The Alluring World of Diamond Shapes
The Alluring World of Diamond Shapes
My grandmother's engagement ring was a classic round brilliant diamond, set simply in a band of white gold. I remember as a child, with a child’s fascination for sparkly things, holding her hand in the sunlight and marveling at how it made tiny rainbows on the wall. To me, that round shape always seemed the most perfect—and the only shape for a diamond ring. Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered just how many shapes diamonds can take.
While the round brilliant indeed remains the most popular shape, favored for its ability to maximize light reflection, there are plenty more diamond shapes that have their own charm and appeal. Take the rectangular princess cut, for instance. It came into vogue in the 1980s and has been beloved ever since for its modern, edgy look. With its sharp corners and brilliant sparkle, the princess cut demands attention and has this contemporary feel that so many find irresistible.
On the other hand, there's the cushion cut, which might remind you of your grandmother's era, though it's enjoying a resurgence. With its soft, rounded edges and larger facets, it reflects light in flashes rather than sparkles—a different kind of brilliance that exudes a vintage allure. I once met an architect at a seminar who wore a cushion-cut diamond ring. She said it reminded her of the classic movies she adored, where the heroines always seemed to wear something elegant and timeless.
Then there's the unique marquise shape, which supposedly originated from a love story. It was commissioned by Louis XV of France, who wanted a diamond that mimicked the lips of his beloved, Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. The marquise shape is long and slender, creating a dramatic effect that maximizes carat weight, making the diamond look larger than it actually is. It's perfect for those who want a ring with a bit of royal intrigue.
Every diamond shape offers something different, from the clean lines of the emerald cut, often favored in art deco designs, to the heart-shaped diamond reserved for the most romantic at heart. Each shape speaks its own language, evoking emotions and telling stories that are as personal as they are varied. Choosing a diamond shape is as much about personal style as it is about the artistry of the cut itself.
When it came time for me to pick out an engagement ring, I surprised myself by not picking the round brilliant of my childhood fantasies. Instead, I found myself drawn to an oval cut, which combines the brilliance of a round with the uniqueness of an elongated shape. Despite its symmetry, it felt perfectly imperfect—just like love, I suppose.
In the end, the shape of a diamond isn't just a matter of aesthetics. It's an expression of identity, a nod to heritage or a statement of modernity. It's about how you feel when you glance at it on your finger or how others see it glint in the light. Choosing a diamond shape is a personal journey, one that reflects who you are—or perhaps who you want to be. And that, truly, is the beauty of it.
