Overview

Round

princess

Cushion

Emerald

Asscher

Heart

Pear

Oval

Radiant

Marquise

The Shape of a Diamond

For diamonds to exhibit the dazzling fire and brilliance they are famous for, they must be skillfully fashioned into a variety of lovely shapes.

The most popular shape of all is the round or round brilliant. All other shapes are then referred to as fancy cuts. Some well-known shapes Damasci sells include marquise, princess, heart shaped and pear cut. There are several additional, more contemporary cuts and these include the cushion cut, the radiant, and the Asscher cut. It is important to note that there really is no correct shape. The most important factor is always what pleases the customer’s eye for beauty.

At Damasci, we offer diamonds of the highest quality and best price in a variety of sizes and fascinating shapes. Here is a brief summary of popular diamond shapes which are available for purchase at Damasci.
SHAPES

Round Brilliant Cut

The Round Brilliant is the most popular diamonds shape. With 58 facets, the cut is the most brilliant of all. Structured to maximize the light returning through the diamond, the round brilliant is considered more dazzling than any other shape on the market today.

Round brilliants tend to cost more than other shapes because in the initial cutting phase more of the rough stone is lost in the cutting process. As well, round brilliants are in exceptionally high demands.

Princess Cut

The Princess cut, with approximately 76 facets, is the most popular fancy cut after the round brilliant. It sacrifices some brilliance in order to achieve its characteristic square shape. This diamond tends to be somewhat lower in cost-per-carat than round brilliants because there is less wastage in the cutting and this translates into a lower cost to the consumer.

The princess cut is most often square in shape although some tend to have a rectangular look, lowering the cost somewhat. When cut to perfection, its brilliance and fire rivals the visual splendor of Round Brilliant.

Cushion Cut

This timeless shape, combining a square cut with rounded corners, with a certain romantic appeal, first appeared in the 1800’s. Like the round diamond, the cushion also contains 58 facets and until the 20th century it was the most popular shape in the world.

With modern refinements in cutting techniques, the cushion cut is now more brilliant then ever and is attracting buyers due to its modern yet vintage look.

Emerald Cut

This cut remains one of the most popular and is valued for the simplicity and elegance of its shape. The exceptional clarity of the Emerald or Step-Cut makes up for the fiery dazzle of the Round Brilliant cut.

The pavilion of the Emerald shape is cut with rectangular facets and creates a uniquely optical appearance due to its larger, open table. To select the best Emerald shape for you, explore the length-to width ratio to define the look from above.

Asscher Cut

The elegantly timeless, 74 faceted Asscher, is also referred to as the Square-Emerald-cut diamond. Similar to the modern emerald shape, the Asscher pavilion is cut with rectangular facets, creating a distinctive optical impression due to its large open table. With its cropped corners, the Asscher appears octagonal in shape at first glance, as well as shiny, bright and clear. The relative simplicity of the cut allows one to see through the diamond itself and inclusions tend to be easily visible. It is recommended that the client consider an Asscher-cut high in clarity or as flawless as possible. The Asscher shape is very appealing when surrounded by Round Brilliants.

Heart-Shaped Diamond

The heart shaped diamond, considered one of the most romantic in appeal, has long been a symbol of everlasting love. Popular both in pendants and rings, its symmetry is of great importance since both halves must be identical in appearance, with a distinct and sharply defined cleft. For pendants, customer prefers a slightly narrower silhouette and for solitaire rings a somewhat wider look is preferable. The heart shaped diamond, with 56 – 58 facets, is renowned for its superior brilliance.

Pear-Shaped Diamond

The 58 faceted Pear shaped diamond, resembling a tear drop, combines the classic Round Brilliant and Marquise shape. Having a single point and rounded end, the ideal pear shape is uniform and symmetrical with all lines being well curved. Containing the same number of facets as a round brilliant but unusual in shape, the play of light still dazzles the eye.

Selecting elongated proportions of a pear shape diamond creates a subtle slimming effect on the fingers. To better understand how the diamond ratios will appear when viewed face-up, refer to our diamond detail page. For the absolute classic look of a Pear shaped diamond, consider the length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and 1.70.

Oval Cut

Originally created in the 1960’s, the oval shape diamond is a modified Round Brilliant cut of beautifully symmetrical proportions. With 58 facets, the Oval diamond possesses both fire and brilliance, similar to the Round Brilliant. The oval diamond with its elongated shape tends to appear somewhat larger on a smaller hand while having a sliming effect on a larger hand, due to its pleasingly elongated shape.

The Oval cut may be of varying width and one’s final choice is a personal one. When surrounded on either side by diamonds, a narrower oval tends to have a pleasing effect on the eye. To determine the look of the diamond’s shape from above, refer to our diamond detailed page. For the most traditional look of a Oval shaped diamond, consider the length-to-width ratio between 1.33 and 1.65.

Radiant Cut

The 70 faceted Radiant shaped diamond was first introduced in 1977 by Henry Grossbard. With slightly cropped corners it contains aspects of both the ever-popular Princess cut and the vintage Cushion cut. The radiant diamond has a brilliant cut similar to the round brilliant, creating a shimmering effect. The Radiant shape is very appealing when set alongside round or baguette shaped diamonds. The shape can vary in its rectangularity. To achieve the look you prefer, explore the length-to-width ration on each diamond’s detail page. This will aid in your understanding in how the diamond will appear viewed from above. If you are looking for a square Radiant cut, explore the length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If a rectangular Radiant cut is your preference, then explore length-to-width ratios greater than 1.10.

Marquise-Shaped Diamond

This classic 58 faceted oblong boat-shaped diamond is considered one of the most flattering and distinctive on the market today. Legend has it that’s the French King Louis XIV had the shape originally created for Madame de Pompadour to resemble her perfectly proportioned mouth.

A stunning visual effect is created when the marquise diamond is set with round brilliants or pear shaped diamonds. Because of its uniquely elongated shape, fingers tend to appear long and slender when adorned with a Marquise diamond. As well, the diamond cutter can maximize the carat weight, offering you a much larger look.

To further explore the dimensions and better understand the diamond outline viewed from above, refer to the length-to-width ratio on our diamond detail page. A ratio between 1.75 and 2.25 offers the most classic marquise-cut diamond look.