Diamond Shapes Guide: Compare All Diamond Cuts & Shapes
Discover the most popular diamond shapes and learn how they compare in appearance, brilliance, size and value. Explore our expert guides covering round, oval, cushion, emerald, princess, pear and other diamond shapes to help you choose the perfect diamond.
Round Brilliant Cut
The Round Brilliant is the world's most popular diamond shape, renowned for delivering the highest levels of sparkle and fire. Its perfectly symmetrical design has been refined over generations to maximise light performance, making it the benchmark against which all other diamond shapes are compared. Ideal for buyers seeking timeless beauty and exceptional brilliance.
Oval Cut
Oval diamonds combine the sparkle of a round brilliant with an elegant elongated shape. Their larger face-up appearance can make them look bigger than other diamonds of the same carat weight, while their soft curves create a sophisticated and flattering look. Oval cuts remain one of the most sought-after modern diamond shapes.
Cushion Cut
Cushion cut diamonds feature soft rounded corners and a romantic appearance that has remained popular for centuries. Available in a variety of faceting styles, they can offer anything from chunky vintage flashes to intense modern brilliance. Their combination of sparkle, character and value makes them a favourite among diamond buyers.
Emerald Cut
Emerald cut diamonds are prized for their clean lines, large open facets and elegant hall-of-mirrors effect. Rather than focusing on intense sparkle, they showcase clarity, symmetry and sophistication. Their timeless Art Deco styling and elongated shape make them one of the most refined diamond cuts available.
Asscher Cut
Asscher cut diamonds are known for their square shape, cropped corners and mesmerising step-cut faceting. Similar to emerald cuts but more geometric in appearance, they create a unique hall-of-mirrors effect that highlights clarity and craftsmanship. Asscher cuts are especially popular with buyers seeking vintage-inspired elegance.
Princess Cut
Princess cut diamonds offer exceptional brilliance within a modern square shape. Their sharp corners and brilliant faceting create a contemporary appearance while delivering impressive sparkle. Often providing excellent value compared to round diamonds, princess cuts remain one of the most popular choices for engagement rings.
Pear Cut
Pear cut diamonds combine the brilliance of a round diamond with the elegant elongation of a marquise. Their distinctive teardrop shape creates a graceful silhouette that can make fingers appear longer and slimmer. Pear diamonds offer excellent sparkle while providing a unique and sophisticated alternative to traditional shapes.
Marquise Cut
Marquise cut diamonds are instantly recognisable for their elongated shape and pointed ends. Designed to maximise visual size, they often appear larger than other diamond shapes of the same carat weight. Their elegant silhouette and brilliant sparkle make them a striking choice for buyers seeking something distinctive.
Radiant Cut
Radiant cut diamonds blend the elegance of emerald cuts with the sparkle of brilliant-cut diamonds. Their cropped corners and highly faceted design create exceptional brilliance and fire, while their rectangular or square shape offers a modern, versatile appearance. Radiant cuts are ideal for buyers seeking maximum sparkle in a fancy shape.
Heart Cut
Heart cut diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love and romance. Their unique silhouette combines brilliant-cut sparkle with strong emotional significance, creating a truly distinctive diamond shape. When expertly cut, heart diamonds offer excellent brilliance alongside a meaningful and eye-catching appearance.
Moval Cut
Moval diamonds are a modern hybrid shape that combines the soft curves of an oval with the subtle pointed ends of a marquise. The result is an elegant elongated silhouette that offers strong sparkle, excellent finger coverage and a unique look that stands out from more traditional diamond shapes.
Portuguese Cut
Portuguese cut diamonds are renowned for their intricate faceting and extraordinary sparkle. Featuring significantly more facets than traditional brilliant cuts, they produce countless flashes of light and a distinctive shimmering appearance. Their rarity and exceptional brilliance make them a fascinating choice for buyers seeking something truly unique.
Which Cushion Cut Is Best?
There is no single "best" cushion cut diamond. The ideal choice depends on the look you prefer:
- Choose a cushion brilliant for larger, bolder flashes of light.
- Choose a cushion modified brilliant for maximum sparkle and brilliance.
- Choose a crushed ice cushion for a modern, shimmering appearance.
- Choose an old mine cushion for vintage charm and character.
- Choose a square cushion for classic symmetry.
- Choose an elongated cushion for a larger-looking and more elegant silhouette.
When comparing cushion cut diamonds, it's always worth viewing images or videos of the individual stone, as two diamonds with similar specifications can display very different light performance and visual character.
Why Choose a Cushion Cut?
Beautiful Sparkle
Modern cushion brilliant diamonds produce exceptional light performance, offering a lively sparkle that rivals many of the most popular diamond shapes.
Timeless Appearance
Unlike trend-driven diamond shapes, cushion cuts have remained desirable for centuries, making them a classic choice.
Better Value
Cushion cut diamonds are often priced lower than comparable round brilliant diamonds, allowing buyers to maximise carat weight within their budget.
Versatile Design
Cushion cuts complement:
- Solitaire engagement rings
- Halo settings
- Hidden halo rings
- Three-stone rings
- Diamond earrings
- Diamond pendants
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Excellent brilliance and fire
Softer, romantic appearance
Strong durability due to rounded corners
Often better value than round diamonds
Suitable for many ring styles
Disadvantages
Quality can vary significantly between stones
Can appear smaller than some elongated shapes
Bow-tie effect may appear in some rectangular cushions
Requires careful selection of proportions
Proportions Guide
When choosing a cushion cut diamond, proportions play a major role in appearance and sparkle.
Recommended Depth
58%–68%
Recommended Table
55%–68%
Length to Width Ratio
Square Cushion
1.00–1.05
Rectangular Cushion
1.10–1.40
The ideal ratio depends entirely on personal preference.
Cushion Cut vs Oval Cut
Oval and cushion cut diamonds are both popular alternatives to the traditional round brilliant, but they create very different visual effects.
Oval diamonds tend to elongate the finger and often appear slightly larger for their carat weight due to their stretched shape and greater surface area. Cushion cuts, on the other hand, offer a softer, more symmetrical look with rounded corners, giving a timeless and balanced feel.
Both are elegant choices — the main difference comes down to whether you prefer a sleek, lengthened appearance (oval) or a classic, softly rounded shape (cushion).
Best Settings for Cushions
Solitaire Rings
A solitaire setting allows the cushion cut diamond to take centre stage.
Halo Rings
Halo settings enhance perceived size and increase overall sparkle.
Hidden Halo Rings
A hidden halo adds extra brilliance without changing the face-up appearance.
Three Stone Rings
Three stone designs highlight the cushion cut while adding symbolism and presence.
Are Cushions Good Value?
Yes. Cushion cut diamonds are often considered one of the best value-for-money diamond shapes available.
Their cutting process generally preserves more of the original rough diamond compared to round brilliant cuts, which means less material is lost during shaping. This improved yield helps reduce overall cost, while still maintaining strong brilliance and visual appeal.
Despite being more efficient to produce, cushion cuts still offer excellent sparkle, fire, and character when well cut, making them a popular choice for buyers who want both beauty and value.
For those looking to maximise visual impact within a set budget, cushion cuts are often an especially strong option without compromising on elegance or presence.
History of the Cushion Cut Diamond
The cushion cut traces its origins to the Old Mine Cut, one of the earliest diamond cutting styles developed during the 18th century.
Before modern cutting technology existed, craftsmen shaped diamonds by hand, creating larger facets and softer outlines. Over time, advances in cutting techniques transformed the old mine cut into the modern cushion cut we know today.
The result is a diamond shape that combines historical character with contemporary brilliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cushion cut diamonds popular?
Yes. Cushion cuts are one of the most popular fancy diamond shapes due to their timeless look, romantic feel, and strong brilliance in both modern and vintage-inspired designs.
Do cushion cut diamonds sparkle?
Modern cushion brilliant diamonds offer excellent sparkle and fire, making them one of the brightest fancy diamond shapes.
Are cushion cut diamonds good for engagement rings?
Yes. Cushion cuts are a very popular choice for engagement rings due to their elegant shape, soft corners, and timeless appeal that suits both modern and classic settings.
Are cushion cut diamonds more expensive?
Generally, cushion cut diamonds cost less than comparable round brilliant diamonds.
What is the best ratio for a cushion cut diamond?
A square cushion typically falls between 1.00 and 1.05, while rectangular cushions usually range between 1.10 and 1.40.
Do cushion cut diamonds look bigger?
Cushion cuts can appear slightly smaller than elongated shapes such as oval or marquise diamonds of the same carat weight.
Which is better: cushion cut or old mine cut diamond?
Neither is objectively better — it depends on preference. Cushion cuts offer more sparkle and consistency, while old mine cuts offer a more vintage, romantic, and character-rich appearance.
What is the difference between cushion cut and old mine cut diamonds?
Cushion cuts are more modern with refined proportions and better symmetry, while old mine cuts are antique diamonds with chunkier facets, a higher crown, and a softer, candlelight-style sparkle. Old mine cuts are more irregular and vintage in character.
Why are old mine cut diamonds becoming popular again?
Old mine cuts are trending because buyers are increasingly drawn to antique, unique-looking diamonds with less “perfect” symmetry and a more organic, vintage feel.
Shop Cushion Cut Diamonds
Explore our collection of hand-selected Cushion cut loose diamonds, available in a range of carat weights, colours, and clarity grades. Whether you're searching for the perfect centre stone for a bespoke piece or comparing options for an engagement ring design, our experts can help you find the ideal Cushion cut diamond.