The shape of the center diamond defines the whole look of an engagement ring. Each shape has its own personality, its own kind of sparkle, and even changes how large the diamond looks on the hand. Here's how the most popular shapes compare.
Round brilliant
The classic, and the most brilliant of all shapes. Its 57 or 58 facets are designed to return as much light as possible. Round diamonds suit every setting style and never date.
Best for: maximum sparkle and timeless style.
Oval
An elongated brilliant shape with sparkle close to a round diamond. Ovals look larger than a round diamond of the same carat weight and flatter the finger by making it look longer and slimmer.
Best for: a bigger look for your budget, and a modern classic feel.
Emerald
A rectangular step cut with long, mirror-like facets. Instead of sparkling fire, it gives flashes of light and a "hall of mirrors" effect. Because it's so open, clarity shows more, so choose an eye-clean grade.
Best for: understated, architectural elegance.
Pear
Part round, part marquise, with a rounded end and a point. Pear diamonds look graceful and elongating, and can be worn point up or point down. A setting with a prong at the tip protects the point.
Best for: romantic, distinctive style.
Cushion
A square or slightly rectangular shape with soft, rounded corners, like a pillow. Cushion cuts have a soft, vintage-inspired glow and are often paired with a halo.
Best for: vintage romance and soft sparkle.
Princess
A square brilliant cut with sharp corners and lots of sparkle. Crisp and contemporary, it suits solitaires and three-stone designs. Prongs on the corners protect the points.
Best for: modern, clean lines with brilliance.
Radiant
A rectangle or square with cropped corners that combines the outline of an emerald cut with the sparkle of a brilliant cut. Radiant diamonds are lively and durable.
Best for: sparkle with a geometric outline.
Marquise
A long, boat-shaped diamond with two points. Marquise diamonds have one of the largest face-up areas for their weight and a striking vintage character.
Best for: a bold, statement look.
Asscher and heart
The asscher is a square step cut with a windmill-like pattern of facets, an Art Deco favorite. The heart is the most romantic shape of all, best in larger sizes where its outline is clear.
Which shape looks biggest?
For the same carat weight, elongated shapes such as marquise, oval and pear usually look largest face-up, followed by round. Step cuts like emerald and asscher can look smaller because more of their weight sits deeper in the stone.
How to choose
- Look at the jewelry she already wears: classic, modern, vintage or bold?
- Elongated shapes flatter shorter fingers; rounder shapes suit every hand.
- Remember that shape and setting work together. A halo makes any shape look larger, while a three-stone design adds meaning and sparkle. See our guide to three-stone and toi et moi rings.
The easiest way to decide is to compare them. In the LUXEIGA ring builder you can switch between shapes on any design in 3D, or see real diamond shapes side by side on a free video call.