Diamond Shapes

The interesting factor with diamond is that it can be cut into many fancy shapes and hence the buyer has many diamond shapes to choose from. The fancy shapes are attractive as the diamonds shine and brilliance depends on the way the shape of a diamond is and of course the cut.

Diamond shape would be a more accurate word rather than "cut" when we are talking about whether a diamond is round, square, oblong, or whatever. Some round shapes may have different arrangements or numbers of facets.

Different diamond shapes:

The interesting factor with diamond is that it can be cut into many fancy shapes and hence the buyer has many diamond shapes to choose from. The fancy shapes are attractive as the diamonds shine and brilliance depends on the way the shape of a diamond is and of course the cut. These fancy shapes are many and are generally named as round, princess, emerald, pear, oval, asscher cut, marquise, heart, radiant cut and triangle cut.

• Round cut diamond shape:

  This is classic cut. The round shaped diamond is extremely popular so vast majority of diamonds sold are rounds. The traditional choice for all occasions and preferred by many for their personal investment portfolio.

• Oval cut diamond shape:

  The oval shape is also a popular choice of diamond engagement ring as its closer to being round and fits all designs. An even, perfectly symmetrical design popular among women with small hands or short fingers. Its elongated shape gives a flattering illusion of length to the hand.

• Marquise cut diamond shape:

  Marquise or navette shape is like a long oval which has been stretched out to a point at each end. Similar comments apply as to the oval. Like the emerald, the marquise is also a traditional shape. This is probably the fourth most popular shape behind the round, princess and oval.

• Pear cut diamond shape:

  This pear cut diamond shape are mostly used in pendants, the pear shape diamond is shaped in a tear drop shape and has fairly good proportions to refract light well.

• Heart cut diamond shape:

  As the name suggests the shape is of a heart which is difficult to achieve in a diamond. Pear shape with a notch cut into the top. Hard to find due to low demand, but some people prefer a heart shape diamond for sentimental purposes.

• Emerald cut diamond shape:

  This is another "step" cut, but with the four corners mitred. This is done largely to protect the stone, as any sharp points are vulnerable to getting chipped. A more traditional shape, the emerald is not as popular as it used as it once was, but has an old world elegance to it.

• Princess cut diamond shape:

  The princess is the preferred square cut shape over radiant. The Princess Cut Diamond ia a brilliant style shape with sharp, uncut corners. It is typically cut square rather as a rectangle. Brilliant style refers to vertical direction crown and pavilion facets instead of step style horizontaled facets.

• Trilliant cut diamond shape:

  Not a popular shape. It is normally a variation of the square cut, in that its facets are step cut, but some triangle shapes are a modification of the round brilliant cut.

• Radiant cut diamond shape:

  This is a hybrid cut, a cross between a princess cut and an emerald cut. It combines the best features of the round brilliant cut, the square shape of the princess or square baguette cut, and the cut corners of the emerald cut. Like the princess cut, it is normally used for near-square stones rather than oblong ones.

• Cushion cut diamond shape:

  An antique style of cut that looks like a cross between an Old Mine Cut (a deep cut with large facets that was common in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries) and a modern oval cut.

• Asscher cut diamond shape:

  This unique shape looks similar to the emerald cut but the only difference is that it's square while emerald cut diamond also comes in the rectangle shape.