Home › Guides › Diamond Shapes Guide: Find the Shape You Love Lab grown diamond guide Diamond Shapes Guide: Find the Shape You Love Shape is the first choice most people make, and it changes everything: sparkle, how big the diamond looks and the style of the ring. Here is each shape in one paragraph. By Vinay Mutha, in the diamond trade in Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai since 1999 · Updated 6 Nov 2026 On this pageRound brilliantOvalPearEmeraldCushionPrincessRadiantMarquiseHeartAsscherWhich shape looks biggest?Next Round brilliant The classic and the most brilliant shape, with 57–58 facets designed for maximum sparkle. It suits every style and hides small inclusions well. Look for an Ideal or Excellent cut grade. See round lab grown diamonds. Oval Elongated and elegant, it looks larger than a round of the same carat weight and makes fingers look slimmer. Look at the photo for a "bow-tie" (a dark band across the middle) – a little is normal, a lot is not. See oval diamonds. Pear A teardrop shape – round on one end, pointed on the other. Beautiful in rings and pendants. The point should be protected by a prong. See pear diamonds. Emerald A step cut with long, flat facets that give a "hall of mirrors" look rather than a sparkle. Because it is so open, choose a higher clarity (VS1 or better) and colour. See emerald cut diamonds. Cushion A square or slightly rectangular shape with soft, rounded corners and a romantic, vintage feel. See cushion diamonds. Princess A square shape with sharp corners and lots of sparkle. Modern and clean; a good value choice. See princess diamonds. Radiant Rectangular or square with trimmed corners, combining the clean outline of an emerald cut with the sparkle of a brilliant. See radiant diamonds. Marquise Long and pointed at both ends, giving the most finger coverage for its weight. See marquise diamonds. Heart The romantic choice, best from about 0.70 ct upwards so the heart outline is clearly visible once set. See heart shaped diamonds. Asscher A square step cut with cut corners and an art-deco look. Like the emerald cut, choose higher clarity. See asscher diamonds. Which shape looks biggest? For the same carat weight, marquise, oval and pear usually look the largest from above, followed by round and radiant. Emerald, asscher and cushion look a little smaller but have their own special style. Next Once you have a shape, choose the grades with our 4Cs guide, then see lab grown diamond rings and engagement ring designs. Frequently asked questions Which diamond shape sparkles the most?The round brilliant, because its facets are designed for maximum light return. Brilliant fancy shapes such as oval, cushion, princess and radiant also sparkle a lot.Which diamond shape looks biggest for its carat weight?Elongated shapes – marquise, oval and pear – usually look the largest from above for the same carat weight.Which shapes need a higher clarity?Step cuts such as emerald and asscher have large open facets, so inclusions are easier to see. Choose VS1 clarity or better for these shapes. More guidesLab Grown vs Natural Diamonds: What Is Really Different?How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made? CVD and HPHTIGI Certificate Guide: How to Read and Verify a Lab Grown Diamond ReportThe 4Cs of Lab Grown Diamonds, Made Simple14K vs 18K Gold: Which Is Better for Your Diamond Jewellery?How to Clean and Care for Your Diamond Jewellery