Diamond Shapes
Discover the distinctive beauty, character and brilliance of every diamond shape.
Diamond shape is one of the most recognisable characteristics of a diamond and one of the most personal choices you'll make. While every diamond shares the same remarkable composition, each shape possesses its own distinctive proportions, personality and character. Understanding these differences will help you choose a diamond whose beauty reflects not only the light, but your individual style.
Understanding Diamond Shapes
A diamond's shape describes its overall outline and is one of its most distinctive visual characteristics. From the timeless Round Brilliant to the elegant Pear and sophisticated Emerald, each shape has its own unique proportions, personality and way of interacting with light.
While shape defines a diamond's outline, cut refers to the precision of its proportions and facets, determining how effectively it reflects and return light. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they describe two distinct aspects of a diamond's beauty.
Understanding the difference between shape and cut provides the foundation for choosing a diamond that not only looks beautiful but also reflects your individual style.
The Three Faceting Styles
Every diamond is crafted using a particular faceting style, which determines how its facets are arranged and how the stone interacts with light. While a diamond's shape defines its overall outline, its faceting style influences its visual character and the way it reflects light.
Brilliant Faceting
Designed to maximise the return of light, brilliant faceting uses precisely arranged triangular and kite-shaped facets to create exceptional brilliance, fire and scintillation. This faceting style is used in many of the world's most popular diamond shapes, including Round, Oval, Pear, Princess, Cushion, Marquise, Radiant and Heart.
Step Faceting
Step faceting is distinguished by long, parallel facets arranged in clean, geometric rows. Rather than producing intense sparkle, it creates broad flashes of light that showcase exceptional clarity, elegant symmetry and refined architectural beauty. Emerald and Asscher are the best-known examples of this faceting style.
Old Faceting
Developed before modern cutting technology, old faceting was crafted entirely by hand and is admired for its vintage character and romantic appeal. With higher crowns, larger facets and a softer, more subtle sparkle, these historic cutting styles continue to inspire those who appreciate antique jewellery and timeless craftsmanship.
Brilliant-Cut Shapes
Brilliant-cut diamonds are designed to maximise the return of light, creating exceptional brilliance, fire and scintillation. While every shape shares the same faceting style, each has its own distinctive proportions, personality and visual character.
Round Brilliant
The Round Brilliant is the most iconic and widely recognised of all diamond shapes. Expertly crafted with 57 or 58 precisely arranged facets (depending on whether the culet is present), it is designed to maximise the return of light, creating exceptional brilliance, fire and scintillation. Its perfectly balanced proportions have established it as the benchmark against which all other diamond shapes are measured, while its timeless elegance continues to make it the definitive choice for those seeking classic beauty and unrivalled sparkle.
Oval
Elegant and effortlessly contemporary, the Oval diamond retains the exceptional brilliance of the Round Brilliant while introducing a graceful elongated silhouette. Its refined proportions create the illusion of greater size and beautifully elongate the finger, making it a sophisticated choice for those seeking a modern expression of a timeless classic.
Cushion
Recognisable by its softly rounded corners and pillow-like outline, the Cushion diamond combines vintage character with contemporary elegance. Its larger facets create broader flashes of light than the Round Brilliant, resulting in a softer, more romantic play of light that has captivated jewellery lovers for generations.
Contemporary Diamond Shapes
Defined by clean lines, striking geometry and distinctive proportions, these shapes offer a refined alternative to more traditional silhouettes. From crisp geometric silhouettes to bold architectural forms, each has its own unique character while showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and distinctive light performance.
Princess
The Princess diamond is celebrated for its crisp square silhouette and exceptional brilliance. Its precisely arranged facets maximise the return of light, while its clean geometric lines create a distinctly contemporary aesthetic. Combining modern styling with remarkable sparkle, it has become one of the most popular alternatives to the Round Brilliant.
Radiant
The Radiant diamond combines the elegant outline of the Emerald with the exceptional sparkle of brilliant faceting. Its cropped corners and carefully arranged facets enhance its bold architectural silhouette, creating a diamond that feels both contemporary and full of character.
Asscher
Instantly recognisable by its perfectly proportioned square shape and deeply stepped facets, the Asscher diamond offers a striking balance of symmetry and sophistication. Rather than prioritising brilliance, it produces broad flashes of light and a captivating hall-of-mirrors effect, making it a favourite for those drawn to understated elegance and Art Deco design.
Distinctive Diamond Shapes
Celebrated for their individuality, these shapes move beyond traditional silhouettes to create a look that is both distinctive and expressive. From graceful elongated profiles to striking geometric forms, each offers its own unique character while bringing a bold sense of personality to any design.
Marquise
The Marquise diamond is distinguished by its elegant elongated silhouette and pointed ends, creating the illusion of greater size while elegantly elongating the finger. Its graceful proportions and dramatic profile make it a striking choice for those seeking a diamond with timeless character and unmistakable presence.
Trillion
With its bold triangular silhouette and sharp, contemporary lines, the Trillion diamond offers a distinctive alternative to more traditional shapes. Brilliant-cut facets deliver exceptional light performance, while its geometric form creates a confident, modern aesthetic. Whether showcased as a striking centre stone or an elegant accent, the Trillion brings individuality, energy and a contemporary edge to any design.
Baguette
The Baguette diamond is defined by its long rectangular silhouette and elegant step-cut facets. Rather than prioritising brilliance, it produces subtle flashes of light that highlight clarity, symmetry and clean architectural lines. Often used as accent stones alongside larger diamonds, Baguettes are admired for their refined simplicity and timeless sophistication.
Elegant Diamond Shapes
Elegant diamond shapes each offer a distinctive interpretation of timeless beauty. From graceful curves to clean architectural lines, each is admired for its refined proportions, individual character and enduring appeal.
Heart
The Heart diamond is the ultimate symbol of love, recognised for its iconic silhouette and enduring romantic appeal. One of the most technically challenging diamond shapes to create, it requires exceptional precision to achieve perfect symmetry and beautifully balanced curves. The result is a diamond that is both deeply meaningful and unmistakably distinctive.
Emerald
Defined by its elongated rectangular outline and elegant step-cut facets, the Emerald diamond celebrates clarity, symmetry and refined simplicity. Its broad, open table creates the signature hall-of-mirrors effect, producing elegant flashes of light rather than intense sparkle. Sophisticated and timeless, it remains a favourite for those who appreciate understated luxury.
Pear
Combining the brilliance of the Round Brilliant with the elegant silhouette of the Marquise, the Pear diamond offers a graceful balance of sparkle and sophistication. Its distinctive teardrop shape creates the illusion of length, beautifully elongating the finger while offering a timeless interpretation of contemporary elegance.
Choosing with Confidence
Finding Your Perfect Shape
Choosing a diamond shape is one of the most personal decisions you'll make. While every diamond is crafted from the same remarkable material, each possesses its own distinctive proportions, personality and way of interacting with light.
Some shapes are celebrated for exceptional brilliance, while others are admired for elegant symmetry, bold geometry or the illusion of greater size. There is no single "best" shape - only the one that reflects your individual style, personality and the story you want your jewellery to tell.
By understanding the unique characteristics of each shape, you can choose with confidence, knowing your diamond is as distinctive as the moments it will come to represent.