Diamond Shapes
From classic round brilliants to modern fancy shapes — find the silhouette that speaks to you.
Diamond shape is the first thing people notice about a stone. While cut refers to how well a diamond's facets interact with light, shape refers to the stone's outline when viewed from above. Each shape has its own character, faceting pattern, and optical personality.
The round brilliant is by far the most popular shape, accounting for roughly 75% of all diamonds sold. However, fancy shapes (everything other than round) have surged in popularity, offering distinctive aesthetics and often better value per carat.
The 10 Most Popular Diamond Shapes
The most popular and brilliant diamond shape. With 57 or 58 precisely angled facets, the round brilliant is engineered to maximize light return. Its symmetrical form delivers unmatched brilliance, fire, and scintillation. Ideal for every jewelry type, from solitaire engagement rings to diamond stud earrings.
A square shape with pointed corners and brilliant-style faceting. The princess cut offers nearly the same brilliance as a round but in a contemporary geometric silhouette. It's the second most popular shape for engagement rings. Choose a protective four-prong setting to shield the pointed corners.
A softened square or rectangular outline with rounded corners, reminiscent of a pillow (hence the name). The cushion cut has large facets that showcase the diamond's clarity and produce broad flashes of light. Available in both standard and modified brilliant faceting patterns.
An elongated brilliant cut that creates the illusion of greater size per carat than a round. Its elongated shape also flatters the finger, making it look longer and more slender. Be aware of the "bowtie effect" — a dark shadow across the center that varies with cut quality.
A rectangular shape with cropped corners and parallel "step cut" facets that create a hall-of-mirrors effect. Rather than sparkle, the emerald cut produces dramatic flashes of light and dark. Its large, open table emphasizes clarity — aim for VS2 or higher.
A teardrop shape that combines the brilliance of a round with the elongation of a marquise. Extremely versatile — worn with the point facing up, it elongates the finger; facing down, it creates a unique look. Popular for pendants, earrings, and solitaire rings alike.
A boat-shaped diamond with pointed ends that delivers the largest face-up area of any shape per carat. Its elongated form makes fingers look longer. Protect the pointed tips with V-prong settings. Best in length-to-width ratios of 1.75:1 to 2.25:1.
A rectangular or square shape that combines the elegant outline of an emerald cut with the brilliance of a round. Its trimmed corners make it durable and versatile in settings. Radiants are especially effective at masking body color, making them ideal for near-colorless grades.
A square step cut with deeply trimmed corners that create an almost octagonal appearance. Named after Joseph Asscher who created the shape in 1902. Its concentric square facets draw the eye deep into the stone. Like emerald cuts, high clarity (VS2+) is recommended.
The ultimate symbol of romance. A heart-shaped diamond requires exceptional cutting skill to achieve perfect symmetry between the two lobes. Best in sizes above 0.50 carat where the shape is clearly defined. Popular for pendants and anniversary rings.
Anatomy of a Diamond
Regardless of shape, every diamond shares the same basic anatomy. Understanding these terms will help you read a lab certificate and compare stones with confidence:
Diamond Anatomy
| Part | Location | Description |
|---|
| Table | Top | The largest polished facet on the top of the diamond. Light enters and exits primarily through the table. Measured as a percentage of the diamond's diameter. |
| Crown | Upper | The top portion of the diamond, extending from the table to the girdle. The crown's angle controls the balance between brilliance and fire. |
| Girdle | Middle | The widest edge of the diamond where the crown meets the pavilion. Can be faceted, polished, or bruted (unpolished). Prongs grip the diamond here. |
| Pavilion | Lower | The bottom portion of the diamond, from the girdle down to the culet. The pavilion's angle is critical for reflecting light back up through the crown. |
| Culet | Bottom | The tiny facet (or point) at the very bottom of the diamond. Ideally, it should be very small or pointed so it doesn't create a visible "hole" when viewed through the table. |
| Depth | Overall | The total height from table to culet, expressed as a percentage of diameter. Affects how the diamond faces up and how much weight is visible. |
| Diameter | Width | The width of the diamond measured edge to edge through the girdle. Along with depth, it determines how large the diamond appears face-up. |
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