Diamond Shapes

Just like people, diamonds come in many shapes and sizes. The shape you choose has a lot to do with personal taste, but understanding the unique attributes of each shape can help you choose the best quality diamond in the shape you desire.

Click on a shape below to learn more about that shape's defining characteristics and how to identify a spectacular specimen. As always, we are available to answer any questions you may have about diamond shapes and choosing the best diamond for you.

Round

The classic charm of the round diamond is without equal. For generations, brides have chosen this shape to represent their eternal love and devotion and jewelers have been devoted to perfecting the shape for maximum brilliance and sparkle. The round diamond is an excellent way to balance cut, color, and clarity for a truly remarkable look. We recommend you choose round diamonds graded ideal or very good for optimum brilliance.

Princess

An extremely popular diamond choice, the princess-cut diamond offers a unique look of clean, symmetrical lines fused with multi-faceted brilliance. Some things to consider when buying a princess cut; color imperfections may appear more pronounced in the corners and several variations in the length-to-width ratio of the sides exist, which creates shapes from a perfect square to a rectangle.

Emerald

The distinct rectangular facets of the emerald-cut diamond highlight the diamond's clarity; therefore, the higher the clarity you choose for an emerald-cut, the bigger the payoff. As with princess-cut diamonds, emerald-cuts can vary in shape from square to rectangle; a square emerald-cut diamond is called an Asscher cut. Again, the main element to consider with an emerald-cut diamond is clarity, as even minor imperfections will have nowhere to hide.

Asscher

This unique diamond cut is the exclusive product of a prestigious Dutch diamond cutting company. Combining the parallel facets of the emerald cut with the square shape of the princess cut, this cut is all about balance and symmetry.

Marquise

The flexible marquise cut diamond is the master of illusion. This cut makes the most of your diamond's carat weight by spreading it out in an elongated shape. In addition, the length of the marquise diamond can make your fingers appear longer and narrower.

Oval

Similar to a round-cut diamond in terms of brilliance, but also leveraging the slenderizing quality of the marquise, the oval cut diamond is a popular choice for maximum versatility. Oval cut diamonds are available in several dimensions from nearly round to more elliptical.

Radiant

While a radiant cut diamond may look like a princess cut at first glance, a closer observation will reveal gently trimmed corners. Radiant cut diamonds are an excellent choice if you plan on choosing a setting with additional diamonds, because nearly any shape will offset the radiant perfectly.

Pear or Teardrop

A popular choice for those seeking maximum visual interest, the pear or teardrop cut features a single point that extends to a rounded end. This versatile diamond shape is found in many types of jewelry, from rings to pendants, and works beautifully as a complement to a more traditionally shaped diamond.

Heart

Why not choose the universal symbol for love to celebrate your undying love? A heart shaped diamond creates a distinctive visual impression for those seeking a non-traditional diamond cut. We advise choosing a higher color grade with the heart shape as color imperfections may become noticeable at the corners.

Cushion

The cushion cut, which features rounded corners and large facets, has been popular for more than 100 years, making this cut a time honored tradition. As with any diamond cut with larger facets, we recommend you choose a higher clarity grade to keep slight imperfections from becoming more noticeable. Cushion-cut diamonds can range in shape from square to rectangle.