--->> see below for pictures and a stone-by-stone comparison
of these 10 most common center stone options <<---

The Asscher Cut – this stone shape is also sometimes referred to as square octagon. It is characterized by large step-cut facets. The beauty of an asscher cut stone, is best displayed and enhanced with larger cut configurations. We think for our 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones this most applies to those sized 1.50 carats (7x7 mm) or larger, where the width and depth of the stone most effectively displays this shape's step-cut facets. The asscher cut is symmetrical, with equal length and width.

5A diamond quality Asscher Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com asscher cut rings here

The Cushion Cut – this stone's shape is also referred to as pillow cut or rounded princess cut. As the name suggests, the cushion cut is actually shaped like a cushion or a pillow. Many believe the cushion cut-- also a brilliant-cut style-- exemplifies the best of both the round cut and princess cut styles. That may explain why the cushion cut is becoming more and more popular. Many experts believe the cushion cut’s more rounded shape is ideal for colored stones, and we think the combination of shape, facets and fire looks pretty blingin' awesome with our clear, flawless diamond-quality 5A cubic zirconia stones. The cushion cut is symmetrical, with equal length and width.

#4 Most popular stone in sales*
#1 Fastest-growing stone in popularity year-over-year*

5A diamond quality Cushion Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com cushion cut rings here

The Emerald Cut – the emerald cut, or emerald octagon cut (aka rectangular octagon), borrows its name from the ideal way to cut green emerald stones. That happens to be shaping a green emerald into this elongated octagon shape! The shape's elongated style with with non-equal length and width naturally creates longer facets than a smaller stone or squared shape would have. The effect? The emerald cut stone's long, step-cut facets reflect more light and make the stone appear larger than it actually is. Unconfirmed internet reports claim this stone is frequently chosen as a gift by men with less well-endowed bank accounts (more bang for your buck so to speak...sorry, we couldn't resist).

#3 Most popular stone in sales*

5A diamond quality Emerald Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com emerald cut rings here

The Heart Cut – heart cut stones are shaped like a stylized heart, which shape accounts for its use more than the stone's brilliance (lesser than many other equilateral stone cuts because some of the light is not refracted out as sharply in the valley part at the top of the shape). This brilliant-cut stone only accounts for a few engagement rings out of a hundred we make and sell, but is a common choice for promise rings and unique artisan rings, as well as for gifts given on Valentine's Day. The unique shape of this stone does provide some challenges to gem cutters and jewelry makers who must be aware of some potential pitfalls when working with the shape. Care should also be taken when wearing jewelry with heart cut stones because the shape has a pointed tip that can be prone to chipping and breakage. The heart cut is not symmetrical, but is designed to have equal length and width across a "T" from the middle.

5A diamond quality Heart Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com heart cut rings here

The Marquise Cut – of all the top center stone shapes, the marquise cut stone is among the least-requested in our CubicZirconia.com catalog, and perhaps the most uncommonly-seen among the gem cuts profiled in this article. Instead of serving as the primary or center stone in a ring or other piece of jewelry, marquise cut stones are more popularly used as accent stones. Although we do feel that a marquise-cut-centered ring design looks exceptional when placed vertically as a perpendicular gem enhancement above the backdrop of a horizontal, wide-banded ring design beneath! Due to its fragile corners and unwieldy shape, many jewelers find this brilliant-cut stone more difficult to work with than many other shapes. But the unique shape does have its admirers, and even though it's among the least popular of the profiled center stone shapes we're happy to provide hundreds of customizable ring styles that can be set with this beautiful gem shape. Care should also be taken when wearing jewelry with marquise cut stones because the shape has pointed tips that are prone to chipping and breakage. The marquise cut cut is elongated, with non-equal length and width.

5A diamond quality Marquise Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com marquise cut rings here

The Oval Cut – this stone shape is a good choice for people who want a smaller carat weight but want to get the illusion of a larger stone. Because of the length-versus-width dimensions, oval cut stones have this property of appearing to be larger than they actually are (as do the emerald cut and radiant cut). The oval cut stone shape has a long history of being worn by women with taste and sophistication. The oval cut is a brilliant-cut shape, with good but not great brilliance in its facets. The shape is elongated, with non-equal length and width.

5A diamond quality Oval Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com oval cut rings here

The Pear Cut – also known as teardrop cut, this is a brilliant-cut stone with respect to facets. Pear cut is a less-popular choices for center stones; they are, however, commonly used as accent stones in all manner of rings, engagement rings and other fine jewelry pieces (a center stone of your choice flanked by two equally-sized pear cut accents, one to either side, is a common three-stone configuration). Similar to the heart cut or marquise cut stone, preference for the pear cut is mainly because of its unique shape rather than brilliance. However, this pointed-tip shape has many design pitfalls jewelers have to look out for when working with it. Care should also be taken when wearing jewelry with pear cut stones because the stone has a pointed tip that can be prone to chipping and breakage. The pear cut is elongated, with non-equal length and width.

5A diamond quality Pear Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com pear cut rings here

The Princess Cut – also known as the square cut stone is one of the most popular and sought after center stone shapes – popularity exceeded only by the round cut both with respect to our own sales and as a jewelry industry standard around the world. With brilliant-cut facets, the princess cut is considered one of the more classic stone shapes. Because of the tricks of the trade to working with this gem shape, many an entire jeweler's career has been spent specializing in either gem-cutting or setting this specific shape into jewelry. While we do our best to protect our princess cut stones set into fine cubic zirconia jewelry with special prongs (see below for more details), care should still be be taken when wearing jewelry items set with princess cut stones: the shape has pointed corners which are its weakest points and can be prone to chipping and breakage. The princess cut is symmetrical, with equal length and width.

#2 Most Popular stone in sales*

5A diamond quality Princess Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com princess cut rings here

The Radiant Cut – The radiant cut, or radiant octagon cut, is also known as a rounded emerald cut. The stone shares the general rectangular shape of the emerald cut, but because of its brilliant cut facets (as compared to the emerald shape's step-cut facets) the lustrous radiant cut reflects even more light than the already super-shiny emerald cut. The brilliant-cut facets of the radiant cut shape also gives the impression that the stone has rounded corners (it doesn't, the corners are acute angles). The radiant cut is elongated, with non-equal length and width.

#2 Fastest-growing stone in popularity year-over-year*

5A diamond quality Radiant Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com radiant cut rings here

The Round Cut – the traditional round cut stone is by far the most common center stone shape for rings (and the most popular shape found in most other kinds of jewelry for that matter). The round cut stone has brilliant-cut facets and a shape that is mathematically optimized for maximum light reflection and refraction. The ideal cut round diamond is almost universally considered "perfect", and has 58 facets cut to exact proportions and placed at optimal angles to create an ideal balance between light reflection and refraction. So that's exactly what we do when manufacturing our 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones, too! These factors combine to enhance the round cut stone's brilliance and fire. In our experience, more than half of customers prefer round cut stones (this is even more true with respect to solitaire rings). Some of these round-shape fans feel the circle is associated with the concept of forever. The round cut is symmetrical, with equal length and width.

#1 Most popular stone in sales*

5A diamond quality Round Cut Cubic Zirconia Loose Stone

View all CubicZirconia.com round cut rings here.

Note: Not shown in videos above and not regularly stocked, less-common, but-still-traditional center stone shapes: straight baguette, tapered baguette, briolette, cabochon, checkerboard, antique cushion cut, elongated cushion cut, elongated pear cut, half-moon cut, hexagon cut, pyramid shape, star shape, teardrop shape, triangle cut, trillion cut, trapezoid cut, and several more.

ASIDE: And gosh, that 'several more' really could be "infinite" because let's not forget about the custom-cut cubic zirconia center stone shapes.

For these less-common stone shapes mentioned by name, and custom-cut stones...yes we DO make and sell them-- though we won't profile these stones individually in this article-- and we don't always sell these stones online or commit the resources to put jewelry pieces featuring these less-likely-to-sell configurations online for others in the future to discover.

So while less-popular or custom-cut CZ stone shapes won't be the focus of today's article...the possibility that we CAN cut any shape and size your heart desires in 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia brilliance still deserves a mention in a thorough treatment of the "which center stone shape to choose" topic.

Choosing the right center stone shape for a ring or other piece of jewelry is a decision that should take into consideration not just popularity or preferences for how something might look or make you feel, but also the intended wearer’s physical attributes and lifestyle. For a great article on how to choose the right center stone shape for yourself/your gift recipient, see this article: LINK

Would you like to shop engagement rings by center stone shape? You can customize our Cubic Zirconia engagement rings with your choice of total carat weight, center stone size and any of 12 center stone shapes:

* statistics from CubicZirconia.com sales of loose stones and rings 2015-2018