The Art of Diamond Proportions

A Diamond Chosen for a Lifetime

Every diamond shape has its own unique character, and its beauty is defined by shape-specific quality factors. Select your preferred shape below to discover what makes a truly exceptional diamond.

For personalized guidance, our GD Diamond & Jewelry Consultants are always available to help you choose the perfect piece.

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The round brilliant cut is the most iconic and sought-after diamond shape in the world. Perfected through nearly a century of research, this cut is the result of advanced light-performance theories and precise mathematical proportions, designed to deliver exceptional brilliance, fire, and sparkle. What makes the round diamond truly special is its versatility. It allows greater flexibility when balancing cut, color, and clarity—so you can achieve outstanding brilliance without compromising on overall quality. For maximum sparkle, opt for a round diamond with Ideal or Very Good cut grades, paired with Ideal, Excellent, or Very Good polish and symmetry. The result is a timeless diamond that shines brilliantly from every angle.

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The princess cut is the most popular non-round diamond, admired for its exceptional brilliance and distinctive style—making it a top choice for engagement rings. Defined by sharp, pointed corners, this cut is traditionally square in shape. When selecting a color grade, keep in mind that while a J-color princess-cut diamond offers excellent value, slight color may be visible at the corners. Princess diamonds also vary in proportion, appearing either perfectly square or slightly rectangular. To achieve your preferred look, check the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio determines how the diamond appears when viewed from above. Below are the length-to-width ratios for princess-cut diamonds that are considered most visually appealing. For a perfectly square princess-cut diamond, we recommend a length-to-width ratio between 1.00 and 1.05. If you’re drawn to a more elongated, rectangular look, choose a ratio of 1.10 or above. For those seeking exceptional brilliance and superior light performance, a GD-selected princess-cut diamond offers outstanding sparkle and beauty.

Begin your bespoke creation with the brilliance of a Princess-cut diamond.

The emerald cut is distinguished by its step-cut pavilion and elongated rectangular facets, creating a sophisticated “hall-of-mirrors” effect. Its large, open table places greater emphasis on a diamond’s clarity, making transparency and quality especially important. When selecting an emerald-cut diamond with a lower clarity grade, such as SI, we recommend carefully reviewing the clarity plot on the diamond certificate. Emerald-cut diamonds vary in outline, ranging from more elongated rectangles to softer, squared proportions. If you prefer a more square appearance, an Asscher-cut diamond is an excellent alternative. To achieve your ideal shape, refer to the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio defines the diamond’s overall outline when viewed from above. For a timeless, classic emerald-cut look, a length-to-width ratio between 1.40 and 1.50 is considered most visually pleasing.

Your jewelry design begins with an Emerald diamond

The Asscher cut is a beautifully distinctive shape, closely related to the emerald cut but defined by its perfectly square outline. Featuring a step-cut pavilion with rectangular facets, it delivers a striking, symmetrical brilliance and a refined optical effect. Because this cut emphasizes a diamond’s clarity, we recommend carefully reviewing the clarity plot on the diamond certificate when selecting SI-clarity stones. When choosing a color grade, keep in mind that while J-color non-round diamonds offer exceptional value, slight color may be visible at the corners. At GD, all Asscher-cut diamonds are selected to maintain a balanced, square appearance, with length-to-width ratios between 1.00 and 1.05, ensuring timeless elegance and visual harmony.
The marquise cut is designed to maximize visual size, making the diamond appear larger than its actual carat weight. Its brilliant-cut faceting delivers exceptional sparkle, while the elongated shape beautifully complements settings with round or pear-shaped side stones. The graceful length of a marquise cut also creates the illusion of longer, more slender fingers. To achieve your preferred proportions, refer to the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio defines the diamond’s outline and how it appears when viewed from above. For a classic and well-balanced marquise-cut diamond, GD recommends a length-to-width ratio between 1.85 and 2.00, ensuring timeless elegance and visual harmony.

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The oval cut offers stunning brilliance similar to a round diamond, combined with a graceful elongated shape. Highly sought after for its versatility, the oval cut enhances sparkle while creating the illusion of longer, more slender fingers. To select the proportions that best suit your style, refer to the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio defines the diamond’s outline and how it appears when viewed from above. For a classic and well-balanced oval-cut diamond, GD recommends a length-to-width ratio between 1.35 and 1.50, delivering timeless beauty and elegant proportions.

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The radiant cut is defined by its distinctive trimmed corners, combining brilliance with durability and making it a versatile choice for fine jewelry. Its faceting delivers exceptional sparkle, and it pairs beautifully with both baguette and round side diamonds. Radiant-cut diamonds vary in proportion, ranging from square to elongated rectangular shapes. To select the outline that best suits your preference, refer to the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio determines how the diamond appears when viewed from above. For a square radiant-cut diamond, GD recommends a length-to-width ratio between 1.00 and 1.05. If you prefer a more rectangular appearance, choose a ratio of 1.10 or higher to 1.30, ensuring balanced proportions and refined elegance. Search For Radiant Diamonds Check it out

The pear cut, also known as the teardrop shape, features a distinctive combination of a single pointed tip and a softly rounded end. Its brilliant-cut faceting delivers exceptional sparkle, while its unique silhouette makes it a popular choice across a wide range of fine jewelry designs. An elongated pear shape can also create a subtle slimming effect on the fingers, adding to its graceful appeal. To understand how a pear-shaped diamond will appear when viewed from above, refer to the length-to-width ratio on each diamond’s detail page. For a classic and well-proportioned pear cut, GD recommends a length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and (1.55-1.60)1.75, ensuring balanced elegance and timeless beauty.

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The heart cut is the ultimate expression of love, celebrated for its romantic symbolism and distinctive silhouette. Its unique shape makes it a meaningful and eye-catching choice for a wide range of diamond jewelry designs. When selecting a color grade, keep in mind that while J-color heart-shaped diamonds offer exceptional value, slight color may be visible at the corners. To achieve your desired proportions, refer to the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio defines the diamond’s outline and how it appears when viewed from above. For a classic and well-balanced heart-shaped diamond, GD recommends a length-to-width ratio between 0.90 and 1.10, ensuring harmonious proportions and timeless appeal.

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The cushion cut is a timeless diamond shape that has remained popular for over a century. Also known as the “pillow cut,” it features softly rounded corners and larger facets designed to enhance brilliance and fire. These larger facets draw attention to a diamond’s clarity, so when selecting an SI-clarity stone, we recommend carefully reviewing the clarity plot on the diamond certificate. Cushion-cut diamonds are available in a range of proportions, from perfectly square to gently elongated rectangular shapes. To achieve your preferred outline, refer to the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond’s detail page. This ratio defines how the diamond will appear when viewed from above. For a square cushion-cut diamond, GD recommends a length-to-width ratio between 1.00 and 1.05, offering balanced proportions and classic elegance.

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