Whether you’re designing an engagement ring or simply want a beautiful piece of jewellery for yourself, choosing a diamond shape is going to be a part of the process.
The shape is a key part of the design and while some shapes are more modern than others, the shape you choose is mostly dependent on your personal style and preferences.
If you are planning to design a ring for someone else, you might want to get an idea of their shape preferences first. Choosing the shape that you (or your loved one) wants, instead of what’s popular right now, is the first and important step. Colour, size, clarity and price are aspects that will factor in thereafter.
The shape of a diamond is also known as a cut – not to be confused with a rating for diamond cut, which you will find on a grading certificate. A cut in these terms refers to the symmetry and polish.
Understanding Your Diamond Shape Options
Here are the different shapes that you can choose from when designing a ring or piece of jewellery.
Round
This is definitely the most popular diamond shape. Round, brilliant diamonds are well known for their sparkle because of the many individual facets. They’re also popular because they’re so symmetrical and above all else, timeless.
Oval
A popular variation of the round cut, an oval diamond has the same number of facets as a round cut, it’s only the shape that’s different. Many people choose this shape because the elongation tends to maximise the appearance of carat weight. If you or your loved one has smaller hands, an oval shape will lengthen the appearance of your fingers.
Pear
This teardrop-shaped diamond is more modern than its round and oval counterparts. Symmetry and proportions are something to pay attention to when choosing a diamond of this shape. This diamond also has the same number of facets (58) as the round and oval shapes and is ideal for smaller hands.
Marquise
The marquise is similar to the oval shape except, it comes to a dramatic point at each end. This is another shape that tends to maximise the appearance of the diamond’s carat weight. This diamond has the largest surface area – something to keep in mind during the design process.
Princess
This contemporary diamond shape is one of the top five most popular options on the market today. As one of the square-shaped diamonds, the princess cut is most brilliant and can have up to 76 facets, which are arranged to achieve maximum sparkle.
Emerald
An emerald cut is rectangular, but the corners are trimmed. The diamonds long, flat facets look similar to stairs if you look at the stone from above. This unique shape makes it easy to see within the stone, so you want to pay careful attention to clarity and colour when shopping around.
Cushion
When purchasing a cushion cut, you can expect broad facets and rounded corners. This is probably one of the more vintage looking diamonds and because the facets are larger, the diamond produces broad flashes of light instead of the traditional sparkle.
Trillion
If you want something unique, this diamond has a signature triangle shape. When placed in the centre of a ring, the sides of the diamond will be convex with extra facets. If they’re used as side stones, the outer edges are flattened. If you want strong geometrical features, this is the ideal choice.
Radiant
A radiant shape is a combination of a round and emerald cut. Available in a square or rectangular shape, this cut has very distinct corners. This specific shape tends to be cut with a deeper profile to achieve the best possible sparkle.
Heart
While the heart is a sweet and playful shape, it’s normally associated with novelty jewellery. However, many people adore this unique cut. You want to pay attention to brilliance and evenness due to the complexity of the facets.
Asscher
Similar to an emerald cut, an asscher shape is known for its excellent dispersion of light and memorable sparkle. This specific shape can have up to 74 facets but 58 is more common. This is another great pick for those who value a more geometric appearance.
Baguette
Lastly, there’s a baguette shape, which is long and rectangular. With only 14 facets, you want to pay attention to clarity and colour if you want this diamond to look good. This specific diamond shape is most often used as an accent stone.
Knowing there are so many diamond shapes might be overwhelming. However, if you have a good idea of what you or your loved one wants and the assistance of a reputable jeweller, this can be a really enjoyable part of the designed process.