How To Choose The Best Diamond Shape For Your Finger

Have you ever looked at a friend, family member, or colleague’s hands and thought ‘wow, their rings fit them beautifully’? If you have, then the reason that these particular diamond engagement rings and other kinds of rings look so good will be down to a combination of the wearer finding the perfect ring setting, ring size, ring shape, and ring style for their specific attributes.

With so many different wedding ring and engagement ring styles to choose from, it can often prove a very difficult challenge to find the perfect diamond carat size/carat weight, shape, and setting for your finger.

There are so many different factors to consider including whether you have long fingers or short fingers, large hands or small hands, and general hand shape, what kind of surface area you are dealing with on thin fingers or wider fingers, and what kind of popular diamond shape from the jeweler is going to look best on your hand in general.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of this, then we are here to help! With everything we have mentioned above in mind, here is a comprehensive guide on choosing the right diamond shape for your finger shape.

For Smaller Hands & Slender Fingers

People who have more petite hand and finger proportions might benefit from a smaller carat size so that the ring does not look so overwhelming on the finger. In terms of shape, the better options for smaller hands include round cut, Asscher cut diamonds, radiant cut diamonds, heart-shaped diamonds, and princess cut diamonds. These are all exceptionally pleasing to the eye and can bring the right amount of sparkle to more slender fingers.

These shapes are better suited to a more simple setting so that the stone will be enhanced as much as possible without overwhelming the smaller hand and fingers. Split shank and solitaire bands are both ideal in this situation.

It is best to avoid things like larger side stones that can make a smaller finger look rather unbalanced, particularly with square shape diamonds that already boast quite a wide surface area for a smaller hand.

If you want to maximize the amount of shine that you can achieve on a smaller hand, a good idea is to opt for a pave setting that can add lots of subtle sparkle with some smaller stones.

For Wide Fingers & Longer Fingers

The longer and wider your fingers are and the larger your hands are, the more flattered they will be by a diamond that has an elongating effect. In this case, the best choices are things like oval-cut diamonds, marquise-cut diamonds, pear-shaped diamonds, and emerald cuts.

If you are self-conscious about fingers that are a bit ‘too long’, then it might be a good idea to opt for shapes like round cut, princess cut and Asscher cut. Their added width will help to balance out the length of the ring finger.

While a lower carat weight might be a better idea for a petite hand with small fingers, the opposite works for a larger hand with wider fingers. You might consider a larger stone to balance out the proportions of the ring on the hand. Bold settings are great for wider fingers and larger hands. Three-stone rings and rings with side stones will always add a bit of extra drama.

You might also want to go for a thicker band if you have more room on your finger to display your jewelry, as a thinner band might not make the impact you are hoping for against the larger proportions of your hand.

If the budget that you are working with does not allow for a larger diamond that might cost a lot, then you can always find extra shine with a halo setting that produces a dazzling effect way beyond the actual carat size of the center stone your ring has.

Are There Any Shapes That Punch Above Their Weight?

The different diamond shapes and cuts are all able to shine and stand out in their ways. The skill of the diamond cutter is in deciding which shape is best suited to the natural stone. By examining the stone, the cutter will look at where any flaws and inclusions might be and decide which shape maximizes the carat weight he can deliver.

Shapes like emerald cut diamonds, oval-shaped, teardrop, and marquise diamonds have a larger table surface, and this has the effect of making them look larger than other shapes that might have the same carat weight. In this sense, they certainly punch above their literal weight, but ultimately it matters much more to find a stone and ring that best suits the characteristics of your finger and hand.

Oval shapes in particular not only have a large table surface but also provide some of the much-needed elongated shapes that create an effective optical illusion for those with shorter fingers. Along with marquise and pear-shaped stones, ovals are always a great choice for somebody looking to achieve the impression of leaner, long fingers.

In that sense, we would say that the oval diamond is as close as it gets to a truly ‘universal’ shape that packs a real punch over the reality of its carat size.

Is There A Shape That Suits Every Type Of Hand & Finger Equally?

The simple answer to this question is yes, but it comes along with a caveat that everything we have already spoken about should be taken into account to find the very best stone for your finger and hand.

There is a consensus among jewelry and fashion experts that the round-cut diamond is the most universally flattering stone shape for hands and fingers of all types. It is for this reason precisely that the round cut diamond is the most popular shape for engagement rings all over the world.

The simple elegance of a round cut stone looks good in just about any setting, which means that you can customize the rest of the ring to cater to wider, thinner, longer, shorter fingers, etc. Round-cut stones allow for a person to play around with thicker and thinner bands, pave settings, and side stones if needed. It is the most versatile diamond shape on the list, which makes it the safest and most sensible choice for somebody who isn’t as passionate or adamant about one of the other shapes.