Diamond Shapes
Find Your Shape
Nine cuts, each with a character of its own. Here's how they look, how they wear, and who they're for.
Round
The classic. Round brilliant is the most popular diamond shape in the world for a reason: it's engineered for maximum sparkle. With 58 facets designed to return the most light, a well-cut round diamond has unmatched brilliance and fire.
It looks beautiful in virtually every setting — solitaire, halo, pavé, three-stone. It's the safest choice if you want timeless and universally flattering.
Best in: Solitaire, cathedral, or hidden halo settings.
Oval
An elongated shape that flatters the finger and faces up larger than a round of the same carat weight. Oval diamonds have gained enormous popularity for their modern-classic balance — they sparkle like a round but feel more distinctive.
Watch for the "bowtie" effect: a shadow across the center of the stone. A well-cut oval minimizes this.
Best in: Solitaire, three-stone, or pavé band settings.
Cushion
Soft, rounded corners with a pillow-like shape. Cushion cuts have larger facets that produce broad flashes of light rather than the fine sparkle of a round. They have an antique, romantic quality.
Available in square and elongated proportions. Elongated cushions offer a more modern, finger-flattering look.
Best in: Halo, hidden halo, or solitaire settings.
Emerald
A rectangular step-cut with long, open facets that produce a hall-of-mirrors effect rather than traditional sparkle. Emerald cuts are about clarity and depth — they reward you with flashes of light and dark that feel architectural.
Because the facets are open, inclusions and color are more visible. Go a step higher on clarity (VS1 or above) and color (G or above) than you might with a brilliant cut.
Best in: Solitaire, three-stone, or east-west settings.
Pear
A teardrop shape that combines the brilliance of a round with the elongated elegance of a marquise. Pear diamonds make the finger look longer and slimmer. They're distinctive without being unconventional.
Typically worn with the point facing outward toward the fingertip, though east-west settings are trending.
Best in: Solitaire, halo, or cathedral settings.
Marquise
Long and narrow with two pointed ends. The marquise has the largest face-up area of any diamond shape relative to its carat weight — it looks bigger per carat. It elongates the finger dramatically and makes a statement.
Symmetry is critical. The two pointed ends must mirror each other precisely or the diamond will look off-balance.
Best in: Solitaire, bezel, or east-west settings.
Radiant
A rectangular or square shape with brilliant-cut facets — combining the clean lines of an emerald cut with the sparkle of a round. Radiants are forgiving of color and inclusions because the facet pattern hides them well.
A versatile, energetic shape that works across settings and personal styles.
Best in: Solitaire, hidden halo, or three-stone settings.
Princess
A square shape with pointed corners and exceptional brilliance. Princess cuts are the most popular non-round shape. The sharp, geometric profile reads as modern and clean.
Corner prongs are important here — they protect the pointed edges, which can be vulnerable to chipping if left exposed.
Best in: Solitaire, channel-set band, or hidden halo settings.
Heart
The most overtly romantic shape. Heart diamonds are a symbol as much as a stone — they require skilled cutting to achieve proper symmetry so the lobes are even and the cleft is defined.
Typically chosen in larger carat weights (1.00ct+) where the shape reads clearly. Below that, the heart silhouette can be hard to distinguish.
Best in: Solitaire, bezel, or three-prong settings.
Know your shape. Now find your setting.