Diamond Engagement Ring Cuts Explained

The time has come, and you are looking for the perfect engagement ring for the one you love. You've over heard her and her girlfriends talking about Princess Cut, Round Cut, Pear Cut and all other types of rings that you have never heard before.

Diamonds come in a variety of different shapes that are called cuts. So in short, the cut of the diamond is the shape of the diamond. More importantly, the cut of the diamond actually refers to the length, width and depth of the diamond.

Below is a list of the 10 most popular engagement ring diamond cuts, and an explanation about each:

Round Cut Diamonds: This is by far the most common cut on diamond engagement rings today. A round-brilliant cut diamond is also the nicest to look at because of its 360-degree symmetrical shape.

Princess Cut Diamonds: The Princess Cut Diamond is the most popular cut for engagement rings that are non-round shaped. The cut is very modern due to its very clean square lines and dazzling brilliance.

Emerald Cut Diamonds: t is cut in a stepped rectangular fashion and because of this offers a unique optical appearance that highlights the diamonds clarity.

Asscher Cut Diamonds: This beautifully unique shape is nearly identical to the emerald-cut, except that it is square. Also, this shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets in the same style as the emerald-cut. If you choose SI-clarity be sure to view the clarity plot on the diamond certificate, because this shape highlights the clarity of the diamond.

Oval Cut Diamonds: As the name says, the oval cut diamond is oval in shape and the most near to that of the round cut diamond. To find the dimension of oval you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

Marquise Cut Diamonds: The shape of a marquise diamond can maximize carat weight, giving you a much larger-looking diamond. This brilliant-cut diamond looks beautiful set with round or pear-shaped side stones, and the length of the marquise makes fingers appear long and slender.

Pear Cut Diamonds: This brilliant-cut diamond is also called a teardrop for its single point and rounded end. The unique look of the pear shape helps make it a popular choice for a variety of diamond jewelry. If you choose an elongated pear shape, the length of the diamond creates a subtle slimming effect on the fingers.

Radiant Cut Diamonds: Trimmed corners are the signature of this diamond, and they help make the radiant-cut a popular and versatile choice for jewelry. A radiant-cut looks equally beautiful set with either baguette or round side-diamonds. Radiant-cut diamonds can vary in their degree of rectangularity.

Cushion Cut Diamonds: This unique shape has been popular for more than a century. Cushion-cut diamonds (also known as "pillow-cut" diamonds) have rounded corners and larger facets to increase their brilliance. These larger facets highlight the diamond's clarity, so if you choose an SI clarity grade, be sure to review the clarity plot on the diamond certificate.

Heart Cut Diamonds: The heart is the ultimate symbol of love. The unique look of the heart-shaped diamond helps make it a distinctive choice for a variety of diamond jewelry. When choosing a color grade, consider that while the price of a J-color heart shaped diamond is exceptional, color may be slightly visible in its corners.