The four most popular diamond cuts have consistently been oval, round, cushion and radiant for the past few years. To help you decide which shape might be best for you, we have outlined how they differ from each other below – specifically within our carefully hand-selected Lauren B Diamond Inventory. 

At Lauren B, we can set any one of these popular diamond shapes in any one of our gorgeous handmade settings. If you have narrowed your center stone shape down to two or three of these diamond cuts it is a bit tricky to choose which one you would like to proceed with as they are all stunning!

Oval

Oval cut diamonds have an elegant, elongated appearance and are perfect for those who want something different than the traditional round diamond but gravitate towards the soft rounded edges. Ovals are also one of the most popular diamond cuts as they offer more finger coverage in the length than most other diamond cuts. This makes an oval diamond center stone an excellent choice for those who want to complement their longer nails or fingers. Additionally, the Lauren B oval diamond inventory specifically stands out as we specifically stock ovals with optimal weight distribution – helping you achieve a larger-looking center stone for less!

Round

Round diamond cuts are historically the most popular diamond cut. They have a classic, timeless look that truly pairs well with any style engagement ring setting. Round diamonds are also the most brilliant cut, offering a bit more sparkle and higher light performance than all other diamond cuts. At Lauren B we specifically stock only triple excellent cut round diamonds – which refers to the excellent cut, excellent polish, and excellent symmetry. Round diamonds are the only diamond cut that has a cut grade as well. Opting for a triple excellent cut round diamond is crucial if you want your stone to have maximum fire and brilliance. Round diamonds that display tons of fire like those in our hand-selected inventory also hide warmth and inclusions very easily – giving those who choose this popular diamond cut more flexibility in terms of the color and clarity grading of the stone they choose.

Cushion

Cushion cut diamonds are also one of the most popular diamond cuts – especially at Lauren B. Cushion cut diamonds have a soft, pillow-like appearance and come in both square and elongated shapes. There are different techniques when it comes to the cutting style of cushion-cut stones including brilliant-cut, antique cut, and crushed ice cut. The GIA grading report will not specify the actual cut grade or technique of the diamond, so this makes choosing the right cushion cut diamond for your engagement ring that much harder! Most jewelers stock only crushed ice cushion cut diamonds as they are the cheapest and most common way to cut cushion cut stones. At Lauren B, we choose not to stock crushed ice cut cushions as the facets are closely blended, giving them a watery-like appearance. Crushed iced cuts also are cut deeper than a brilliant cut cushion as crushed ice cuts preserve the carat weight and make the diamond look smaller face-up. Brilliant cut cushions, which are Lauren B’s specialty, exhibit facets that are very distinctive, making the flashes of sparkle both larger and more crisp. This type of cushion is specifically cut with facets that extend from the bottom tip of the stone (the culet) to the outermost edge (the girdle) which hides less weight underneath and makes the stone appear larger face-up. Aside from our popular brilliant-cut cushions, we also offer antique cut cushions which are also known as “old mine brilliants.” Antique cuts are characterized by chunky facets and an open culet at the bottom of the stone which gives it its distinctive appearance. Similar to the cushion brilliant style diamonds, they will also have a crisper brilliance and larger than average face-up measurements which make it all the more desirable.

Radiant

Radiant cut diamonds are incredibly popular diamond cuts, especially for those who are looking for more finger coverage. Radiant cut diamonds have parallel sides and cut corners that provide an amazing balance of sparkle and finger coverage. Like cushion cuts, many radiant cut diamonds on the market are crushed ice cut with smaller face-up dimensions and a bit less sparkle than brilliant-cut radiants. We specifically stock the brilliant-cut radiants to offer our clients more flexibility in terms of the color of the stone. Many radiant cut diamonds are also more boxy-looking. At Lauren B, we know the most popular radiant cuts are those with more elongated dimensions – which we specifically stock!

At Lauren B, all of these stunning popular diamond cuts can be found in various sizes to suit your preferences and budget. Any one of these stunning diamond shapes can also be the focal point of any setting you prefer at Lauren B. Even if you do not see the style on our website – we can custom make any setting for any size or shape diamond! If you’re looking for a specific type of diamond but don’t know what it’s called, ask your Lauren B design consultant or read our blog post on types of diamond cuts!