Which Diamond Shape Is Cheapest?

When comparing diamond prices, many shoppers discover that shape can have a significant impact on cost. If you are wondering which diamond shape is cheapest, the short answer is that round diamonds are usually the most expensive, while shapes such as cushion, emerald, Asscher, princess, and oval often offer better value per carat. Among the most affordable options, cushion cut and emerald cut lab diamonds frequently rank among the cheapest diamond shapes when comparing similar quality grades.

However, the lowest price does not always mean the best value. Understanding how diamond shape affects pricing can help you maximize size, beauty, and overall value when shopping for certified lab diamonds.

Why Diamond Shape Affects Diamond Prices

Many buyers assume that diamond prices are determined only by carat weight, color, clarity, and cut quality. While those factors are important, shape also plays a major role.

The reason comes down to how efficiently a rough diamond crystal can be cut.

Some diamond shapes require more material to be removed during the cutting process. Others make better use of the original rough stone, resulting in less waste and lower production costs.

Round brilliant diamonds create the most waste during cutting, which contributes to their premium pricing. Fancy shapes, on the other hand, often preserve more of the rough crystal and can therefore be sold at lower prices.

For lab grown diamonds, the same principle applies. Even though the diamond is created in a laboratory, manufacturers still seek to maximize yield during cutting and polishing.

The Cheapest Diamond Shapes Ranked

While prices vary by supplier and individual stone, these shapes are generally among the most affordable choices.

1. Cushion Cut Diamonds

Cushion cut diamonds are often considered one of the best value options available.

Benefits include:

• Lower price per carat than round diamonds
• Soft, romantic appearance
• Excellent versatility in engagement ring settings
• Strong availability in lab grown diamonds

Because cushion cuts retain a large portion of the original rough crystal, they can often cost significantly less than comparable round diamonds.

For buyers focused on maximizing value, cushion cuts are frequently among the cheapest diamond shapes available.

2. Emerald Cut Diamonds

Emerald cut diamonds are another highly affordable option.

Their step-cut facet pattern creates a sophisticated hall-of-mirrors effect rather than intense sparkle.

Advantages include:

• Lower cost per carat
• Elegant and timeless appearance
• Larger visual footprint than many other shapes
• Popular choice for modern engagement rings

An emerald cut diamond may cost substantially less than a round brilliant diamond of identical carat weight and quality.

3. Asscher Cut Diamonds

Asscher cuts share many characteristics with emerald cuts.

These square step-cut diamonds offer:

• Vintage-inspired appeal
• Distinct geometric symmetry
• Competitive pricing
• Excellent value in larger carat weights

Although not as common as some shapes, Asscher cuts often provide strong savings for buyers seeking something unique.

4. Princess Cut Diamonds

Princess cuts remain one of the most popular alternatives to round diamonds.

Their appeal comes from:

• Strong brilliance and sparkle
• Modern square shape
• Efficient rough diamond utilization
• Lower cost than round diamonds

Many buyers choose princess cuts because they provide a similar sparkling appearance while offering better value.

5. Oval Diamonds

Oval diamonds are not always the absolute cheapest option, but they frequently deliver exceptional value.

Benefits include:

• Elongated appearance
• Larger face-up size
• Excellent brilliance
• Lower cost than round diamonds

For shoppers who want maximum visual impact without paying round diamond prices, oval diamonds can be a smart choice.

Which Diamond Shape Is the Most Expensive?

Understanding the opposite side of the pricing spectrum helps explain why some shapes cost less.

Round brilliant diamonds are almost always the most expensive shape because:

• More rough diamond material is lost during cutting
• Demand remains extremely high
• Precision cutting requirements are stricter
• They deliver exceptional sparkle

In many cases, a round lab diamond can cost 20% to 40% more than a comparable fancy shape with the same quality characteristics.

Cheapest Diamond Shape vs Best Value Diamond Shape

The cheapest option is not always the smartest purchase.

A better question may be:

Which diamond shape offers the best value?

Value depends on balancing:

• Price
• Visual size
• Sparkle
• Personal style
• Long-term satisfaction

For many buyers, the best value shapes include:

This is why many shoppers compare multiple shapes before making a final decision.

You can also browse different shapes within a Shape Collection to see how size, appearance, and pricing vary across styles.

How to Get the Lowest Diamond Price

Shape is only one factor that influences price.

To find the best deal, consider the following strategies.

Choose a Lab Grown Diamond

Lab grown diamonds typically cost much less than mined diamonds while offering the same physical, chemical, and optical properties.

This often allows buyers to:

• Increase carat size
• Upgrade color or clarity
• Stay within budget

Compare Certified Diamonds Only

Always compare diamonds that include certification from a recognized grading laboratory.

Certification helps ensure:

• Accurate grading
• Transparency
• Consistent quality comparisons

When comparing prices, make sure you are evaluating diamonds with similar specifications.

Consider Near Colorless Grades

Many buyers cannot easily distinguish between colorless and near-colorless diamonds once the stone is mounted.

Choosing grades such as G, H, or I can often reduce costs while maintaining a beautiful appearance.

Avoid Paying for Unnecessary Clarity

Very high clarity grades may not provide visible benefits.

Many eye-clean diamonds offer outstanding appearance without the premium associated with flawless or internally flawless grades.

Compare Multiple Shapes

If budget is your primary concern, comparing several shapes can reveal significant savings.

For example, a shopper considering a 2-carat round diamond may find that a 2-carat cushion or emerald cut provides similar visual impact at a noticeably lower price.

You can explore options within Loose Lab Diamonds collections to compare shapes side by side and identify the strongest value opportunities.

Which Diamond Shape Looks Biggest for the Money?

If your goal is maximizing visual size, elongated shapes often perform exceptionally well.

Popular choices include:

• Oval
• Marquise
• Pear
• Emerald

These shapes tend to have larger surface areas than round diamonds of the same carat weight.

As a result, they can appear bigger while often costing less.

This combination makes them attractive for buyers seeking both affordability and visual impact.

Are Cheap Diamond Shapes Lower Quality?

No.

Diamond shape affects pricing primarily because of cutting efficiency and market demand, not because certain shapes are inherently lower quality.

A certified cushion cut lab diamond and a certified round lab diamond can have identical:

• Color
• Clarity
• Carat weight
• Durability

The difference in price often reflects production economics and consumer preferences rather than quality.

How to Choose the Right Shape

When selecting a diamond shape, focus on more than price alone.

Ask yourself:

• Do I prefer maximum sparkle?
• Do I want the largest appearance?
• Do I like vintage or modern styles?
• Is affordability my top priority?

For many budget-conscious buyers, cushion, emerald, princess, and oval diamonds strike the best balance between beauty and value.

Comparing certified options and filtering by shape can help narrow the search and identify the strongest value for your budget.

Final Thoughts

If you are searching for which diamond shape is cheapest, cushion cut, emerald cut, Asscher cut, and princess cut diamonds are typically among the most affordable choices. These shapes make efficient use of rough material and often cost significantly less than round diamonds.

The smartest approach is not simply choosing the lowest-priced shape but finding the option that delivers the best combination of beauty, size, and value. By comparing certified lab diamonds across multiple shapes, buyers can often secure a larger and more impressive diamond while staying comfortably within budget.