Diamonds By Shape

Marilyn Monroe famously sang that diamonds were a girl’s best friend and one thing is for sure, there is diamond for every girl intertwined with its own unique love story . . . Diamonds are natural crystals of many shapes and sizes formed in the volcanic earth over millions of years. The traditional round brilliant diamond, though the most popular diamond shape of all, is only part of story. Shop our diamond collection

Let’s start at the beginning . . .

The Round Brilliant Diamond 
This shape has set the standard and is the most popular accountings for more than half of diamonds sold today. The cut developed in Europe has 58-facets divided amongst its crown (top), girdle (widest part) and pavilion (base), which is calibrated through a precise formula to achieve the maximum shine as the cut naturally follows the rough diamond crystal. The round brilliant cut is perhaps the most versatile of all cuts both in terms of style and value as it strikes the ideal balance between cut, colour, clarity and price. 

Good Choice? For the man unsure of what the lady in his life would choose it is so hard to go wrong with this classic choice.

The Emerald Cut Diamond 
This shape is absolutely stunning with its simple long almost art deco lines which make it very elegant. A rectangular shape the emerald cut usually comprises of 57 facets with 25 on the crown and 32 on the pavilion. As the name suggest the "emerald cut" was originally developed for cutting emeralds, not diamonds. The rectangular shape is cut with truncated corners and it was soon discovered to be suitable for other stones, including diamonds and has become a very popular cut. With its large open facets, higher clarity grades VS1 / VS2 and higher are usually recommended for emerald cut diamonds. 

The Princess Cut Diamond
This shape is perhaps the most popular fancy-shaped diamond with its classic elegant shape. Radiating fire and brilliance, the princess cut diamond is a very popular contemporary alternative to the classic round brilliant diamond solitaire engagement ring. The top of a princess cut diamond is square with pointed corners, while its overall shape is a pyramid. This modern cut comprises of 58 facets arranged similarly to those of a round brilliant cut diamond. A relatively new style developed in the 1970s, this cut requires more weight to be directed toward the diamond's depth in order to maximize brilliance. Although, traditionally square in shape, princess cut diamonds can vary greatly in how square or rectangular they are. For a princess diamond shape that is square, it is best to look for length to width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, then look for length to width ratios greater than 1.10.

The Pear Cut Diamond
This shape is a combination of a round brilliant and a marquise diamond shape, with a tapered point on one end. The diamond is always worn with the narrow end pointing toward the hand of the wearer. Like marquise and oval cuts, the pear shaped diamond comes in a variety of slim to wide cuts. Ideally, a pear shaped diamond should possess excellent or very good symmetry. The point should line up with the apex of the rounded end. The shoulders and wings (the upper and lower curves on the right and left side of the diamond) should form uniform, symmetrical curves, with no straight edges. A pear diamond should always be set with a prong at the point as it’s the most likely location for chipping as this point was once nearest the outer edge of the rough stone, flaws such as naturals, extra facets, and other inclusions may be located here. A narrow pear diamond is ideal for dangle earrings, while a wider shape might be preferred for a solitaire ring. The pear cut stone is usually comprised of 58 facets, although the number of pavilion facets may range from 4 to 8. Additionally, pear shapes are sometimes cut with a “French tip,” which replaces the large bezel facet at the point with star and upper girdle facets.

The Marquise Cut Diamond
An elongated shape with pointed ends was commissioned by the French King Louis XV for his friend and mistress Madame de Pompadour as he wanted a diamond to match her smile. It is gorgeous when used as a solitaire or when enhanced by smaller diamonds. The Marquise cut which can maximise the diamond size, making it appear larger than other stones of the same weight. It is generally comprised of 58 facets, with 33 on the crown and 25 on the pavilion, although the number of pavilion facets may range between 4 and 8. Additionally, Marquise shapes are sometimes cut with a “French tip,” which replaces the large bezel facet at the point with star and upper girdle facets. The shape was then developed and modified throughout the 20th century, evolving into the Marquise Brilliant cut as it is known today.

The Asscher Cut Diamond
The Asscher cut was developed by Joseph Asscher in 1902 and specified a definitive criteria which is a unique shape with prismatic brilliance and a rectangular-faceted pavilion in the same style as the square emerald cut. The standard number of main facets on an Asscher cut is usually 58 and the typical ratio for the more popular square-shaped Asscher cuts is 1.00 to 1.05. The width of the cut corners may vary. With its deep pavilion, faceted culet, high crown and small table, the Asscher cut allows for tremendous lustre and creates a fascinating optical illusion known as the “Hall of Mirrors” effect. The Asscher cut is referred to as a Square Emerald cut on a laboratory certificate, such as GIA. Although confusion reigns about what the differences are between an Asscher cut and a Square Emerald cut, the Asscher cut has rapidly gained popularity as it was featured on the television show "Sex & and the City" and stars such as Kate Hudson have received Asscher-cuts as engagement rings. 

The Heart Cut Diamond 
This shape is essentially a pear shaped diamond with a cleft at the top. It is the ultimate symbol of romance radiating fire and brilliance with an excellent sparkle. The origins of the heart cut diamond are unknown although its cut is of a modified brilliant cut with an even shape and a well-defined outline. The very distinctive heart shape is usually comprised of between 56 and 58 facets and is highly desirable for romantic occasions such as Valentine's Day and anniversaries.