How to Choose a Diamond Shape and Cut

Round Diamonds for an Engagement Ring

Choosing engagement rings can be overwhelming if you go shopping unprepared because there are many decisions to make before you find the “best” engagement ring for your tastes and lifestyle.

You’ll see the term ideal cut when you shop for an engagement ring. The term means that the diamond has been cut in a way that makes the best use of its characteristics, even though more of the rough stone must be removed to achieve the cut.

Remember that cut and shape are related but refer to two different characteristics. Flip through the following pages to view some of the popular diamond shapes and cuts you’ll see when you explore engagement rings.

Round Diamonds

Round diamonds are the most famous diamond shapes for engagement rings. Of all the rounds, the brilliant round cut ranks number one.

Square and Rectangular Diamonds

Square and rectangular diamond shapes include the princess cut, emerald cut, and radiant cut.

Rectangular shaped diamonds aren’t always a standard rectangle, with long sides that are twice the length of short sides. You’ll also find diamonds shaped like bars and in other proportions.

• Princess cuts are brilliant cut diamonds.
• Emerald cut diamonds have clipped corners, and the clips provide a perfect spot for prongs to hold the stone in place. The emerald cut diamond is also referred to as a step cut.
• The overall shape of a radiant cut diamond is similar to the shape of an emerald cut diamond, but the radiant cut’s faceting is different — it gives the diamond a sparkle more like the brilliant cut.
• Some inclusions might be more apparent in a rectangular cut stone.
• The Asscher cut is a vintage diamond cut that’s popular with brides. Asscher cut diamonds have clipped corners that are sometimes deep enough to make the diamond appear to be an octagon.

Oval Diamonds

Oval diamonds are also another popular option for the engagement rings or any diamond jewelry. The ring above features an oval sapphire that’s flanked on each side by brilliant oval-shaped diamonds. The platinum setting is a perfect choice for both gemstones.

Pear Shaped Diamonds

Pear shaped diamonds are another shape that you’ll see cut in different proportions. Some pear-shaped diamonds resemble a teardrop, and some are more elongated — less fat. All pear-shaped diamonds should have extra prongs (or other types of setting components) to protect their tips.

The ring above includes three pear-shaped diamonds. The ring’s setting is sold with the smaller pear-shaped diamonds already in place on the band.

The focal area can be set with any shape you choose.

Heart Shaped Diamonds

Like pear-shaped diamonds, heart shaped diamonds can be either fat or elongated. Notice the extra protection the V-shaped prong setting offers this heart-shaped diamond’s pointed tip.

Marquise Diamonds

Marquise diamonds sometimes have a “bow tie” near their mid-sections, a shadowy image that’s a sign of poor proportions. The effect is not uncommon in marquise cuts, pear-shaped diamonds, and other fancy shapes. The more pronounced the bow tie, the less proportional the cut.

The pointed tips of a marquise diamond are often protected by V-shaped prongs or some type of decorative prongs.

Trilliant Diamonds

The triangular trilliant diamond is a brilliant cut stone that looks like it weighs more than its true carat weight.

Trilliant cut diamonds are often used as focal stones, but you can see in the photo above that they also make a lovely addition when setting on each side of a center diamond.

Pear Shaped Diamond Variations

The pear-shaped diamond and sapphires used in this ring are a somewhat different shape than the fatter pear-shaped diamond on page 4, a difference that is also true for many other shapes.

Take some time to shop around, looking at as many diamonds as possible before you make a final decision. If you are choosing the ring after popping the big question, your fiance will have fun trying on rings to see which styles look perfect on her finger and best suit her lifestyle.

Fancy Color Radiant Cut Diamond

This radiant cut diamond is an intense, fancy colored yellow stone. Triangular diamonds are used on each side to enhance the focal diamond.

This radiant cut diamond is more square than rectangular, another illustration of the differences often seen in diamond proportions.

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