| Diamonds are cut into an array of shapes that | | | | which determine a well-cut stone. |
| are generally designed to exhibit their two most | | | | Fashion heavily influence popular cuts and shapes |
| important features: fire and brilliance. Diamonds | | | | of diamonds: the baguette cut-which accentuates |
| must be cut and polished to accentuate these | | | | a diamond's luster and downplays its fire was |
| features because rough stones do not show this | | | | very trendy during the Art Deco period, whereas |
| beauty that diamond gemstones are known for. | | | | the princess cut-which enhances a diamond's fire |
| Diamonds that are not cut to the Tolkowsky's | | | | rather than its luster-is currently gaining |
| round brilliant shape (or later variations) | | | | recognition. The princess cut is also popular with |
| specifications are well-known as "fancy cuts." | | | | diamond cutters: of all the cuts, it wastes the |
| fashionable fancy cuts include the baguette (from | | | | least of the original rough crystal. |
| the French, meaning rod or loaf of bread), | | | | New diamond cuts have been developed during |
| marquise, princess cut (square outline), heart, | | | | the past decades, often inspired by a modification |
| briolette (a form of the rose cut), and pear cuts. | | | | of an existing cut. Extra facets are included in |
| Newest cuts of diamonds that have been | | | | some of these new diamond cuts. Instead of |
| introduced into the jewelry industry are the | | | | actual improvements to the state of the art, |
| "cushion" "radiant" (like princess cuts, but with | | | | these newly developed cuts are viewed by many |
| rounded edges instead of square edges) and | | | | as more of an attempt at branding by diamond |
| "Asscher" cuts. Many fancy colored diamonds are | | | | sellers. |
| now being cut in accordance with these new | | | | So, the shape of a diamond is as important as |
| styles. Normally, these "fancy cuts" are not held | | | | the cut, and very much different in meaning, |
| to the same stringent standards as | | | | even though the two are interconnected in |
| Tolkowsky-derived round brilliants and there are | | | | accentuating the diamond gemstone's brilliance and |
| less explicit mathematical guidelines of angles | | | | fire. |