Diamond Shapes

The most popular diamond shape with maximum brilliance.

The original round brilliant-cut was developed by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. The modern round brilliant consists of 58 facets (or 57 if the culet is excluded), ordinarily today cut in two pyramids placed base to base: 33 on the crown (the top half above the middle or girdle of the stone), truncated comparatively near its base by the table, and 25 on the pavilion (the lower half below the girdle), which has only the apex cut off to form the culet, around which 8 extra facets are sometimes added. In recent decades, most girdles are faceted. Many girdles have 32, 64, 80, or 96 facets; these facets are not counted in the total.

Round diamonds cost more on a per carat basis than fancy shapes for two reasons; the demand for round diamonds is very high, and the yield is relatively low.

Often described as a square emerald.

The asscher cut diamond was first produced in 1902 by the Asscher Brothers of Holland, famous at the time for cutting the world's largest rough stone (the Cullinan, at 3,106 carats). The modern asscher cut diamond is similar to a square emerald cut, usually with larger step facets, a higher crown, and a smaller table.

Many diamond experts compare the facets of a properly cut Asscher to a hallway lined with reflective mirrors, radiating a great deal of brilliance. The shape is preferred by avant-garde jewelry connoisseurs for its art deco appeal. Although new cutting techniques are always emerging to optimize the sparkle and fire of the Asscher, the same basic characteristics have endured for more than a century.

Rounded corners and larger facets to increase brilliance.

A marriage between a Round and Princess cut, ranging from square to rectangular with rounded corners. Traditional cushion cut diamonds return light in a chunkier pattern than modern cuts. Combined with the enlarged culet (which was considered desirable for the pattern created when viewed through the table), this created a distinctive look that is prized today among dealers in antique diamonds.

Every diamond shape has a length-to-width ratio, which determines how a diamond will appear when viewed from above. When selecting a square shaped cushion, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1 and 1.05. For those who prefer a rectangular shaped cushion, choose a length-to-width ratio of 1.15 or greater.

Rectangular cut with its long, lean lines.

The emerald diamond cut is usually rectangular but older, square cuts are still around. It is a step-cut diamond; that is, it has rows of facets - usually 48 to 50 - that resemble as staircase and usually are four-sided or elongated. The typical size of a 1 carat rectangular Emerald Cut would be 7 by 5 mm.

Emerald-cut diamonds are a popular choice among budget-conscious jewelry consumers seeking an economical alternative to pricier round or princess cuts. The more facets created by the diamond cutter, the higher its value will be.

The heart-cut diamond has become synonymous with love and affection, making it an excellent choice for an anniversary or engagement ring. This unique shape is similar to a pear-cut diamond, differentiated by two rounded edges and a cleft at the top. One of the most demanding diamond cuts to create, a heart-shaped stone requires great skill and dexterity on the part of the diamond cutter.

Most high-quality heart-shaped diamonds are cut with 58 facets, although there are some variants depending on the cutting technique used.

Football-shaped cut, create the illusion of greater size

here's no denying the timeless elegance of a marquis-cut diamond. Reputed to have been specially made for King Louis XIV of France, who wanted a diamond that simulated the smile of Marquise de Pompadour, this elongated stone has gracefully pointed ends for a dramatic appeal. Due to their extended length, marquise diamonds have more size per carat weight than other shapes and boast a brilliant 58 facets. This cut's flattering effect creates the illusion of long, slender fingers.

An oval diamond has beautiful brilliance that's similar to a round diamond. Oval diamonds are also very popular as their length can accentuate long, slender fingers. To find the dimension of oval you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

A hybrid cut shaped most like a sparkling teardrop. The unique look of the pear shape helps make it a popular choice for a variety of diamond jewelry. To understand what the diamond will look like when viewing it from above, look for the length-to-width ratio on each diamond's detail page. For the most traditional pear-shaped diamond, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and 1.75.

Square or rectangular cut with numerous sparkling facets. The Princess is a brilliant-style shape with sharp, uncut corners. It is typically cut perfectly square, rather than as a rectangle. Brilliant style refers to vertical-direction crown and pavilion facets that are wide at the culet and narrowed toward the girdle, the opposite of the pavilion-facet arrangement on a curved-corner radiant. A Princess diamond cut generally has 76 facets, giving it more brilliance and fire than a round brilliant.

Has angled corners,range from square to rectangle. The radiant cut diamond is the first square cut (the second being the princess) to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both the crown and pavilion, creating a vibrant and lively square diamond. First popular in the 1980's, the cropped corner square shape of the radiant is a nice bridge between a cushion and a princess cut, and for that reason looks beautiful set with both rounded or square cornered diamonds.