A Guide to Diamond Cuts: Styles, Advantages, and Selections

Choosing a diamond cut is about balancing sparkle, shape, and personal style. From the classic Round Brilliant to vintage-inspired Cushion cuts, each style offers unique pros. Whether you’re shopping for a modern engagement ring or exploring antique and vintage diamond rings, understanding diamond cuts helps you find the perfect gem.

1. Round Brilliant Cut

• Pros: Maximum brilliance and fire; versatile in nearly any setting.
• Why Choose It: Ideal if you want unmatched sparkle and a timeless look.

2. Princess Cut

• Pros: Sharp, square silhouette; excellent light performance; uses more of the rough diamond.
• Why Choose It: Great for modern rings seeking clean lines and high brilliance.

3. Cushion Cut

• Pros: Soft, rounded corners; vintage appeal; strong fire.
• Why Choose It: Favoured in antique and vintage rings for its romantic, old-world charm.

4. Emerald Cut

• Pros: Long, rectangular facets create a hall-of-mirrors effect; emphasises clarity.
• Why Choose It: Perfect for those who prefer understated elegance and large-looking stones.

5. Oval Cut

• Pros: Elongating shape; brilliant sparkle similar to Round Brilliant.
• Why Choose It: Suits slender fingers and offers a modern twist on classic brilliance.

6. Marquise Cut

• Pros: Dramatic boat-shaped silhouette; maximises perceived size per carat.
• Why Choose It: Ideal for making a statement and creating the illusion of lengthened fingers.

7. Pear Cut

• Pros: Teardrop shape blending Round and Marquise; versatile orientation.
• Why Choose It: Offers graceful elegance, especially in pendants or solitaire rings.

8. Radiant Cut

• Pros: Combines the brilliance of Round Brilliant with the trimmed corners of the Emerald cut.
• Why Choose It: Great for coloured gemstones too, balancing sparkle and shape.

9. Asscher Cut

• Pros: Square step cut with high crown and large facets; vintage Art Deco appeal.
• Why Choose It: Perfect for lovers of geometric, period-inspired designs.

10. Rose Cut

• Pros: Flat base with a domed crown of triangular facets, offering soft candlelight sparkle and a large face-up appearance.
• Why Choose It: Ideal for lovers of historical cuts—common in Georgian and Victorian jewellery—for its romantic shimmer and antique charm.

Conclusion

Your choice of diamond cut influences brilliance, style, and the ring’s overall character. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless dazzle of the Round Brilliant or the antique allure of the Cushion and Asscher cuts, there’s a diamond shape to suit every taste and era. Explore our collection of antique and vintage rings or shop our collection of Diamond rings to see how different cuts enhance historical settings—and discover which silhouette speaks to you.