In the case
Round Brilliant
The classic. 57 facets engineered to return the most light of any shape — the most sparkle, and never out of style. If you are unsure, this is the right answer.
Shape
Which diamond shape should I choose?
Round brilliant is the safest and most brilliant choice — its 57 facets are engineered to return more light than any other shape, and it never dates. Oval and marquise look largest for their weight, emerald and asscher trade sparkle for a clean, glassy look, and princess is the crisp modern square.
Shape is the first thing anyone notices, and unlike colour or clarity it is entirely a matter of taste — there is no better or worse, only what suits the person wearing it.
It does have real consequences, though. Shape changes how much light a stone returns, how large it looks for its weight, and how much it costs. Round brilliants are cut to maximise sparkle and command a premium because more rough is lost in cutting one. Elongated shapes spread their weight over a wider face, so they look bigger for the same carat.
Shape also decides which other C matters most. Step cuts like emerald and asscher have long, open facets that act like windows into the stone, so clarity shows; brilliant cuts scatter light and hide small inclusions well.
Every shape, drawn
Outlines and facet patterns at a glance. Round brilliant is the shape Privosa stocks.
Oval
A stretched round. Looks larger than its weight and lengthens the finger — a modern favourite with almost as much sparkle as a round.
Princess
Square and crisp, with sharp corners and plenty of fire. Contemporary, and usually a little cheaper per carat than a round.
Emerald
A long rectangle with stepped facets — less sparkle, more clarity, like looking into a hall of mirrors. Quiet and grown-up. Clarity matters most here.
Cushion
A soft-cornered square with a warm, vintage glow. Rounded edges make it gentle on the eye and comfortable to wear.
Pear
A teardrop — half round, half marquise. Romantic and distinctive; worn point-up it slims the finger.
Marquise
Long, pointed and dramatic. Covers the most finger for its weight, so it looks the largest carat-for-carat.
Asscher
A square emerald cut. Deep, stepped facets and an art-deco feel. Like the emerald, it rewards a high clarity grade.
Radiant
Emerald's outline with a brilliant's facets — the shape of an emerald cut with the sparkle of a round.
Heart
Unmistakably romantic, and the hardest shape to cut well — symmetry is everything. Best above one carat, where the lobes read clearly.
Which looks biggest for the weight?
Elongated shapes spread the same carat weight over a wider face, so they read larger on the hand or ear.
| Shape | Looks larger per carat | Sparkle |
|---|---|---|
| Marquise | Most | High |
| Oval | High | High |
| Pear | High | High |
| Emerald | Moderate | Low — glassy, not fiery |
| Princess | Moderate | High |
| Cushion | Slightly less | High |
| Round Brilliant | Least | Highest of any shape |
Round loses the most rough crystal in cutting, which is why it costs more per carat and looks smallest for its weight — and why it still outsells every other shape combined. You are paying for light, not area.
Which clarity grade each shape needs
Step cuts have long open facets that act like windows; brilliant cuts scatter light and hide small marks.
- Round Brilliant — VS2 is comfortably eye-clean; the facet pattern hides minor marks.
- Oval — VS2 is comfortably eye-clean; the facet pattern hides minor marks.
- Emerald — buy VS1 or better; the open facets show everything.
- Marquise — watch the points, which are the most fragile part of any diamond, and prefer a setting that shields them.
- Asscher — buy VS1 or better; the open facets show everything.
Common questions
Which diamond shape sparkles the most?
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The round brilliant. Its 57 facets were mathematically designed to return the maximum amount of light back through the top of the stone, and no other shape matches it for pure sparkle.
Which diamond shape looks the biggest for the money?
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Marquise, then oval and pear. These elongated shapes spread their weight across a wider face-up area, so they can look 10–15% larger than a round of the same carat weight. Round and asscher look the smallest per carat.
What is the most popular diamond shape?
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Round brilliant, by a wide margin — it accounts for roughly two thirds of all diamonds sold. Oval is the fastest-growing alternative.
Which diamond shape is cheapest?
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Princess, cushion and radiant cuts generally cost the least per carat, because their square outlines waste less of the original rough crystal during cutting. Round brilliant is the most expensive for the same reason in reverse.
What shape are Privosa diamonds?
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Every diamond Privosa currently stocks is a round brilliant — the shape with the most light return and the widest appeal. Other shapes are documented here so you can compare before you buy.
Last reviewed August 2026