Diamonds 101: Popular Diamond Shapes

Whether you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring for your beloved, or just want to set a new, gorgeous stone in your mom’s old necklace, the quality and value of the diamond will be determined by its grading. Grading is based on four factors known as the 4Cs - color, clarity, cut and carat weight.

The shape of a diamond is not the same as a diamond cut, although many confuse the terms. The shape refers to the appearance of the diamond, while the cut is the design chosen when polishing a diamond, and refers to the diamond’s ability to reflect light. Shape, therefore, is not part of the 4Cs, but is nevertheless crucial when selecting a diamond.

The most popular diamond shapes are variations on the round, square, rectangular, pear-shaped, oval, heart-shaped diamonds and marquise. At Y.L Golan Diamonds, we specialize in unique cuts and shapes of diamond pairs and side stones. Our collection of triangular shaped diamonds, for instance, features diamonds with curved sides, stones with straight sides, brilliant cut triangles and triangular-shaped pairs, which we match with a center stone to create a perfect look for any piece of jewelry.

Another one of our specialties is the heart-shaped diamond – an extremely popular modified brilliant cut. The range varies - from length-to-width ratio smaller than 1, which makes the stone look “fat” to a ratio larger than 1, which results in a thin, elongated looking diamond. A ratio between 1.0 and 1.1 is considered optimal, and you may also a pair of heart-shaped diamonds for extra bling.

Another unique diamond shape is the trapezoid-shaped diamond, which looks like a triangle with one of the ends cut off.  These are versatile side stones and have no optimal ratio. As they are generally set to complement the center stone, the matching must be done perfectly, taking into consideration size, clarity, cut, color and of course – the base length and girdle of the all the stones. 

If you’re looking to complement a rectangular or an oval shaped center stone, the half-moon shaped diamond can give your piece a great edge. The half-moon shaped diamond is actually a half-round or a half-oval diamond with a straight edge, and is a popular side stone. The optimal length-to-width ratio for the half-moon shapes diamond is 2, and most half-moon shaped diamonds are sold in pairs.