If you are not familiar with diamond jewelry, especially when buying a diamond engagement ring, understanding your options in terms of the available diamond shapes can be confusing. Almost all diamond shapes used in jewelry fall into one of ten popular shapes. They can be either round or fancy diamond shapes: round, princess, oval, marquise, pear, cushion, emerald, asscher, radiant, and heart. Below are brief descriptions of each of these diamond shapes.
Round: Of the ten diamond shapes for engagement rings, round is the most popular. As a result of the precise method in which round diamonds are cut, this shape is able to optimize the reflection of light, maximizing the potential brightness and brilliance of the stone. If you are on a budget but want options, round diamonds offer more flexibility when balancing other diamond characteristics such as cut and clarity to achieve your desired brilliance.
Princess: Of the fancy diamond shapes, princess is one of the most popular, especially for engagement rings. The princess diamond shape consists of pointed corners and is traditionally square. It is important to note that princess cuts vary in shape, and some may resemble a rectangle more than a square, so it is important to verify the length-to-width ratio of the diamond. If you prefer more of a square shape, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1 and 1.05. For a rectangular princess cut diamond, a length-to-width ratio greater than 1.10 may be preferable. Like round diamonds, the princess shape offers flexibility when balancing diamond color and clarity, although color may be slightly more visible around the corners of the stone.
Oval: The brilliance that an oval diamond achieves is similar to that of a round diamond shape. The advantage of an oval diamond compared to a round diamond is that the oblong shape can give the appearance of a larger diamond. Like the princess diamond shape, oval diamond cuts may vary. A length-to-width ratio of around 1.25 creates a fuller oval, while a ratio of around 1.75 produces a more elongated shape.
Marquise: The marquise fancy diamond shape resembles a football because it is long and narrow. Like the oval diamond shape, the marquise diamond cut can create the illusion of a larger diamond. When compared to many other diamond shapes, the marquise shape has a large surface area, which can contribute to the perception of a larger diamond than its actual carat size.
Pear: The pear diamond shape is a combination of the marquise and round cut and resembles a teardrop, with one end of the diamond forming a point and the other end being rounded. Optimal pear-shaped diamonds are symmetrical, where the point of the diamond on one side lines up with the apex of the rounded end of the stone. A more elongated pear-shaped diamond can also create the appearance of slimmer fingers when worn.
Cushion: Cushion cut diamonds, also referred to as pillow-cut diamonds, have a square or rectangular shape with rounded corners. In a cushion cut, the diamond facets, or the flat surfaces of a diamond, can create strong brilliance and sparkle. Cushion cut diamonds may be square or rectangular, so the length-to-width ratio is important to consider. If you prefer more of a square shape, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1 and 1.05. For a more elongated rectangular cushion cut, a length-to-width ratio greater than 1.15 may be preferable.
Emerald: The emerald cut diamond shape is unique due to the step cuts of the pavilion, or lower half of the diamond. The emerald shape also has a larger open table, or the large flat area at the top of the diamond, which highlights the clarity of the stone. Because inclusions and color can be easier to see in an emerald cut, choosing a higher clarity and color grade may be beneficial. For a classic emerald cut diamond, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.30 and 1.40.
Asscher: The asscher diamond shape is similar to an emerald diamond cut, but it is generally square with larger step facets, a smaller table, and a higher crown. Compared to the emerald shape, the characteristics of the asscher cut can produce a distinctive hall-of-mirrors effect and noticeable brilliance.
Radiant: The radiant diamond shape is typically rectangular and features a brilliant-style facet pattern across the pavilion and crown of the diamond. It is a great choice if you are looking for a diamond that combines characteristics of a cushion and princess cut. The diamond has trimmed corners and can be an excellent choice if you would like to have diamonds set on either side of the center stone, such as round or baguette diamonds. If you prefer more of a square shape, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1 and 1.05. For a more elongated rectangular radiant diamond, a length-to-width ratio greater than 1.10 may be preferable.
Heart: It’s no surprise that the heart shape diamond resembles a heart, the ultimate symbol of love. When choosing this shape, it is important to note that a heart-shaped diamond smaller than 0.5 carat may make the heart outline harder to distinguish, so a larger carat size can be worth considering. Like other diamond shapes, color may be more visible around certain areas of the stone, so keep this in mind when choosing color and clarity.
When looking to purchase a diamond online, you should be able to filter your diamond choice by shape. An excellent website for diamond price comparison that provides a diamond shape filter, along with filters for clarity, color, carat, and cut, is Diamond Hedge. The website aggregates loose diamonds from leading jewelry companies into an easily searchable database. You can explore loose diamonds and compare options based on your preferred shape, quality, and specifications.
When you are ready to purchase a diamond, Diamond Hedge can be a useful resource for comparing diamonds and finding options that match your preferred specifications and budget.
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