Engagement Ring Shapes: A Guide to Every Diamond and Moissanite Cut
The shape of the center stone sets the whole personality of an engagement ring. Shape (sometimes called the cut) affects how the ring sparkles, how large the stone looks, and how it flatters the hand. Here's a quick tour of the most popular shapes.
Round
The round brilliant is the classic, and it returns the most sparkle of any shape. It's timeless, works with every setting style, and is the most popular engagement ring shape. Shop round engagement rings.
Oval
Ovals have nearly the sparkle of a round but an elongated outline that makes the finger look longer and slimmer. They also look larger than a round of the same carat weight. Shop oval engagement rings.
Cushion
A cushion cut is a square or slightly rectangular shape with soft, rounded corners and large facets. It has a romantic, vintage feel and looks beautiful inside a halo. Shop cushion cut engagement rings.
Princess
The princess cut is square with crisp, pointed corners and lots of brilliance. It's modern and clean, and a great choice for solitaires and three-stone designs. Shop princess cut engagement rings.
Emerald
Emerald cuts have long, step-cut facets that create a “hall of mirrors” flash instead of sparkle. They're elegant and understated, and because they show inclusions more easily, high clarity matters most here. Shop emerald cut engagement rings.
Pear
The pear (teardrop) combines the brilliance of a round with an elongated, tapered tip. It's distinctive and flattering, and can be worn point up or point down. Shop pear engagement rings.
Radiant
Radiant cuts have the rectangular outline of an emerald cut with the fiery sparkle of a brilliant. They're a great middle ground for people who want structure and sparkle. Shop radiant cut engagement rings.
Asscher
The Asscher is a square step cut with cropped corners and a bold, art deco look. It pairs beautifully with vintage-style settings. Shop Asscher cut engagement rings.
Marquise
The marquise is long and pointed at both ends. It has the largest look for its carat weight of any shape and makes fingers appear longer. Shop marquise engagement rings.
How to choose
- Want maximum sparkle? Round, oval, cushion, pear or radiant.
- Want the biggest look for the carat? Oval, pear or marquise.
- Love a vintage or art deco feel? Cushion, emerald or Asscher.
- Want something timeless? You can't go wrong with a round.
Most shapes are available in moissanite, IGI certified lab-grown diamond and GIA certified natural diamond. Not sure which stone to pick? Read moissanite vs. lab-grown diamond, or contact us for help choosing.