Your Guide to Diamond Shapes and Cuts

Is the cut of your lab grown diamond the same as its shape?

This is confusing to most engagement ring newbies. Surely the diamond is cut into the particular shape you want, isn’t it? 

Well, yes and no.  

Shape

The shape of the diamond is where you should start.  At Stefano Navi we offer 6 main lab created diamond shapes that offer different advantages and looks.   

Round 

The round lab-grown diamond shape has been a traditional look for engagement rings for decades, and it remains the number one choice for engaged couples to this day, accounting for upwards of 50% market share. So-called “brilliant” cutting creates 58 facets which reflect the maximum light return. You can’t go wrong with this versatile, classic shape.

Stefano Navi Tip: Punch up the round brilliant in a halo setting, with side diamonds or wear it as a sophisticated solitaire. It is a simple, traditional, clean look which flatters any hand or finger shape.

Oval 

The Oval shaped diamond is a unique take on a classic shape, created Lazare Kaplan in the 1960s; it is a modified brilliant cut in a more distinctive, elongated shape. Because the Round and Oval shapes have similar fire and brilliance, the Oval is an ideal choice if you like the look of a round diamond but prefer something more unique, with the illusion of greater size.

Stefano Navi Tip: Oval diamonds tend to make your fingers look longer. 

Cushion

Originally known as the “Old Mine” cut, the Cushion shape has been around for centuries. It consists of a square or rectangular shape with rounded-off corners - and it looks a lot like a cushion, hence its name. The Cushion was as popular in the Art Deco period as the Round Brilliant is today. While generally less brilliant than Round Brilliant diamonds, Cushion cut diamonds often have better fire, which is part of their appeal.

Stefano Navi Tip: This is a great choice if you are looking for an attractive, retro, or vintage look.

Emerald

Elegant and sophisticated, the Emerald shape varies from nearly square to a narrow rectangle. Its unique look features a flat surface and chiseled step cut sides, giving it a larger appearance than other diamonds of the same carat weight. While you won’t get the immediate sparkle of a round brilliant-cut diamond, the Emerald will give you drama and distinction in spades. The shape was originally developed for the cutting of emeralds, hence its name, but looks equally beautiful on lab-created diamonds.  

Stefano Navi Tip: Because this cut has a wide, flat table, flaws and color clarity tend to be more visible, so you’ll want to opt for a high-grade stone.  

Princess

The Princess cut is the second most popular choice for engagement rings. First created in 1980, it can be square or moderately rectangular and looks equally dramatic in a contemporary or antique styled setting. Like round diamonds, Princess cut diamonds are a good choice for their flexibility in working in almost any style of ring.

Stefano Navi Tip: Princess cut diamonds tend to have a slightly lower price per carat than round cut diamonds, because the shape of the princess cut allows two equally sized princess cut diamonds to be cut from the same rough stone with relatively little waste. 

Pear

Pear shaped diamonds date back to 1458, when they were introduced by a diamond cutter named Lodewyk Van Berquem. In a pear brilliant cut, the diamond usually consists of 56 facets and due to its elongated shape, it tends to look larger for its carat weight compared to a round diamond, slenderizing the look of the finger. With its elegant and tapered tear shape, a pear shape diamond is a flattering choice for an engagement ring, combining the attributes of a modern brilliant cut with a marquise cut.

Stefano Navi Tip: Wear the elongated part of the pear shape away from you to make your finger look longer. 

Whether you take the traditional route and opt for a simple round brilliant or go for something more unconventional that speaks to your uniqueness, one of these shapes is bound to meet your specific requirements and taste.  

Cut 

The diamond cut is created by the skilled craftsmen at Stefano Navi to bring out the best characteristics of the shape and to extract its maximum brilliance. Of course, the cutter needs to cut the rough lab grown diamond into a certain general shape, but the diamond’s shape refers to its overall form, geometry, or appearance – for example, round, square or pear-shaped. 

The cut refers to its proportions, symmetry, number of facets and ultimately its ability to reflect brilliance and light within the stone, emphasizing and flattering the form. Certain cuts have been developed over the ages to complement certain shapes of diamond because they lend themselves to allowing more light and brilliance into that shape than other cuts. 

The cut of your lab grown diamond determines its overall proportion, symmetry, polish, and dazzle, and it is the most important of the so-called 4Cs of all diamond quality measurements.

In a well-cut lab diamond, the light enters through the top part of the stone, called the table, and then it is reflected off the angles it meets within the body of the stone, exiting again out of the top. As the light bounces around inside the stone it creates fire, brilliance, and scintillation, which, taken in combination, are the reason a diamond will catch your eye.  A skillful cut can make the most of any carat weight stone, but a bad cut can make an expensive, heavy carat weight stone look dull, which is a big waste of your money!

So, in a nutshell, cut and shape work TOGETHER to create a diamond’s overall impact – and they are critical partners in determining the look of your engagement ring or other jewelry. 

It is the combination of shape and cut, working in unison, that will help you find the perfect diamond for you.