Lab-grown diamonds have quickly gained popularity for their ethical sourcing, affordability, and dazzling beauty. While they are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, they offer some unique benefits, including a wider array of customisability when it comes to shape and design. In this blog, we’ll explore the most popular and stunning lab-grown diamond shapes, helping you navigate the exciting possibilities in your quest for the perfect stone.
1. Round Brilliant: The Timeless Classic
The round brilliant cut is by far the most popular and widely recognized diamond shape. Its 58 facets maximize the stone’s brilliance, making it sparkle with unmatched intensity. Whether you’re choosing a lab-grown diamond for an engagement ring or a special piece of jewellery, the round brilliant’s timeless appeal ensures it always remains in style.
Why Choose a Round Brilliant Lab-Grown Diamond?
Maximum Brilliance: With 58 facets, this cut is engineered for optimal sparkle.
Versatile: It works well with almost any setting, from solitaire to halo styles.
Value: Round cuts are often more expensive than fancy shapes due to the amount of rough diamond used, but lab-grown options are more affordable.
2. Princess Cut: The Bold and Modern Choice
The princess cut is a square or rectangular shape with sharp, uncut corners, offering a modern and edgy aesthetic. It combines the brilliance of a round diamond with the geometric sharpness of a square. This cut has gained immense popularity for engagement rings because of its contemporary and bold look.
Why Choose a Princess Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Modern and Chic: The clean lines and sharp corners give it a contemporary feel.
Brilliance: Its intricate facet arrangement provides good sparkle.
Great for any Style: From traditional solitaire settings to modern tension bands, the princess cut fits a variety of ring designs.
3. Cushion Cut: The Romantic Vintage Shape
The cushion cut is a soft square or rectangular shape with rounded corners, reminiscent of a pillow. This classic cut has been around for over a century and offers a beautiful balance between vintage charm and contemporary style. The cushion cut is beloved for its romantic, soft appearance and the way it catches and reflects light.
Why Choose a Cushion Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Vintage Charm: The rounded corners and larger facets offer a warm, romantic vibe.
Brilliance with Softness: The cushion cut delivers a softer, more gentle sparkle than the round brilliant.
Versatile Design: It pairs well with both vintage-inspired and modern settings, making it perfect for those who appreciate timeless elegance.
4. Oval Cut: The Elongated Elegance
The oval cut is an elongated version of the round brilliant, offering similar brilliance but with an added touch of elegance. This shape can make fingers appear longer and slimmer, making it a flattering choice for engagement rings. The oval shape combines classic beauty with a slightly more unique silhouette than the traditional round.
Why Choose an Oval Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Elegant and Elongated: The shape elongates the finger, making it a popular choice for those seeking a slimming effect.
Brilliant: Like the round, oval diamonds offer great sparkle due to their faceting.
Unique but Timeless: It’s less common than a round diamond but still carries a sense of timeless beauty.
5. Emerald Cut: The Bold, Step-Cut Beauty
The emerald cut is a rectangular shape with cut corners and broad, flat facets that create a “hall of mirrors” effect. This step-cut style emphasizes clarity and is perfect for diamonds with high clarity grades. The emerald cut is sophisticated, with a less flashy sparkle but more of a subtle, elegant glow.
Why Choose an Emerald Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Sophisticated and Elegant: Its long, clean lines give it a sleek, modern look.
Focus on Clarity: The large facets show off a diamond’s clarity, making this cut ideal for high-clarity diamonds.
Unique Shine: The emerald cut’s sparkle is less fiery than other shapes, but its beauty is undeniable for those who prefer understated elegance.
6. Asscher Cut: The Art Deco Favourite
The Asscher cut is often compared to the emerald cut but is square in shape. This cut is characterized by its deep step facets and high crown, creating a beautiful, vintage aesthetic. The Asscher cut has seen a resurgence in popularity, largely due to its association with the Art Deco period.
Why Choose an Asscher Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Vintage Appeal: It evokes the glamour of the early 20th century and Art Deco style.
Clear and Clean: Like the emerald cut, the Asscher cut highlights clarity and the diamond’s internal features.
Bold and Unique: The squarer shape offers a dramatic and sophisticated alternative to round and princess cuts.
7. Marquise Cut: The Royal Diamond Shape
The marquise cut is an elongated shape with pointed ends, resembling a football or boat. It was originally created for French royalty and is associated with elegance and drama. The marquise cut can make a diamond appear larger than it actually is, making it a favourite for those looking for visual impact.
Why Choose a Marquise Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Maximized Size: The elongated shape makes the diamond appear larger, which is ideal for those on a budget who still want a larger stone.
Elegance and Drama: The unique shape exudes a royal, sophisticated charm.
Flattering Shape: It also has a slimming effect on fingers due to its elongated form.
8. Pear Cut: The Tear-Drop Shape
The pear cut is a combination of the round and marquise shapes, featuring a teardrop silhouette with a pointed end. It’s an elegant choice that offers a balance of modern and classic aesthetics. Pear-shaped diamonds are often used in pendants, earrings, and engagement rings, and they can be set with the point facing upward or downward for different looks.
Why Choose a Pear Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Elegant and Dramatic: The pear shape offers an elegant teardrop silhouette that exudes sophistication.
Unique and Refined: It’s less common than round or princess cuts, making it a standout choice for those who want something special.
Versatile Setting: The pear shape can be set in various ways, from traditional prong settings to more innovative bezel settings.
9. Radiant Cut: The Sparkling Hybrid
The radiant cut combines the elegance of an emerald cut with the brilliance of a round cut. It features trimmed corners and a series of faceted facets that give the diamond exceptional sparkle. The radiant cut is often used for engagement rings and is known for its striking ability to catch light.
Why Choose a Radiant Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Sparkle Meets Elegance: Its faceting gives it great brilliance while maintaining a geometric, structured look.
Versatile: Works well in a variety of settings, from solitaires to halo designs.
Great for Coloured Diamonds: The radiant cut can show off fancy-coloured diamonds beautifully, as it enhances their depth and sparkle.
10. Heart-Shaped Diamond: A Timeless Symbol of Love
The heart-shaped diamond is one of the most romantic and symbolic diamond cuts. Perfect for those who want to express love and affection through their jewellery, the heart shape is often used in engagement rings, pendants, and earrings.
Why Choose a Heart Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Shape: A heart-shaped diamond is essentially a pear-shaped stone with a cleft at the top, creating the heart’s signature curves.
Faceting: The heart shape is typically cut with 58 facets, similar to the round brilliant, to maximize its brilliance and sparkle.
Size & Proportions: The heart shape can be cut in a variety of sizes, from smaller accent stones to larger centrepieces. It’s important that the proportions are well-balanced to avoid any awkward angles that could detract from the overall beauty of the stone.
11. Trilliant Cut: A Bold and Modern Choice
The trilliant cut is a triangle-shaped diamond cut that exudes sophistication and modernity. With sharp, clean lines and an eye-catching shape, this cut is perfect for those who want a distinctive, contemporary diamond. Whether used as a centre stone or as accent stones in a larger design, trilliant diamonds are a bold choice that make a statement.
Why Choose a Heart Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Shape: The trilliant cut is triangular, often with a slightly rounded edge, though some variations can feature more angular corners.
Faceting: Typically cut with 50-57 facets, the trilliant cut maximizes the diamond’s brilliance, offering an intense play of light from different angles.
Versatility: Trilliant cuts can be used in a variety of settings, from engagement rings to pendants, and they are often paired with round or princess cut stones to create an interesting contrast.
12. Lily Cut: A Flower-Inspired Diamond Shape
The lily cut is a relatively rare and artistic diamond shape that resembles the delicate petals of a lily flower. This cut is especially romantic and feminine, making it a great choice for those who want a truly unique and elegant diamond shape. The lily cut is characterized by four or more slightly curved petals, creating a soft, fluid look that is both graceful and beautiful.
Why Choose a Heart Cut Lab-Grown Diamond?
Shape: The lily cut is often designed with four “petals” that curve outward from the centre of the stone. It can be a variation of a round or oval cut, with a soft, flowing shape that evokes the natural curves of a flower.
Faceting: The faceting on a lily cut diamond is designed to enhance the shape’s delicate appearance, often with fewer facets than traditional cuts to maintain the petal-like look.
Size & Appearance: Lily cut diamonds can appear larger than they actually are due to their unique shape and the way they reflect light. They’re often set in designs that enhance the flower-like aesthetic, such as floral-themed engagement rings or pendants.
Conclusion: The Shape That’s Right for You
When it comes to selecting a lab-grown diamond, the shape you choose is an expression of your personality, style, and preferences. Each diamond shape has its own unique characteristics, from the timeless brilliance of the round cut to the vintage charm of the cushion cut. Whether you prefer classic, modern, or vintage aesthetics, lab-grown diamonds offer the freedom to find the perfect stone for your needs.
As technology continues to evolve, the variety of lab-grown diamond shapes will only expand, offering even more opportunities to personalize your jewellery while maintaining ethical and environmental considerations.
So, which diamond shape speaks to you? Whether it’s a round brilliant, an oval, or something more unique like the marquise or radiant cut, there’s a lab-grown diamond shape that’s perfect for your vision—and your budget!