Diamond Shapes

Shape gives a diamond its personality. From timeless round brilliants to elegant elongated silhouettes, each outline has a different presence on the hand. Shape is distinct from cut quality, which describes how well the stone has been fashioned.

Round Brilliant

One of the most familiar diamond shapes. Its symmetrical outline and brilliant-style facets are designed to promote sparkle. It suits solitaire, halo and multi-stone settings.

Oval

A graceful elongated outline that can create a longer look on the finger. Compare proportions and the visibility of any central dark area, sometimes called a bow tie.

Emerald

Typically rectangular with cropped corners and step-cut facets. Emerald cuts emphasise clean lines and broad flashes of light, so clarity characteristics may be relatively noticeable.

Radiant

A square or rectangular shape with trimmed corners and a brilliant-style facet arrangement. It offers a different light pattern from a step-cut emerald.

Cushion

Known for softly rounded corners and a pillow-like outline. Cushion cuts vary widely in proportions and facet patterns, so comparing several examples is worthwhile.

Pear

A distinctive teardrop outline, round at one end and pointed at the other. The setting should protect the pointed tip.

Marquise

Long and slender with pointed ends. Marquise shapes can appear generous in face-up size for their weight; secure settings help protect both tips.

Princess

Usually a square or slightly rectangular outline with brilliant-style facets. Its sharp corners benefit from a protective setting.

Asscher

A square step-cut shape with cropped corners and a geometric appearance. Its broad facet pattern gives a distinctive hall-of-mirrors effect.

Heart

A recognisable romantic outline whose symmetry and proportions influence the finished appearance.

How settings change the look

A solitaire keeps attention on the centre stone. Halo settings frame a diamond with smaller stones. Bezel settings surround the perimeter with metal. Three-stone and side-stone designs can alter the apparent proportions and visual balance.

What should you compare in person?

Look at the length-to-width ratio, symmetry, apparent size, sparkle, corner or tip protection and how the shape suits your preferred band. Two diamonds with the same named shape can still look very different.