What is the best diamond shape?

The best shape is a round brilliant cut.  This shape holds its value better than any cut.  


Fancy shape diamonds, meaning asscher, radiant, emerald, princess, cushion, and pear are worth less than a round with equal characteristics.  The demand for fancy cut diamonds is constantly changing therefore you can generally get higher discounts.  


Fancy cuts diamonds do not sparkle as much as a round brilliant cut of equality.  In 1919 a young mathematician, Marcel Tolkowsky, wrote a Masters thesis on the proportions for round brilliant cut diamonds. This became the basis for what is now known as the “Ideal Cut".  Based on these mathematical proportions cutters have created the most brilliant round diamond.


Round brilliant cut diamonds have the most diamond loss when being cut, therefore they are more expensive.  A round brilliant cut natural diamond will look bigger than a diamond of equal weight.  Fancy cut diamonds hide a lot of weight below the girdle which you will never see.