Shopping for diamonds for many is not an easy feat. It can seem daunting and challenging for a first-time buyer who does not have an abundance of knowledge in the luxury jewelry industry. There are so many aspects to picking out the perfect diamond stone, then there is picking out the right setting, and finally figuring out how to size the ring correctly for your perfect bride without them finding out that you are getting ready to pop the question. Hopefully, this article can bring you some sanity as we explain one of the most important C’s of the 4 C’s; Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat.

 In this article, we focus on the Cut of a diamond. What is the importance of choosing the right cut? What are some of the most popular center stone cuts? And finally, What is a side stone cut? By the end of reading this article, you will be able to confidently go into your engagement ring appointment having the vocabulary to speak eloquently about what you are envisioning your bride's diamond to look like.

Why does the cut matter? 

The cut of a diamond is very important as it affects the diamond's symmetry, brightness, fire, and how much light refracts off the diamond, the sparkle if you will. A well-cut diamond will appear brighter and have more sparkle than a poorly-cut diamond. Even a large-carat stone if cut poorly may appear to be meek in comparison to a well-cut smaller stone. Making the cut of a diamond just as important to the carat, color, and clarity of the stone. Diamonds are cut in hundreds of different shapes. There are 10 cuts that are most popularly utilized for center stones. That being the style of these cuts optimizes the symmetry and angles, which affects how light enters the diamond and reflects off its facets. The round cut optimizes these facets more than any other cut, which is partly why round-cut diamonds are as sought after as they are. For that reason, round-cut diamonds are also calculated on their own Rapaport table when calculating the price.

The 10 different center stone shapes diamonds are cut into are:

- Round

- Marquise

- Pear

- Oval

- Emerald

- Princess

- Cushion

- Radiant

-Heart

-Asscher

Ovals, Marquise, Pear, and Hearts can be either a center stone or a side stone. It all depends on the size and shape of the diamond as well as the design of the ring.

The most popular side stone cuts are:

- Baguettes

- Trapezoids

- Triangles

- Half moon

- Kites

- Baguettes

- Trapezoids

- Triangles

-Bullets

-Shields

-Chevrons

-Epaulettes

-French Cut

-Balle Evassee

-Calf Heads

-Trillions

-Heater Shields

Side stone cuts are less desirable than center stone cuts because the cut does not optimize the facets. However, their unique shapes add the luxuriousness, style, and WOW factor to the design of the ring. 

What cut is the right cut for you?

Choosing the right cut for your bride is a personal choice. There truly is no right answer. Although the round cut optimizes light refraction better than any other cut a bride might favor a marquise cut or pear cut because this shape eludes the elongation of the fingers and hands. At the end of the day, her choice is the only answer that matters. 

Round diamonds are the most popular cut and have been for centuries. This is partly because diamonds in their natural state are often found in octahedral shapes, which are then cut into a round brilliant. The round diamond is also the brightest of all the shapes because of its symmetry and how light reflects off the facets designed into the stone. On the hand, this stone appears to be larger than it is in carat weight because of the way the light reflects off the stone.

The next most popular cut is the Marquise diamond. This diamond is cut into an oval shape with pointed ends. The length of this diamond makes it appear larger on the hand and can make fingers look longer and slender. Because of its unique shape, the Marquise is often used as an accent diamond to other diamonds in a ring or necklace design.

The Pear cut diamond is very similar to the Marquise; it has a more rounded end,

giving it the appearance of a teardrop. Because of its unique shape, this diamond is also often used as an accent stone. The Pear cut makes the hand look more slender, much like the Marquise.

The Oval cut diamond is very similar to the Pear and Marquise only the top and bottom of the shape are identical in roundness. Because of its unique shape, this diamond is also often used as an accent stone. The Oval cut makes the hand look more slender, much like the Marquise and Pear.

The Emerald cut diamond is rectangular in shape with beveled corners. This cut was designed to maximize the clarity of the diamond rather than its sparkle. The large open facets of this cut give it a vintage look that has become popular in recent years. On the hand, this diamond appears larger than other shapes because of its length.

The Princess cut diamond is a square modified brilliant cut. This cut was designed in the 1960s and has quickly become one of the most popular cuts for diamonds. On the hand, this cut feels more luxurious because of the sharp modern symmetry.

The Cushion cut diamond is a modified version of the Princess cut. It has rounded corners and is often referred to as an “Antique Cushion”. On the hand, this diamond appears larger than other shapes because of its square shape.

 The Heart cut diamond is a modified brilliant cut in the shape of a heart. This is one of the most romantic diamonds because of its shape. On the hand, this diamond often appears impressive and high class because of the rarity and uniqueness of the stone.

 The Asscher cut diamond is a square modified emerald cut. This cut was designed in 1902 and has become popular in recent years because of its vintage feel. On the hand, this diamond often appears larger than other shapes because of its length.

 The Radiant cut diamond is a rectangular modified brilliant cut. This cut was designed in 1977 and has quickly become one of the most popular cuts for diamonds. On the hand, this diamond appears more luxurious because of its sharp modern symmetry.

The Diamond cut is a brilliant cut that has 58 facets. This cut is the most popular because it is the most brilliant. On the hand, this diamond appears larger than other shapes because of its length.

Now that you know about all of the different cuts, it’s time to decide which one is right for you!