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Everything You Need To Know About
Diamond Shapes and Diamond Cuts

What’s The Difference? Between Diamond Shapes and Diamond Cuts?

Many people mistakenly use the terms “diamond cuts” and “diamond shapes” interchangeably, but there is a difference between them. When discussing diamond shapes, you are referring to the actual geometric shape of the diamond, whether it is round or oval, emerald or heart shaped, for example.

It is important to note, that the shape of a diamond does not increase or decrease a diamond's value.

The cut of a diamond refers to how the artisan maximizes the features of the gemstone by creating angles and details, making the light go into the diamond and bounce back in the most brilliant way possible. Unlike the shape of a diamond, the quality of a diamond's cut contributes greatly to the overall value of the gemstone,

Choosing Diamond Shapes

With all the possibilities of diamond shapes, how do you go about choosing one? If you are buying a diamond, it's just a matter of looking at all the different varieties and finding one that is most appealing to your eyes, and the ones that look best when you put them on.

When choosing a diamond shape for someone else, the process becomes somewhat more difficult. For an engagement ring, many women prefer the traditional round shaped diamond, while others may enjoy having something more unique. A young woman or one who is considered a hopeless romantic may prefer to have a heart shaped diamond.

Other considerations for selecting diamond shapes for rings should be based on the size of a woman's hand. If she has long, slender fingers, can elegantly wear a pear shaped diamond, marquis, or oval shape. Place the same shaped diamond rings on a woman with shorter, wider fingers, and it will cover up too much of the finger and look bulky, and perhaps even awkward. Small hands typically look best with round shaped or princess shaped diamonds.

Available Diamond Shapes

If you thought all diamond shapes were the same, you may be surprised at the abundant number of diamond shapes that are available. Most jewelers offer at least nine of the most common gemstone shapes, including:

Diamond Shapes

Asscher Diamonds

A square diamond cut named after its inventor, Joseph Asscher.

Baguette Cut Diamonds

A step cut in the shape of a small rectangular stone. May be tapered at one end.

Cushion Cut

The Cushion cut diamond is an antique cut and is also referred to as Pillow cut or the Candlelight diamond. Cushion cut diamonds have larger facets and rounded corners than most cuts so as to increase their sparkle under candlelight.

Emerald Diamonds

The Emerald Cut is rectangular with cut corners. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. The facets are broad with flat planes resembling the steps of a stair. That's why it is referred to as a "step" cut. Unlike the Marquise brilliant, there is no bow-tie effect on an Emerald cut.

Heart Diamonds

The Heart Shaped Brilliant bears some similarity to the Pear Shape, except that there is a cleft at the top. In fact, often the reason cutters may choose a Heart shape over a Pear may be that the Rough Diamond contained an inclusion located in the cleft. The skill of the cutter can make a great difference in the beauty of this cut. The "Shape Appeal" is especially important with Hearts.

Marquis diamonds

The name "Marquise" came from a legend of the Marquise of Pompadour that the Sun King wanted a Diamond to be polished into the shape of the mouth of the Marquise! The typical Marquise Brilliant contains 56 facets.

Old European Cut

Old European Cut diamonds used to be popular before the science of Diamond cutting developed the Round Brilliant Cut, which is designed to return more light to the eye.

Oval Diamonds

The Oval Shaped Brilliant is very similar to a Round except it is elliptical. It was invented by Lazare Kaplan in the early 1960s. The Oval brilliant usually has 56 facets. "Shape Appeal" is very important with Oval brilliants.

Pear Diamonds

The Pear Shaped Brilliant is a combination of a Round brilliant and a Marquise cut. Pendants looks very nice set with a Pear shape as earrings, due to the "Teardrop" shape.

Princess Diamonds

The Princess Cut is relatively new. It is a very attractive cut. Some people like the Princess because it is rectangular and yet has some of the sparkle of a Round brilliant cut.

Radiant Diamonds

The radiant cut diamond, invented by Henry Grossbard, is cut in the shape of a rectangle with rounded corners. Radiant cut diamonds facets are cut into a pattern that gives this diamond the unique appearance of cracked ice.

Round Diamonds

Rounds are the most popular Shape that Diamonds are cut into. It is also the most brilliant of all the cuts.

What You Should Know About Diamond Shapes and Cuts

Two diamonds that are the same shape will appear to look slightly different depending on the size and weight of the diamond, as well as the type of setting that the stone is placed in. The same ring worn on two different hands can also look quite different, based on the size of the hands.

Most Popular Diamond Shape for Engagement Rings
Even though there are a wide variety of diamond shapes available, as we stated previously. the most commonly purchased diamond shape for engagement rings is the round diamond. Round diamonds are considered the “classic engagement ring”, and the stones are often set in yellow gold or platinum. In fact, any diamond shape other than round is considered to be a “fancy” shape, since the round diamond is so popular.

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Everything You Need To Know About Diamond Shapes and Diamond Cuts