DETERMINING THE PERFECT SHAPE
Whilst choosing the shape or cut of the stone is ultimately a matter of personal preference, it is worth knowing a little bit of background information and the pros and cons of each of the diamond cuts.
Whilst diamonds can be cut into any shape (see our One-of-a-kind section) there are TEN popular diamond shapes: Round, Princess, Cushion, Oval, Emerald, Pear, Marquise, Asscher, Radiant, and Heart shape.
Apart from the classic Round Brilliant Cut, everything else is referred to as a Fancy Shape diamond. Fancy shape diamonds only get a Polish and Symmetry GIA or IGI grade as opposed to the Round Brilliant Cut which gets an official cut grade of Cut, Polish, and Symmetry on a certificate.
Celebrities certainly influence trends in diamond purchasing and each year there seems to be an overwhelming push of a certain shape based on what the celebrities are posting. Of late, Ovals have certainly been popular, pushing the demand up and therefore the price up and supply down. Radiant cuts are also super popular now and one of our favourite cuts due to their sparkle and brilliance due to their multi-facets.
Which shape suits your personal style –
The Round shape is a true classic, brilliantly cut with over 58 facets causing the light to penetrate from the bottom of the diamond back through the top, giving it unbelievable sparkle. Versatile with any setting and the most popular shape of all.
The Radiant Cut has the shape and glamour of the Emerald cut with the brilliance of the Round. Its extra special sparkle is the result of the way its underside is cut, with 70 facets to be exact, to maximise the effect of its light refraction. A very popular stone but harder to find.
The Oval stone exudes elegance and because of its elongated shape, it gives the illusion of length to the hand. Becoming as popular as the Round Cut, it appeals to a variety of settings including solitaire for larger stones or partnered with two rounds or trapezoid stones on either side for a more vintage feel.
The Princess Cut is a square-shaped diamond with pointed corners multifaceted for extra sparkle anywhere from 49 to 144 facets, depending on the carat weight. A lovely classic shape and style.
The Emerald Cut is a long rectangular shape with a stepped cut very different from the way the other shaped diamonds are cut. Elegant in style, the emerald cut isn’t as faceted as the other shapes with slightly less sparkle. A very vintage Art-deco vibe. Lovely set on its own on a plain band or with two smaller baguette diamond side stones for a real show stopper.
The Asscher Cut is nearly identical to the Emerald cut, in the shape of a square. A very vintage feel, this stone is really quite unique and harder to find in both lab and mined stones. Unlike the Princess cut, it has a chunkier thicker profile with clipped corners almost octagonal in appearance.
The Cushion Cut is shaped like a pillow, square with rounded corners, and can come in two styles, the more popular elongated cushion or the standard cushion shape which closely resembles the brilliant cut. A popular alternative to the Radiant Cut is the Elongated cushion which is more rectangular in appearance.
The Marquise Shape is a uniquely tapered cut stone, essentially an oval with rounded sides and points at each end. Like the Oval and Pear Shape stones, this stone can also look larger than it actually is, and due to its elongated shape, can make fingers look leaner and slimmer. It’s ideal for those looking to maximise carat weight and get big bling for your buck. Best set in a simple solitaire setting.
The Pear Shape or Teardrop Shape as it is otherwise known is a gorgeous unique shape suited to a solitaire or halo setting. Beautifully facetted it gives you big bling for your buck.
