Diamond Shapes

Diamond Shapes and Cuts in Grand Cayman

Round, oval, marquise, emerald, princess, pear and cushion, and what each one actually does on the hand.

Start Here

Shape Is the First Decision

Shape is the first thing to settle, before carat, colour or clarity. It decides the whole character of the ring, and it changes how large a stone looks: two diamonds of identical weight can differ noticeably in spread depending on how they are cut.

Elongated shapes read larger for the money. A marquise, oval or pear covers more finger than a round of the same carat weight, which is why they are the value shapes. Round brilliant returns the most light of any cut but you pay for that, because more of the rough is lost to get there.

Step cuts behave differently again. Emerald and Asscher cuts trade sparkle for clean, mirror-like flashes, which means clarity matters more: inclusions that would hide in a brilliant are visible through an open table. We will show you the same carat weight in several shapes side by side, which settles the question faster than any chart.

The Collection

Diamond Shapes at IDC Cayman

A selection shown live from our George Town boutique. View any piece in detail, or enquire with our team.

The Shapes

Every Shape We Set

What each shape does, and who it usually suits.

Round Brilliant

The most light return of any cut, and the most expensive per carat because the most rough is lost cutting it. Never the wrong answer.

Marquise

The best value on the hand. An elongated football shape that reads far larger than its weight and slims the finger.

Oval

Round brilliance in an elongated outline. Looks bigger than a round of the same carat and hides a bow-tie well when cut properly.

Emerald Cut

A step cut with long, clean flashes instead of sparkle. Elegant and architectural, but it shows inclusions, so clarity matters.

Princess

A square brilliant. Sharp corners, lots of fire, and more of the rough retained, so it costs less per carat than a round.

Pear

A brilliant teardrop, half round and half marquise. Striking as a solitaire and excellent in pendants and drops.

Cushion

Soft square with rounded corners and a pillowy, vintage look. Forgiving to wear and warm in yellow gold.

Asscher and Radiant

Asscher is a square step cut with deep clean lines. Radiant is a squared brilliant, the brightest of the square shapes.

The IDC Promise

Why Choose IDC Cayman

GIA-Certified

Independently graded by the Gemological Institute of America, certainty with every stone.

Entirely Tax-Free

No duty, no sales tax. Exceptional value on every purchase in the Cayman Islands.

Bespoke Service

Prefer something unique? Our atelier designs and crafts one-of-a-kind pieces by hand.

Lifetime Care

Cleaning, inspection and resizing, we care for your jewelry for life.

Questions

Good to Know

Which diamond shape looks the biggest?

The elongated shapes. A marquise, oval or pear spreads further across the finger than a round or princess of the same carat weight, so it reads larger for the same money. Marquise gives the most apparent size of any shape.

What is the most popular diamond shape?

Round brilliant is still the most bought, because it returns more light than any other cut. Oval has been the fastest-growing shape for several years, mostly because it looks larger than a round at the same weight.

Which diamond shape is best value?

Marquise, pear and oval, because less of the rough stone is lost in cutting and the finished stone covers more finger. Princess is also cheaper per carat than round for the same reason. Round brilliant is the most expensive per carat of all the common shapes.

Does shape affect what clarity I need?

Yes, significantly. Step cuts such as emerald and Asscher have large open facets that act like windows, so inclusions show. Brilliant cuts such as round, oval, marquise and cushion scatter light and hide inclusions much better, so you can safely buy a lower clarity grade.

Can I see different shapes side by side?

Yes, and it is the only reliable way to choose. Come to the George Town showroom and we will lay out the same carat weight in several shapes so you can see the difference in spread and character on an actual hand.

Visit Us

Same Carat, Different Shapes

Charts do not settle this. We will put the same weight in four shapes on your hand and the decision usually makes itself.

Visit Us in George Town Message us on WhatsApp

Diamond Shapes and Cuts in Grand Cayman

Shape Is the First Decision

Diamond Shapes at IDC Cayman

Pink Sapphire Ring

Blue Topaz Halo Cocktail Ring

Emerald Swirl Ring

Emerald Vintage Ring

Emerald Radiant Three-stone Ring

Ruby Flower Ring

Sapphire Flower Ring

Sapphire Vintage Ring

Fancy Yellow Diamond Cluster Ring

Fancy Yellow Diamond Swirl Ring

Pink Diamond Radiant Vintage Ring

Pink Diamond Cushion Halo Ring