Every diamond shape tells a slightly different story on the hand. Cut and clarity matter, but shape is usually the first decision, and often the most personal one. Here's how to think about it.
Round: the classic for a reason
The round brilliant is the most researched, most refined cut in diamond history: built specifically to maximise fire and sparkle from every angle. It's the safest choice in the best sense, and it's why it anchors pieces like The Everyday Diamond Studs and The Everyday Tennis Necklace. If you want brilliance without a design conversation, start here.
Oval and pear: elongating shapes with softer light
Oval and pear cuts trade a little brilliance for shape: both elongate the finger, both catch light in longer, softer flashes rather than round's tight sparkle. The Soleil Ring, worn by Blake Lively, builds its entire silhouette around a 3-carat oval. The Heirloom Oval Drop Earrings set the same shape east-west, for something quieter. Pear shows up in The Bezel Diamond Charm, alongside oval and heart options in the same setting.
Heart: romance made literal
Heart-shaped diamonds are the most overtly sentimental cut, and the hardest to get proportions right on: too narrow and it reads as a pear, too wide and the lobes disappear. The Heirloom Heart Drop Earrings keep the silhouette clean and legible at a wearable scale.
Cushion and asscher: vintage-inspired structure
Cushion cuts soften a square or rectangular outline with rounded corners: warm, antique-feeling, and forgiving of inclusions thanks to larger facets. The Darling Ring, worn by Pippa O'Connor Ormond, sets an elongated cushion east-west for exactly that effect. Asscher cuts go the other direction: cropped corners, step-cut facets, and a hall-of-mirrors look that reads more architectural than sparkly. The Icon Ring pairs an asscher-cut spinel with a round brilliant diamond for contrast.
How to choose
Start with how you actually live: round and cushion cuts tend to wear more durably day to day, while pear and oval show more visible wear at the points over years. Then look at what you're drawn to when nothing else is in the room. If you already have a piece in mind but want it in a different shape or carat weight, our Bespoke & Engagement team can talk it through. For more on how three of our most sculptural rings came to be, see As Worn By, and for the lab-grown vs. natural question that comes up with every shape, see our diamond guide.