What Are The Most Popular Diamond Shapes?
1. Round Diamonds
Origin: The modern day round brilliant cut was created by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919 when he developed a mathematical formula for cutting diamonds to specific proportions. The 58-facets on round brilliant diamonds allows light to effectively reflect within the stone for maximum brilliance.
Benefits: Round diamonds are considered the most classic diamond shape, giving it the top spot on our list of the top 10 most popular diamond shapes. About 75% of all diamonds sold are round. The main advantage of round diamonds is that they provide the most brilliance and sparkle of all diamond cuts. Brilliance is the amount of white light that a diamond displays, which appears as a captivating sparkle.
Celebrity round cut diamond rings: Actress Mila Kunis received a stunning 5ct round Tiffany & Co. engagement ring from Ashton Kutcher, estimated to be worth nearly £200,000.
2. Princess Diamonds
Origin: Princess shaped diamonds were designed by Betezal Amber and Israel Itzkovitz in 1979 as they sought to create a shape that combined the benefits of round and square diamonds.
Benefits: Princess diamonds rank number 2 on our list of the 10 most popular diamond shapes because of their clean edges and modern design. Also referred to as square or rectangular modified brilliant, with up to 76 facets this shape is great for hiding imperfections. This geometric, classic shape is the most brilliant of square shaped diamonds.
Celebrity princess cut diamond rings: Reality TV star Nicole Polizzi, also known as Snooki, wears a 3ct princess engagement ring featuring 2ct of pave diamonds, estimated at £42,000.
3. Cushion Diamonds
Origin:Cushion cut diamonds evolved from old mine cuts, square shaped diamonds with rounded corners that date back to the 1700s. Historically, this cut had been popular with diamonds found in Brazilian mines. When new mines were discovered in South America, the Brazilian mines were referred to as the old mines, which gave way to the term old mine cuts. Todays cushion diamonds have 64 facets to allow for greater light distribution compared to their older counterparts that only had 58 facets.
Benefits: With cushions soft, square shape and rounded corners, cushions are also referred to as pillow diamonds. Thanks to the diamonds rounded corners, the diamond will not easily snag on clothing or chip as easily as a sharp princess cut.
Celebrity cushion cut diamond rings: Kim Kardashians first engagement ring from Kanye West was a magnificent 15ct cushion cut with the highest colour and clarity grades, estimated to be worth over £1.5 million.
4. Oval Diamonds
Origin: The modern oval shape was designed in 1957 by Lazare Kaplan, an expert at cutting what others deemed useless diamonds into spectacular shapes.
Benefits: Ovals typically have 58 facets which provide great brilliance and appear larger than round diamonds of the same carat weight. Oval diamonds also come at a lower cost than rounds, which means that you can enjoy a larger looking diamond without draining your wallet.
Celebrity oval cut diamond rings: Actress Blake Lively received an engagement ring from Ryan Reynolds featuring an outstanding 12ct oval centre diamond on a rose gold and pave band, estimated at £1.5 million.
5. Emerald Diamonds
Origin:Emerald shaped stones date as far back as the 1500s, known then as a table cut. Originally created for emeralds, fragile stones prone to fracturing, the cut was designed to minimize pressure on the stone during cutting process. The name emerald cut emerged in the 1920s, as they became the go to stone of the art deco era, popular for their clean lines and geometric shape.
Benefits: With its distinctive step cut and alluring symmetry, the emerald cut is one of the most popular shapes among celebrities. Striking, elegant and with a touch of vintage glamor, this elongated diamond shape is known to have a slimming effect on the finger.
Celebrity emerald diamond rings: Mariah Carey once owned a jaw dropping 35 ct emerald cut engagement ring from billionaire James Packer, estimated to be bought for over £7.6 million.
6. Radiant Diamonds
Origin: The radiant diamond shape was created in 1977 by diamond cutter Henry Grossbard, who wished to combine the emerald cuts symmetric shape with the round cuts sparkle.
Benefits: Wearers can select between square or rectangularly shaped radiant diamonds. This shape features 70 facets for greater light dispersion. The extra facets also work to conceal flaws, creating the appearance of a higher clarity grade. With their trimmed corners, you wont need to worry about the diamond getting snagged on your clothing or hair.
Celebrity radiant cut diamond rings: Tennis player Anna Kournikova has received two engagement rings from singer Enrique Iglesias, the second being an outstanding 11ct fancy yellow radiant shaped diamond ring, valued at over £1.9 million.
7. Pear Diamonds
Origin: The pear shape was designed during the mid 1400s by Flemish Lodewyk van Bercken after he invented the diamond polishing wheel.
Benefits:
Pear diamonds, also called teardrops, combine elements of round and marquise diamonds with its rounded bottom and pointed top. This combination creates a unique and modern shape, while maintaining the exceptional sparkle of round shaped diamonds. The wearer can decide if the pears pointed end will face them or point away from them for their desired style.
Celebrity pear cut diamond rings: While the relationship did not work out, socialite Paris Hilton held onto the breath-taking 20ct pear engagement ring from former fiancé Chris Zylka, valued at over £1.5 million.
8. Asscher Diamonds
Origin:The asscher shape was designed in 1902 by the Royal Asscher Diamond Company, and later improved in 1999 by Edward and Joop Asscher when they created the royal asscher.
Benefits: This sophisticated shape was at the height of its popularity during the Art Deco period because of its geometric design. Just like with the emerald shape, the asscher has step cuts that create a mirror-like effect, rather than the sparkle you would see in a round. Wearers can select between the original asscher which has 58 facets or the royal asscher which has 74 facets.
Celebrity asscher cut diamond rings: Renowned actress Elizabeth Taylor received an exceptional 33.19ct asscher from Richard Burton which was later sold for over £6.2 million in 1967 following her passing.
9. Marquise Diamonds
Origin:The marquise shape was created in the 18th century when King Louis XV commissioned a gemstone to be shaped like the lips of his mistress, Marquise of Pompadour.
Benefits:Also referred to as the navette, which means little boat, the marquise is an elongated oval with pointed ends. The marquise was the one of the must-have shapes of the 1990s but has since fallen out of popularity. Thanks to its elongated shape, the marquise diamond will appear larger than a round diamond shape of the same carat weight. Wearers can also enjoy how the marquise shape slims and lengthens their fingers.
Celebrity marquise cut diamond rings: Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones received a 10ct marquise in a unique east-west setting by Michael Douglas, believed to be worth over £800,000.
10. Heart Diamonds
Origin: The earliest mention of the heart shape was in 1463 and was a symbol of love and royalty.
Benefits:The charming heart shaped diamond has long been a symbol of romantic love. The heart is one of the most difficult shapes to craft and requires a cutter of exceptional skill. Hearts must be cut with exact symmetry or else the curves of the heart will look uneven. If you are considering getting a heart shaped diamond of your own, it is best to get one that weighs at least half a carat so that its features may be easily seen.
Celebrity heart cut diamond rings: Singer Lady Gaga received a 6ct heart shaped engagement ring from former fiancé Taylor Kinney, which was believed to be bought for over £300,000.
How To Upgrade Your Diamonds
Has reading the top 10 most popular diamond shapes of inspired you to upgrade your diamond collection? Whether it is an engagement ring or diamond adorned jewellery, myGemma can help you sell for cash or upgrade to the diamond of your dreams.
When you sell any diamond jewellery, designer jewellery or luxury watches that you no longer love, we can pay you in cash or give you 10% more on your offer in the form of store credit. With our seamless selling process, receive payment in as little as 48 hours after completing our online form. Our free, fast and secure service has earned us hundreds of excellent customer reviews.
All it takes is 4 steps to sell your diamond jewellery, designer jewellery and luxury watches with myGemma:
- Complete our simple online form with information about your pieces.
- Receive your price quote.
- You can either request a free Special Royal Mail Pack to send your diamonds in (secure, fully insured, and trackable) ornschedule an appointment at one of our offices.
- Accept your offer by bank transfer or request to have your items sent back to you for free.
Find out how much you can get paid for your diamond jewellery, designer jewellery and luxury watches today by clicking the button below.
