Diamond Shapes 101: The Complete Guide

complete guide with 40 ring recommendations

Diamond Shapes, an endless possibility!

With more than 20 diamond shapes in the market, choosing the correct one for your engagement ring can be a tough decision.

Hence, we have put together a blog for you, explaining the top 10 Diamond Shapes, that are used the most in creating engagement rings.

If you are looking for more clarity & understanding about the different Diamond Shapes, then you are at the right place.

So without any further ado, let's dive right in!

Learn About:

Round

Oval

Pear

Emerald

Princess

Heart

Marquise

Cushion

Radiant

Asscher

Round Diamond:

A round shaped diamond, also known as a, Round Brilliant Cut (RBC) diamond, is the most popular and widely used diamond shape. This is due to its classic & timeless appearance, as well as its exceptional brilliance & fire.

Some of the key features of a Round Shaped Diamond include:

Symmetry: They are cut to have the most precise symmetry, which helps to maximize the diamond's brilliance and sparkle.
Facets: Have 57 or 58 facets, which are the small flat surfaces that are cut into the diamond to reflect light. This allows for a high level of sparkle and fire, making round diamonds highly prized for their brilliance.
Proportions: Round diamonds are cut with specific proportions to optimize their look. The most widely accepted proportions for a round diamond are the "Ideal Cut" proportions.

Ring Recommendations:

Oval Diamond:

An oval shaped diamond is a variation of the RBC Diamond, with an elongated shape that can make the diamond appear larger.

It also has a unique, elegant appearance that can make it a popular choice for engagement rings and other jewelry.

One of the prominent features of an oval shaped diamond is that it can have a high crown and a small culet (flat face on the bottom of a gemstone), which can make it appear larger and more brilliant than other diamond shapes.

Additionally, the elongated shape of the oval can also help to make fingers appear longer and slenderer making it a great choice for someone who wants a diamond that is both unique and elegant.

Ring Recommendations:

Pear Diamond:

A pear-shaped diamond, also known as a teardrop diamond, is a diamond shape that combines the best features of both, a round and marquise cut diamond.

It has a rounded end on one side and a pointed end on the other, giving it the shape of a pear.

The outstanding features of a pear shaped diamond are:

Symmetry: A pear shaped diamond should be symmetrical with both ends of the diamond being of equal size and shape.
Facets: Pear shaped diamonds usually have 58 facets which helps to reflect light and create a lot of sparkle.
Finger coverage: A pear shaped diamond can provide a lot of finger coverage and can make fingers appear longer and slenderer.
Shape: The pear shape is unique and rare. It can be used in various settings and styles.
Versatility: Pear shaped diamonds can be worn in a variety of ways. They look great in both traditional and modern engagement rings, pendants, and earrings.

Ring Recommendations:

Emerald Diamond:

An emerald shape diamond is a rectangular diamond shape but with cut corners.

Some of the unique features of an emerald shape diamond include

Symmetry: Emerald shape diamonds are typically cut to have symmetrical shapes with the length being longer than the width.
Clarity: Emerald shape diamonds are often cut with a high crown, this means that the diamond is cut to have a large table (the top flat surface) which can make inclusions more visible. This can be a consideration when choosing an emerald shape diamond.
Versatility: Emerald shape diamonds can be flaunted in several ways. They look great in engagement rings, pendants, and earrings.

Emerald shape diamonds are widely used in engagement rings because the rectangular shape can make the diamond appear larger than other shapes of the same carat weight, making them a great value.

Ring Recommendations:

Princess Diamond:

A princess cut diamond is a square shaped diamond, also known as a square modified brilliant cut. Usually with 58 facets, they are typically cut to have symmetrical shapes with the length and width being equal, which helps to reflect light and create a lot of sparkle.

The large table (the top flat surface) of a princess cut diamonds, makes this shape extremely versatile in terms of styling & utility in jewelry.

Ring Recommendations:

Heart Diamond:

A heart-shaped diamond can be a romantic gesture as a gift for a partner. The shape of the diamond symbolizes love and affection, making it a fitting choice for romantic occasions such as Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or even as an engagement ring.

However, the ultimate decision is up to the beautiful couple and what they believe is the most romantic gesture for them.

Ring Recommendations:

Marquise Diamond:

Marquise shaped diamonds can be worth the price! It is an eccentric diamond shape, which is sought after by many consumers.

It can also have a larger visual size than round diamonds of the same carat weight due to its elongated shape.

However, it's worth noting that the Marquise shape can also have a higher likelihood of having visible inclusions or blemishes as it has a large surface area.

Therefore, it's important to consider the diamond's cut, clarity, and color when making a purchase. It's recommended to compare the prices and quality of different diamond shapes and choose the one that fits your budget and preferences.

Ring Recommendations:

Cushion Diamond:

A cushion-shaped diamond, also known as a "pillow-cut" diamond, is known for its soft, rounded edges and large facets, which can create a warm and romantic feeling.

The cushion shape is a blend of the traditional round cut and the square cut. This solitary shape gives the diamond a vintage and timeless feel.

The diamond's cut and clarity can also contribute to the overall feeling the diamond expresses. A well-cut cushion diamond will have a balanced symmetry and a high level of sparkle, which can give the diamond a lively and radiant feeling.

On the other hand, a poorly cut cushion diamond might appear dull and lack luster.

Ring Recommendations:

Radiant Diamond:

A radiant-shaped diamond is a rectangular or square shaped diamond with cut corners, similar to the princess cut, but with a softer, more rounded appearance.

The essence of a radiant-shaped diamond is its ability to showcase its sparkle and brilliance due to its large, open facets and its rare cut. This shape can express a feeling of modernity, elegance, and sophistication.

The way it sparkles can make it stand out and be considered a great fashionable choice.

In summary, a radiant cut diamond, with all the 4C’s in place, can give your jewelry a fashionable look in an elegant & sophisticated way.

Ring Recommendations:

Asscher Diamond:

An Asscher cut diamond is one of the rarest diamond shapes available in the market. It has an exclusive design & feel to it.

These diamonds are considered premium due to it’s scarcity and can really accent the overall look of your jewelry. Additionally, they can be costly to source too!

Complex cutting process: Requires a high level of skill and precision from the diamond cutter. The cut has a high crown, small table, deep pavilion, and a distinctive step pattern on the pavilion, which makes it more difficult and time-consuming to cut than other diamond cuts.
Low diamond yield: Because of its complex cutting process, an Asscher cut diamond typically has a lower diamond yield than other cuts. This means that a larger rough diamond is needed to produce a finished Asscher cut diamond, which can drive up the cost.
Limited demand: The Asscher cut diamond is not as popular as other diamond cuts such as round or princess cut. This limited demand can also contribute to the higher cost of an Asscher cut diamond.
History: Asscher cut diamonds have a rich history as they were first cut by Joseph Asscher in 1902, and were once considered the most popular diamond shape. Today, they are considered rare and unique.

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