The right diamond ring should be a timeless reflection of your love, your commitment, and your personality, which can sometimes make choosing the right diamond ring a difficult choice. What is important to you in your ring will depend on your own personal style, fortunately, there are many cuts of diamond rings available. Here, we will review the 10 best cuts of diamond rings to help you choose the ring that best reflects you who you are, while also looking good on your finger.
Product FAQ
Part of the reason why choosing a diamond ring is so difficult, is that the choices are virtually endless. Diamonds can vary by shape, size, color, or cut. In spite of these variations, all diamond rings have in common the hardness that makes diamonds a perfect representative of an enduring marriage, engagement, or other long-term commitment. Though there are some significant differences between cuts, what the best cuts have in common are often their ability to highlight the remarkable qualities of diamonds. Here we will answer some of your most frequently asked questions about diamonds.
What Are the Best Cuts of Diamonds?
Not all diamond rings are created equal. From size in carats, to shape, and color, diamond rings can vary in significant ways, and this can cause rings to vary in value and price range. Cuts of diamonds are a way that the jeweler can cut the rough diamond to emphasize the size and translucency of the diamond while also accentuating the light reflection properties of the stone. A cut also appeals to the personal taste of the future wearer of the ring.
How Are Diamond Cuts Made?
The jeweler uses diamond cutting machinery to cut the diamond in an extremely precise fashion, creating a specific overall shape of the diamond as well as facets that emphasize the various attractive qualities of the stone. Over time, many new types of cuts have become available, some of which are well-known like the marquise cut, princess cut, heart cut, and cushion cut.
How Do Diamond Cuts Affect Price?
Many factors affect price, the most important of which is the number of carats in the diamond. Other factors can also affect price, like color and also cut. Depending on the complexity of the cut, it can take time to shape and perfectly cut the diamond to reflect the brilliance of the diamond best or meet the specifications of the purchaser of the diamond. For this reason, more complicated cuts can frequently be more expensive than a round or oval shape cut.
How Do I Know Which Diamond Cut to Buy?
The thing about diamonds is that a jeweler can cut them in various ways to meet the taste of the buyer or to reflect their personality. The best cuts of diamonds reviewed here are those which many people believe best show the brilliance of the diamond or are otherwise unique. But at the end of the day, it is up to you to choose which diamond cut best reflects who you are and the image you want to project with the diamond ring.
Price Range
As mentioned previously, several factors affect price, namely carats of the diamond. A relatively straightforward cushion, round or princess cut can cost about $2000, or it can cost $10,000 or more, depending on the number of carats, the band, or whether there are other diamonds or stones on the ring.
How We Reviewed
We summarized the differences between 10 best cuts of diamond rings in terms of shape, complexity, and popularity. We highlighted the aspects of the cut that made it different from other cuts, or represented an innovation, as many cuts are relatively recent and represent advancements in diamond cutting technology.
Overall Price Range of this Product
The price range for best cuts of diamond rings is highly variable and influenced by several factors including the number of carats of the stone, the jeweler, total number of carats, type of band, just to name a few variables. The cuts we reviewed here ranged from about $1500 to $40,000.
What We Reviewed
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Round Cut
- Princess Cut
- Cushion Cut
- Oval Cut
- Marquise Cut
- Pear Cut
- Emerald Cut
- Asscher Cut
- Radiant Cut
- Heart Shaped Cut
Round Cut
Features
Round cut diamond rings are the most popular cut, representing anywhere from 50% to 75% of all diamonds sold. Round cut diamonds are also among the most expensive because much of the rough stone is cut away to create this cut. For this reason, round cut stones are generally more expensive than stones in the fancy cut category. The round cut is not only a timeless shape, but it also emphasizes the brilliance of the diamond perhaps more than any other cut.
Pros
- Most Popular
- Classic and elegant
- Emphasizes Brilliance of Diamond
Cons
- Generally more expensive than fancy cut diamonds
- More common so perhaps less personal than another cut
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although round cut diamonds are generally among the most expensive.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Princess Cut
Features
The princess cut diamond falls into the category of fancy cut, and it is a more recently created contender in the best cuts list as it was invented in 1980. The princess cut is considered similar in quality and brilliance to the round cut through its shape reflects somewhat less brilliance than the traditional round cut. An advantage of the cut from the point of view of the jeweler and the environmentally conscious is that one princess cut stone represents about half the shape of a rough stone, allowing two stones to be cut with less waste compared to rough cut diamonds
Pros
- Unique shape with a lot of flare and personality
- Less waste in the creation of this cut than round cut diamonds
- Appear to be larger than round cut diamonds of the same carat
Cons
- A close second in brilliance to round cut diamonds
- Because of cut, the crown surface area of princess cut diamonds is less, despite the illusion of greater size
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although princess cut diamonds are generally less expensive than round cut diamonds.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Cushion Cut
Features
Perhaps the most traditional of the best cuts of diamonds in the list, the cushion diamond cut has been around for two centuries and, until recently, was considered the standard in diamond rings. It is a square cut with rounded edges and has an antique look that many buyers like. Although the cushion cut it regarded as having less brilliance than the diamond cut, it has more fire. The cushion cut is experiencing a resurgence and giving the round cut diamond a run for its money.
Pros
- A timeless, antique cut that will catch the eye of any onlooker
- Standards for this cut vary so that buyers can infuse their personal style even within this cut
- More fire than the industry standard round cut
Cons
- Less brilliance than the round cut
- May be regarded as old-fashioned by some
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors, although cushion cut diamonds can be nearly as expensive as round cut diamonds, or even more expensive if the diamond is an antique.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Oval Cut
Features
Oval cut diamonds offer a meeting ground between the traditional round cut and the more recent fancy cut diamonds. The oval diamond cut is a modified brilliant cut, and it compares well to the industry standard round cut. They possess similar fire and brilliance compared to round cut diamonds and may give the illusion of greater size due to their shape, much like the princess cut diamond. Oval cut diamonds may be a good choice for someone to add just a drop of flare to a traditional diamond cut.
Pros
- Cut gives the illusion of greater size
- Similar fire and brilliance compared to round cut diamond
- A slightly more personal version of a round or cushion cut diamond
Cons
- May possess a bowtie, a dark effect running across the center of the diamond
- Colored diamonds are often popular and may be more expensive
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although oval cut diamonds are generally less expensive than round cuts and some other brilliant cuts.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Marquise Cut
Features
The marquise cut is interesting not only because of its name. This cut also called a navette cut, featuring pointed edges, and an elongated shape. This fancy diamond cut has a unique flair that too many people give the impression of royalty. It does have a shape suggestive of an oval, but its edges have led some to describe it as being more of a football shape.
Pros
- This cut gives the diamond a large surface area in terms of carats, causing the diamond to appear larger
- Unique and regal
- Can make the ring finger appear longer and slimmer
Cons
- Can have a bowtie, like oval cut diamonds
- The sharp ends can be clipped if the diamond is not set with prongs
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although marquise cut diamonds are among the more expensive of the fancy cuts.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Pear Cut
Features
The pear cut is an attractive fancy cut diamond that has one rounded end and one sharp end, combining the styles of two other best cuts: the marquise and the oval. The pear cut has a unique, womanly quality that has made a popular choice for engagement rings. Because it is somewhat of a hybrid of the oval cut and the marquise cut, it will have the same advantages of larger apparent size and brilliance, while also being prone to the bowtie phenomenon across the center
Pros
- A pleasant combination of oval cut and marquise cut
- This cut may cause the diamond to appear larger than its actual size in carats
Cons
- May have bowtie across the center of the diamond
- Very edgy, perhaps too edgy for some
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although pear cut diamonds compare well to oval and round cut diamonds.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Emerald Cut
Features
Emerald cut diamonds are perhaps more similar to round cut and cushion cut diamonds than the other cuts on this best cuts list. This is a timeless cut that features an elongated cut, cropped corners, and an open table. This type of cut was a long popular standard in emeralds, hence the name, and gives the diamond an artistic vibe that hearkens back to the first decades of the 20th century.
Pros
- Classic shape similar to round and cushion cut diamonds
- Color may be more visible in an emerald cut diamond compared to other cuts
Cons
- Inclusions or other defects may be more visible in an emerald cut
- Less fire and brilliance than round cut diamonds
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Asscher Cut
Features
Although the Asscher cut appears round, it is actually an octagon, and the original version features 58 step facets. It has a particular brilliance and elegance that has rendered it just as popular today as it was when it was first invented 100 years ago.
Pros
- Popular cut among antique diamonds
- More brilliance than the similar emerald cut
- Unique update to a timeless style
Cons
- Inclusions may be more visible in an Asscher cut
- Maybe more expensive than similar cut diamonds
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although Asscher cut diamonds can be expensive.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Radiant Cut
Features
A radiant cut is similar to the emerald cut, but with added brilliance. It has both a unique and timeless feel that makes it popular among brides everywhere.
Pros
- Happily combines round and emerald cut
- Added brilliance
Cons
- Can be on the expensive side
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although radiant cut diamonds can be expensive.
Where to Buy
Warranty
Heart Shaped Cut
Features
A truly unique design that renders this cut impossible not to place on the best cuts list.
Pros
- Unique
- Feminine
Cons
- Can be expensive
Price
Prices will vary based on carats and other factors although Asscher cut diamonds can be expensive.
Where to Buy
Warranty
The Verdict
Although choosing which of the best cuts is the right selection for you will always be a personal choice, when it comes to a traditional and elegant look with unmatched fire, you cannot go wrong with the cushion cut. It has the wow factor of a round or emerald cut, but with just a little softness that can be enhanced by smaller stones set around the centerpiece diamond.
