Diamond Shapes And How To Choose One

Congratulations! You’re getting married! Now that you’ve found the love of your life, it's time to choose the ring you’ll wear as a sign of your love and commitment. There are a plethora of options available online, and it can get confusing for buyers. You should know some of the terms you’ll come across and what they mean, so that you can make an informed choice about what you are buying. Whether you go with your partner or without, knowing what to expect will make sure you aren’t overwhelmed by all the choices you come across.

What cuts are the most popular?

Cut and shape are two different aspects of a diamond. A diamond can be in many different shapes like round, heart, rectangle, etc. The cut, however, refers to how well the stone is shaped and polished so that it is reflective and shiny.

The difference between a higher-priced diamond and a lower-priced diamond may simply be in the cut. The cut of a diamond determines how beautiful and brilliant it looks to the naked eye. A well-cut diamond takes into account the natural formation of the diamond and then is carved in such a way that would make the light bounce off multiple facets of the diamond. A poorly cut diamond will not shine as brightly as a well-cut diamond and will appear dull.

How is this measured?

The easiest way is to rely on GIA, AGS, or similar diamond certification organizations to do the grading for you. The grading process is complicated for laymen, and it is unnecessary to know how to grade a diamond to buy a diamond.

What shapes are the most popular?

Round Cut

The most popular cut is the round cut diamond. This is the shape most often associated with diamonds. These have a round top and have a conical structure underneath to help keep the stone in place for jewelry settings. This is one of the best choices to go for and these are in very high demand as well. Unfortunately, it sometimes comes with a higher price tag because a lot of the rough stone is cut away when making this diamond.

Princess Cut

The princess cut, which looks like a square shape, is second on popularity only to the brilliant round cut diamond. These are seen very often in engagement rings, and if you’re looking for one, this is a good, popular choice. Princess cuts are great value for money as they retain much more of the rough diamond than a round cut. This makes them a little cheaper as well. If you’re looking for an engagement ring, you could also look at different colored princess cut diamonds like yellow diamond rings. This way you could save the brilliant white diamond for the wedding!

Oval And Marquise

If you like the round shape but are looking for something a little bigger, you should look into oval diamonds. You get brilliance that is similar to a round-cut and can choose one within your budget that looks a bit bigger than round cut diamonds in the same price range. Another shape you can look at is the cat-eye shape, also known as the marquise diamond. With one of the largest surface areas of any diamond shape, this is great value for money.

Emerald Cut

If you are looking for something unique, then an emerald cut diamond may be for you. These are rectangular-shaped diamonds that are cut like an emerald, with what looks like steps going down on the edges and a large table in the middle. Another alternative is the Asscher cut, which is a square with rounded corners. The difference between an emerald cut and an Asscher is the shape, where the emerald cut is a rectangle while the Asscher cut is a square.

Radiant And Heart Shaped

Looking for something ‘cuter’? Then radiant cut and heart-shaped diamonds are for you! A simple way to explain a radiant cut is that it is the square-shaped equivalent of a brilliant diamond cut. They look very beautiful on the hand, and even a small radiant cut diamond can have a big impact! Heart-shaped diamonds are a very modern shape and are more popular as engagement rings than wedding rings. If you’re in the market for a heart-shaped diamond, make sure it isn’t smaller than 0.50 carats. Diamonds smaller than these will not show the heart shape well, especially since they will be housed inside the ring.