Now that’s its time to select a ring, you’ll naturally want an engagement ring as unique as the two of you.  As you shop, you’ll discover seemingly endless choices in settings.  And then are differences in diamond colors, clarity and size.

But the shape of the diamond you choose will be one of the most important elements in your own one-of-a-kind engagement ring.

In fact, you’ll need to decide on the shape before you pick the setting or start comparing different levels of clarity or color. Fortunately, there’s a diamond shape just perfect for every taste.

If you’re not sure which diamond shape is right for you, here’s an overview of the options from traditional to modern.

1. Round

This is the most popular of all diamond shapes accounting for more than 60% of all diamonds rings sold.  This is a classic, and for good reason. The shape brings out the brilliance of a diamond’s sparkle in a way few other shapes can match.

The round shape also works well in sizes from petite to large, and is flattering to most hands.  It also works well as a side stone framing a diamond of almost any shape.

2. Oval

An oval shaped diamond is another very popular choice for engagement ring diamonds. The oval is a lovely option for a solitaire setting or as a center diamond in a more elaborate setting.

The oval flatters any hand, but works especially well for women with short fingers or smaller hands as the shape elongates the appearance of the finger. Like the round shape, the oval’s cut brings out a diamond’s brilliance, and works well in with stones of almost all sizes.

3. Marquise

Similar to the oval but with sharper, pointed ends, the marquise is a classic choice for an engagement diamond. And also like the oval, this shape is extremely flattering to smaller hands or shorter fingers.

A marquis diamond works perfectly as a solitaire, but most engagement rings with marquis cut diamonds do include smaller stones on either side.  This cut requires a nearly flawless stone to bring out its true brilliance, so do make sure you pay attention to clarity when selecting a marquis stone.

The good news is that this shape provides the largest visible surface area of any of the popular diamond shapes, so a smaller stone will appear larger to the eye than would a round or emerald-cut diamond of the same weight.

4. Pear

Often associated with the glamorous stars of 1940’s film and stage, the pear cut diamond is rounded at one end and pointed at the other.  This shape, which was first introduced in the 1400’s, remains a popular choice today as a solitaire or as the star of a more elaborate setting.

If you’re looking for a different twist on a pear shaped diamond setting, you might want to revive a style from the 1920’s when these brilliant stones were set sideways on a bed of pave diamonds.

5. Princess

One of the more recent additions to diamond shapes, the princess diamond combines the faceted brilliance of a round stone with a more modern look with rounded corners.

This shape was only introduced in London in the 1960’s, and already accounts for over 20% of engagement diamonds sold.

6. Emerald

The drama in this cut is unmatched by almost any other cut. This elegant stone was very popular in Art Deco jewelry in the 20’s and 30’s, and has remained a favorite choice for engagement rings. About 5% of the diamond engagement rings sold annually feature an emerald cut stone.

The large flat top surface and stair-step sides reveal the depth of the stone, so it’s critical that any emerald cut diamond be nearly flawless.  The cost of new flawless diamonds of any significant size probably accounts for its more limited sales.  But for the bride who wants an unforgettable look, the emerald cut might be the ideal choice.

7. Asscher

Like the emerald cut, the asscher shaped diamond features a large flat top with step-down sides, but it replaces the rectangular shape with a square, and offers deeper steps. The result is a more brilliant appearance than the emerald but with much of its drama.

This shape actually predates the emerald cut by about 10-15 years, but doesn’t have the current popularity of the emerald shape.  It works best as a solitaire, although a pave diamond or gemstone band will also work well with this stone.

8. Heart-shaped

What could be a better symbol of lasting love than a heart-shaped diamond?  Created from a modified pear-shaped cut, these lovely stones may seem like a modern innovation but actually date back to at least the mid-1400’s in Italy.

The heart shape adds extra brilliance to the pear’s sparkle, so these lovely stones are sure to catch and reflect every ray of light. The cut does not work well for stones under one half carat, so make sure the setting you select will work well with a larger stone.

Your taste, your diamond

No matter which diamond shape you select, you’ll be creating a one-of-a-kind ring to match your one of a kind love.  And that’s sure to make any engagement ring sparkle.

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• Round Cut Diamond Shape
• Pear Cut Diamond Shape
• Princess Cut Diamond Shape
• Heart Cut Diamond Shape
• Marquise Cut Diamond Shape
• Oval Cut Diamond Shape
• Emerald Cut Diamond Shape
• The Radiant Cut Diamond Shape
• The Cushion Cut Diamond Shape
• Trilliant Cut Diamond Shape
• Asscher Cut Diamond Shape

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The diamond cut does not refer to diamond’s shape but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond. Cut is the reference to a diamond’s reflective qualities. The cut of a diamond greatly impacts diamond brilliance; this means if it is cut poorly, it will be less luminous. Most diamonds are cut for weight retention, which often results in a deviation from “good proportions“.

There are standards of cutting to produce the optimum of brilliance. Cut is a diamond’s most important characteristic. It has the greatest overall influence on a diamond’s beauty. It determines what we generally think of as sparkle. A poorly cut diamond will have a dull appearance even if it has perfect color and clarity.  The cut is considered one of the most important diamond characteristics by gemologists.