Diamond Shapes and Cutting Styles

Diamond Shapes and Cutting Styles Related Information:

Diamonds have long been a firm favourite amongst precious gems, and these beautiful stones are given for all sorts of occasions and set into all sorts of jewellery. A gem that means strength and love, the diamond is particularly popular in engagement rings, wedding rings, eternity rings, and also in various other items of jewellery for a loved one. These stunning and captivating gems boast a fierce sparkle than cannot be matched by any other gem – simply wearing a diamond can make an ordinary person feel a million dollars.

Although all diamonds have a unique and precious beauty, the brilliance and ‘fire’ of each gem is in the cut and the shape, both of which are very important factors in the finished product. The cut and shape of the diamond can really impact upon its sparkle and finish. Below you will find details on some of the more common shapes and cuts of this beautiful gem:

Round diamond

This is one of the most popular and expensive diamond shapes, as it offers the most sparkle and fieriness. This is a symmetrical 58 facet cut, and is the only shape that has cut grades that are recognised internationally.

Oval diamond

This diamond has a 57 facet cut, and although it is longer than the perfect round diamond it still has the essentially round shape. Therefore the sparkle and fire of the diamond in an oval cut gem is very similar to that of a round one, although rounds will always boast that little extra when it comes to pure brilliance.

Marquise diamond

This diamond is a 58 facet cut, and is a much sought after diamond shape. It can sometimes have a bowtie effect in the middle of the diamond, which stems from the cut of the stone, but this can be rectified by doubling the facets in the pavilion. Those diamonds with sharp edges and thin points could be more prone to damage

Pear diamond

This is another 58 facet cut, and like the marquise can be prone to the bowtie effect. Again, doubling the facets in the pavilion can minimise on this. As with all diamonds, you can enjoy a fabulous sparkle with the pear shape, but this is noticeably less than with the round and ovals.

Heart diamond

This is a 57 facet cut, with tow symmetrical sides and a cleft in the middle to form the perfect heart shape. You can get heart shaped diamonds that are asymmetrically cut, and these are usually discounted in price heavily.

Princess diamond

The princess is a 76 facet cut, and can be either square or rectangular. Although these stones are able to give off brilliance, they are not particularly fiery due to the thin crown. This is one of the cheapest cuts in terms of manufacturing but this is not always reflected in the retail price of the diamond.

Flanders diamond

The flanders is a 41 facet cut, and has a square body and angled corners. The brilliance and fire of this shape does not match the perfect round cut, but is better than other non-round cuts. If you want a cut that offers brilliance and fire without paying the price of a perfect round, this could be your next choice.

Emerald diamond

This is a 50-58 facet cut, and is the least sparkly of the diamonds. This is because the cut of the stone means that the facets are elongated and in rows, and with this cut colour variations and imperfections can be more easily spotted even by the untrained eye.