Know your stone
Diamond shapes, explained.
Shape is the first thing anyone notices about a diamond and one of the things that shapes its resale value. Here's how the common shapes differ, and what they mean if you're thinking about selling a ring.
The shapes you'll see most
Round brilliant
The most common and most in-demand shape, cut with 57 or 58 facets to maximize sparkle. Because demand is steady, round stones tend to hold their value best on resale.
Emerald cut
A rectangular step cut with long, open facets that create flashes rather than sparkle. Clarity shows clearly through the flat table, so a clean emerald cut is prized.
Radiant cut
A rectangular or square stone with trimmed corners that combines the outline of an emerald cut with brilliant-style faceting — lively, durable, and increasingly popular.
Princess cut
A square brilliant with sharp corners and strong sparkle. Very popular in the 1990s and 2000s, which means many estate engagement rings feature one.
Oval
An elongated brilliant that looks larger than a round stone of the same weight and flatters the finger. Demand for ovals has grown sharply in recent years.
Pear
A teardrop blending a round and a marquise. Symmetry and the point's condition matter a great deal to value.
Cushion
A soft square with rounded corners and a warm, antique character. Common in vintage and Art Deco pieces.
Marquise & asscher
Distinctive period shapes: the marquise is a long pointed oval, the asscher a stepped square. Both are less common today, so the right buyer matters more than the shape itself.
How shape affects what your diamond is worth
Demand moves price
Rounds and ovals sell quickly, so offers on them are strong. Less fashionable shapes can still do well — they simply need a buyer with the right audience for them.
Shape isn't everything
Carat weight, colour, clarity, cut quality and certification all weigh in, along with the setting, the metal, and whether the piece carries a designer signature.
The setting counts too
An antique or signed mounting can add real value beyond the stone. We never break up a piece for metal — we are not a refinery, and we don't melt jewelry.
Not sure what you have? Our guide to selling jewelry online walks through the whole process, start to finish.
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