How to Choose Perfect Diamond Shape?

September 10, 2010- We will not emphasize on how diamonds are the most popular gemstones and the best friend of girls, perhaps each bride-to-be thinks of a diamond engagement ring! Any woman on this planet gets flattered when presented with a diamond jewelry but what is important and what wins their heart is the diamond shape and its dazzle! Choose the perfect diamond shape and you will get maximum shining diamond stone for your jewelry! Before knowing the tips to choose the perfect diamond shape, get familiar with the popular types of diamond shape.

Types of Diamond Shape

There are several types of diamond shapes, cut to perfection for giving you the brilliance of diamond stone. All diamond shapes have unique characteristics that determine quality for each shape. Here goes the list of popular diamond shape types to make you capable of recognizing the most beautiful diamond.

Round Diamonds- A round brilliant cut diamond is the most popular shape. Diamond cutters use advanced theories of light behavior and mathematical calculations to optimize the fire and brilliance in a round diamond shape.

Princess Diamonds- When its not round, its the Princess diamonds- the second most popular diamond shape. Traditionally square in shape, it has pointed corners. The brilliance and unique cut of princess diamond makes it a favorite for engagement rings. A square princess diamond has length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05 where as a rectangular princess shape has a length-to-width ratios greater than 1.10.

Emerald Shaped Diamonds- Emeralds are beautiful and so are diamond shape that resemble the emerald cut. This diamond shape is different due to its pavilion- the cut with rectangular facets to create a unique optical appearance. As emerald diamond is larger and has an open table, it highlights the clarity of a diamond. The classic emerald-cut shape has a length-to-width ratio between 1.30 and 1.40.

Asscher Diamonds- Almost identical to the emerald-cut, an asscher diamond has a square shape instead of emerald's rectangular one. It also has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets similarly as in emerald-cut. Length-to-width ratio lies between 1.00 and 1.05.

Marquise Diamonds- These are larger diamonds with maximum carat weight, all due to marquise shape. Marquise diamond looks beautiful set with round or pear-shaped side stones. It is the desire of each bride because the length of the marquise makes fingers appear long and slender. The most traditional marquise diamonds have length-to-width ratios between 1.75 and 2.25

Oval Diamonds- Almost similar to round diamonds except being a little longer, oval diamonds too are popular because they can makes fingers appear long and slender just like a marquise cut diamond. The traditional oval diamonds have length-to-width ratios between 1.33 and 1.66.

Radiant Diamonds- Radiant-cut diamonds have trimmed corners and that is what make them popular among diamond lovers! A radiant diamond too look beautiful set with baguette or round side-diamonds. There is no standard about rectangle aspect of radiants and they can very from diamond to diamond. Therefore, the ideal length-to-width ratios can very between 1 and 1.05 to ratios greater than 1.10.

Pear Diamonds- Also called teardrop shape, the pear diamonds have single point and rounded end. This popular pear shape helps makes it perfect for a variety of diamond jewelry. The elongated pear shape diamonds create a subtle slimming effect on the fingers due to its length. The traditional pear-shaped diamond has a length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and 1.75.

Heart Diamonds- What other than heart shape- the symbol of love- can be perfect for engagement rings! The length-to-width ratio of heart diamonds determine its appearance. The traditional heart-shaped diamond has a length-to-width ratios between .90 and 1.10.

Tips to Choose Diamond Shape for Engagement Ring

Recognizing just the shape of diamond is not enough if you want a perfectly beautiful diamond stone. Several factors regarding diamond shape are crucial for making a really beautiful engagement ring!

• When choosing a diamond, see if its geometry is precise or not- pay attention to length width ratio as mentioned above while describing each of the diamond shape. Poorly shaped diamond stones may have shadows and imbalanced proportions that can take away their beauty.
• If you choose to have accent stones in engagement ring, remember that it can influence the shape of the central stone. Choose elongated diamond stones like marquise or oval diamonds as they look much better with accent stones.
• The band width of the ring too affect the beauty of diamond shape. An engagement ring with a very wide band looks better with elongated stones which are not overshadowed by the width of the band. Longer diamond stones may appear to be bulky for a very narrow, delicate band.
• Choose a diamond shape that compliments the size and proportion of your finger and hand. A round diamond looks good on all fingers. However, if you have slender, narrow fingers, you may select Asscher or princess diamonds. Those who have shorter fingers must choose from among marquise, oval, or pear diamonds as they will make fingers look longer and slender.