Diamond Shape Guide: Round vs Oval vs Princess vs Cushion vs Emerald

Choosing the right diamond shape is one of the most important decisions when buying jewellery. Each shape has its own personality, brilliance characteristics, and visual impact. This guide compares the most popular diamond shapes to help you find your perfect match.

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Round Brilliant

The most popular diamond shape, accounting for over 60% of all diamonds sold worldwide. The round brilliant cut has 57-58 facets engineered to maximise light reflection, creating unmatched sparkle and fire.

Best for: Classic engagement rings, studs, pendants. Works beautifully in every setting type — solitaire, halo, pavé, or three-stone.

Pros: Maximum brilliance, timeless appeal, hides inclusions well, versatile.

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Oval

An elongated shape that creates a flattering illusion of longer, slender fingers. Oval diamonds have a similar brilliance to round brilliants due to their modified brilliant cut pattern.

Best for: Those who want a unique look with excellent sparkle. Particularly flattering on shorter fingers. Trending strongly in engagement rings.

Pros: Appears larger than round diamonds of the same carat weight, elongates the finger, excellent brilliance.

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Princess

A square shape with pointed corners and exceptional brilliance. The princess cut is the second most popular shape for engagement rings, offering a modern, geometric aesthetic.

Best for: Modern, fashion-forward buyers who want brilliance in a non-traditional shape.

Pros: Strong sparkle, contemporary look, often more affordable per carat than round.

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Cushion

A rounded square or rectangle that resembles a pillow (hence the name). Cushion cuts have larger facets that create broad flashes of light, giving them a romantic, vintage feel.

Best for: Vintage-inspired jewellery, romantic settings, halo rings. Very popular for engagement rings.

Pros: Soft, romantic aesthetic. Works beautifully in halo and pavé settings.

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Emerald

A rectangular shape with step-cut facets that create a hall-of-mirrors effect rather than traditional sparkle. Emerald cuts emphasise clarity and clean lines over brilliance.

Best for: Those who appreciate understated elegance. The emerald cut suits confident, sophisticated tastes and Art Deco-inspired settings.

Pros: Elegant, sophisticated appearance. Appears larger than other shapes of the same carat weight.

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Pear

A teardrop shape combining the brilliance of a round with the elongation of a marquise. Pear shapes are distinctive and offer excellent finger coverage.

Best for: Pendants, drop earrings, and unique engagement rings. The tapered point draws the eye upward.

Pros: Unique and eye-catching. Can be worn with the point facing up or down.

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Marquise

An elongated shape with pointed ends, the marquise cut creates the largest surface area of any diamond shape relative to carat weight — meaning it looks bigger than it actually is.

Best for: Maximising visual impact. Marquise diamonds make fingers appear longer and more slender.

Pros: Appears largest of all shapes per carat. Dramatic and distinctive.

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Diamond Shape Comparison

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Which Shape Should You Choose?

The best diamond shape is the one that matches your personal style and makes you feel confident. At Blu Diamonds, all shapes are available in lab grown diamonds set in 14kt gold with IGI or SGL certification.

Browse our solitaire collection to compare shapes, or explore our engagement rings to see each shape in its ideal setting.