Most of us are familiar with the ever popular “round” cut diamond, the number one choice in engagement solitaires. It also accounts for more than 75% of the diamonds sold today. Beyond the round, there is an amazing variety of choices in the cut of the stone! (As well as gemstone choices, but we’ll save that for another post!)

DiamondHelpers.com has a discussion of some of the more popular cuts. Following are a number of those cuts with a brief description of each (from the top view):

• Round – Also sometimes called the brilliant cut, has a round shape, is considered the most ideal shape for a diamond as it brings the most fire and brilliance out in the stone.

• Pear – Pear shaped, a round cut that extends itself out to a point.

• Marquis – Similar to a football’s outline, a more elegant cut, wonderfully carried by those with longer fingers!

• Princess - The princess is one of the most popular fancy diamond shapes. The proportions are considered better the more square the stone is cut, with exact 90 degree internal angle on each corner.

• Oval – An elliptical shape.

• Emerald - A rectangle with corners cut off.

• Heart – A “heart” as you’d find on Valentine’s cards.

• Radiant - Similar to a rectangle or square with the corners cut off top view.

Another cut but one not listed, at DiamondHelpers, was the Trilliant (also called trillion or trillion). This is a more unusual cut. From the top it is shaped like a triangle and comes in two versions, curved and uncurved, with the former being a softer version. This cut is more often see in colored gemstones.

Bluenile.com has a superb layout of shapes and cuts that includes not only a description of the cut but how each type of cut affects the stone itself. They also have more in-depth information about the four “c”s (cut, color, clarity and carat) along with some tips for caring for your diamonds.

If you’re still in the process of searching for either an engagement or wedding ring, Bluenile.com also has a guide for each type of ring.

Other places you might want to peruse prior to decision making:

• Tiffany & Company (naturally!)

• Zales

• The New York Diamond Exchange

Look for certified vendors and always have your stone appraised (NOT by someone who is a diamond seller as that may be a conflict of interest!).

If you have questions about your stone, the dealer, or just about anything related to gemstones, you can always check with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS).

Happy diamond digging!