Types of Diamond Cut
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Round Brilliant Cut	Rounds are the most popular shape that diamonds are cut into. It is also the most brilliant of all the cuts. You may have heard of a term called ideal cut. This refers to the attempt to cut a diamond into the best proportions to achieve maximum brilliance.
Asscher Cut	Fancy shapes are less expensive than Rounds. There is one quality which can affect the cost of a Fancy Shape yet never appear on a Certificate and that is "Shape Appeal". You don't need to be a gemologist to know if a Heart Shape has an appealing look to it. The lobes of the Heart may look completely different on one stone than another and yet you wouldn't necessarily be able to determine that from the measurements of the Stones. The best way to judge shape appeal is to look at the stone's girdle outline without a Loupe, and decide if it's attractive to you. Another thing to look for in Fancy Shapes is that the Diamond has a nice length to width ratio.
Emerald Cut	The Emerald Cut is rectangular with cut corners. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. The facets are broad with flat planes resembling the steps of a stair. That's why it is refered to as a "step" cut. Unlike the Marquise brilliant, there is no bow-tie effect on an Emerald cut.
Cushion Cut	Cushion cut diamonds are also known as "pillow cut" or "candlelight". Those names come from having been around so long that they were originally viewed by candlelight rather than the modern light bulb. The Cushion is a unique cut in an antique style similar to an Old Mine or Oval cut. Cushions feature rounded corners and larger facets. Their shape varies from square to rectangular. Choose the shape appeal based on your preference.
Radiant Cut	The Radiant Cut has 70 facets and is known for its cut corners. This cut has the class and elegance of an emerald cut without sacrificing the brilliance of a Round Brilliant Cut. Radiants look very good when adorned with baguettes or round side stones.
Heart Shaped Cut	The Heart Shaped Brilliant bears some similarity to the Pear Shape, except that there is a cleft at the top. In fact, often the reason cutters may choose a Heart shape over a Pear may be that the Rough Diamond contained an inclusion located in the cleft. The skill of the cutter can make a great difference in the beauty of this cut. The "Shape Appeal" is especially important with Hearts.
Marquis Cut	The name "Marquise" came from a legend of the Marquise of Pompadour that the Sun King wanted a Diamond to be polished into the shape of the mouth of the Marquise! The typical Marquise Brilliant contains 56 facets.
Pear Shaped Cut	The Pear Shaped Brilliant is a combination of a Round brilliant and a Marquise cut. Pendants looks very nice set with a Pear shape as do earrings, due to the "Teardrop" shape.
Princess Cut	The Princess Cut is relatively new. It is a very attractive cut. Some people like the Princess because it is rectangular and yet has some of the sparkle of a Round brilliant cut.
Oval Cut	The Oval Shaped Brilliant is very similar to a Round except it is elliptical. It was invented by Lazare Kaplan in the early 1960s. The Oval brilliant usually has 56 facets. "Shape Appeal" is very important with Oval brilliants.

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