Top 5 Diamond Shapes!
Thinking of getting engaged? Before you pop “the question” we always suggest doing a little “reconnaissance”! Usually asking a friend or even dropping a hint to see which diamond shape is her favorite. After all diamond comes in all shapes and sizes!
A diamond can be cut into all most any shape, we sold horse shaped diamonds and even a batman logo diamond! But there are 10 shapes that are the most popular: round, cushion, oval, emerald, radiant, asscher, princess, pear, heart and marquise. Below you will find a deep dive into the top 5!
In our showroom in Oceanside, NY along with our website we have helped hundreds of brides choose the perfect diamond. With that extensive knowledge of diamond trends, we give you this year’s top diamond shape trends...
1. Round- Still takes the top spot. According to GIA, more than 60% of couples choose a round diamond for their center stone. The round cut has been around since the 1800’s making it by far the most popular year after year. The round brilliant diamonds you see today were first cut by Russian mathematician Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. He helped the cut evolve to an ideal diamond faceting of 58 facets. The results is a diamond cut to maximize fire and brilliance by reflecting light at optimal angles. Today the shape has evolve to include even more facets in specialty cut rounds, as seen in our SVS Signature 101 diamond that features over 101 facets to capture the ultimate fire and brilliance.
Due to the amount of diamond rough lost during cutting, the round shape is also one of the most expensive shapes. It is estimated 250 tons of earth is shifted for every single 1 carat diamond cut.
Celebrities who rock the round stone: Olivia Wilde, HRH Beatrice of York, Miranda Kerr
Shop for your perfect round diamond: HERE
2. Cushion- This cut has been around for almost 200 years. Once referred to as an old mine cut is the combination of a square cut with rounded corners. Most cushions resemble a pillow hence the name the cushion cut! The cushion cut resurgence has taken hold due its popularity on Instagram. Many brides are attracted to the antique feel of the cut combined with new modern cutting techniques that give newer cushions improved brilliance.
More than any other shape cushion cuts vary greatly. Depending on the ratio of the cushion cut it can appear square or elongated. This is why buying a diamond requires many factors besides just shape. In our future blog post you will better understand cut and how it dictates a diamonds overall beauty.
Celebrities who rock cushion shapes: Sofia Vergara, Kim Kardashian, Meghan Markle
Shop for your perfect cushion diamond: HERE
3. Oval- Another cut that has been around since the 14th century. Perfected by Jewelers International Hall of Fame member Lazare Kaplan. This stunning elongated cut can flash as much fire as a round cut with its 58 facets.
One of the reasons it has boomed in popularity again is the average 1 carat oval diamond has 10% larger surface area than the average 1 carat round diamond making it appear larger. Ovals also tend to be priced a little less than their round counterparts making it a popular option.
When searching for the perfect oval be sure to use a diamond expert to help you because oval diamond can be difficult to find in the correct proportions. An oval with too much depth or not enough can give the dreaded bow-tie effect.
Celebrities who rock oval stones: Blake Lively, Hailey Baldwin, HRH Kate Middleton
Shop for your perfect oval diamond: HERE
4. Emerald Cut- This cut has been around since the 1500's. Emerald cut diamonds are bold and classic. They allow the wearer to show the true quality of their gem. Since an emerald cut diamond features a step cut (parallel lines that runnning along the length) the alignment of its facets create a beautiful "hall of mirrors" effect showing off a diamonds clarity.
Emerald cut diamonds usually have 57 to 58 facets. Brides love that emerald cut dimaond do appear larger than other cuts because it is an elongated stone. Emerald cuts often make your finger look more slender and longer too!
When searching for your perfect Emerald Cut diamond make sure you use a diamond expert to help you because Emerald Cuts can vary wildly in proportions. We suggest Emerald Cuts with ratios between 1.44 to 1.56. The Emerald Cut depth is also very important because without the correct ratios it will effect how much light the stone reflects.
Celebrities who rock Emerald Cut stones: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Amal Clooney
Shop for your perfect Emerald Cut diamond: HERE
5. Radiant Cut- Newer to the scene than the top 4 mentioned above. The radiant cut first became popular during the disco era of the 70's. The cut itself is a form of a hybrid, similiar to the princess cut and an emerald cut. This allows a radiant cut to have some of the most fire and sparkle of any cut on the market.
Radiant cuts do not hold official "cut" grades, this is why when choosing the perfect diamond for you, it is best to use a diamond expert who can help you compare stones side by side. Finding the correct shape is also tricky. Some brides love a square cut radiant and others love the look of an elongated radiant on the finger. Another factor that requires you to see the stone in person before you decide is the bowtie effect. Much like ovals, pears and marquise cut stones, radiant have a bowtie. The bowtie effect is larger are poorly cut stones causing a darker bowtie. This is why choosing a diamond with an expert in person is always more important compared just shopping online looking at "paper" i.e. lab reports. While lab reports are important, the true "life" of the stone needs to be evaluated in person.
Celebrities who rock Radiant Cut stones: Brittany Matthews, Draya Michele, Jennifer Lawrence
Shop for your perfect Radiant Cut diamond here: HERE
These top 5 shapes have been brides go-to shapes over this last year but they are not the only ones- asscher, princess, pear and marquise cuts are also stunning diamond shape choices! Our team of experts are ready to help you find the right diamond in your budget - Shop all shaped diamonds: HERE