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

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[Learn](https://digitalgemology.com/learn) · [Answers](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers)

# What is the best cut for an emerald?

From our own measurements · updated 2026-11-09

**For the most light, the round brilliant is the best cut for emerald in our ray traces.** It returns the most light of the ten classic shapes: brilliance 78 out of 100. The cushion (74) and the trilliant (68) come next. Of the ten shapes in emerald, the oval scores highest for fire: 71, the round brilliant 39.

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

| Shape | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Round brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/t73-round-brilliant) | 78 | 39 | 80 |
| [Cushion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/cushion) | 74 | 27 | 85 |
| [Trilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/trilliant) | 68 | 41 | 79 |
| [Asscher](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/asscher) | 62 | 55 | 72 |
| [Emerald cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/emerald-cut) | 58 | 36 | 72 |
| [Pear](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/pear) | 56 | 59 | 76 |
| [Oval](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/oval) | 55 | 71 | 87 |
| [Princess](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/princess) | 51 | 32 | 78 |
| [Marquise](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/marquise) | 43 | 51 | 86 |
| [Radiant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/radiant) | 22 | 56 | 74 |

Score out of 100, ranked by brilliance Our model of each shape in emerald: 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

Beryl, the species of emerald, has a low [refractive index](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/refractive-index). So light leaks out of it more easily than out of diamond. Its fire is faint to the eye, and body color can hide it. The emerald cut is the traditional shape for emerald. In our traces, it returns less light than the round brilliant.

Aquamarine and morganite are beryl too, with almost the same optics. These figures are a good guide for them.

Of all 37 cuts we measure in emerald, our own [DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/dg-m5) returns the most light: brilliance 90.

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

- [Emerald 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald)
- [Aquamarine](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/aquamarine)

## 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 amethyst?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-amethyst)
- [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)