Popular Diamond Shapes
Which one is for you?
While different diamond shapes do affect pricing, the most important is what shape fits your personal style. We will go through some popular shapes and give you the pros and cons to these beauties.
Round Cut
Pros:
Produces the most sparkle; intense sparkle makes the diamond appear bigger.
Can compromise on color and clarity because the facets can hide some inclusions.
Con:
Most expensive cut.
Princess Cut
Pro:
Compared to round, comes in at 25-35% less in cost
Although slightly smaller face up size, long diagonal measurement makes them seem larger
Con:
Sharp corners are prone to snags or chips
Make sure there are no inclusions near the edges, which can make them more vulnerable to damage.
Oval cut
Pro:
Most brilliance, elongated shape-has lengthening effect on finger.
Popular choice for east-west settings.
10-30% less pricey than rounds.
8% larger face-up area, making ovals appear larger in size.
Con:
Bowtie pattern in the middle may be distracting.
Will take some searching to find one without the bowtie effect.
Cushion cut
Pro:
Excellent fire & one of the oldest cuts.
Still 25-42% less in cost than equivalent weight rounds.
Cut to show off the most flashes of colored light.
Con:
8% smaller appearance than equivalent weight rounds.
Emerald cut
Pro:
Reflects light in a beautiful and subtle “hall of mirrors” effect.
Cost 12-42% less than rounds of same carat weight
Elongated shape has a slimming effect on the finger.
Great choice for unique east-west ring.
Con:
Inclusions can be easily seen.
May even appear smaller because of lack of brilliance.
Pear cut
Pro:
Unique and beautiful shape.
Pricing is very reasonable.
Face-up 8% larger than rounds.
10-30% less in cost than rounds.
Con:
Tip of pear-cut diamond may be prone to snage and chip; must be carefully protected with prongs.
Bowtie effect.
Marquise cut
Pro:
Elongated shape makes diamond look large; slimming effect on finger.
Large face-up area 15% larger than rounds.
Cost is 10-25% less than round diamonds of same carat weight.
Con:
Tapered points on the ends of a marquise can chip or snag, if not set right.
Make sure vulnerable tips have no inclusions.
Bowtie effect.
Asscher cut
Pro:
Mesmerizing windmill pattern.
Great for vintage, art deco look.
Octagonal outlines are perfect for geometrical styles.
Cost 19-43% less than equivalent rounds
.
Con:
13% less face-up area than round.
Smallest face-up area of fancy cuts.
Step cut doesn't hide inclusions like a brilliant cut would.
Heart cut
Pro:
Romantic symbol and cost is 13-26% less than rounds.
Con:
Face-up area about 7% smaller than rounds.
Tip of the heart is Prone to snags and chips-needs to be Protected by Prongs.
Evaluating the shape of hearts in smaller sizes is difficult-best to stick 1 ct or above.
Radiant cut
Pro:
Provides more sparkle and durablility than a princess cut
Cost 20-39% less than round diamonds.
If you go with elongated radiant cut, it may also appear larger.
Con:
Relatively small face-up size (about 4% smaller than rounds)
Trillion cut
Pro:
Unique geometry and excellent sparkle.
Shallow cut makes them face-up 12% larger than rounds.
Con:
Difficult to find in 1ct and larger sizes.
Cut quality can be difficult to judge
Corners are prone to snag and chip. Settings need to protect the corners.
So which diamond shape is best?
Round diamonds have the most brilliance and sparkle, but are also more costly.
Fancy cuts are all heavily discounted relative to rounds, but none have the same sparkle as a round brilliant.
Ultimately, the best diamond shape is the one that speaks to you the most.
Therese will help you find the best cut for you!