Diamonds with Depth: Everything You Need to Know About Diamond Shapes and Diamond Cuts

When selecting a diamond, the term ‘cut’ is often used interchangeably with the term ‘shape’, but they are not actually referring to the same thing. Shape refers to the outline of the stone (ie. pear, oval, round, square, marquise, heart - think high school geometry.) Cut refers to the way the facets are arranged on the diamond to make the light reflect and create the specific type of brilliance.

The best part about diamonds and engagement rings is that all well-cut diamonds are beautiful, luxurious and timeless. Similar to finding the perfect partner, there’s something for everyone and personal preference is a choice. Read on to understand more about diamond cuts, their relative shape, and the True take on each.  

Brilliant cut is a classic beauty. It is the most common of the cuts, removing the least amount of carat weight from the diamond to hold its value and size, while adding enough facets to create the ultimate brilliance. It is estimated that three-quarters of all diamonds sold are round brilliant, the round shape being most commonly associated with this cut. However, the brilliant cut can be applied to any shape of diamond, such as an oval which is currently very popular. Ovals gives the wearer illusion of a longer, leaner finger while maintaining that timeless, classic feel. 

Cushion cut is the girl next door. It is a brilliant style cut on a square-shaped diamond, but with the corners softened and rounded. It is similar to the round brilliant cut, but a little more unique with the squared shape - a beautiful and unique blend.

Princess cut is your high-school sweetheart. A common cut now for engagement rings, it rose to popularity in the 1980s as the new cut for a square-shaped diamond. Princess cut looks like an inverted pyramid when viewed from the top. With 58 facets, the princess cut allows the diamond to look larger and really show off it’s clarity, so pay attention to your clarity grade when getting a princess cut because inclusions or flaws may appear more noticeable. Princess cuts also have pointy corners, so at True, we recommend using prongs on all four corners to protect the diamond.

Radiant cut is the new girl in town. It is a cut used on square or rectangle shaped diamonds, and is relatively new in the industry, gaining in popularity in the last 10 years for it’s gleaming sparkle. Radiant cuts were created to sparkle more brilliantly with their multitude of facets - 70 facets compared to the 58 facets of a princess cut - letting it sparkle more brilliantly than a princess and more like a cushion cut diamond. However, unlike the soft rounded corners of a cushion cut diamond, the corners are cut on a diagonal to appear more angular. 

Emerald cut is a sleek and mysterious woman. It is designed to highlight the beautiful qualities of a rectangle or octagonal shape, with long facets that outline of the stone. This creates dramatic flashes of reflection, and when not reflecting the light, this cut reveals an almost mirror-like appearance. Because of this, the emerald cut requires a stone of very high quality.

Baguette cut is a charming beauty with a flair for art deco. This cut is named for the French word “baguette” and accentuates an elongated geometric shape. Narrower than an emerald cut with unbeveled, angled corners, we love the drama of a baguette cut, particularly for smaller diamonds and side stones.

Trillion cut is a tomboy; dynamic and adventurous. It is a unique triangular stone that has a brilliant cut, but with modifications to suit a triangular shaped stone. The brilliant cut facets make her shine brightly when she’s embracing light - and life. 

At True, we source a diamond in the cut that is true to you. Your stone is a personal choice! We work directly with diamond wholesalers to curate ethically-sourced, GIA-certified diamonds. While typical jewellers only have their own diamonds in stock, we have a network around the world from which to select and can ensure you receive the highest quality for the best value.

Ready to start the search or looking to learn more? Book a virtual consultation or contact us.