Marquise Diamonds

Size queens, meet your diamond.

Marquise diamonds are the masters of making every carat count. Their elongated shape and dramatic pointed tips max out finger coverage without maxing out your diamond budget.

Proportions matter, too. A slender marquise will generally look longer than a plumper one of the same weight, but we'd never sacrifice sparkle or symmetry for another fraction of a millimeter. The goal? A diamond that looks huge and sparkles so hard it might blind passing aircraft.

Our complete guide to marquise diamonds gets into proportions, bow ties, and everything else we'd look for in a great one.

Marquise chamapgne diamond ring set east-west in bezel setting

Moval Diamonds

Somewhere between a marquise and an oval, you'll find the moval. All that dramatic length, but with smooth, rounded ends instead of sharp points. And if you've seen our viral Cookie Butter and Cookie Monster rings, you know we know our way around a moval.

Movals are right up there with marquise diamonds when it comes to looking massive for their carat weight, especially when they're cut long and slender. And while we love a north-south setting, turn one sideways (hello, east-west moval) and you've got a diamond that stretches across your finger in a way that feels unexpected and kind of iconic. Our Cookie Butter ring is proof.

Want more moval magic? Our complete guide to moval diamonds gets into everything that makes this shape one of our favorites.

Oval Diamonds

Oval diamonds have range. A classic solitaire? Obviously. East-west bezel? So good. Halo, half-halo, toi et moi? Yes, yes, and yes. There's almost nothing an oval can't pull off, and that extra length gives you more finger coverage than a round of the same carat weight.

A one-carat oval typically measures around 7.7 × 5.7 mm, compared with 6.5 × 6.5 mm for a round. And if you want to push the size illusion even further, a longer, slimmer oval is where we'd start. Just remember that two ovals with the same carat weight can look surprisingly different depending on their proportions.

One thing we're not compromising on? The cut. A well-cut oval can look bigger, brighter, and sparkle shamelessly, while a poorly cut one can fall flat, even with extra carat weight behind it.

For more on proportions, bow ties, and every pro tip for choosing your oval, check out our oval cut diamond guide.

Pear shaped champagne diamond ring with kite diamond side stones

Pear Shaped Diamonds

Pear diamonds give you the best of both worlds: the curves of an oval, the pointed tip of a marquise, and plenty of length to make every carat look bigger. Point up or point down, pears can give you two completely different looks depending on how you wear them. We love a diamond with options.

A one-carat pear typically measures around 7.7 × 5.7 mm, but proportions can make a big difference in how large it looks. Go long and slender for more length on your finger, or opt for a fuller shape for a more pronounced teardrop. Either way, cut is key for a pear that looks its largest.

Want to get a little pear shaped? Our pear shaped diamond guide has everything you need to find your perfect pear.

Emerald Cut Diamonds

Emerald cuts don't sparkle like other diamonds, and that's kind of the point. Instead of a million tiny flashes, you get those big, dramatic reflections that give emerald cuts their famous hall of mirrors effect. And as if we needed another reason to love them, their broad, open tables and elongated shape can make them look noticeably bigger than round diamonds of the same carat weight.

A one-carat emerald cut typically measures around 7 × 5 mm, but proportions can change the look quite a bit. Longer, slimmer emerald cuts stretch farther along your finger, while shorter, wider ones have a more geometric look. And with those big, open facets, there's nowhere for inclusions or a mediocre cut to hide.

There's an art to finding a great emerald cut. Our emerald cut diamond guide will teach you all you need to know.

Radiant Cut Diamonds

Love the sharp lines of an emerald cut but want more sparkle? Enter the radiant. With its cropped corners and brilliant faceting, you get that sleek, geometric shape with the intense sparkle of a brilliant cut.

Radiants come in both square and elongated proportions, and the difference is pretty noticeable. A one-carat elongated radiant measures around 7 × 5 mm, giving you more finger coverage, while a square radiant measures closer to 5.5 × 5.5 mm. Same carat weight, two very different looks. If you're after more length, elongated is the way to go.

Radiants also come with very different facet patterns. A crushed ice radiant has a dense, glittery shimmer made up of tiny flashes, while a chunkier facet pattern creates larger, more distinct flashes of light.

For more on choosing the right radiant, check out our radiant cut diamond guide.

Round Brilliant Diamonds

The round brilliant isn't exactly winning any awards for being unconventional. But for sparkle? She's hard to beat.

A one-carat round measures about 6.5 mm across, so it doesn't have the finger coverage of an oval or marquise. What it does have is 57 or 58 precisely arranged facets designed to make the absolute most of every bit of light. Think blindingly bright white flashes, little bursts of rainbow color, and truly neverending sparkle.

Rounds are also the diamond world's measuring stick. Their proportions are more standardized than fancy shapes, which makes them an easy reference when comparing how big different diamonds look at the same carat weight.

If there's one thing we're picky about, it's cut quality. Our diamond cut guide explains why it matters so much.

Heart Shaped Diamonds

With heart shaped diamonds, getting the shape just right is everything.

A one-carat heart typically measures around 6.5 mm wide, but not all hearts are created equal. Some are short and wide, while others have a longer, more tapered point. And those differences can make two diamonds of the same carat weight look very different on your finger.

But with hearts, we'd worry less about squeezing out an extra millimeter and more about finding one with the right proportions. The two rounded halves at the top should be balanced, the dip between them clearly defined, and the point nicely centered. After all, you want a heart that actually looks like a heart.

For more on heart shaped diamonds and other fancy cuts, check out our complete guide to diamond shapes.

Cushion Cut Diamonds

Cushion cuts have a dreaminess to them that's hard not to love. Rounded corners, gentle curves, and a little vintage romance, especially when you get into the antique-inspired cuts with their big, dramatic flashes of light.

A one-carat square cushion typically measures around 5.5 × 5.5 mm, making it noticeably smaller face-up than a round, oval, or marquise of the same weight. That's partly because cushions tend to carry more of their weight in their depth, where you can't actually see it from above.

Elongated cushions though, stretch that classic cushion shape into a longer rectangle, giving you more finger coverage and a slimmer look without losing those soft, rounded corners. The length-to-width ratio makes a big difference here: some are just slightly rectangular, while others are noticeably long and narrow. If you love the cushion look but want to get more visual size out of your carat weight, this is where we'd start looking.

And then there's the sparkle. Antique-style cushions tend to have larger, more distinct flashes, while modern cuts can give you everything from crisp brilliance to that dense, crushed-ice shimmer.

Our cushion cut diamond guide gets into the different styles and how to find your favorite.

Princess Cut Diamonds

With crisp, clean lines and perfectly pointed corners, princess cuts are the go-to cut if you love a diamond with a little symmetry and a lot of sparkle.

A one-carat princess typically measures around 5.5 × 5.5 mm, making it one of the smaller-looking diamond shapes for its carat weight.

What you lose in face-up size though, you get back in a striking square shape with intense sparkle. And those pointed corners give princess cuts a dramatic, geometric look that's a world away from the softer curves of a cushion.

Love a perfectly square diamond? Our princess cut diamond guide has everything you need to know.

Asscher Cut Diamonds

Asscher cuts are for those who love a little architectural drama. Think cropped corners, perfectly symmetrical lines, and a mesmerizing hall-of-mirrors effect.

At around 5.5 × 5.5 mm for a one-carat diamond, Asschers are among the smaller-looking cuts for their carat weight.

But what an Asscher lacks in finger coverage, it makes up for in those incredible concentric steps that draw your eye straight into the center of the stone. Instead of the tiny, rapid flashes of a brilliant cut, you get broad, dramatic reflections that shift as the diamond moves. It's a completely different kind of sparkle, and one we're more than willing to give up a few millimeters for.

Fall a little deeper in love with this cut in our complete Asscher cut diamond guide.

1. Don't skimp on cut. A great cut gives you the sparkle you actually want, while well-balanced proportions help you get the most visible size from your carat weight. Paying for extra weight hidden deep underneath the diamond? No thanks.

2. Be strategic about color and clarity. An eye-clean diamond with a lower clarity grade can look just as flawless to the naked eye as one with a much higher grade. And a G or H color diamond can still look bright and white without the price tag of a D color grade. That's money you could put toward a larger stone.

3. Shop just below the big carat milestones. Diamonds weighing 0.90 or 1.90 carats can look almost identical to their 1 or 2-carat counterparts, but sometimes come with a noticeably smaller price tag.

4. Go lab-grown. If you're after a bigger diamond for your budget, lab-grown diamonds are an easy way to get there. They're real diamonds with the same sparkle and durability as natural diamonds, but at a much lower price. That leaves a lot more room in your budget for extra carats.

5. And if you're still deciding on a shape, you already know where we'd send our bigger-is-better friends first: marquise, moval, oval, and pear.

For more ways to make your diamond budget work harder, plus photos of different carat sizes on actual hands, check out our diamond size guide.

What About Rose Cut Diamonds?

Want a diamond that looks bigger than its carat weight suggests? Rose cuts give you more visible diamond for the same carat weight, plus that dreamy, candlelit shimmer that makes them so irresistible.

With a flat bottom instead of a deep pavilion, rose cuts show more of their weight across the top, giving you a bigger-looking diamond from above. A one-carat round rose cut, for example, can measure around 7–7.5 mm across, compared with roughly 6.5 mm for a one-carat round brilliant. That's a noticeable difference for the exact same carat weight.

And rose cuts aren't limited to one shape. Rounds, ovals, pears, hexagons, and plenty of other shapes can all have that distinctive domed top and soft, romantic sparkle.

For more on how rose cuts measure up, check out our rose cut diamond size guide.

Do oval diamonds look bigger than round diamonds?

Yes, oval diamonds look bigger than round diamonds of the same carat weight. Their elongated shape gives you more length along the finger, and can make them look larger from the top view. A one-carat oval, for example, typically measures around 7.7 × 5.7 mm, compared with 6.5 mm across for a round.

Do marquise diamonds look bigger than oval diamonds?

Usually, yes. Marquise diamonds tend to look longer than ovals of the same carat weight, thanks to their slender proportions and pointed tips. The exact difference depends on the proportions of the individual diamonds.

Does a higher carat weight always mean a bigger-looking diamond?

Nope! Carat measures weight, not visible size. A diamond with more carat weight can actually look smaller than a lighter diamond if it's cut particularly deep or carries more weight below the girdle. Shape and proportions make a big difference.

Can a diamond look bigger without increasing carat weight?

Absolutely. Choosing an elongated shape, comparing actual millimeter measurements, and finding a diamond with well-balanced proportions can all help you get more visible size without increasing carat weight. And a great cut makes sure you're getting all the sparkle to go with it.