still want the fire and brilliance of a round cut diamond, the oval cut is a good choice. It has a relatively symmetrical shape that works well with a variety of mounting styles, and most oval cuts can be set in a mounting with six prongs properly spaced for security.
Marquise
The Marquise cut is a unique and elegant diamond shape with pointed ends, originally commissioned in 18th century Paris to emulate the smile of King Louis XV’s mistress.
Pear
The Pear cut, also known as the teardrop shape, is a unique and feminine diamond with one rounded and one pointed end, making it a delicate and stunning choice.
Heart
The Heart cut is a rare and symbolic choice that is perfect for expressing romantic love.
Emerald
The Emerald cut is a rectangular shape with broad flat planes that highlight the clarity and natural crystalline growth of a diamond to an unparalleled degree. It is associated with vintage glamour and old world charm, and was favored by style icons such as Grace Kelly and Jackie O.
Cushion
The Cushion cut is a square or rectangular diamond shape with rounded corners, resembling a pillow. This rare and unique cut has large facets that allow for great light dispersion, resulting in a wide range of spectral colors and a highly scintillating stone.
Radiant
The Radiant cut is a square or rectangular hybrid that combines the brilliance and depth of the round, emerald, and princess cuts. It is the most brilliant of all the squared shapes, making it both beautiful and dramatic.
Asscher
The Asscher cut diamond is a square-shaped diamond that has a pavilion (the bottom portion of the diamond) that is cut with rectangular facets in a similar style to the emerald cut. However, the Asscher cut diamond has cropped corners, which give it a more square appearance. This diamond is known for its bright, shiny, and clear appearance, which is achieved through the step-cut process. It looks best when set in a four-prong or six-prong setting.
Trilliant
The Trilliant cut is a triangular shape that is often used as a side or accent stone, but can also make a bold and dramatic solitaire. It has impressive brilliance and fire, and has gained popularity as a center stone in recent years.
Square Cushion
The radiant cut diamond is a square-shaped diamond with rounded corners, giving it a pillow-like appearance. This classic cut has been around for nearly 200 years and was the most popular diamond shape for the first century of its existence (similar to the round cut today).
Square Radiant
The radiant cut diamond is the first square-shaped diamond to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both the crown (top portion) and pavilion (bottom portion) of the diamond. This results in a vibrant and lively square diamond. The cropped corner square shape of the radiant cut is a good compromise between the cushion and princess cuts, and it is a versatile cut that looks beautiful when set with both rounded and square-cornered diamonds.
Straight Baguette
The baguette cut diamond is an elongated, rectangular step cut that can be set either north-south or east-west. When set north-south, they are often arranged in a staggered pattern, creating a ladder-like element. This is the only way that baguette cut diamonds are typically used in modern rings. Setting them in any other way would give the ring an Art Deco appearance.
Tapered Baguette
Tapered baguettes are a popular choice for side stones in engagement rings. Some people argue that a ring with tapered baguettes should not be called a three stone ring, but rather a solitaire, since the baguettes are not an extension of the center stone but rather set on the “cathedral” part of the shank (the raised portion of the ring that holds the center stone).
Diamond Education
Buying Loose Diamonds
How to Buy a Diamond
