Round cut diamonds, emerald cut diamonds, cushion cut diamonds, oval cut diamonds, pear cut diamonds, princess cut diamonds, Asscher cuts, marquise cuts, and radiant cuts are some of the most popular diamond shapes.
Something about diamonds’ brilliance, scintillation, and fire captivates our minds and hearts. Jewelers expertly shape diamonds to disperse light, optimally giving them their vibrant beauty.
Choosing a diamond that will enhance the wearer’s beauty and appropriately convey the giver’s intentions requires understanding diamond shapes and how they reveal the stone’s aesthetic features.
This article will comprehensively list the most popular diamond shapes and their characteristics.
Let’s dive right in!
Round cut diamonds
The most valuable of all diamonds. Round-cut diamonds have the highest sparkle. Because they are available in different sizes and grades, prospective grooms can choose one that suits their budget.
A round brilliant diamond’s brightness peaked when Marcel Tolkowsky introduced 58 facets in the early 1900s. The optimal diamond cut is important since it determines a stone’s brightness and fire.
These diamonds currently command the highest prices and account for 75% of the market. The only stones that can be given a round brilliant cut are almost perfect octahedron crystals, and 50% or more of the stone is lost in the cutting process, impacting their price.
Round diamonds may be a wise purchase because of their brilliance, which can conceal slight imperfections and shadows. This makes it possible for you to obtain the lightest play even if you purchase a diamond that is VS2 or SI1 quality or somewhat lower.
Any design or setting will work with them, from a traditional cathedral setting highlighting the stones to a more contemporary jewel halo setting.
Explore our Diamonds collection to see round brilliant cut diamonds in various settings.
Princess cut diamonds
In terms of sparkle and popularity, princess cut diamonds, which are the second most popular cut among diamonds, differ from round brilliant diamonds in that they are more contemporary in design.
A princess-cut diamond is among the square or rectangular diamonds with the most brilliant cut.
They are slightly more expensive than other fancy cuts but less expensive per carat than round brilliants. It is feasible to purchase a lower-quality diamond, such as a VS2 or SI1, without sacrificing brilliance because this cut masks minor imperfections and shadows.
Princess cut diamonds look fantastic both in traditional settings like bezels and pavé settings like pavés.
Emerald cut diamonds
The emerald cut diamond, which has a rectangular step cut, an open table, and cropped corners, is frequently chosen for its Art Deco design. Its lengthy silhouette and geometric lines capture the diamond’s brilliance while dramatically catching the light.
It has a subtle shine that some like to refer to as a “hall of mirrors” look. For those engagement ring selfies, their shape makes fingers appear longer and slimmer when won vertically. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark proudly sported an emerald-cut diamond engagement ring.
The clarity of their diamonds is one of the hallmarks of emerald-cut stones. It has a clarity grade of VVS2 or better and is inclusion-free.
Emerald-cut diamonds look lovely in solitaire settings when paired with baguettes and when lesser stones encircle them. Clarity and color, however, are of the utmost significance because it has fewer facets to hide flaws. If you’re hoping for a major sparkler, this cut isn’t for you because it’s not particularly showy.
Cushion cut diamonds
Due to its square-cut design with rounded corners and traditional 58 larger facets, this excellent cut is frequently compared to a pillow because it enhances the stone’s brilliance.
Since the 18th century, when most gemstones were cushion-cut, the cushion-cut diamond has been around, and in the 19th century, it was very popular (though it was referred to then as the mine cut).
The price of cushion cut diamonds, which already cost less than round brilliant stones, can be reduced even further by selecting a stone with faint yellow undertones, such as one that rates between G and J on the GIA’s color-grading scale.
Their recent resurgence in popularity and overall old-world vibe makes them ideal for historic settings. They do glitter less brightly than brilliant-cut diamonds, and while they look fantastic in contemporary settings, they aren’t the most modern-looking option.
However, cushion-cut diamonds may be put side by side because of their shape, which makes them an excellent choice for past, present, and future engagement rings, such as the one Prince Harry gave Meghan Markle.
Oval cut diamonds
Oval cuts are recognized as being reasonably priced among diamonds. They can offer you a great benefit-cost ratio. Until the middle of the 20th century, oval-cut diamonds were uncommon but are now more common.
Jewelers frequently describe oval-cut diamonds as having heads (rounded ends), shoulders, and a flat belly in the middle.
Each of these portions should be symmetrical to the others for a graceful overall appearance.
The Pink Star, a 59.6-carat pink diamond with an oval shape, was the most expensive diamond ever to be sold at auction this year. But when improperly cut, it can exhibit faults and inclusions and have a “bowtie” effect like that of a marquise-cut stone.
Choosing a salt-and-pepper oval-cut diamond can help you overcome this by making any undesirable inclusions an important component of your style.
Oval-cut diamonds can also be placed elegantly in other rings, but because of their bigger size, they look particularly good in wide rings.
Pear cut diamond
Pear-cut diamonds are valued for their breathtaking beauty because they mix brilliance with a contemporary cut. They are a bit more costly than other diamond shapes, but everyone can afford them because they come in various sizes and settings.
Since its introduction more than 500 years ago, the pear cut has become widely used. Pear-shaped diamonds now have more facets than in the past, greatly increasing their brilliance and desirability.
They have an evenly rounded end that tapers to a point, and the width-to-length ratio of the stone determines whether it looks rounded or elongated.
Similarly to oval-cut stones, pear cuts have a bowtie running down the middle of their table, so make sure to search for pear cuts with the least amount of shadow.
Pear-cut diamonds have frequently garnered popularity as celebrities, including Victoria Beckham, Mia Farrow, and Katherine Heigl, among others, have publicly announced their engagements.
Radiant Cuts
Radiant-cut diamonds are a relatively recent style, with the brilliance of a round-cut diamond and a form resembling the emerald cut.
This design has gained popularity since its debut in the 1970s because it combines the elegance of the emerald cut with the glitter of the round cut.
This may not be as well-known as other brilliant cuts, which explains why those are ideal for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.
They have distinctively trimmed edges that blend the emerald cut’s lines with a round diamond’s brilliance. When coupled with a range of other diamond cuts, the brilliance of this diamond cut is stunning.
Marquise cut diamonds
The marquise cut, also known as the Navette cut, is renowned for its regal appearance. If you want to call it an attractive football form, it has curved sides and pointy ends that give it a distinctive profile.
When mounted vertically, its long, narrow design lengthens the finger in addition to giving the impression of greater size. It also sparkles brilliantly.
However, if the ring is not fitted properly, there is a chance of chipping and breaking due to its sensitive pointed edges.
Additionally, it frequently exhibits a “bowtie” appearance across the diamond’s center. It can be highly obvious and generally undesired if the ring is poorly cut.
Asscher cut diamonds
Asscher cut diamonds are perfect, strong, magnificent, and authentically represent true love. Their large table and noticeable step facets produce fashionable light flashes, and their simple cut won’t break the bank.
The Asscher cut originated in Holland and was previously reserved for antique diamonds and has recently experienced a significant renaissance.
Asscher cut diamonds are always square with rounded corners and have a broad table that allows you to view the heart of the stone. This clarity necessitates the absence of inclusions, such as those rated VVS2 or greater, in a diamond.
Asscher cut diamonds can be colored, but they must be flawless. The pronounced steps along the pavilion of these stones, which emphasize colors, make the cut a superb choice for naturally occurring yellow, blue, or green diamonds.
Elizabeth Taylor owned a sizable collection of diamonds, but her favorite piece was a 33-carat Asscher cut diamond ring. Like many Asscher-cut diamonds, hers was put in a four-prong setting to allow the most light to enter the jewelry.
What cut of a diamond is most popular?
The round cut is the most popular. Its fifty-seven flawlessly aligned facets truly outshine the others in terms of brilliance.
Here, total internal reflection is crucial; light passes through the stone to provide the best possible glitter and scintillation.
Which cut of diamond gives the most sparkle?
The most traditional stone shape is the round brilliant cut, which has 58 facets. Given that round diamond cuts dazzle the most, round engagement rings are by far the most common of all the types.
What is the most beautiful cut of a diamond?
Conclusion
Round cut diamonds, emerald cut diamonds, cushion cut diamonds, oval cut diamonds, pear cut diamonds, princess cut diamonds, Asscher cuts, marquise cuts, and radiant cuts are some of the most popular diamond shapes.
But the Round cut diamonds are the most beautiful, the most popular, and it gives the most sparkle.
We hope that after reading about the various diamond shapes and cuts, you are now prepared to choose a diamond that suits your needs and preferences.
Finding a balance between beauty and cost requires looking through various stones, settings, and ring designs.
Browse our ETIKA Jewels collection today to buy your elegant pieces of jewelry.
