There is only a handful of diamond cuts known to us. Some are classic, others vintage and the rest fancy, or that is how they are broadly divided to our knowledge. Some of them you may have heard of already, even own some. However, for the sake of better understanding, let’s make a list of all kinds of diamond shapes there are and talk a bit about them as we go.
Round: First up is the round-cut, the king of all cuts. It is by far, the favorite of all. About 75% of the diamonds that are sold in the market all over the world is round cut. So, you can imagine. It is incredibly sparkly which it owes to its circular shape that reflects maximum light. It is the most visually appealing cut a diamond can have.
Cushion: This classic, pillow-like cut is loved for its unique shape. It is the closest cut to a princess cut, yet so definitely different. The cut came up in the 20th century, but faded in popularity until some years when it returned back to the public eye.
Marquise: A visually interesting cut, the closet thing resembling a Marquise-cut diamond is an American football. Its slender shape gives it a visual advantage above other fancy cuts. Originally devised in the 19th Century, it is said that the cut was designed to mimic the lips of Marquise de Pompadour, the beautiful mistress of King Louis VX.
Princess: After that, we have the princes cut, which as most of you already know, is a square shaped cut with pointy corners. Invented in 1980 by an Israeli designer Bez Ambar, the cut shot to popularity as soon as it hit the market. Today, it seconds round-cut diamonds in popularity.
Pear: The pear cut resembles teardrop. When put on a ring, a pear-cut diamond should ideally face upward with its pointed end facing the fingertip. However, it is also worn the other way around.
Emerald: Named for the emeralds that first came to be shaped in this cut, an emerald cut is recognized by its step cuts and wide rectangular table.
Oval: A hallmark of vintage jewelry, this one comes in many different proportions. The beauty of this cut is that it makes fingers appear longer and thinner, something that can be compared to the effect produced by the Marquise cut.
Asscher: A discovery of the Asscher brothers from Holland, this one quite close to an emerald cut, except that it’s square.
Radiant: Again close to the Asscher cut, this one has broken corners like the cushion cut. Radiant cuts occur in both square and rectangular shapes.
Heart: Often picked for engagement rings, a heart-cut diamond is the universal symbol of love. Unlike the popular belief, the heart cut has been around for hundreds of years now.
Trillion: The least known cut of all is a trillion cut, also referred to as the trilliant. It is a triangular shaped cut that is known for its untraditional looks.
