Tips and Tricks

Is There a "Best" Diamond Shape | Rare Carat

Diamonds come in all different shapes and sizes and it's all up to personal preference which one is the best for you. Diamonds are cut and polished to be round or fancy cut. Some shapes are known to be more desirable than others, but all are versatile and can be combined to create gorgeous pieces of jewelry.

The shape of the diamond is usually the first characteristic that the eye sees when looking at a diamond piece.

Composite image showing round, oval, cushion, princess, emerald, radiant, asscher, marquise, heart, and pear diamonds lined up in two rows against a white background

Above you can see the classic diamond shapes and how they range in overall visual appeal. Asccher and Emerald cut stones are step cut and refract the light differently than a round or oval stone. Round stones have 58 facets and refract the most light making them the “sparkliest” while the facets in step cut stones are parallel to their rectangular form making the body of the stone sparkle in a more geometric way. A cushion cut stone has many qualities of a round while still keeping a relatively square or rectangular shape.

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The beauty of a diamond is subjective, but usually, after taking a look at a few options, you will know which diamond shape suits you best, and how to continue your search.

If you are finding that a modern, classic cut isn’t for you, no need to worry. There are several different older cut styles that are becoming popular again. Below you can see pictures of some examples. While we don't list these diamonds on our site, some of the retailers can source an old European or Old mine cut for you. Speak with a gemologist via chat to find out more!

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It is always important to make sure that whatever diamond shape you choose, it's cut to the highest standards to give you the most sparkle and shine possible (that's where the RC Ideal cut filter comes in)! Statistically, round, cushion, emerald and princess cuts are at the top of the list in terms of desirability, though there are many other diamond shapes in existence and combinations you can put together in case you can’t decide! Browse through all the different diamond shapes HERE or give one of our gemologists a shout for help picking out the perfect shape for you.

Sophie Lee
Sophie Lee
Sophie is a born diamond, gemstone and antique jewelry enthusiast. She began working with jewelry while living in Tel Aviv, earned her GIA AJP in 2020 and is currently a multimedia artist in NYC, specializing in paintings and jewelry that she produces and designs.