

Emerald Cut
The supreme elegance of an emerald cut cannot be disputed. Its clean lines come from step-cutting or parallel line facets. It is always cut with blocked corners and is usually cut to a rectangular outline, although a few are cut to be more square.
FYI: This is the only modern cut listed here that is a step cut. The rest are classified as brilliant cuts.
In a step cut, larger inclusions are sometimes more visible to the unaided eye, so diamonds cut in this shape usually need to be higher in clarity grade (I1 or I2 clarities should probably be avoided).
Length-to-width ratios should be considered when choosing an emerald cut : usually a 1.50:1.00 ratio is preferred. This means that the length of the diamond should be about 1½ times the width. However, like all fancy shapes, personal preference prevails. Some people may prefer a squarer outline, or a longer, thinner rectangle. An emerald cut is loved by purists and looks especially wonderful set in platinum a simple setting or a baguette side-stone setting.
Modern cushion
The modern cushion is an illegitimate daughter of noble antique cushion diamond and a trailer park-issue modern radiant cut.
Radiant Cut
The radiant cut is a questionable combination of the classic emerald-cut shape and the dizzy look of the round brilliant's sparkle. The radiant cut is similar to the princess cut but usually (though not always) has a more rectangular outline and blocked corners like those of an emerald cut.
The faceting is a combination of the step-cutting of an emerald cut diamond with some triangular faceting of the brilliant cut. We can say that the radiant cut is the failed son of an elegant emerald cut and frivolous princess cut.
It has one obscure specialty - it makes any noticeable color in a diamond show as a much darker color. For that reason almost all fancy colored diamonds are cut into radiants. This is the case where too much of bad news is finally good news. The only reason one might wish for a radiant cut is when shopping for a colored diamond.
Round Diamond
The round brilliant cut is often is synonymous with the word "diamond". IN depth discussion of modern and antique round brilliant cut is COMING SOON
Princess Cut
The princess cut is an ultra-modern, square, sometimes rectangular, brilliant cut stone. This is the shape of choice for those who like the crushed ice look coupled with a gigantic table and an almost non-existent Crown. Developed in the 1970s, the princess cut is a wildly popular item at shopping malls around the country.
High yield during the cutting process contributed to the relatively low cost of this cut. The corners of the princess cut are extremely vulnerable during the process of setting. It is important to protect the vulnerable corners with a prong at each point.
Contrary to popular opinion, V-prongs are not the best choice for setting and protecting the corners. A single claw prong is a much better option.
Pear Shape Cut
The pear shape is a beautiful, feminine diamond shape with a rounded end on one side and a tapering point at the other. It is lovely as the center stone. As with many fancy shapes, length-to-width ratio is usually within 1.5 ratios. The shape of the stone should resemble a tear drop with natural curves to look elegant.
Properly proportioned pear shape diamonds are gorgeous. Chubby pear shapes are outright ugly. Elongated pears are pretty but tend to be fragile. Mr. Megé personally loves elongated pear shaped diamonds for earrings or pendants or a pair of drop earrings. Poorly cut pears commonly show BOW-TIE effect. The Pear shaped diamond is also Mr. Megé's favorite choice of side options for a round diamond. The asymmetrical shape should be considered when setting a pear cut, which looks beautiful as a solitaire, or with side stones, especially smaller pear-cut stones or baguettes.
A pear shape diamond could safely be mounted in a five or three prong setting. A V-prong is common but is not necessary to secure the point. A single claw prong is a better option.
Oval Cut
The oval diamond has a lot of brilliance similar to a round diamond. An oval cut is beautiful in a ring accentuating slender fingers and making larger knuckles less visible.
Claimed to be created by Lazare Kaplan in the late 1950s, the oval brilliant cut has an elliptical shape and brilliant style faceting. Being upset that too many marquise diamonds chipped by diamond setters and left laying to waste away in his strong box, he decided to round off the broken tips. These diamonds were initially sneered at by the public. They viewed the first ovals as "Roval" traditional cushions. However, later it became accepted as a leading cut used in necklaces.
Marquise Cut
An elongated shape with pointed ends. Also known as a navette cut diamond. An old wife's tale attributes the inspiration for cutting the first marquise shaped diamond to the suggestive smile of the Marquise de Pompadour. It was said to be commissioned by Louis XIV, who wanted a diamond to match it.
Marquise diamonds are best used as accent stones in earrings and necklaces. A marquise diamond longer than the span of a regular female finger will look gorgeous set East-West (across the finger).
A very large marquise diamond (larger than a 5 carat) is indeed beautiful as a solitaire.A long finger seems to stretch even longer with the stone. Short fingers will not benefit from this cut. Smaller marquise diamonds actually make fingers look shorter.
Heart Shape
The heart shape diamond is considered the most romantic of all diamond cuts. It does not matter that modern science proved long time ago that a heart is just a blood pumping organ lacking any spiritual or romantic qualities.
The ancient avatar is back to business crystallized in a double lobed shape familiar to us from childhood. It has been invented in the 15th century as one of the red suits in playing card decks.
The heart shape given to a particular stone is not the first choice by a diamond cutter. Ideally, they would cut a pear shape. However, due to an inclusion, a decision was made to cut a cleft - an indentation that splits the rounded end of the stone into two lobes thus removing the inclusion.
The ideal ratio for a heart shape is 1:1.
The world's most famous heart shape diamond is The Blue Heart - 30.62 carat fancy blue stone. The hearts look great in pendants and solitaire rings.