Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but they can also be a source of confusion and stress. When shopping for an engagement ring, one of the most common questions is: which diamond shape looks biggest? After all, you want to get the most bang for your buck, and make your ring stand out from the crowd. But how do you compare different diamond shapes and sizes? And which one will give you the illusion of a larger stone?
The factors that affect diamond size
Before we dive into the different diamond shapes, let’s first understand what factors affect how big a diamond looks. The size of a diamond is measured by its weight in carats, not by its dimensions in millimeters. However, the weight of a diamond does not always correspond to its visible surface area or diameter. This is because different diamond shapes have different proportions, depths, and cuts that affect how much of the weight is distributed on the top or the bottom of the stone.
For example, a round brilliant diamond has an ideal depth of about 60%, which means that 60% of its weight is concentrated on the bottom half of the stone. This makes it very sparkly and brilliant, but also slightly smaller in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. On the other hand, an emerald cut diamond has a shallow depth of about 50%, which means that 50% of its weight is distributed on the top half of the stone. This makes it less sparkly and brilliant, but also larger in diameter than other shapes of the same weight.
Another factor that affects how big a diamond looks is its table size. The table is the flat surface on the top of the stone, and it determines how much light enters and reflects from the diamond. A larger table size means more light reflection and more perceived size, while a smaller table size means less light reflection and less perceived size. However, a larger table size also means less fire and scintillation, which are the flashes of color and sparkle that make a diamond attractive. Therefore, there is a trade-off between table size and brilliance.
A third factor that affects how big a diamond looks is its shape. Different shapes have different optical effects that create an illusion of size. For example, elongated shapes like oval, marquise, pear, and emerald tend to look bigger than round or square shapes because they cover more finger area and have longer diagonal measurements. Similarly, shapes with pointed edges like marquise, pear, and heart tend to look bigger than shapes with rounded edges like round, oval, and cushion because they draw attention to the extremities and create contrast with the finger.
The comparison of different diamond shapes
Now that we know what factors affect how big a diamond looks, let’s compare some of the most popular diamond shapes and see which one looks biggest for a 2 carat weight. We will use an average finger size of 6.5 for reference.
Round
A round brilliant diamond is the most popular and classic shape for an engagement ring. It has 58 facets that maximize its brilliance and fire, making it very attractive and desirable. However, it also has a high depth percentage and a small table size, which make it slightly smaller in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. A 2 carat round brilliant diamond has an average diameter of about 8.1 mm¹.
Oval
An oval diamond is an elongated version of a round brilliant diamond. It has 56 facets that give it a similar brilliance and fire as a round diamond, but with more finger coverage and length. It also has a lower depth percentage and a larger table size than a round diamond, which make it larger in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. A 2 carat oval diamond has an average diameter of about 10.5 x 7 mm¹.
Marquise
A marquise diamond is a tapered version of an oval diamond. It has 58 facets that give it a good brilliance and fire, but with more pointed edges and contrast with the finger. It also has a very low depth percentage and a very large table size than a round diamond, which make it very large in diameter than other shapes of the same weight.
A 2 carat marquise diamond has an average diameter of about 13 x 6.5 mm¹.
Pear
A pear diamond is a hybrid of a round and a marquise diamond. It has 58 facets that give it a good brilliance and fire, but with a unique teardrop shape that combines curves and points. It also has a low depth percentage and a large table size than a round diamond, which make it large in diameter than other shapes of the same weight.
A 2 carat pear diamond has an average diameter of about 11.5 x 7 mm.
Emerald
An emerald diamond is a rectangular diamond with step-cut facets that create a hall-of-mirrors effect. It has less
brilliance and fire than a round diamond, but more clarity and elegance. It also has a very shallow depth percentage and a very large table size than a round diamond, which make it very large in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. A 2 carat emerald diamond has an average diameter of about 8.5 x 6.5 mm.
Princess
A princess diamond is a square diamond with brilliant-cut facets that give it a high brilliance and fire. It has more brilliance and fire than an emerald diamond, but less clarity and elegance. It also has a high depth percentage and a small table size than a round diamond, which make it slightly smaller in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. A 2 carat princess diamond has an average diameter of about 7 mm.
Cushion
A cushion diamond is a rounded square or rectangular diamond with brilliant-cut facets that give it a soft and romantic look. It has less brilliance and fire than a round or princess diamond, but more warmth and charm. It also has a high depth percentage and a small table size than a round diamond, which make it slightly smaller in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. A 2 carat cushion diamond has an average diameter of about 7.5 x 6.5 mm.
Heart
A heart diamond is a modified version of a pear diamond with two symmetrical lobes. It has 59 facets that give it
a good brilliance and fire, but with a sentimental and whimsical shape that expresses love and affection. It also has a low depth percentage and a large table size than a round diamond, which make it large in diameter than other shapes of the same weight. A 2 carat heart diamond has an average diameter of about 9 x 8 mm.
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Conclusion
As you can see, different diamond shapes have different effects on how big they look for the same carat weight.
Generally speaking, elongated shapes like oval, marquise, pear, and emerald tend to look bigger than round or square shapes like round, princess, and cushion. However, there are other factors to consider besides size when choosing a diamond shape, such as brilliance, fire, clarity, elegance, personality, and preference. The best way to find out which diamond shape looks biggest for you is to try them on in person and see how they fit your finger and style.
