Diamond Shapes

The shape of a diamond is an essential part of creating a diamond that is special and personable to you. Whilst not one of the 4Cs, deciding upon the shape of your diamond can be daunting, considering all the available possibilities and how uniquely beautiful each shape is. Although different shapes will affect the setting arrangements of your ring, as well as the overall look of the ring on your hand, choosing a shape is fundamentally about finding and reflecting your own unique style.

What’s the difference between the shape and the cut of a diamond?

The fundamental difference between the shape and the cut of a diamond stems from the fact that whilst shape refers primarily to the general form of the crown (upper body) of the diamond, the cut is about how the diamond interacts with light. The cut - the specific layout of all of a diamond’s facets - is determined by how the light goes through and reflects within a diamond. This also means that the depth of the cut is significant. In contrast, diamond shape has no relationship to its depth. However, the shape of a diamond can be key to how the jewelry appears on the hand and adds an important touch of each individual’s personality to stone. We invite you to learn about the anatomy of a diamond.

A variety of popular diamond shapes. On the top row from left to right are the Princess, Round, Pear, and Baguette shapes. On the middle row are the Cushion and Emerald shapes. Lastly, on the bottom row, from left to right, are the Marquis, Triangle, and Heart shapes. Image courtesy of Mark Johnson.

Round Shape

The most popular and well-known shape for a diamond is the Round shape; where the diamond’s crown is perfectly circular. In fact, approximately 75% of diamonds sold today are round. This is also to do with the popularity of the Brilliant Cut which must be definitively circular. Interestingly, the round shape is one of the most expensive shapes to produce due to the extra wastage of cutting the rough diamond. Simple and classic, it’s no wonder that people are so fond of the round shape.

Cushion Shape

The Cushion shape, in comparison, is squared, yet equally as beautiful of an engagement ring choice. Not only does it have a distinctly romantic feel, its symmetry and dimensions enable it to be charmingly complemented with pave accents.

Rectangular Shapes

Other popular cuts that have longer shapes are the Marquise shape, which has a unique eye shape, and the self-explanatory Oval shape. Additionally, there are a variety of rectangular shapes including the Princess, Asscher, Emerald and Radiant forms. Due to the distinct nature of these long shapes, they are highly flattering for wedding bands as the elongate the appearance of the hands and fingers.

However, whilst these are the most common and popular diamond shapes today, there are no specific standards for shape. With the right skill, a diamond can be cut into almost any shape imaginable. At 64Facets, we often have a preference for the Cushion, Oval, and Round shapes, but we have also cut diamonds into letter shapes, hearts, and even a horse shape.

A stunning custom 64Facets 4.02 ct F/VS2 horse head diamond

64Facets on Diamond Shape

Finding the optimal shape for a diamond is fundamentally a question of every person’s unique preferences. Although there are common forms, there are infinite choices when it comes to shape. Whilst we at 64Facets particularly love the cushion shape for its warm charm and simplicity, we believe that the best shape of a diamond is a shape that feels meaningful to its owner. Unlike the cut, the shape of a stone is not essential to the properties of the diamond itself, but it is a key element to producing a piece of diamond jewelry that fits the wearer’s character. Look around you for inspiration to find a shape that draws you and reflects your unique personality and identity.