---
title: "What is the best cut for a sapphire or a ruby? Measured"
description: "For the most light, the round brilliant is the best cut for sapphire and ruby in our ray traces."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-sapphire-and-ruby
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 a sapphire or a ruby?

From our own measurements · updated 2026-11-09

**For the most light, the round brilliant is the best cut for sapphire and ruby in our ray traces.** It returns the most light of the ten classic shapes: brilliance 94 out of 100. The cushion (88) and the trilliant (86) come next. Of the ten shapes in sapphire, the oval scores highest for fire: 74, the round brilliant 37.

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

| Shape | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Round brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/t73-round-brilliant) | 94 | 37 | 80 |
| [Cushion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/cushion) | 88 | 36 | 85 |
| [Trilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/trilliant) | 86 | 52 | 79 |
| [Princess](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/princess) | 68 | 52 | 78 |
| [Asscher](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/asscher) | 68 | 53 | 72 |
| [Oval](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/oval) | 66 | 74 | 87 |
| [Emerald cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/emerald-cut) | 65 | 47 | 72 |
| [Pear](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/pear) | 62 | 56 | 76 |
| [Marquise](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/marquise) | 55 | 54 | 86 |
| [Radiant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/radiant) | 26 | 69 | 74 |

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

Corundum, the species of sapphire and ruby, has a much lower [refractive index](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/refractive-index) than diamond. So light escapes from it more easily, and only well-angled pavilion facets keep it inside. In our traces, the round brilliant does this best of the classic shapes. Its fire is faint to the eye, and body color can hide it.

Ruby and sapphire are both corundum, with the same refractive index and dispersion. So these figures are the same for both. Their color is not part of the trace.

Of all 37 cuts we measure in sapphire, our own [DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/dg-m5) returns the most light: brilliance 100.

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

- [Sapphire 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire)
- [Ruby 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/ruby)

## More answers

- [What is the best cut for moissanite?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-moissanite)
- [What is the best cut for an emerald?](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/best-cut-for-emerald)
- [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)