Loose
Diamonds Shape Guide
Round
Brilliant: The most common style
of cutting both diamonds and colored stones. The standard round
brilliant consists of 57 facets; 1 table, 8 bezel facets, 8
star facets and 16 upper-girdle facets on the crown; and 8 pavilion
facets, 16 lower girdle facets; and usually a culet on the pavilion.
Modifications of the round brilliant include such fancy shapes
as the marquise, half moon, pear shape and many others.
Pear:
A variation of the Brilliant cut, with 58 facets to only
56 facets when the pavilion facets at the head and tail are
eliminated. Common length-to-width ratio: 1
to 1.50-1.70.
Oval:
A brilliant style of cutting with 57 facets in which the
girdle outline is elliptical or a rounded oblong. Common length-to-width
ratio: 1 to 1.30-1.65.
Marquise:
This diamond has a boat shaped girdle with 57 facets. The shape
and placement of the facets is of the brilliant type.
Common length-to-width ratio: 1 to 1.80-2.20.
Heart:
Common length-to-width ratio: 1 to 0.90-1.10
Trillion
(or: Trilliant, trielle): Common length-to-width ratio:
1 to 0.90-1.10
Emerald:
A form of step cutting. It usually is rectangular but sometimes
is square, in which case it is known as a square emerald cut.
It has rows (steps) of elongated facets on the crown and pavilion,
parallel to the girdle, and with corner facets. The number of
rows of elongated facets may vary, although the usual number
is three on the crown and three on the pavilion. Common
length-to-width ratio: 1 to 1.40-1.70.
Princess
(also the patented Quadrillion): with at least 45 facets (no
culet) normally close to a square shape but may come in elongated
versions.
Radiant:
Patented cut with 70 facets (often confused with "cut corners
Princess/Quadrillions").
