---
title: "What is the best cut for amethyst? Measured"
description: "For the most light, the round brilliant is the best cut for amethyst in our ray traces."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-amethyst
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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# What is the best cut for amethyst?

From our own measurements · updated 2026-11-09

**For the most light, the round brilliant is the best cut for amethyst in our ray traces.** It returns the most light of the ten classic shapes: brilliance 72 out of 100. The cushion (69) and the trilliant (63) come next. Of the ten shapes in amethyst, the oval scores highest for fire: 69, the round brilliant 36.

**Brilliance, fire and scintillation of the ten classic shapes in amethyst, out of 100, ranked by brilliance**

| Shape | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Round brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/t73-round-brilliant) | 72 | 36 | 80 |
| [Cushion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/cushion) | 69 | 24 | 85 |
| [Trilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/trilliant) | 63 | 34 | 79 |
| [Asscher](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/asscher) | 60 | 52 | 72 |
| [Emerald cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/emerald-cut) | 53 | 32 | 72 |
| [Oval](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/oval) | 52 | 69 | 87 |
| [Pear](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/pear) | 52 | 60 | 76 |
| [Princess](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/princess) | 45 | 25 | 78 |
| [Marquise](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/marquise) | 38 | 48 | 86 |
| [Radiant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/radiant) | 20 | 41 | 74 |

Score out of 100, ranked by brilliance Our model of each shape in amethyst: brilliance and fire ray-traced face-up, scintillation from the facet count. Compare scores only within one gemstone; another cutter's proportions can score higher or lower. [How we measure](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/cut-performance-index)

## Why

Quartz, the species of amethyst, has the lowest [refractive index](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/refractive-index) of the seven stones we measure. So light escapes from it more easily than from the other six stones. Its [dispersion](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/dispersion) is low, so its fire is faint to the eye.

Citrine and the other quartz gems share these optical properties, so these figures are a good guide for them too.

Of all 37 cuts we measure in amethyst, our own [DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/dg-m5) returns the most light: brilliance 85.

Compare any two cuts in the [Cut Performance Wheel](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/cut-performance-wheel), or turn them in light in the [3D Gemstone Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator).

## Read more

- [Amethyst 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst)
- [Citrine](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/citrine)

## More answers

- [What is the best cut for moissanite?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-moissanite)
- [What is the best cut for a sapphire or a ruby?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-sapphire-and-ruby)
- [What is the best cut for an emerald?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-emerald)
- [What is the best cut for cubic zirconia?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-cubic-zirconia)
- [Which diamond shape sparkles the most?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/which-diamond-shape-sparkles-most)
- [Which diamond shape looks biggest for its carat weight?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/which-diamond-shape-looks-biggest)
- [Oval or round diamond: which is better?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/oval-vs-round-diamond)