Optimal depth and saturation of color, in addition to remarkable brilliance, fire and sparkle are desirable properties in one fancy intense yellow diamond (or a fancy colored diamond).
Since white light and light reflected back to the human eye both have a neutralizing effect on our impression of the diamond’s body color, these two goals are at odds with each other. An experienced diamond cutter must skillfully navigate the tension between these two optical factors to create brilliant yellow diamonds of various shapes and sizes.
The distinctive facets of the diamond can make a big difference in the frequency with which imperfections appear and the value of a yellow diamond of the same color grade.
- Diamonds of the brightest shade of yellow, brilliant cut
When it comes to fancy diamonds, the Radiant cut is the most sought after. This is indeed most pronounced with yellow diamonds. Faceting the radiant shape maximizes a diamond’s value by bringing out its full color saturation while preserving as much of the stone’s clarity and fire (its “life”) as possible. Diamonds with a yellow hue, rich tone and brilliant shine are highly sought after. Radiant cuts range from square to rectangular and are particularly suitable for yellow diamonds.
- Fancy yellow cushion cut diamonds
Both the Cushion and Radiant cut have a common goal: to maximize the color saturation and brilliance of a stone through its facets and overall shape. This is why the Asscher cut is the second most popular diamond shape.
The most obvious visual distinction between the Cushion and the Radiant is the softer, rounded edges of the Cushion. The many cushion cut yellow diamonds are sure to impress. When shopping for a yellow diamond, a cushion cut diamond, which can be square or rectangular, is a good alternative.
- Pristine yellow diamonds cut in the emerald shape
Faceting for emerald cutting is done in a series of steps. As a result of the diamond’s system of long, broad facets, the return of white light through the diamond (its brilliance) is maximized at the expense of the viewer’s ability to perceive the true body color of the diamond. Consequently, yellow diamonds cut in the shape of an emerald are extremely rare. The price of a yellow diamond cut in an emerald shape is usually much higher than that of a like-colored diamond cut in a radiant or cushion shape. 
- Diamonds In A Yellow Asscher Cut
Asscher cuts are very similar to Emerald cuts; neither is the best shape for a yellow diamond, but both can be spectacular. Compared to other fancy colored diamond shapes, the Asscher stands out for its distinctive facets, which create a fascinating pattern of concentric squares.
- Oval-shaped, yellow diamonds
While oval brilliant-cut yellow diamonds are prized for their high levels of brilliance and fire, which result from their exceptionally well-preserved color and vibrant display, the elongated and asymmetrical shape of the diamonds can pose problems.
While “bow tie” sounds nice, it actually refers to a black or colorless area in the center of the diamond, which is typical of oval shapes. A close inspection is required to determine the degree of the Oval’s arc. In very well-proportioned ovals, the bow tie can be minimized almost to nothing.
- Radiant cut yellow princess diamonds
While the Princess cut is often used for colorless diamonds, a well-crafted one in a yellow diamond is quite uncommon. Princess cut diamonds that are yellow often lack brilliance because the faceted design masks the true color of the stone. The sharp, pointed edges make it difficult to put the Princess in a ring. If you’ve set your sights on a square yellow diamond but are struggling to find one, we suggest looking at the Radiant cut instead.
- Diamonds Cut In The Shape Of A Pear
Because the pear shape is so different from the oval shape, it has the potential to exhibit very high brilliance and “life” in the stone, all while preserving and providing excellent color saturation.
As with other asymmetrically shaped diamonds, the degree of ‘bow tie’ in a given stone can only be determined through a visual examination.
- Yellow Diamonds, Round And Brilliant
Round Brilliant is the most common and recognizable diamond cut, but there are many more. For nearly a century, experts in the diamond polishing industry have studied how to optimize the shape of the diamond for maximum light output through the use of precision optics. It is excellent news that their efforts have paid off. Unfortunately they succeeded. Since the Round Brilliant shape prioritizes brilliance over the diamond’s body color, yellow diamonds cut in this style often appear pale and disproportionate.
However, there are diamonds with such a rich color that they seem to retain their body color even after being cut into a round brilliant shape. Round brilliant cut yellow diamonds are exceptionally rare and therefore command a high price.
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