All ten shapes
Diamond shapes, ranked.
Round is most popular and most expensive. Marquise covers the most finger per carat. Emerald shows clarity flaws. Pick the shape, then the budget — not the other way.
The default. The benchmark.
round
The round brilliant cut accounts for 70% of all diamond engagement rings. Here's the optical math, the pricing premium, and when a fancy shape is a better choice.
Square, modern, mid-priced
princess
Square shape with brilliant-cut faceting. 15-20% cheaper than round per carat. Sharp corners chip easily — settings matter.
Bigger-looking, lower-priced
oval
Elongated brilliant cut that wears larger than its carat weight. 12-18% less than round per carat. Watch for the bowtie effect.
The pillow shape
cushion
Square or rectangular with rounded corners. Vintage-modern look. 15-20% less than round.
Long lines, clean light
emerald
Rectangular step-cut with long parallel facets. Cleaner, more reflective, less sparkly than brilliants. Shows clarity flaws — buy VS1 or higher.
Teardrop, dramatic, slimming
pear
Teardrop-shaped brilliant cut. Looks much larger than its carat weight. Watch for bowtie and orientation.
Most finger coverage in any shape
marquise
Football-shaped brilliant cut. Maximum finger coverage. Two sharp points need protection.
Square emerald, Art Deco
asscher
Square step-cut, designed 1902. Hall-of-mirrors look like emerald cut. Iconic Art Deco shape.
Brilliant in a rectangular outline
radiant
Square or rectangular shape with brilliant-cut faceting. Combines emerald outline with round-brilliant sparkle.
Symbolic, demanding
heart
Heart-shaped brilliant cut. Distinctive and romantic. Symmetry is everything — uneven hearts look bad.