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As a purveyor of exceptional, high-quality jewellery, La Mine d'Or has consistently demonstrated its commitment to customer education. Understanding every aspect of diamond selection is integral to achieving the perfect ring design and ensuring customer satisfaction. One aspect we frequently discuss with our patrons is the shape of the diamond, an attribute that significantly affects its perceived size. With this in mind, we invite you to explore the intriguing interplay of diamond shape, carat weight, and visual size.
The first step on this journey is to familiarize ourselves with the fundamentals. A diamond's carat weight measures its mass, not its size. Nonetheless, the carat weight often correlates with the perceived size - the more carats, the larger the diamond appears. However, the shape of the diamond can drastically alter this perception.

Over the decades, the industry has introduced several diamond shapes, each with unique characteristics. Here, we highlight the most popular ones to help you understand their effect on perceived size.

Often lauded as the pinnacle of diamond shapes, the round cut is loved for its exceptional brilliance. However, it may not look as large as other shapes of similar carat weight.
The princess cut, with its distinctive square shape and pointed corners, boasts a modern look. It appears larger than the round cut, due to its wider surface area.
An oval cut is a modification of the round brilliant cut, providing an elongated shape that significantly boosts the perceived size.
With its elongated, pointed ends, the marquise cut makes the diamond look substantially larger.
The emerald cut, with its rectangular facet pattern, maximizes the perceived size of the diamond with an elegant, vintage appeal.
Combining the best of round and princess cuts, the cushion cut provides a large face-up area that enhances the diamond's size appearance.
The pear-shaped diamond, combining round and marquise shapes, presents an enlarged look, especially when worn with the point facing the hand.
A symbol of love, the heart-shaped diamond is a popular choice for engagement rings. However, its unique shape doesn't maximize the perceived size.
The radiant cut, a fusion of round and emerald cuts, offers a larger-looking diamond with its brilliant-cut facet pattern.
Asscher cut, a variant of the emerald cut but in a square shape, has a more concentrated brilliance and looks slightly smaller due to its deep cut.
While each shape has its charm, some inherently appear larger than others. Typically, elongated shapes such as the oval, marquise, and pear shapes appear larger due to their extended surface area.

Beyond the shape, several other factors can impact the perceived size of a diamond. The setting of the diamond, the design and thickness of the ring band, and even the wearer's finger size can significantly influence how large a diamond appears. Moreover, a diamond's color and clarity can also affect visual size perception.
Selecting the perfect diamond shape requires a delicate balance of personal preference, budget considerations, and an understanding of size and quality. Our expert team at La Mine d'Or, backed by decades of experience and a commitment to stellar customer service, can guide you through this process. With our renowned custom design services, repair offerings, and curated collections, we ensure a comprehensive, personalized, and high-quality jewellery experience.
Our sophisticated showrooms are conveniently located at Downtown Moncton and the Halifax Showroom. We welcome you to make an appointment for a one-on-one consultation with our jewellery experts.

The choice of a diamond's shape significantly affects its perceived size. At La Mine d'Or, we believe in empowering our customers with the necessary knowledge to make the best-informed decisions. We take great pride in adhering to the high-quality standards synonymous with our affiliation with Rolex. For more informative content, please visit our blog. We look forward to assisting you on your journey to find the perfect diamond.
We hope this comprehensive guide enhances your understanding and empowers your diamond selection process. After all, every diamond is a masterpiece, and so is every choice made at La Mine d'Or.