What are the main diamond shapes?

Round Brilliant - The vast majority of diamonds sold are Rounds, as they are considered the most classic; a shape synonymous with the word diamond. The Round is a traditional choice for diamond giving occasions, as well as the preference for those looking to enhance their investment portfolios as they are the most expensive shape. The reason the Round is one of the most costly cuts is that it is usually possible to retain more weight from rough (unpolished) diamond if it is cut into a fancy shape than if it is cut to a round shape.

Celebrities that said "Yes" to the Round Brilliant

• Guy Richie proposed to Madonna with a Round 3-stone diamond ring.
• Christina Aguilera received a Round antique style engagement ring from her producer beau
• Nicollette Sheridan said yes when Michael Bolton gave her a Round diamond engagement ring
• Model Kate Moss received a Round diamond solitaire engagement ring from former rocker beau Pete Doherty
• Pamela Anderson also said Yes to a Round diamond solitaire
• Brad Pit romanced Jennifer Aniston with a Round diamond engagement ring
• Other celebrities found of this cut include Barbara Streisand, Courtney Cox, Mary J Blige, and Carmen Electra.

Princess - Princess is a classic square shape, brilliant cut with sharp uncut corners. Some Princess cut diamonds are perfect squares, others come in more rectangular shapes- desirability depends on the customer's preferences. A princess Cut Diamond generally has 76 facets, giving it a tremendous amount of brilliance and fire. The Princess Cut diamond is now one of the most popular cuts in the United States.

Celebrities that said "Yes" to the Princess cut

• Garth Brooks proposed to Trisha Yearwood with a Princess cut diamond
• Kevin Costner proposed to his love, Christine Baumgartner, with a Square Princess cut diamond
• Previously #1 in the world, Beligian Tennis Pro, Kim Clijsters owns a beautiful Princess diamond engagement ring
• Other celebrities fond of this cut include Star Jones Reynolds.

Radiant - The Radiant cut diamond is a straight-edged square or rectangular stone with cut corners. Whether your radiant diamond is more square or rectangular in shape comes down to personal preference. This shape is mostly used for engagement rings. Rarely used for earrings and side stones as they are hard to calibrate and match. In order to get matched pairs one has to sort through hundreds of stones and/or re-cut to calibrate.

Emerald - An emerald cut diamond shape is rectangular in shape and has the long lean lines of a step cut. Because of the "openess" of this step cut, natural flaws within the diamond are more evident to the naked eye than would be with a brilliant cut. It is for this reason, that when purchasing an emerald cut diamond, quality is key! Select as high a grade as you can afford. Celebrity that Said "Yes" To the Emerald: Sharon Stone received a beautiful emerald-cut three-stone diamond ring from Phil Bronstein.

Pear - The pear shape is a brilliant cut diamond based on the traditional configuration of the round brilliant. The length-to-width ratio of a pear comes down to personal preference and taste, more so than with any other diamond.

Oval - The oval cut diamond is based upon the traditional configuration of the round brilliant diamond, which is why its technical name is oval modified brilliant diamond. The Oval diamond is a good option for those that want the traditional ideal characteristics of the round brilliant but also crave a more unique style. . Celebrity that Said "Yes" To an Oval: Russell and Toni Braxton both have oval-shaped diamond rings.

Cushion - A unique cut diamond that has increased significantly in popularity in recent years. Most closely resembling a cross between an Old Mine Cut and a modern oval cut, this diamond comes in varying proportions. The ultimate ideal shape is determined by the customer's personal preference.

Asscher - The Asscher cut is a modified square Emerald, with dramatic cut corners. It is important to note that there are no typical proportions for the Asscher cut diamond because they are not very common, but as with the Emerald, it is best to buy the highest quality you can afford. Celebrity that Said "Yes" to an Asscher: Donald Trump proposed to Melanie Trump with a 12 carat Asscher cut diamond. Also, Carrie Bradshaw accepted an Asscher cut diamond on the cult-television show "Sex & and the City"

Heart - Considered the most romantic of all the diamond shapes. This sentimental shape diamond lends itself well to an engagement ring or special occasion pendants.

Marquise - According to the legend of the Marquise of Pompadour, the Sun King desired a stone to be polished into the shape of the mouth of the Marquise. As with other fancy shapes, an individual's preference will determine the customer's ideal shape. Celebrity that Said "Yes" to a Marquise: Michael Douglas proposed to Catherine Zeta-Jones with a 10-carat marquise-cut diamond