What are the cuts and grades for diamond engagement rings?

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There are many different cuts and shapes to choose from for your diamond engagement ring - from princess, to emerald, and more. The one you choose is very much down to personal taste, but it is important to understand that each cut will handle light in a different way, and therefore will affect how much your diamond sparkles.

Longer shaped diamonds like the pear, oval, marquise and heart cuts tend to leak light out of the bottom of the stone, creating a dark area which is known as the 'bow tie' effect.

Round-cut diamonds are currently the most popular shape for engagement rings, followed by princess-cut and emerald-cut diamonds

	OVAL This is a symmetrical, elongated shape with very good dispersal of light. It gives the illusion of length to the hand so is popular with women with small hands or short fingers.
	MARQUISE Another elongated shape, but with pointed ends making it relatively fragile. It is beautiful when set as a solitaire or with smaller diamonds.
	PEAR Shaped like a teardrop, this is a hybrid of the oval and the marquise. Its design may make it appear larger than a round diamond of the same quality and weight, and most complements small to average-length fingers.
	HEART This cut speaks for itself, but is essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top. Its beauty is very much determined by the skill of the cutter.
	EMERALD This is a rectangular diamond with cut corners and is also known as the step-cut due to its stepped planes. Be aware that inclusions and poor colour are more pronounced in this cut.
	PRINCESS A modern, square or rectangular cut with numerous facets. It is most flattering to those with long fingers.
	TRILLIANT A traditional triangular shape, with either pointed or rounded corners.
	RADIANT This square or rectangular cut combines the look of the emerald-cut with the sparkle of the round-cut. It has 70 facets which maximizes light refraction.