Diamond Shapes
Brilliant
The most popular of all cuts, the brilliant in its ideal proportions is designed to give maximum scintillation, beauty and fire. Comprised of 58 facets, it follows the rough diamond shape more naturally and thus is the most poplar for cutting due to the beauty it returns. Please see proportions for a complete explanation of why proportion for a round brilliant is so important for beauty and price.
Princess
The princess is one of the most popular fancy diamond shapes. The proportions are considered better the more perfectly square the stone is cut, with an exact 90 degree internal angle on each corner. Princess cut diamonds can also be slightly rectangle in shape.
Acceptable is: Length to Width ratio 1-1.4:1
Oval
The oval cut is also a particularly beautiful shape and, if well proportioned, gives great scintillation and fire. A well cut oval diamond can be almost as bright as a well cut brilliant as the angles for cutting are close to that of a brilliant cut diamond.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.5-1.75:1
Heart
The heart shape is one of those special cuts that follows more human and emotional values. The technical benefit is that a heart shape diamond has a roundish pavilion and if well cut and proportioned can drive the sparkle and scintillation back out of the diamond.
Marquise
The Marquise is a slender, striking cut if well proportioned and is popular for upmarket designer pieces. The shape lends itself to being visually bigger with a larger table spread for carat weight than traditional cuts. It has a line of beauty that can be used running up and down the finger.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.75-2.25:1
Emerald
The Emerald Cut is a very bold and solid feeling cut. The Emerald cut uses a series of flat, rectangular facets stepping down off the table to give it a unique brilliance, quite different to that of a round or curved shaped cut.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.25-1.75:1
Trilliant
One of the more unusual cuts, the Trilliant displays a very sharp brilliance or fire if the diamond is cut to the correct depth allowing good scintillation. Excellent for shoulder diamonds to accompany a square or rectangular shaped diamond.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1:1
Pear
The Pear is another popular fancy cut it uses the base of a brilliant or round cut and extends itself to a point. If well proportioned it gives a depth of scintillation to the point of the stone - a benefit in design if a longer look is required.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.5-1.7:1
Radiant
The Radiant can either be cut as a square or rectangle. The radiant has a strong look with a unique type sparkle, differing from Emerald and Princess Cuts.
Acceptable are; For Rectangle Length to Width ratio 1.5:1
Curved Trilliant
A softer look than the straight edge Trilliant, the Curved Trilliant is a more unusual cut for a diamond, with a bold, slightly rounded looking shape. It has a deep and strong appearance with three soft points and three lines of curvature.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.1 to 1
Baguette
Named after the French bread stick, the Baguette may be cut long or more Emerald shaped in proportions. As a main stone the proportions should be more like a rectangle shape. The Baguette is for those people who want a long stone, usually used are small Baguettes to accompany different shaped diamonds. Unusual in larger sizes.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.5.-2.5:1
Tapered Baguette
The Tapered Baguette is a variation of the standard Baguette cut, with a tapering end for a fine, slender finish. This cut is often used as shoulder or flanking stones to offset the centre diamond.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1.5.-2.5:1
Asscher Cut
This cut is named after Joseph Asscher, an eminent diamond cutter who cut the 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond. In 1902, his company, the Asscher Diamond Co., developed and patented the Asscher cut, a squarish step cut with an almost octagonal outline. This new cut enhanced the fire and light of the stone; it had a small table, a high crown, wide step facets, a deep pavilion and square culet. This cut became very popular in Art Deco jewelry and was a forerunner of the Emerald cut. Recently, the Royal Asscher Diamond Co. resumed production of the original Asscher cut diamonds.
Acceptable are: Length to Width ratio 1-1.4:1
