Diamond Shapes: What Can I Choose From?

This article will describe the ten most common diamond shapes so that you can choose which one works best for you. There are ten basic diamond shapes and it is important you know what each is and what their significance is so that you can best choose the right one for your significant other.

The Ten Diamond Shapes

The first of the ten diamond shapes we will look at is the Round Cut. This is by far and away the most popular of all the diamond shapes, and you really can not go wrong by choosing this one. When you think of what a traditional diamond looks like, this is the shape that comes to mind. Next up is the second most popular of the ten diamond shapes, the princess cut.

This cut generally will no allow for maximum beauty and brilliance, but if cut exceptionally well it can really show of the true inner beauty of the diamond. Choose this shape with caution. Next is the oval cut diamond. Basically an elongated brilliant cut diamond, this is a very traditional looking cut and works well in a lot of different settings.

This cut flatters the hand well, works in engagement rings and carries a timeless style that will always look classy. The marquise diamond cut is traditionally a cut for royalty. It could be the most elegant and regal of all the cuts. It is about twice as long as wide and this length leads to an elongating appearance of the hand it is on. This cut will appear significantly larger to the eye because of this long cut, so it can be used very effectively in smaller diamonds.

The emerald cut, also known as a step cut, has few facets and displays less characteristic sparkle of the other cuts. Also because of this, any imperfections in the diamond will become readily apparent. The asscher cut is more common in other gems then diamonds, but diamonds can be cut this way. This style has more of an art deco look to it, but is gaining in popularity.

The heart shaped diamond is one of the most appealing and unique cuts. It is however one of the most difficult diamonds to cut, and perfect or flawless versions of this cut can be very rare. However, if you can find one in flawless condition nothing matches the brilliance of a heart cut diamond. Pear shape diamonds are another beautiful diamond cut.

They fall somewhere in between an oval and marquise shape, bringing in aspects and benefits of both cuts. A radiant cut diamond is a cross between an emerald and a round cut. It has the same basic shape as an emerald cut, but has more facets to bring the diamond more to life. This cut is nowhere near as popular as it once was, but does have a lot of traditional charm.

The final cut is the cushion cut. This cut gets its name from the appearance of the stone. This diamond is the primary choice for someone trying to make a diamond look bigger than it actually is, as the shaped cut enhances the appearance and size of the diamond.