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Different Diamond shapes pros and cons the complete guide
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Jun 02, 2023
Diamonds
Different Diamond shapes pros and cons the complete guide
As first-time diamond purchasers, it can be challenging to navigate the various different shapes and understand each shape's unique advantages and drawbacks. Unfortunately, so much false and misleading information online is spread by companies trying to promote certain shapes. The reasons can range from trying to create new trends, getting rid of slow- moving stock, or increasing profit margins. Taking this into account, our gemmologists put together this easy-to-understand guide to help you figure out which diamond shape is best for you.
Our gemologists, with their extensive industry experience and unbiased perspective, are here to help you make the right decision by detailing both the advantages and disadvantages of each diamond shape and summarizing exactly under which circumstances you should go for them.

 

ROUND BRILLIANT


To begin, let's take a look at our most popular shape, the round brilliant shape.


Pros:
  • Round diamonds sparkle the brightest among all the shapes because the way the facets are cut allows them to reflect the most light.
  • With round diamonds always in plentiful stock, customers have more options to choose from.
  • Diamonds of the round shape are timeless and will never go out of fashion, whereas all the other shapes will come and go once in a while.
  • The round shape makes them an excellent choice for solitaire rings.
Cons:
  • Round brilliant shape is more expensive than any other shapes, by around 20-30%. When creating a round cut, there is always a waste of rough diamonds, and they are also always in high demand, so they are more expensive than other stones, which have periodic rises and falls in popularity.

 

Oval


Pros: 
  • Among all the shapes, ovals appear the biggest. They are shallow and elongated, thus making the diamond's spread much larger from the top. A typical oval diamond appears 12-20% larger than a round diamond.
  • Due to less wastage when cutting rough diamonds, they are roughly 15-25% less expensive than round diamonds.
  • Oval cut stones offer a great alternative to traditional round stones, and they are a good budget-friendly option for getting a larger stone for the same budget.

Cons:
  • The diamond loses sparkle in the middle. As a result of the diamond's elongated shape, it has fewer facets in the middle. In some ovals, the middle of the oval dims suddenly and quite noticeably, which is called the "bow tie" effect.

Note:  Some diamonds have it, while others don't.

 

  • Tip: Make sure you limit your choices to the diamonds on our "available in showroom" or "recommended" list, as our gemmologists have already handpicked oval diamonds that don't have bow ties.
  • Tip: Avoid sites that sell cheap oval diamonds, especially in the US. There is a reason why those diamonds are cheap; they usually have large bow ties and are often called "reject" diamonds by industry insiders.

We have a large number of oval diamonds in our collection, making it easy for you to select the perfect diamond in the size and ratio that suits your needs. If we do not currently have what you are looking for, our gemmologists will find it for you from suppliers.
Different Diamond shapes pros and cons the complete guide

Pear


Pros: 
  • Similar to ovals, pear shapes look bigger than all other shapes beside ovals. Because they are shallow and one side is elongated, the spread of the diamond is much more significant from the top. In general, pears appear to be 12-22% larger than round diamonds.
  • They are roughly 20-25% less expensive than round diamonds because less waste is generated when they are cut.
  • The pear shape works well with solitaire rings.
 Cons:
  • As a result of its elongated shape on one side, the diamond has fewer facets in the middle, leading to a loss of sparkle in the middle. An effect called a "bow tie" occurs when it becomes very noticeable.

Note:  It's not very common.

  • Tip:    Choose a diamond from our "available in showroom" or "recommended" diamond list; our gemmologists have already carefully selected pear diamonds with minimal or no bow ties.

 

Cushion

 
Pros: 
  • There is about 20-25% less waste produced from the rough diamond when cut, leading to their lower price.
  • It's an excellent option for halo-style rings.
 Cons:
  • Due to their depth, they appear smaller than other shapes at the same carat weight.

 

Emerald

 

Pros:
  • Their price is approximately 20-25% lower than round diamonds due to less wastage from rough diamonds.
  • Emerald shapes go well with solitaire rings.
Cons:
  • There is a loss of sparkle overall because of the way the facets are cut.
  • Since they have more weight in their bodies than round diamonds, they tend to be smaller. The fact that emerald-cut diamonds are see-through means that you should select a higher clarity level than other shapes if you want the same result.

 

Princess

 
Pros:
  • Since there is less wastage from the rough diamond, they are roughly 20-30% cheaper than round diamonds.
Cons:
  • A princess cut is the smallest of all shapes due to its heavy body weight and depth; when compared to a round cut, it appears around 10% smaller.
  • Despite their many facets, they don't sparkle as much as others due to the alignment of the facets causing a loss of light reflection.
  • Tip:    Princess cut diamonds are typically square; however, they are sometimes slightly rectangular. You can check the dimensions from our website or contact us, and we can do it for you.

 

Radiant

 
Pros:
  • As a result of less wastage from the rough diamond, they are typically 20-25% cheaper than round diamonds.
 Cons:
  • Besides that, there isn't anything worth mentioning.
  • Tip:    Radiant cuts can be very rectangular (elongated). Make sure the easurements are acceptable to you, or reach out to us so we can take a look at them for you.

 

Asscher


Pros:
  • Due to the reduced amount of waste during cutting, they are roughly 20-30% cheaper than round diamonds.
 Cons:
  • Because they have fewer facets, they don't sparkle as much as other shapes.
  • They appear smaller in size because they carry more weight in the body than most shapes.
  • There is a limited supply due to low demand.

 

Marquise 

 
Pros:
  • Marquise shapes, along with ovals and pears, appear the biggest out of all shapes. This is because the shape is shallow and elongated. Marquise diamonds, when compared to round diamonds of equal weight, tend to appear 25% larger on average.
Cons:
  • There is a limited selection available in lab grown stock. In order to cut out this shape from the rough, manufacturers suffer from a great deal of waste; basically, this shape is not economically feasible for manufacture, which may result in an increase in price.
  • Additionally, finding an engagement ring design can be challenging due to this diamond's uncommon shape.

 

General Tips 

  • Tip:    If you're unsure which diamond shape to choose, opt for a round one since it's the safest bet.
  • Tip:   If you're on a tight budget, try a diamond shape other than round for a bigger one; round diamonds are the most expensive.
  • Tip:   If you want your diamond to appear as big as possible, choose an oval or pear shape.
  • Tip: If you are interested in princess cuts, please remember that princess cut diamonds look the smallest out of all shapes. Generally, princess cuts look about 10% smaller than round diamonds due to their deep cut and extra weight being stored in the body.
  • Tip:    Don't see what you're looking for? Let our gemmologist know what you need, and they'll source it for you.
 
Different Diamond shapes pros and cons the complete guide

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