Diamonds (natural diamond and lab grown diamond), each shape has its own characteristics and standard, which is also a major factor affecting the overall appearance. With unparalleled refractive index and diamond fire, Round diamond is the most popular, and it is will always be sparkling and beautiful no matter what jewelry it is on. All cuts other than round cut are generally referred to as "Fancy Cut", such as princess cut, heart cut, emerald cut, drop cut and eye-shaped cut. Although these unique shapes are not as popular as the round shape, they can be combined with different designs to become outstanding and original jewelry pieces.
Popular shapes of diamond
1. Round cut
The cutting of round diamonds utilizes optical theories and precise calculations developed over hundred years. Professionals spare no effort in improving the diamond fire and refractive index of round diamonds, while carefully adopting polish and monitoring symmetry, to maximize the brilliance of round diamonds. The sale of round diamonds takes up 70% of the diamond selling on the market. Round diamond is cut with brilliant cut and has 57 (or 58) facets. Those with superb cut will show the "hearts and arrows" pattern. Round diamonds are suitable for almost all styles, anything from classic to novel.
2. Princess cut
Princess cut is both stylish and beautiful. An ideal princess cut should have the gem cut as a complete square with 4 sharp right angles. Princess cut is not just fashionable, it is also the most popular shape other than round shape. The beautiful luster and unique square cut make princess cut diamond ring more charming and romantic, thus making it a popular choice for rings.
3. Emerald cut
merald cut gem has a unique appearance because of the optical effect. Its surface is wide, giving the gem an elegant and refreshing look, which is unlike that shininess from round diamonds. Step cut highlights the gem's clarity. If the clarity of emerald cut gem is low, there will be significantly more inclusions than that of round diamonds. But since the clarity of diamond is generally at very, very slightly included (VVS) grade or above, inclusions should not be a big problem. In addition, step cut of emerald shape gems can also be applied to the square diamond, which is also called asscher cut (also known as the square emerald cut).
4. Asscher cut / square emerald
Asscher cut gem has a classic aura, which makes it very suitable for customers with great fashionable sense. Asscher cut gem is the same as emerald cut gem, with the only difference of the former being square and the latter being rectangular. Similarly, if asscher cut gems have low clarity, there will be more obvious than that of round diamonds. Since the clarity of diamond is generally at very, very slightly included (VVS) grade or above, the problem should not be significant.
5. Marquise cut
Marquise cut is a very fashionable cut. Eye-shaped diamond have two obvious advantages: First, fully utilize the level surface of diamond so that the gem would look larger. Marquise brilliant cut diamond with round or pear shape side stones is more beautiful. The length of the marquise shape diamond will also make the fingers look slenderer.
6. Oval shape
Oval cut is named after its shape, and oval diamond are also cut with brilliant cut, so they have beautiful sparkle like that of round diamonds. The oval shape gems are also very popular because their length highlights the slenderness of the fingers. They are especially favored among ladies with smaller palms.
7. Radiant cut
Radiant cut that did not appeared until modern times. The shape of the radiant cut diamond is the same as the emerald and is also cut with brilliant cut. With that, radiant cut diamond have the elegance of the emerald shape gems and the spark of the round diamonds. Radiant cut diamond would look more charming with emerald-shaped or round side stones.
8. Pear shape
The pear-shaped diamond are cut with brilliant cut. One side of the surface is pointed, and the other side is semi-circular. Because of its resemblance to water droplets, it is also called drop shape. Drop shape gems have a unique charm, which can foreground the gentleness of women, so it is also a popular shape of diamond jewelry.
9. Heart shape
Heart shape is the best symbol of love. This is the best shape for a wedding ring gem to a romantic person. Heart shape gems also go well with gems of other shapes. In terms of cutting, heart-shaped cutting is difficult because the shape and size for both left and right of the heart have be exactly the same and symmetrical.
10. Cushion shape
Cushion cut gems have been popular for more than a century, and it is one of the oldest cutting styles. The preferred proportion of length to width for cushion cut gem should be 1:1. Cushion cut (also called "pillow cut") gems have four rounded corners and large facets, which spotlighting the luster of the diamond itself.