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Round
- The round diamond is the most familiar
and most popular of all diamond shapes. A round diamond is the
definitive "classic" cut. Round diamonds are commonly cut with
58 facets. |
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Oval
- The oval cut was invented in the early
1960's by Lazare Kaplan. The most famous oval shape diamond is
the 108.93 carat Koh-i-Noor diamond found in the Queen Mother's
crown on display in the Tower of London. Oval brilliant
diamonds commonly have 56 or 57 facets. |
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Pear
- The traditional pear shape diamond is
based upon a combination of the round and marquise cuts. Pear
shape brilliant diamonds commonly contain 58 facets. |
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Marquise
- The marquise diamond takes its name from
a legend involving the Marquise of Pompadour. The story goes
that King Louis XIV of France was so enchanted with the lips of the
Marquise, his official mistress, that he commissioned a diamond to
be cut in the likeness and shape of her mouth. The brilliant
marquise diamond commonly has 57 facets. |
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Princess
- The princess diamond grows more and more
popular. This square shaped diamond has sharp, uncut corners
and brilliance that is equal or superior to the classic round
brilliant cut diamond. The princess diamond commonly has 70
facets. |
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Heart
- The heart shape diamond, also known as
the indented pear diamond, is a favorite among women and popular on
Valentine's Day. Although the heart shape diamond is less
brilliant than other shaped diamonds, this cut is especially
susceptible to "shape appeal". |
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Emerald
- The emerald diamond is available as
either a rectangular or square cut diamond. The emerald cut
diamond is recognizable by the rows of elongated facets on both the
crown and pavilion of the diamond. |
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Radiant
- The radiant diamond is the only truly
rectangular shaped diamond although it is also found in square cuts.
The radiant cut is similar to the emerald cut but it is far more
brilliant. The radiant cut diamond commonly has 70 facets. |
