Diamond Shape

Which diamond shape do you find most appealing when shopping for a diamond? See what makes your favorites stand out in this in-depth analysis.
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What is Diamond Shape?

The outline of your diamond is referred as its ``diamond shape.`` The stone's physical and visual shape is all. The radiance and overall appearance of a diamond can be greatly influenced by the form it is cut into.

When looking for a diamond, shape is frequently the first thing that couples look at. Non-round diamonds, or ``fancy shaped`` diamonds, are a popular alternative to the more traditional round diamonds. Oval, cushion, princess, pear, emerald, marquise, asscher, radiant, and heart shaped diamonds are all examples of fancy shaped diamonds.

Understanding Diamond Shapes

Round Shaped Diamonds

Round diamonds are the most preferred shape for engagement rings since they are the most frequent brilliant-cut diamond shape. This stunning shape has proven to be incredibly adaptable and ageless, with over 60 facets engineered to enhance light return and glitter.

Oval Shaped Diamonds

The elongated shape of the round brilliant can give the impression of a bigger size while yet exhibiting the same fire and brilliance as the round brilliant. It is difficult to overstate the beauty and versatility of oval-cut diamonds.

Cushion Shaped Diamonds

Cushion-cut diamonds are distinguished from square or rectangular diamonds by their rounded edges. Cushion cut diamonds have been refined over centuries from the old mine cut, making them a classic and romantic choice for engagement rings and other jewelry.

Princess Shaped Diamonds

Princess cut diamonds are the most popular fancy diamond form because of their modern aesthetic and dazzling radiance. Princess-cut diamonds, which are typically square with four pointed corners, have approximately 70 facets that provide remarkable fire and sparkle.

Pear Shaped Diamonds

The rounded edge of a pear cut diamond tapers to a point on the opposite end, giving a symmetrical tear drop shape. In the same way that an oval cut enhances the beauty of fingers, this elongated design brings out the stone's unique glint.

Emerald Shaped Diamonds

Step-cut diamonds in the shape of emeralds are the most popular, prized for their modest elegance and eye-catching profile. Stone's clarity is enhanced by the shallow pavilion and open table, while the rectangular facets add a subtle reflecting shimmer.

Marquise Shaped Diamonds

With its pointy edges and curved midsection, marquise-shaped diamonds have the most surface area of any diamond form. The fingers are made to appear longer and more slender thanks to this unusual cut. This romantic form dates back to the 18th century and has maintained its regal allure over the years.

Asscher Shaped Diamonds

Asscher cut diamonds have the bright sheen of a step-cut stone, similar to an emerald cut. This form, which has a square shape with cut corners, is distinctive in a contemporary setting and goes well with vintage styles.

Radiant Shaped Diamonds

The radiant cut diamond is a cross between an emerald cut and a round cut, combining the elegance and radiance of both. Its sleek, angular design with softly rounded corners exudes a sense of contemporary cool.

Heart Shaped Diamonds

Two symmetrical halves of heart-shaped diamonds shine, giving the piece a striking and romantic appearance. This feminine design, a variation of the pear, is cut with exquisite symmetry to highlight the shine of the diamond.

What Is The Difference Between Diamond Cut And Shape?

Shape and cut are terms that many jewelers use interchangeably, despite the fact that there is a distinction between the two. When looking at a gemstone, the shape relates to its overall appearance, while its cut refers to how the facets are hit by light.

In order to dazzle for a diamond, it must be cut precisely. Brightness, dispersion, scintillation, weight ratio, durability, polish, and symmetry are all factors considered by gemologists when assigning a diamond's cut a grade. These seven components are explained in our Diamond Cuts Guide.

The outline of a diamond is referred as its ``diamond shape.`` The diamond's shape is easily discernible when you look at it. Because of the complexity of the diamond's facets, reflective characteristics, and overall proportions, a trained eye is required to notice the cut.

An ideal cut, such as ``super ideal,`` ``excellent,`` or ``very good,`` can be chosen for any diamond shape. Regardless of the cut you choose, the diamond can still have a specific shape.

Each diamond shape has a specific length-to-width (L:W) ratio

The diamond's length-to-width ratio is an important consideration that is sometimes disregarded. The length-to-width ratio gives diamonds their symmetrical appearance, albeit it varies per diamond shape.

Round: The ideal length-to-width ratio for a round diamond is 1, due to its close resemblance to a perfect circle. The most common ratio for round brilliant cut diamonds is 1.03 or 1.03.

Oval: Oval diamonds are slightly extended because they would otherwise appear round shape. The length-to-width ratio of an oval typically ranges from 1.3 to 1.5. Diamonds with a 1.3 ratio are rounder and become longer as they approach 1.5.

Pear: Pear diamonds, like oval diamonds, have a higher ratio due to their length. Because pear diamonds have a thicker bottom, the ratio can range from 1.4 to 1.7.

Princess: Princess diamonds have an optimal ratio of 1 to 1.04. This proportion provides them a solid square appearance while still allowing the sharp corners to catch the light.

Emerald: Because of the way the facets look, an emerald-shaped diamond is one of a kind. Although the diamond is rectangular in shape, the facets capture the light and give it the appearance of a never-ending hall of mirrors. For emerald cut diamonds, the optimal ratio is between 1.3 and 1.45.

Marquise: Marquise diamonds offer a stunning appearance, with the long elliptical diamond providing your engagement ring a classic appearance. Because of the stone's length, the optimal ratio for marquise diamonds is the highest on the list. The majority of marquise shapes have ratios ranging from 1.85 to 2.1.

Asscher: Asscher diamonds have a ratio that is similar to that of a princess diamond. Although a ratio of one is optimum, you may see variances up to 1.05. This permits the square shape to serve as a stable foundation, allowing the octagonal design to stand out.

Cushion: Cushion diamonds can be square, but they usually have a slightly higher ratio than square diamonds, giving them a rectangular shape. Even a 1.14 ratio is rectangular rather than square.

Radiant: A radiant diamond is a common engagement ring choice since the aesthetic can be customized depending on the ratio. A ratio of 1.35 or greater will be found in a longer, narrower rectangle.

Heart: Because symmetry is important, the ratio for a heart-shaped diamond is close to one.

Why Is the Length-to-Width Ratio Important?

The length-to-width ratio is important since it affects the appearance of your diamond and can alter the overall beauty of your ring.

In the case of square cut, round cut, and heart shaped diamonds, a length-to-width ratio of 1 indicates that the diamond is totally symmetrical. Anything above 1 is an elongated diamond covering your finger.

It's not necessary to have an ideal length-to-width ratio, but knowing the basics will help you visualize what your engagement ring will look like.

Anything outside of the ideal length-to-width ratios can affect the diamond's brilliance and cut. If the proportions of a diamond are off, the diamond facets may not be able to catch the light in the right way, resulting in a loss of sparkle.

However, there is no standard length-to-width ratio to look for when shopping for diamond jewelry; the perfect ratio for you depends entirely on personal preference and how you want your diamonds to appear.

How Does the Shape of a Diamond Affect the Price?

The shape of a diamond, like the 4Cs, has an impact on its pricing. The price of a diamond will be affected by anything that alters its beauty. The length-to-width ratio of a diamond, for example, can influence its price. Anything outside of your diamond shape's normal range is rare, thus the price will adjust correspondingly.

Because round diamonds are so popular, their market value is higher than that of other shapes. Behind the scenes, though, there is more to the expense. To achieve the ideal round shape, the manufacturing procedure necessitates using more of the rough diamond, therefore you're paying for that precision. Cutting a rough diamond into a round shape also results in additional diamond chips being discarded, so you're paying for what can't be used in other jewelry.

Princess cut diamonds are a close second to round cut diamonds in terms of price. This is due to the fact that they cut roughly 80% of the rough diamond into a princess shape during the production phase.

Because they use the majority of the rough diamonds, radiant, emerald, cushion, and asscher cut diamonds are more cheap. Choosing a fancy-shaped diamond not only ensures you get a one-of-a-kind ring, but it also means you'll throw away fewer diamond chips and save money.

Diamond Shape FAQs

Which diamond shape is the best?

It’s impossible to say which diamond shape is the greatest. Because round diamonds are brilliantly cut for maximum sparkle, they are the most preferred shape. Square shapes are also popular because they appear to be timeless. A square diamond can be styled to look modern or vintage.

What exactly is the diamond bowtie effect?

The bowtie effect occurs when light is obstructed when viewing a diamond, causing a bowtie-like configuration to appear across the gem’s width. The bowtie effect can be seen in many elongated jewels, such as ovals and pear-shaped diamonds.