Centro de educaciónEducation Center

Diez formas, diez maneras de jugar con la luz.Ten shapes, ten ways to play with light.

Ninguna forma es mejor que otra. Cada una tiene sus virtudes y sus exigencias, y conocerlas te ayuda a elegir con calma.

No shape is better than the others. Each has its strengths and its demands, and knowing them helps you choose with confidence.

La forma es el contorno. La talla, el dibujo de sus facetas.Shape is the outline. Cut style is the pattern of facets.

Cuando miras un diamante desde arriba, su silueta es la forma: redonda, oval, de pera. La talla describe cómo se ordenan y se inclinan sus facetas, las pequeñas caras planas que lo cubren.12 Dos diamantes de la misma forma pueden tener tallas distintas y, por eso, brillar de otra manera.

When you look at a diamond from above, its outline is its shape: round, oval, pear. Cut style describes how its facets, the small flat surfaces that cover it, are arranged and angled.12 Two diamonds of the same shape can have different cut styles, and so sparkle differently.

Dos maneras de tallar un diamante.Two ways to cut a diamond.

Talla brillanteBrilliant cut

Muchas facetas pequeñas, en forma de cometa y de triángulo, que reflejan la luz en todas direcciones. El resultado es brillo, fuego y centelleo.1 Es la talla del redondo, el oval, la pera, la marquesa, el corazón, la princesa, el cojín y el radiante.

Many small kite-shaped and triangular facets that throw light in every direction. The result is brilliance, fire and scintillation.1 It’s the cut style of the round, oval, pear, marquise, heart, princess, cushion and radiant.

Talla escalonadaStep cut

Facetas largas y trapezoidales, dispuestas como los peldaños de una escalera alrededor de la tabla. Como son pocas y grandes, el diamante centellea menos, pero crea un efecto de salón de espejos (hall of mirrors): destellos amplios y serenos en lugar de chispas.13 Es la talla de la esmeralda y del Asscher.

Long, trapezoid-shaped facets arranged like the steps of a staircase around the table. There are fewer of them and they’re larger, so the diamond sparkles less, but it creates a hall-of-mirrors effect: broad, calm flashes rather than pinpoint sparkle.13 It’s the cut style of the emerald cut and the Asscher.

Talla escalonadaStep cutMismo contorno, dos tallas.Same outline, two cut styles.Talla brillanteBrilliant cut

EsmeraldaEmerald cut

La esmeralda no busca centellear.The emerald cut doesn’t chase sparkle.

Sus facetas escalonadas privilegian la nitidez y el lustre sobre el brillo.1 Mirar una esmeralda es como asomarse a un salón de espejos: planos de luz y de sombra que se abren y se cierran cuando la mueves.

Its step-cut facets favor crispness and luster over brilliance.1 An emerald cut is like a hall of mirrors: planes of light and shadow that open and close as you move it.

Esas facetas grandes y abiertas tienen un precio: las inclusiones y el color se notan más que en una talla brillante, así que conviene elegir mayor pureza y mejor color.183

That crispness comes at a price: its large, open facets show inclusions and color more readily than a brilliant cut does, so it pays to choose higher clarity and better color.183

Por eso no la juzgamos con la vara de un redondo. Una esmeralda se compara con otras esmeraldas.

That’s why we don’t judge it by the standards of a round. An emerald cut is compared only with other emerald cuts.

1.40:1

Oval: de 1.2:1 a 1.7:11.2:1 to 1.7:17

Proporción largo-anchoLength-to-width ratio

Se obtiene dividiendo el largo del diamante entre su ancho.6 Un oval de 1.5:1 mide de largo una vez y media su ancho. Cada forma tiene sus rangos habituales, y dentro de ellos la elección es cuestión de gusto.37

It’s the diamond’s length divided by its width.6 An oval with a 1.5:1 ratio is one and a half times as long as it is wide. Each shape has its usual ranges, and within them the choice comes down to taste.37

El efecto corbatín (bow-tie)The bow-tie effect

Es una zona oscura que cruza el centro del diamante, como dos triángulos unidos por la punta.8 Aparece sobre todo en las formas alargadas (oval, pera, marquesa) y también en el corazón,87 porque la cabeza y los hombros de quien mira tapan parte de la luz.6 Algunos corbatines se aclaran al mover el diamante; otros siguen ahí.7 Cuanto menos se note, mejor.8

It’s a dark area across the center of the diamond, like two triangles meeting at their tips.8 It shows up mostly in elongated shapes (oval, pear, marquise) and in hearts,87 because the viewer’s own head and shoulders block part of the light.6 Some bow-ties brighten as the diamond moves; others stay put.7 The less you see of it, the better.8

Cada forma, con su propia medida.Each shape on its own terms.

El propio GIA reconoce que cada forma pide una manera distinta de evaluar el corte.7 Nosotros llevamos esa idea hasta el final: comparamos cada diamante solo con otros de su forma y te mostramos los que quedan en lo más alto.

GIA itself notes that each fancy shape merits its own approach to cut grading.7 We take that to heart: we compare each diamond only with others of the same shape and show you the ones at the top.

  1. GIA, “Guide to Diamond Engagement Ring Shapes”, s.f.GIA, “Guide to Diamond Engagement Ring Shapes,” n.d.
  2. GIA, “Diamond Cut”, s.f.GIA, “Diamond Cut,” n.d.
  3. GIA, “Buying a Quality Diamond: A Comprehensive Guide”, s.f.GIA, “Buying a Quality Diamond: A Comprehensive Guide,” n.d.
  4. GIA, “GIA Diamond Cut Grade: Six Things to Know”, 2026GIA, “GIA Diamond Cut Grade: Six Things to Know,” 2026
  5. GCAL by Sarine, “Cut Analysis”, s.f.GCAL by Sarine, “Cut Analysis,” n.d.
  6. GIA, “Oval Cut Diamond Buying Guide”, s.f.GIA, “Oval Cut Diamond Buying Guide,” n.d.
  7. I. M. Reinitz, A. Gilbertson, T. Blodgett et al., Gems & Gemology, “Observations of Oval-, Pear-, and Marquise-Shaped Diamonds: Implications for Fancy Cut Grading”, 2024I. M. Reinitz, A. Gilbertson, T. Blodgett et al., Gems & Gemology, “Observations of Oval-, Pear-, and Marquise-Shaped Diamonds: Implications for Fancy Cut Grading,” 2024
  8. GIA, “Expert Tips for Buying Fancy Shaped Diamonds”, s.f.GIA, “Expert Tips for Buying Fancy Shaped Diamonds,” n.d.
  9. GIA, “Cushion Cut Diamond: An Old and New Classic”, s.f.GIA, “Cushion Cut Diamond: An Old and New Classic,” n.d.
  10. GIA, “How to Select a Princess Cut Diamond”, s.f.GIA, “How to Select a Princess Cut Diamond,” n.d.
  11. GIA, “How to Select a Radiant Cut Diamond”, s.f.GIA, “How to Select a Radiant Cut Diamond,” n.d.
  12. Academy of the Hebrew Language, “נוגה”, s.f.Academy of the Hebrew Language, “נוגה,” n.d.
  13. Bible Hub, “5051. nogah” (Brown-Driver-Briggs, Strong), s.f.Bible Hub, “5051. nogah” (Brown-Driver-Briggs, Strong), n.d.