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Shape is one of the key features, which make diamonds radiate magnificence. The choice of the shape depends on the person’s liking and tastes, and there are some major shapes are available. There is a difference in the shape and the cut of a diamond, with cut referring to the reflection, refraction and dispersion of light to maximize its brilliance.

• Round Shape

With 75% of diamonds purchased today being a round brilliant cut shape, these are by far the most popular and well known of the diamond shapes. The pursuit by diamond craftsmen over the last 100 years for the maximum fire and brilliance in a round diamond culminated in the round brilliant cut diamond.

The 58 facets of this diamond, divided among its crown (top), girdle (middle band) and pavilion (base), are calibrated according to a precise formula to create a maximum fire and brilliance, unmatched by any other diamond cut.

Round brilliant cut diamonds are very versatile diamonds and will suit all finger sizes. These diamonds are perfect for claw or channel settings, with or without accent stones. In addition round brilliant cut diamonds are excellent for balancing the wearers own cut, color and clarity preferences.

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• Princess Shape

Cut in either a square or rectangular shape, and with stunning brilliance, the princess cut is one of the most popular non-round diamond shapes. They are a particular favorite for engagement rings.

Due to its design, maximum brilliance is achieved though an emphasis of weight in the diamonds depth. Depth percentages of 70% to 78% are not unusual for princess cut diamonds. As princess cut diamonds may vary between square and rectangular shapes we advise on length to width ratios of between 1 and 1.05.

With their pointed corners, princess cut diamonds are perfect for solitaire rings or rings of three or more stones, with the princess as centre stone. They are also ideally suited for a wearer with long or slender fingers.

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• Marquise Shape

Created under the commission of France's Louis XIV, the Sun King, to memorialize his bright smile, the marquise cut diamond is one of the most elegant diamonds available. It is a highly popular diamond for bridal sets.

With its oval shape and tapered ends the marquise diamond is frequently used as a centre stone, running parallel to the finger, with smaller stones on either side.

Due to its elongated shape the marquise cut diamond is often chosen by people with short fingers, as it creates the appearance of long, slender fingers. We suggest a length to width ratios of between 1.75 and 2.25.

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• Pear Shape

The pear shaped diamond, also called a teardrop, is a hybrid combining the most remarkable characteristics of oval and marquise shaped diamonds. It is versatile enough to be used in a wide variety of diamond jewelry, and is excellently suited for engagement rings.

These diamonds have an unbalanced shape and are usually not used together with ornate stones. This unbalanced shape however, creates a slimming effect on the fingers and is also complimentary to people with small or short fingers.

Buyers seeking the most classic pear shaped cut diamond should look for length to width ratios of between 1.45 and 1.75.

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• Radiant Shape

Square shaped and with trimmed corners, to enhance brilliance, the radiant shaped diamond is a beautiful combination of the emerald and round diamond shapes.

The radiant shape is cut to incorporate the step-cut of emerald shaped diamonds with the triangular shaped facets found in round brilliant shaped diamonds. It is in fact the first square cut diamond to have the complete brilliant facet pattern in both the crown and pavilion of the diamond. The effect is an impressive combination of elegance and sparkle.

Radiant shaped diamonds are an excellent choice for setting with fancy colored diamonds, as their shape, proportioning and facet arrangement tend to accentuate color. They are also very well suited as centre stones, paired with trillions, baguettes, and princess shaped diamonds.

For a square shaped radiant diamond we suggest length to width ratios of between 1 and 1.05. The length to width ratio's of the more rectangular shapes are greater than 1 to 1.10

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• Heart Shape

Never confused with other diamond shapes, heart shaped diamonds are considered to be a novelty by some, are rarely used in engagement rings, but are stunning in pendants and earrings.

Great craftsmanship is required to ensure proper brilliance due to the complexity of the heart shaped cut. A good heart shaped cut also requires proper symmetry, as a poorly crafted heart shape may appear as a round or irregular shape. Buyers of heart shaped diamonds should also make sure that the lobes (top part of the "heart") of the diamond should be rounded and not pointed. We recommend length to width ratio's of between 0.90 and 1.10 for the classic heart shaped looking diamond.

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• Tapper and Baguette Shape

Stones whose outlines are either square or rectangular and whose facets are rectilinear and arranged parallel to the girdle are known as tapper cut or baguette stones. Instead of a culet, these stones have a keel running the length of the pavilion terminus. Because both the pavilion and crown are comparatively shallow, these stones are generally not as bright and never as fiery as brilliant cut stones, but rather accentuate a diamond's clarity (as even the slightest flaw would be highly visible), whiteness, and lustre (and therefore good polish).

Due to the current vogue for brilliant and brilliant-like cuts, These diamonds may suffer somewhat in value; stones that are deep enough may be re-cut into more popular shapes. However, the step cut's rectilinear form was very popular in the Art Deco period. Antique jewelry of the period features step-cut stones prominently, and there is a market in producing new step-cut stones to repair antique jewelry or to reproduce it. The slender, rectangular baguette (from the French, resembling a loaf of bread) was and is the most common form of the step cut: today, it is most often used as an accent stone to flank a ring's larger central (and usually brilliant-cut) stone.

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• Oval Shape

With a brilliance similar to round diamonds, oval diamonds are generally set together with other stones. Often oval cut diamonds will be set with smaller diamonds, or other gems such as emeralds and sapphires.

Oval diamonds are perfect for women with small hands or fingers as its extended shape gives an illusion of length to the hand or fingers.

For an ideal symmetric oval cut, buyers should look for length to width ratios of between 1.33 and 1.66.

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• Emerald Shape

This rectangle shaped diamond, with cut corners, is also distinguished by its large, open table. It is also known as a step cut due to the appearance of concentric broad, horizontal surfaces, resembling steps.

Due to a large and exposed table, and fewer facets flaws may be more obvious in emerald cut diamonds. As such, it is important to choose a diamond with good clarity and color grades when considering purchasing an emerald cut diamond.

Buyers seeking the classic emerald cut shaped diamond should look for a length to width ratio of between 1.30 and 1.40. Emerald cut shaped diamonds are often set with multiple side stones to provide balance to its elongated shape.

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