Diamond Cuts: A Guide to the Most Popular Shapes

Diamonds are prized for their beauty and brilliance, and the cut of a diamond is a major factor in determining its overall sparkle and fire. There are many different diamond cuts available, each with its own unique characteristics and appearance. This guide explores the most popular diamond cuts, providing an in-depth look at their names and meanings. Understanding the nuances of each cut can help you choose the perfect diamond for your engagement ring, necklace, or other piece of jewelry.
1. **Round Brilliant:** The most popular diamond cut, renowned for its brilliance and fire. It features 57 facets, maximizing light reflection and creating a dazzling sparkle.
2. **Princess:** A square or rectangular cut with a pointed top, known for its excellent fire and brilliance. It features 57-78 facets, creating a vibrant display of color.
3. **Emerald:** A rectangular cut with a stepped pavilion, characterized by its unique "hall of mirrors" effect. It emphasizes the diamond's clarity and showcases its natural color.
4. **Asscher:** A square cut with a step-cut pavilion, similar to the emerald cut but with a more pronounced "hall of mirrors" effect. It is known for its vintage elegance and sharp angles.
5. **Oval:** A combination of the round brilliant and marquise cuts, offering a combination of brilliance and elegance. It features 57 facets, resulting in a balanced display of sparkle and fire.
6. **Marquise:** A long, oval-shaped cut with pointed ends, designed to maximize the diamond's length. It features 57 facets, creating a dazzling display of brilliance and fire.
7. **Pear:** Also known as a teardrop cut, it features a pointed end and a rounded bottom, offering a combination of brilliance and elegance. It features 57 facets, resulting in a balance of sparkle and fire.
8. **Heart:** A romantic cut shaped like a heart, featuring a pointed tip and a rounded bottom. It features 58 facets, creating a unique and dazzling display of brilliance and fire.
9. **Cushion:** A square or rectangular cut with rounded corners, known for its vintage charm and unique sparkle. It features 58 facets, resulting in a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
10. **Radiant:** A rectangular cut with a combination of step-cut and brilliant-cut facets, offering a unique balance of brilliance and fire. It features 70-74 facets, creating a dazzling display of light.
11. **Baguette:** A long, rectangular cut with parallel lines, known for its minimalist elegance and clean lines. It features 14-18 facets, resulting in a subdued sparkle.
12. **Trillion:** A triangular cut with a pointed top, known for its unique and modern style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
13. **Trapeze:** A trapezoid-shaped cut with a wide base and a pointed top, offering a unique and modern look. It features 57 facets, resulting in a dazzling display of brilliance and fire.
14. **Kite:** A kite-shaped cut with a pointed top and a rounded bottom, offering a unique and modern style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
15. **Ogee:** A curved, crescent-shaped cut with a pointed tip, known for its unique and romantic style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
16. **Tapered Baguette:** A variation of the baguette cut with a pointed end, offering a unique and modern style. It features 57 facets, resulting in a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
17. **Barion:** A circular cut with a pointed top, known for its unique and modern style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
18. **Pentagon:** A five-sided cut with a pointed top, known for its unique and geometric style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
19. **Hexagon:** A six-sided cut with a pointed top, known for its unique and geometric style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
20. **Octagon:** An eight-sided cut with a pointed top, known for its unique and geometric style. It features 57 facets, creating a vibrant display of color and brilliance.
21. **Rose:** A flat, circular cut with a domed top, known for its vintage charm and delicate sparkle. It features 24 facets, creating a subtle and elegant display of light.
22. **Old Mine Cut:** A historic cut with a square shape and a high crown, known for its vintage elegance and soft sparkle. It features 58 facets, resulting in a muted display of brilliance and fire.
23. **Old European Cut:** An antique cut with a round shape and a high crown, known for its vintage charm and unique sparkle. It features 58 facets, resulting in a soft and romantic display of light.
24. **Circular Brilliant:** A modern interpretation of the round brilliant cut, featuring a larger table and fewer facets. It offers a unique and balanced sparkle.
25. **Brilliant Cut:** A general term for any diamond cut that emphasizes brilliance and fire, including the round brilliant, princess, and oval cuts.
26. **Step Cut:** A cut with flat facets that create a "hall of mirrors" effect, emphasizing the diamond's clarity and color. Includes the emerald and asscher cuts.
27. **Mixed Cut:** A cut that combines elements of both step-cut and brilliant-cut facets, offering a unique blend of brilliance and fire. Includes the radiant and cushion cuts.
28. **Modified Brilliant:** A general term for any diamond cut that is a variation of the round brilliant cut, including the oval, marquise, and pear cuts.
29. **Fancy Cut:** A general term for any diamond cut that is not a round brilliant, princess, or emerald cut. Includes a wide variety of shapes and styles.
30. **Custom Cut:** A diamond cut that is specifically designed and created according to the client's specifications. It allows for unique and personalized designs.
31. **Radiant Cut:** A rectangular cut with a combination of step-cut and brilliant-cut facets, known for its fire and brilliance. It offers a unique and balanced sparkle.
32. **Cushion Cut:** A square or rectangular cut with rounded corners, known for its vintage charm and soft sparkle. It emphasizes the diamond's clarity and color.
33. **Heart Cut:** A heart-shaped cut, known for its romantic and sentimental appeal. It features 58 facets, creating a dazzling display of brilliance and fire.
34. **Marquise Cut:** A long, oval-shaped cut with pointed ends, known for its elegance and elongation. It maximizes the diamond's length and creates a dazzling sparkle.
35. **Pear Cut:** A teardrop-shaped cut, known for its elegance and versatility. It features 57 facets, resulting in a balanced display of sparkle and fire.
36. **Oval Cut:** A combination of the round brilliant and marquise cuts, offering a combination of brilliance and elegance. It features 57 facets, creating a dazzling display of sparkle and fire.
37. **Emerald Cut:** A rectangular cut with a stepped pavilion, known for its clarity and color. It features a unique "hall of mirrors" effect, emphasizing the diamond's natural beauty.
38. **Asscher Cut:** A square cut with a step-cut pavilion, known for its vintage elegance and sharp angles. It features a pronounced "hall of mirrors" effect, emphasizing the diamond's clarity and color.
39. **Princess Cut:** A square or rectangular cut with a pointed top, known for its fire and brilliance. It features 57-78 facets, creating a vibrant display of color.
40. **Round Brilliant Cut:** The most popular diamond cut, known for its brilliance and fire. It features 57 facets, maximizing light reflection and creating a dazzling sparkle.