Diamond Cuts Decoded: Which Shape Suits Your Style?
Lab Created Cushion Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring with Feature Edge £2,250.00
Diamonds may be forever, but their shapes speak volumes—about your personality, your style, even your outlook on life. From timeless classics to avant-garde silhouettes, every diamond cut carries a unique charm that reflects the wearer’s individuality. Whether you're shopping for an engagement ring or a striking statement piece, discovering the cut that aligns with your style can be a magical part of the journey.
Beyond personal taste, it’s also worth considering how different cuts flatter different finger shapes and sizes. Elongated styles like emerald, marquise, and oval help lengthen broader fingers, creating elegant balance. Meanwhile, for long or slender fingers, cuts such as round, princess, or Asscher add a pleasing sense of proportion and visual weight.
The ring’s overall style plays a role too. A diamond cut may look dramatically different as a solitaire versus in a cluster, three-stone, or halo setting—especially when paired with coloured gemstones. Start by selecting your centre stone, then explore accent stones, mixed metals and embellishments that complement its brilliance. Knowing your preferred cut gives you a strong foundation to build a truly personal design.
Let’s decode the most iconic diamond cuts—and help you discover the one that says, “This is me.”
1. Round Brilliant Cut: The Eternal Icon
You are: Classic, refined, romantic
The round brilliant cut is the most popular—and the most enduring. Loved since the 1700s, today’s standard 57-facet version (established in 1919) is engineered for maximum sparkle. Timeless and universally flattering, the round cut suits traditionalists who value elegance and quiet sophistication. It’s effortlessly impactful as a solitaire and suits every hand beautifully.
Celebrity fans: Meghan Markle (trilogy ring), Blake Lively
0.75ct Diamond Solitare Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold £2,650.00
0.90ct Diamond Solitare Ring în Platinum £3,295.00
Two Diamond Cross Over Ring in Platinum £10,500.00
2. Oval Cut: Effortless Grace
You are: Chic, modern, quietly glamorous
Oval cuts blend the brilliance of a round with an elongated shape that flatters the hand by visually lengthening the finger. Though early attempts were unrefined, the modern oval cut (introduced in the 1950s) boasts 58 dazzling facets. Perfect for those who crave timeless elegance with a modern twist.
Celebrity fans: Hailey Bieber, Kourtney Kardashian
Oval Solitare Diamond Ring in Platinum £14,495.00
Diamond Cluster Ring with Pink Diamond Halo in Platinum £7,500.00
Oval Diamond Cluster Ring in Platinum £3,850.00
3. Marquise Cut: The Bold Romantic
You are: Dramatic, vintage-inspired, self-assured
Commissioned by Louis XV to mirror the lips of his mistress; the Marquise de Pompadour, this cut is all about drama. With its striking pointed ends and tapered shape, the marquise (pronounced mar-keez) makes fingers look longer and commands attention with vintage flair—particularly popular in the 1960s and ‘70s.
Celebrity fans: Victoria Beckham, Selena Gomez
Marquise Diamond Cluster Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold £2,850.00
Marquise Ring in Platinum £4,495.00
Marquise Diamond Solitaire Ring £19,995.00
4. Princess Cut: The Modern Classic
You are: Stylish, confident, contemporary
Clean, geometric, and full of fire, the princess cut was created in 1981 and is known for its sharp lines and sparkle. Ideal for modern minimalists or those with long fingers seeking a more balanced look, this cut is making a fashionable comeback.
Celebrity fans: Hilary Duff, Kate Bosworth
Palladium Princess Cut Diamond Ring £1,840.00
Princess Cut Diamond Ring in Yellow Gold £5,995.00
5. Radiant Cut: All About the Sparkle
You are: Glamorous, outgoing, magnetic
A fusion of the emerald shape and the sparkle of a brilliant cut, the radiant cut (invented in 1977) features trimmed corners and brilliant facets. Available in rectangular or square versions, it’s bold, feminine and full of energy—perfect for anyone who loves to dazzle.
Celebrity fans: Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore
Square Modified Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring in Yellow Gold £4,500.00
Radiant Cut Diamond Ring in White & Rose Gold £7,995.00
A Radiant Cut Diamond Photo from Nivoda Diamonds
6. Asscher Cut: Deco Dream
You are: Artistic, vintage-loving, refined
Developed by Joseph Asscher in 1902, this cut channels Art Deco glamour with its mesmerising step cuts and octagonal appearance. Best suited for narrow fingers, it appeals to lovers of architectural detail and antique charm. Due to the cut of this diamond Asscher cut fans will need to up the clarity to a minimum of VS to ensure no inclusions are seen with the naked eye.
Celebrity fans: Elizabeth Taylor, Zooey Deschanel
Asscher Cut Solitaire Diamond Ring £4,250.00
7. Emerald Cut: Understated Elegance
You are: Sophisticated, minimalist, confident
With its clean lines and hall-of-mirrors effect, the emerald cut exudes an understated quiet glamour and is undeniably chic. Though dating back to the 1500s, it rose to fame during the roaring 1920s. Flattering on most finger types, it’s the go-to for those who love dramatic geometric lines and high flashes of brilliance. Like the Asscher cut, due to the cut of this diamond you will need to up the clarity to a minimum of VS to ensure no inclusions are seen with the naked eye.
Celebrity fans: Beyoncé, Amal Clooney, Jennifer Lawrence
In-house: our Grace from Timothy Roe, with her glamorous emerald cut and trapeze side stones.
Emerald Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring in Platinum £27,995.00
Emerald Cut Three Stone Ring in Platinum £4,995.00
Grace’s engagement ring made by Timothy Roe: 18 ct yellow gold with platinum head featuring a stunning 2.50 ct laboratory-created emerald cut diamond centre and 0.50 ct laboratory-created trapeze cut diamonds either side
8. Cushion Cut: Soft, Romantic Glow
You are: Feminine, sentimental, timeless
Resembling a plush pillow, the soft rounded cushion cut offers vintage charm and gentle sparkle. With its soft sparkle and vintage feel, it suits someone with a love for warmth, beauty, and history. Derived from the Old Mine Cut of the 1700s, it’s particularly stunning with coloured gemstones and has recently seen a revival among romantics and vintage lovers.
Celebrity fans: Sofia Vergara, Kim Kardashian
Cushion Cut Diamond Ring in Platinum £4,995.00
Cushion Cut Diamond Halo Cluster Ring £4,750.00
Cushion Cut Natural Pink Diamond Cluster Ring in Gold & Platinum £9,995.00
9. Heart Cut: Wear Your Heart
You are: Romantic, whimsical, expressive
A bold symbol of love and passion, the heart-shaped diamond is all sentiment and drama. Best suited for fuller sculptured fingers (sizes over half a carat especially look great), this cut is for the unapologetically romantic who wants to be meaningful and bold.
Celebrity fans: Lady Gaga, Elizabeth Taylor, Nicki Minaj
Famous example: The 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton diamond, recut into a heart shape.
Image of Lady Gaga’s Heart Cut Diamond. Photo from eonline.com
10. Pear Cut: A Teardrop of Glamour
You are: Elegant, fashion-forward, confident
Also known as the teardrop, the pear cut merges the softness of an oval with the drama of a marquise. Originating in the 1400s, it remains a graceful yet bold distinctive choice. This flatters most finger shapes and sizes elongating the finger for a slimmer feminine aesthetic. For a contemporary look, consider setting it east-west or at an angle for an avant-garde twist.
Celebrity fans: Ariana Grande, Sophie Turner
In-house: our Melanie from Timothy Roe, with her show-stopping rubover-set pear with halo.
Pear Shape Diamond Halo Cluster in Platinum £6,075.00
Pear Shape Diamond Solitaire Ring in Platinum £1,400.00
Bespoke Commission: Contemporary Style Engagement Ring in Platinum with Laboratory-Created Pear Cut Diamond Completed July 2025
11. Trilliant Cut: Geometric Chic
You are: Edgy, unconventional, trend-setting
Bold and modern, the triangle-shaped trilliant or trillion cut emerged in the 1960s and is often used in artistic designs or as side stones. It is all about clean lines, angles and attitude suiting someone who values originality and who loves to stand apart from the crowd. Whether as a solitaire pendant or statement ring, it’s ideal for those who love to defy the norm.
Celebrity fans: Rihanna, Zendaya (custom creations)
Whilst we don’t currently have a solitaire trilliant cut diamond in stock to show you we do have some sapphire and tanzanite trilliant cut stones as well as trilliant side stones. Additionally, we also have this stunning triangle/shield shape rose cut diamond. Rose cuts, popular in the Georgian and Victorian eras, tend to have a flat base and a domed top covered in triangular facets, resembling the petals of a rose and this is in a triangular shield shape.
Rose Cut Shield Diamond Ring In Platinum & Yellow Gold £1,850.00
Trilliant Cut Tanzanite & Diamond Ring £3,500.00
Blue Sapphire & Trilliant Cut Side Diamonds Ring in Platinum £14,995.00
12. Fantasy Cuts: Artistry Meets Individuality
You are: Unique, visionary, rule-breaking
Fantasy cuts defy convention—often asymmetrical, custom-designed, or abstract. They’re perfect for anyone who sees jewellery as wearable art and wants a piece no one else has. As far as the imagination stretches you can play with cuts and styles but be prepared to pay a premium for special cuts.
Celebrity fans: Janelle Monáe and Rihanna frequently embrace avant-garde and bespoke jewellery that defies convention.
Bespoke Commission: Contemporary Style Engagement Ring in 18 ct Yellow Gold with Kite Diamonds and an Oval Mixed Cut Teal Sapphire Completed 2024
Bespoke Commission: Salt and Pepper Fantasy Kite Cut Diamond with Round Black Diamonds in 18 ct Rose Gold
Bespoke Commission: Elongated Black Hexagonal Diamond with Baguette Cut Diamonds in 18 ct Yellow Gold Completed 2025
Diamond Ring in Platinum: Centre Hexagonal Diamond with Two Shield Cut Diamonds Completed for Stock and Sold in 2023
✨ So—Which Diamond Shape are You?
Choosing your perfect diamond cut is like finding your signature scent—it should feel effortless, expressive, and entirely you. Whether you’re drawn to the elegant geometry of an emerald cut or the dreamy romance of a cushion, the traditional classic of a round or a daring new avant-garde cut your diamond should reflect who you are; your diamond should tell your story and the only way to find your perfect cut—is to try them on!
At Timothy Roe Fine Jewellery, we’re passionate about helping you design a piece that’s as unique as you are. Come and explore different shapes and styles, play with settings, and tap into our decades of expertise and portfolio of custom commissions. Together, we’ll create a ring, pendant, or pair of earrings you’ll treasure forever.
We can’t wait to meet you and work our magic on your perfect piece of jewellery.
Choose unique. Choose local. Choose expertise.
