A Guide On Diamond Shapes: How To Choose Diamond Shapes

When picking your engagement ring, there are lots to think about, one of which is which diamond shape to choose. The diamond shape describes the shape of the stone. The diamond shape you choose will depend on the wearer's style and is one of the most important decisions when choosing an engagement ring.

In this guide to popular diamond shapes, we'll introduce you to all of the shapes available for diamond engagement rings and how to choose the right diamond shape for you.

Different types of diamond shapes

Round Diamonds

The traditional and possibly the most popular diamond shape style, round brilliant diamonds are cut in a way to offer the most 'sparkle' or brilliance as it is commonly referred to. As a highly faceted shape, round diamonds reflect light in the most breath-taking way, which explains why they are one of the most popular diamond shapes.

Round brilliant-cut diamonds work well with a range of engagement ring settings, though we think they shine best when paired with a diamond set band or in a trilogy-style engagement ring setting.

Princess Diamonds

Princess-cut engagement rings are one of the most popular styles of the modern day. A contemporary shape, princess-cut diamonds can appear square or rectangular in shape, and are considered the square version of the traditional brilliant cut. A princess-cut stone, with at least 50 facets, captures the light beautifully, making it a popular choice for a solitaire-style engagement ring.

You can browse our collection of princess-cut engagement rings here.

Emerald Diamonds

A breath-taking art-deco style, the emerald-shaped diamond demands attention and is popular for its simple but statement style. Emerald diamonds are octagonal step-cut featuring rectangular facets that highlight the diamond's beauty and clarity.

Emerald diamonds are often featured in art-deco engagement ring settings and make for a beautiful statement ring.

Browse our collection of emerald-cut engagement rings here. Or why not get in touch to create your own bespoke emerald cut engagement ring.

Cushion Diamonds

Also referred to as the pillow-cut diamond, a cushion is a square or rectangular-shaped diamond with soft, rounded edges, giving it that soft pillow look effect. This diamond shape will lend itself well to any engagement ring style, though cushion cut diamonds work particularly well on a halo engagement ring setting.

Cushion-cut engagement ring fans may also like emerald-cut or princess-cut engagement rings.

Oval Diamonds

Oval engagement rings are a beautiful take on the classic round, featuring an elongated oval shape that can make your diamond seem larger than other shapes. Oval diamonds are also thought to make your fingers look longer!

Oval diamonds work well with most engagement ring settings, though due to the elongated nature of the shape, they can make choosing a matching wedding band a little more difficult. Make sure to keep an eye out for 'wedding fit' oval engagement rings to make pairing them with a band easier.

Browse our range of oval engagement rings here.

Pear-Shaped Diamonds

Pear-shaped diamonds are a unique diamond shape that has grown in popularity in recent years. Pear-shaped diamonds are again believed to make fingers look longer due to the elongated shape of the diamond.

We think that pear-shaped diamonds are most beautiful when paired with a halo engagement ring setting, adding extra sparkle to your engagement ring.

Browse our range of pear-shaped engagement rings here.

Heart Shaped Diamonds

Heart-shaped diamonds are for the true romantic. The classic symbol of love, heart-shaped diamonds are a rare and beautiful diamond cut. Perfect as a solitaire setting, with the unique cut doing all the talking, the heart-shaped diamond can also be set in a halo engagement ring setting for extra sparkle.

How to choose diamond shapes

With each diamond shape having its unique properties, you need to consider what matters most to you or your partner when choosing your diamond shape for your engagement ring.

If you're planning a surprise proposal, then consider your partner's current style to help choose your diamond shape. Does your partner have a classic style and have a lot of sparkle in their jewellery collection? The Round Brilliant Cut diamond would be a safe choice.

Or, if your partner has a more unique style, why not choose a pear-cut diamond? Our Aurelia engagement ring, featuring a yellow pear-shaped diamond, is the perfect choice for something a little different.

If you're shopping for your engagement ring together, one of the best ways to choose the perfect diamond shape is to visit a local jewellery shop, try on different cuts and different styles, and see which suits you the most.

Which diamond shapes sparkle the most?

Each diamond shape has its own unique features, and each will catch the light in different ways depending on its overall quality and the number of facets. Facets are the flat, polished surfaces on a diamond, and these are what reflect the light, giving the diamond its ability to 'sparkle'.

Traditionally, the Round Brilliant Cut diamond will have the most facets, meaning it should sparkle the most. Though this will be dependent on the overall quality.

If you're shopping on a budget, a way to add some more sparkle without spending quite as much on the main diamond is to choose a halo engagement ring setting, in which your main stone is bordered with multiple little diamonds.

Which diamond shape is the most popular?

Trends are always changing, and that's no different when it comes to popular diamond shapes. The traditional round brilliant cut diamond has always been popular, as the shape lends itself to all ring settings well and offers a lot of sparkle.

However, in recent years we have seen other diamond shapes growing in popularity as shoppers look for more unique rings.

If you're still unsure which diamond shape is for you, browse our full selection of engagement rings here for more inspiration.

Want to know more about how to choose your diamond shape or other important factors to consider when shopping for your engagement ring? Why not head over to our guide for more top tips on all things engagement and wedding.