Diamond Shapes: A Fast Buyer’s Guide
Choosing a diamond shape changes how your ring looks, feels and performs. This guide explains the most popular shapes available at London Diamonds and how to pick the one that suits your hand, style and budget.
Which diamond shapes does London Diamonds offer?
London Diamonds offers oval, radiant, cushion, elongated cushion, round, pear, emerald, marquise, princess, heart and Asscher shapes. Each delivers a distinct balance of sparkle, size appearance and style.
Which diamond shape looks largest for its carat?
Elongated shapes such as oval, marquise, pear and elongated cushion carry more spread on the finger, so they often appear larger than a round of the same carat weight.
What is an oval diamond?
An oval is a rounded, elongated brilliant cut. It has lively sparkle with a finger-flattering lengthening effect and typically offers good value per millimetre of face-up size.
What is a radiant diamond?
A radiant is a rectangular or square brilliant cut with trimmed corners. It combines sharp lines with high scintillation and hides inclusions and colour better than many step cuts.
What is a cushion diamond?
A cushion has soft, rounded corners and either chunky or crushed-ice style facets. It gives romantic sparkle and suits vintage and modern settings alike.
What is an elongated cushion diamond?
An elongated cushion stretches the classic cushion outline. It blends the graceful look of an oval with the pillowy corners of a cushion for a refined, finger-lengthening profile.
What is a round diamond?
The round brilliant is the most popular cut with 57 or 58 facets designed for maximum light return. It offers consistent sparkle, easy matching and strong resale demand.
What is a pear diamond?
A pear combines a rounded end with a tapered point. It lengthens the finger and offers a unique, graceful silhouette that looks striking in solitaire and halo designs.
What is an emerald-cut diamond?
An emerald cut is a rectangular step cut with long parallel facets and clipped corners. It delivers a hall-of-mirrors look with elegant flashes and rewards higher clarity.
What is a marquise diamond?
A marquise is an elongated shape with pointed ends. It maximises spread, creating dramatic finger coverage and a vintage-inspired look that stands out.
What is a princess-cut diamond?
A princess cut is a square brilliant cut with sharp corners. It delivers modern geometry and bright sparkle, often priced competitively per carat.
What is a heart-shaped diamond?
A heart cut is a romantic brilliant shape with a defined cleft and symmetrical lobes. Precision symmetry matters for beauty and balance.
What is an Asscher-cut diamond?
An Asscher is a square step cut with large step facets and a deep pavilion. It shows bold, structured flashes and suits clean, architectural designs.
Which settings work best by shape?
Rounds and ovals excel in solitaires, halos and pavé. Radiant, princess and cushion cuts suit solitaires, halos and three-stone styles. Emerald and Asscher cuts pair well with sleek solitaires, baguette sides and bezel settings. Pear and marquise shapes benefit from protective prongs at the points.
Which shapes hide colour or inclusions best?
Brilliant cuts such as round, oval, radiant, pear and cushion disguise minor inclusions and warmth more readily. Step cuts like emerald and Asscher show clarity and colour more directly, so consider higher grades.
Which shapes sparkle the most?
Round brilliants usually show the highest overall sparkle. Radiant, oval, pear and cushion follow closely, delivering lively scintillation in varied lighting.
Which shapes are the most durable for everyday wear?
All diamond shapes are durable, yet points and sharp corners are more exposed. Pear, marquise and princess cuts benefit from protective prongs or bezel details to reduce the chance of chipping.
Ready to see these shapes on your hand? Explore diamond shapes at London Diamonds: https://londondiamonds.com/pages/diamond-shapes