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Everyone has heard of the 4 C’s when it comes to diamonds, and one of those C’s is cut, but what most people don’t know is that the cut of a diamond is not the same thing as a diamond shape. Before we get into the cut of a diamond, which can be complex and might cause me to use many C words, I want to talk about all the different shapes of diamonds. Many times when you are window shopping with your girl, she isn’t going to understand what the cut of a diamond is, but she will understand the shape, and she will definitely have an idea of what diamond shape she likes and wants, so you need to be familiar with all the different shapes as well.
Here’s a bit of history for you, over the years different diamond shapes evolved because of the tools that the diamond cutters used and the shapes of the rough diamonds that they were turning into smooth stones. In order to get the highest carat weight, the cutter would cut a new diamond shape, while still trying to maintain the integrity of the facets and sparkle of the diamond and thus a new diamond shape would be born. Also, many new shapes came about because Kings or Queens ordered diamond cutters to come up with shapes that had never been seen before, so their diamonds and jewels would stand out among the crowd.
Just like anything else that has to do with fashion, diamond shapes also have their fads, so you might start to see shapes that become popular that you didn’t know existed, but trust me, they all existed at some point. What you need to remember is this, it doesn’t matter what the next guy is buying or what the girl over there is wearing on her finger, as long as you and your girl are happy with the shape you decide on, and the possibilities are limitless, when you can mix and match the shapes. But, we aren’t going to be playing diamond twister, we are going to focus on diamond shapes for center stones and the choices that you will find out there and need to know about.
Diamond Shapes
The round or brilliant diamond is by far the most popular diamond shape that is bought today and accounts for most diamond sales, and it is also generally the most expensive per carat. The reason for this is the demand is high and the yield when cutting a round diamond from a rough stone is low. But, a round diamond almost always has 58 facets (unless there is no cutlet, which I will get into later), which means that it will be the shiniest and the sparkliest (technical terms) of all the different shapes, which can account for one reason why it is one of the most popular diamond shapes.
The oval diamond was created in the 1960’s and has a similar fire as the round or brilliant because it has a similar shape. The advantages of an oval over a round would be that it can appear larger because it is an elongated shape and it can also give your fingers a slimming effect.
The marquise diamond is a football shaped diamond that is even more modified than the oval. This shape has the largest crown, or flat top of any shape of diamond, so it really does give the illusion of being larger than it really is. One thing to note if you go with a marquise stone, they come in all widths, so when shopping for one, be sure to compare and pick a stone that you like that shape of, not too skinny and not too fat!
The pear shaped diamond is a combination of a round, oval and marquise all rolled into one diamond. The narrow pointed end is supposed to be worn facing the person who is wearing the ring and the elongated shape gives the illusion of a larger stone and longer fingers.
A princess shaped diamond is part of the fancy cut family and is the second most popular shape that is chosen by brides to be. The cost of this shape is generally less per carat because there is less waste when it is cut from the rough stone, but because the diameter of the square shape is larger than that of a round shape on the crown, it appears larger than most round diamonds.
An emerald diamond is rectangular in shape and instead of being sparkly has a mirrored look, which gives it a depth that other shapes don’t have. This is because of the step cuts that are used below the girdle of the stone. The emerald shaped diamond is considered an elegant diamond because of the dramatic flashes of light and will give your hand an elongated look.
The cushion diamond is a square cut with rounded corners that has been around for over 200 years. This cut looks like a pillow and traditional cushion cut diamonds have a chunkier light pattern than other shapes. This shape has an antique feel to it and during the first century was the most popular stone used in traditional engagement rings.
An asscher diamond is similar to an emerald shape but it is a square shape. This shape was first cut in 1902 and has just recently gained popularity again. This shape has more brilliance than the emerald diamond and when you look through the center of the stone, it should appear to have concentric squares inside it. The asscher diamond has cropped corners, but because it is a square it looks more like an octagon.
A radiant shape, which is really a cut, was the first square to be introduced, although the corners are cropped, and it is a hybrid of the asscher and the cushion. These diamonds can be longer, like the emerald and look good surrounded by all stones, which make them a good centerpiece stone for any ring, as they contain a lot of fire and brilliance.
Heart shapes are unique and are a modified round or brilliant shape. It’s important that the symmetry is even when selecting this type of diamond, and because it is not traditional, make sure it is something you would be happy with long term! But, hearts are the symbol of love and what better way to show your love than with a heart shaped diamond.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
