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There are many technical elements to finding the perfect diamond engagement ring. When thinking about the 4C’s, you have the cut, colour, clarity and carat weight to think about. But chances are, even before you turned your attention to all of these vital diamond components, you probably had an idea of what your diamond ring was going to look like, and this would likely have been principally influenced by the diamond’s shape.

A diamond’s shape describes the diamond’s basic outline when viewed face-up. For example, if it is round, cushion or pear. This is different from the diamond’s cut, which is something completely different, as the cut refers specifically to how the diamond’s facets are arranged.

Below we’ll run through your various shape options and key things to keep in mind when deciding on what shape is right for you…

Round shaped diamonds are the most popular shape and are frequently used for Solitaire-set engagement rings. Almost all round diamonds are brilliant cut since the angles created with a brilliant cut helps to enhance its fire and brilliance.

Princess shaped diamonds are a very bright and acute style, with uncut corners. Generally, it is a square or rectangular cut. The brilliant style is because of the vertical directions in the crown and facets in the pavilion instead of horizontal cuts. This diamond shape is one of the most wanted for engagement rings, and most often, princess cut engagement rings are accented with other smaller stones with the diamond at its centre.

The cushion cut diamond is popular with those who desire an antique style engagement ring. They are nonetheless, known for being both classic and contemporary. Cushion cut retains more colour face up than a brilliant cut, which makes them a good choice for coloured diamonds. Cushion cut diamonds have curved sides and rounded corners.

The emerald cut diamond provides for deep clarity and a large surface table. They are a popular choice for those wanting a larger stone without a high price point, and can give the appearance that they are bigger than they may actually be. Despite being rarer than round or princess shaped diamonds, they are often slightly cheaper, making them an attractive option.

Pear shaped diamonds fuse the best of both the marquise and round shapes. Similarly to marquise shaped diamonds, symmetry is key. Pear shaped diamonds resemble a teardrop, and when worn with the pointy end pointing out towards the tips of the finger, create a slimming effect on the hand.