Forget the days when round brilliants reigned supreme! Today’s couples are shattering tradition and expressing their unique love stories through a dazzling array of diamond shapes. Today, elongated cushion cuts, bold emerald cuts, and romantic heart shapes are just a few of the unique diamond styles for ring settings that capture attention.
Each diamond shape has its own fascinating symbolism and optical properties that allow brides- and grooms-to-be to express their personal style.
An oval diamond evokes a graceful elegance, while an Asscher cut conveys an Art Deco flair. The possibilities are endless when you begin to explore the plethora of diamond shapes available beyond the classic rounds.
This article will showcase the 9 most popular diamond cuts and explain their unique characteristics. We’ll also provide tips on how to select the most flattering shape for your hand, lifestyle, and even your personality.
While round diamond rings may seem ubiquitous, their enduring popularity stems from various reasons. As the name implies, the 57-facet brilliant round-cut diamond was engineered to achieve the ultimate sparkle and light dispersion. Representing lasting love, the round cut also makes fingers appear longer and slimmer.
The round cut is timeless and embodies the quintessential diamond engagement ring. It reflects a bride who appreciates traditional styles and heritage.
Though a traditional choice, custom details like halo settings, diamond accents, cluster styles, and eternity band pairings can create a new flair.
Princess-cut diamonds dazzle with their geometric edges and strong lines. The square or rectangular cut has pointed corners that require flawless rough diamonds to avoid chipping while polishing. This makes the princess cut ideal for showing quality color comparisons; icy whites, pure blues, and pinks pop against the stone’s flat table.
The princess cut debuted in the mid-late 20th century, lending diamonds a stylishly contemporary look. Their sparkle factor suits confident modern brides seeking fashion-forward statement rings.
Cushion-cut diamonds earn their name from their plump, pillow-shaped facets. Rounded corners soften the outline into an appealing shape reminiscent of vintage styles. Cushion cuts saw their height of popularity in the early 1900s and 1920s. That romantic era makes them a perfect match for hopeless romantics and brides envisioning grand Gatsby-era affairs.
The cushion’s facets also conceal inclusions well while producing exquisite sparkle. Styling tip: pair with a split shank halo setting for a screen siren-worthy flare.
The graceful oval-cut diamond has an elongated shape that can create the illusion of longer, slimmer fingers. Their stretched outline also means they appear larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight. An amplified size and the oval’s elegant brilliance make it a glamorous statement choice befitting Hollywood starlets and fashion icons.
The oval shape isn’t as common as round cuts, so it reflects a confident bride who’s comfortable forging her own path and making unique choices. From everyday wear to special events, oval diamond rings convey a richness that spans times and places. Timelessly beautiful and far from ordinary, oval diamonds signal life’s precious moments.
Distinguished by long, straight columns of wide, parallel facets, emerald-cut diamonds dazzle with understated elegance. The optical effect created by the cut’s crisp lines and large flat table intensely radiates a diamond’s clarity and color.
Its origins link to Egyptian mummies and Cleopatra’s affection for the verdant stones. Emerald diamonds symbolically represent rebirth and growth associated with the planet Venus, ideally suited for spring brides. The emerald cut exudes a timeless elegance with a touch of Art Deco flair. It reflects a bride who appreciates classic design with a bold edge. The clean lines and geometric facets speak to a confident and strong personality.
Today, the iconic emerald cut is synonymous with the Art Deco style. It makes a glamorous fashion statement, especially when flanked by tapered baguettes in vintage platinum settings.
The dazzling pear-cut diamond takes its avocado shape from an innovative hybrid of oval and marquise cuts. Gracefully rounded on one end, pear shapes taper to a single point, reflecting the silhouette of a marquise, but the curves along its shoulders add dimension and softness.
18th-century European nobles loved pear-shaped gems for their elegance and femininity. Mary of Modena and Queen Victoria both wore pearls and pear diamonds together as a status symbol. Today, pear cuts lend an antique garden romance to modern wedding styles.
Their elongated outline complements long, slender fingers. A pear cut diamond ring is best suited for a bride who has a bold romantic spirit with a touch of whimsy.
Pears also create a brilliant sparkle effect thanks to their curved facets. No matter what the occasion, from bridesmaids’ luncheons to the main event, pear-shaped diamonds are perfect for the romantics.
Radiant cut diamonds were engineered as an affordable alternative to the coveted emerald cut. Featuring clipped corners with cropped sides, brilliant-style faceting gives radiant diamonds exceptional fire and brilliance. The perfect squares also come in dynamic rectangular variants.
Both square and rectangle radiant shapes suit settings from Art Deco to uber-modern. Unlike some cuts, radiant diamonds retain most of the rough gem’s original weight as their facets are shallower. This makes them cost-effective without compromising the signature dazzling radiance.
The radiant cut offers a unique take on the classic emerald cut, blending modern brilliance with a timeless elegance. This is perfect for a bride who appreciates tradition with a twist.
From bold solitaires to shoulder-grazing modern statement earrings, radiant diamonds let you shine bright day or night.
Distinctively kosher, Asscher cuts distinguish themselves by dramatically wide, octagonal-like facets resembling emerald cuts. Developed in 1902, the Asscher Company of Amsterdam patented this spectacular step cut. Only the master cutters at Asscher possess the secret techniques still used to create these signature gems.
More precisely cut than emerald shapes, Asschers contain nearly double the facets per inch to intensify their mesmerizing corridors of light. This impeccable faceting enhances clarity while conjuring visions of Old Hollywood allure and vintage Art Deco appeal. It suits a bride who is drawn to timeless elegance with a touch of mystery.
For contemporary cool, pair Asscher diamonds with sleek wedding bands or wear them in eternity rings.
Saving the most sentimental for last, heart-shaped diamonds speak volumes without saying anything. As the preeminent symbol associated with romantic love and marriage, heart-shaped gems make natural engagement ring centerpieces and wedding bands.
Specialized cutting preserves carat weight via a wide top bulge and cleft-like bottom point. This asymmetrical silhouette beautifully conveys that familiar emoticon shape. A heart-shaped diamond speaks volumes about a bride who is a hopeless romantic and prioritizes love and emotion.
Wear your heart on your finger proudly by selecting this most endearingly expressive diamond form.
Diamond wedding rings should reflect the uniqueness of your relationship. Round cuts evoke everlasting love, radiant shapes radiate joy, while Asscher cuts hark back to when your bond first sparked. Make the selection personal by considering your hand, lifestyle, and tastes. The setting can also complement the diamond’s form. Each diamond shape holds meaning, reflecting the journey and emotions that make your love story unique.
For a truly custom design that stands out, just as your partnership does, work with our jewelers at La Joya. Imagine new dimensional cuts or asymmetrical shapes. Incorporate gemstones that carry added meaning and eye-catching beauty. Your ring will be something you look upon every day for decades. Make it special with a tailor-made diamond that encapsulates your one-of-a-kind love – contact La Joya today.
The round brilliant diamond is the most durable shape for everyday wear engagement rings. The spherical shape with 58 facets distributes any impact evenly around the stone. Oval, cushion, emerald, and princess cuts also offer good durability.
Yes, diamond cuts determine the patterns and angles that break up light to produce brilliance and fire. Round diamonds tend to have exceptional sparkle, while emerald and Asscher cuts reflect light in larger flashes. Radiant and cushion cuts mix sparkle with scintillation.
Not necessarily. Mixing shapes can complement each other beautifully, like pairing a marquise solitaire with an eternity band of trilliants. But matching styles maintain symmetry for a luxe look. Choose bands with similarly sized stones.
Well-cut round and Oval diamonds tend to cost the most per carat. But among fancy shapes, high-clarity Asscher, Emerald, and Cushion cuts fetch higher prices for their intricacy. Larger diamonds of any shape also command premier pricing.
Absolutely! Many jewelry designers offer custom cutting that imagines unique asymmetric outlines or concave curves. Combining round, baguette, and trillion cuts also produces new shapes. Add engraving for even more personalization and symbolism to celebrate your love.
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