DIAMOND SHAPES
Hear the word "diamond" and the first image that comes to mind is likely a classic round sparkly gem. No surprise, considering that 75% of all diamonds sold today, particularly engagement rings, are the round brilliant cut. Because a round diamond is symmetrical, it reflects nearly all light that enters it, making the most brilliant of all diamond shapes.
Different shapes can have an impact too - longer shapes tend to look larger than rounded stones of the same weight and the appearance of a diamond's size can also be affected by how the stone is set in a piece of jewellery, as well as the size of the wearer's finger.
Each shape specifically caters to an individual or personal taste, each one is also meticulously and mathematically cut to highlight a diamond’s best features.
However, if your tastes lean to the less traditional, you can also choose from a wide selection of attractive diamond shapes on the market today. These are collectively known as fancy cuts. Fancy shapes are cut to different proportions so, they filter light differently. Here are some considerations when choosing a diamond shape.
Different shapes can have an impact too - longer shapes tend to look larger than rounded stones of the same weight and the appearance of a diamond's size can also be affected by how the stone is set in a piece of jewellery, as well as the size of the wearer's finger.
Each shape specifically caters to an individual or personal taste, each one is also meticulously and mathematically cut to highlight a diamond’s best features.
However, if your tastes lean to the less traditional, you can also choose from a wide selection of attractive diamond shapes on the market today. These are collectively known as fancy cuts. Fancy shapes are cut to different proportions so, they filter light differently. Here are some considerations when choosing a diamond shape.
ROUND BRILLIANT CUT
Clean, classic, versatile and with more fire and brilliance than any other shape, it would be difficult to persuade anyone against this choice—as proven by the fact that it accounts for more than half of all diamonds sold today. (For men wishing to surprise their ladies and unsure of what they might like, one could hardly go wrong here).
The Round, or Brilliant Cut Diamond is, by far, the most popular shape for diamond engagement rings. The full-cut diamond represents the highest advances in diamond cutting, maximising fire and brilliance. When in doubt, the round is always a smart choice.
The Round, or Brilliant Cut Diamond is, by far, the most popular shape for diamond engagement rings. The full-cut diamond represents the highest advances in diamond cutting, maximising fire and brilliance. When in doubt, the round is always a smart choice.
PRINCESS CUT
Much like the round brilliant, the Princess cut is a classic and elegant shape, although with it's sharp corners boasts more of a contemporary edge. This shape is ideal way to capture the brilliance and simple elegance of the round. The Princess cut diamonds can make the perfect engagement rings since they are very clear.
Their exquisite shape makes them an exotic treasure - as they are designed for getting top brilliance from their square cut. When purchasing a Princess Cut diamond ensure that the setting for your ring protects the four pointed corners. Square-shaped with many sparkling facets, the princess cut is one of the best choices for the diamond engagement ring.
It especially enhances the hand with long, elegant fingers.
Their exquisite shape makes them an exotic treasure - as they are designed for getting top brilliance from their square cut. When purchasing a Princess Cut diamond ensure that the setting for your ring protects the four pointed corners. Square-shaped with many sparkling facets, the princess cut is one of the best choices for the diamond engagement ring.
It especially enhances the hand with long, elegant fingers.
EMERALD CUT
The Emerald-Cut Diamond is a very popular style known for it's beauty and precision. It is like looking into glacier-pure ice. Speaking volumes of vintage glamour and old world charm and favoured by such style icons as Grace Kelly. The emerald cut was one of the first cuts to be used in jewellery design and it's broad flat plane highlights the clarity and natural crystalline growth of a diamond to unparalleled measure.
The emerald shape is a rectangle with corner facets and broad, flat planes. It is given a step cut creating rows or steps of elongated facets. When selecting an emerald-cut diamond, good clarity and colour are essential - in fact, you will rarely see one in lower grades. That is because inclusions and body colour are much more obvious in this shape.
The emerald shape is a rectangle with corner facets and broad, flat planes. It is given a step cut creating rows or steps of elongated facets. When selecting an emerald-cut diamond, good clarity and colour are essential - in fact, you will rarely see one in lower grades. That is because inclusions and body colour are much more obvious in this shape.
ASSCHER CUT
The Asscher-cut diamond was developed in 1902 by the Asscher Brothers of Holland. The Asscher-Cut Diamond is also called a "square Emerald-Cut" because it is made using the step-cut process and has cropped corners. Since it is a "stepped" square cut with cropped corners and is wonderful choice for the fashion-forward woman desiring a dramatic engagement ring.
A classic cut, it tends towards a square shape but, with corners cut diagonally. It is similar to the emerald cut but with less rectangular dimensions. They are bright, shiny and clear in appearance. Like the Emerald-Cut Diamonds, they have the clarity of glacier-water ice, allowing you to see all the way through it. Since inclusions are obvious, it is important to get as flawless a gem as possible.
A classic cut, it tends towards a square shape but, with corners cut diagonally. It is similar to the emerald cut but with less rectangular dimensions. They are bright, shiny and clear in appearance. Like the Emerald-Cut Diamonds, they have the clarity of glacier-water ice, allowing you to see all the way through it. Since inclusions are obvious, it is important to get as flawless a gem as possible.
PEAR SHAPE
Infamously given to Elizabeth Taylor by two-time-husband Richard Burton, the pear, or teardrop as it is sometimes called, is a unique and feminine shape with one rounded and one pointed end that, makes for a delicate and stunning choice. The Pear-Shaped Diamond combines the tradition and brilliance of a round cut with a less common shape to create an unusual diamond that, can still make light 'dance' as it does in the traditional Round Brilliant Cut. The teardrop-shaped pear makes a beautiful ring. It is well-suited to the woman with petite or short fingers.
RADIANT CUT
A square- or rectangular-shaped hybrid cut that combines the brilliance and depth of the round, emerald and princess cuts. The radiant is the most brilliant of all the squared shapes making it both a beautiful and dramatic choice. The Radiant Cut Diamond combines the more stylish square or rectangular shape with the brilliance of the more traditional Round Cut.
It combines two diamond cutting styles-the Round Cut style and the Emerald Cut style to create a non-traditional, yet still brilliant diamond. This cut, created in 1977 by Henry Grossbard, was designed to maintain the beauty of each different type of diamond, while still creating something altogether different from anything available at the time.
It combines two diamond cutting styles-the Round Cut style and the Emerald Cut style to create a non-traditional, yet still brilliant diamond. This cut, created in 1977 by Henry Grossbard, was designed to maintain the beauty of each different type of diamond, while still creating something altogether different from anything available at the time.
OVAL CUT
Somewhere in between the round brilliant and the pear shape, the oval cut is the perfect choice if you’re wishing to savour the sparkle of the round brilliant in a slightly rarer and more elongated form. The Oval Cut Diamond is a modified version of the most popular cut, the Round Brilliant.
It is the perfect choice for buyers who are looking for characteristics similar to the Round "ideal" Cut but, would like something in a shape that is more unusual. Because oval cut creates the illusion of length, it is a popular style for a woman with small hand of short fingers.
It is the perfect choice for buyers who are looking for characteristics similar to the Round "ideal" Cut but, would like something in a shape that is more unusual. Because oval cut creates the illusion of length, it is a popular style for a woman with small hand of short fingers.
CUSHION CUT
As it's name suggests, the cushion cut is a square or rectangular shape with rounded corners, resembling a pillow shape. One of the rarer and more unique choices, the cushion cut’s large facets allow for great light dispersion, giving birth to a much larger range of spectral colours and making for a highly scintillating stone. The Cushion-Cut Diamond is an antique cut that has a classic, romantic appeal.
HEART SHAPE
Ever the romantic choice, this rare and symbolic cut is the ideal way to wear your heart on your finger, not your sleeve and there is surely no better way to be in love and in style all at once. The Heart Shaped Diamond has a cleft at the top and exhibits superior brilliance. It is among the most romantic of the diamond shapes. Heart shaped diamonds are cut to make the most of brilliance. They look stunning set in an engagement ring.
MARQUISE CUT
Originally commissioned in 18th century in Paris by King Louis XV to emulate the smile of his mistress the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour, the Marquise harkens back to the glory of the age d’or. It is also an ideal way to optimise carat weight and elongate the finger. The Marquise-Cut Diamond is a boat-shaped brilliant stone that is considered a "classic" shape for diamond engagement rings. It's shape is flattering to the small hand, making it appear longer.
We hope you have found this guide useful, if you have any other questions or if there is anything else you would like to discuss, please get in touch with us by clicking on the link below and we will be happy to guide you through the process of choosing the perfect engagement ring.
Splendor Diamonds Ltd.
Registered In UK & Wales : 10413123
VAT Number : 252344915
Specialists For Engagement Rings, Bridal & Diamond Jewellery.
Registered In UK & Wales : 10413123
VAT Number : 252344915
Specialists For Engagement Rings, Bridal & Diamond Jewellery.