Types of Diamond Cuts Explained With Shapes and Pictures

The main types of diamond cuts are round, princess, oval, cushion, emerald, radiant, Asscher, pear, marquise, and heart. Each cut has a distinct outline and facet patterns. These factors determine how the stone interacts with light. Round and oval cuts sparkle the most. Emerald and Asscher cuts look clean and glassy. Our team includes GIA-trained gemologists. We help couples compare these shapes every week. This guide shares what we see at the counter.

Is a Diamond’s Cut the Same as Its Shape?

People often use “cut” and “shape” interchangeably. That is fine in daily talk. Shape is the outline you see from above. Cut quality is something different. It covers the stone’s proportions, symmetry, and polish.

Cut quality affects beauty more than shape does. We have seen a well-cut diamond beat a better-graded stone with a poor cut. It happens more often than you would think. GIA grades round diamonds from excellent to poor. We look for the top of that scale.

Here are all ten shapes side by side:

What Are the Types of Diamond Cuts?

Let’s go through them one by one. Each shape has its own strengths. Each one also has a few things to watch.

1. Round Cut

The round brilliant is the most popular shape. It has 57 or 58 facets. These facets return a lot of light. Our gemologists like one thing about rounds. Their sparkle can hide a little warmth in the color. Rounds usually cost more per carat. Cutting them wastes more of the rough stone.

2. Princess Cut

A princess cut is square with sharp corners. It looks modern. It also sparkles well. The corners can chip. We suggest a setting with a prong over each corner.

3. Oval Cut

An oval diamond is longer than a round. It looks bigger at the same carat weight. It also makes the finger look slimmer. We always check ovals for a bow-tie. This is a dark band across the center. A faint one is normal. A heavy one is easy to see. We pass on those stones.

4. Cushion Cut

A cushion-cut diamond has a square or rectangular shape with softly rounded corners. Romantic and somewhat retro. View it in the showroom light first. Then view it in daylight. The look can change from one to the other.

5. Emerald Cut

The emerald cut is a rectangle with cut-off edges. It has very long clean lines. It hides very little. Thus, clarity is very important. If you're on a budget, invest in clarity first. A small and clean stone will win over a large and cloudy one.

6. Asscher Cut

An Asscher is a square step cut with cropped corners. The Asscher Brothers of the Netherlands patented it in 1902. Look straight down at the stone. You will see an X-shaped pattern. These stones are cut deep. They can look a bit smaller face-up. Keep this in mind when you compare sizes.

7. Radiant Cut

A radiant cut is a rectangle with trimmed corners. It has brilliant-style facets. It sits between the emerald and the princess. You get more sparkle than an emerald. You also get tougher corners than a princess.

8. Pear Cut

A pear cut looks like a teardrop. One end is round. The other end is a point. Most people wear the point toward the fingertip. This makes the hand look longer. Always check the tip. It should be sharp and centered.

9. Marquise Cut

A marquise is boat-shaped. It has two pointed ends. It spreads its weight over a wide area. So it looks big for its carat weight. Both tips are fragile. They need prongs. More shoppers have asked about marquise lately. They want something different.

10. Heart Cut

A heart cut is a pear shape with a cleft on top. It is a very sentimental choice. Small hearts are hard to read. We suggest a larger stone. The cleft also needs a protective prong.

Types of Diamond Ring Cuts that Sparkle the Most

Almost every diamond uses one of two facet styles.

• Brilliant cuts have triangular and kite-shaped facets. These facets spread out from the center. This style is followed by round, princess, oval, cushion, radiant, pear, marquise, and heart cuts. They are the shiniest.
• Step cuts have long, flat facets in rows. They look like stairs. Emerald and Asscher cuts follow this style. They give broad flashes of light instead of sparkle.

In our experience, sparkle lovers pick brilliant cuts. People who like a calm look pick step cuts. Step cuts show every flaw. Plan for a higher clarity grade if you choose one.

Types of Diamond Cuts for Rings

Start with your way of living. Do you work with your hands? Then choose a rounded shape. Pointed and cornered shapes can be worn daily. They just need a well-built setting.

Next, think about your hand. Longer shapes add length to shorter fingers. Oval, pear, and marquise cuts do this well. Round and square shapes suit most hand types.

Then look at your budget. Shape changes the price. Ovals and pears often look larger for their weight. This can give you more visual size for the money.

Why Choose Us

Shoshany Jewelers is a family-owned jewelry store in Morganville, NJ. Our team includes GIA graduate gemologists and metalsmiths. Owner Al Shoshany hand-selects every diamond in the store. Our on-site CAD designer can create a custom ring with you. We have been in business since 2013 and have served Monmouth County since 2018.

Conclusion

Knowing the different diamond cuts makes buying a ring easier. Round and princess provide the greatest fire. Oval and cushion cuts look comfortable and flattering. Emerald and Asscher cuts are elegant. More personal cuts include pear, marquise and heart. Choose the shape that matches your preference and lifestyle.