---
title: "Which diamond shape sparkles the most? Measured"
description: "By our scores for diamond, the round brilliant sparkles the most overall. It returns the most white light of the ten classic shapes: brilliance 93 out of 100."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/answers/which-diamond-shape-sparkles-most
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)

# Which diamond shape sparkles the most?

From our own measurements · updated 2026-11-09

**By our scores for diamond, the round brilliant sparkles the most overall.** It returns the most white light of the ten classic shapes: brilliance 93 out of 100. The oval scores highest for fire (92) and for scintillation (87). Brilliance, fire and scintillation added together, the round brilliant scores highest.

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

| Shape | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Round brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/t73-round-brilliant) | 93 | 78 | 80 |
| [Cushion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/cushion) | 80 | 73 | 85 |
| [Trilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/trilliant) | 78 | 83 | 79 |
| [Asscher](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/asscher) | 69 | 80 | 72 |
| [Marquise](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/marquise) | 64 | 89 | 86 |
| [Princess](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/princess) | 57 | 83 | 78 |
| [Emerald cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/emerald-cut) | 55 | 87 | 72 |
| [Pear](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/pear) | 53 | 84 | 76 |
| [Oval](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/oval) | 47 | 92 | 87 |
| [Radiant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/radiant) | 32 | 77 | 74 |

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

In this answer, sparkle means brilliance, fire and scintillation together. [Brilliance](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/brilliance) is the white light a stone returns. [Fire](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/fire) is the flashes of color. [Scintillation](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/scintillation) is the pattern of light and dark flashes as the stone, the light or the viewer moves.

A round brilliant is cut to return the most light to the eye. In our traces, more of the light from long shapes leaves as fire. But they lose more light through the back.

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

- [Past the 1919 ceiling: DG-Miliano and the modern brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/historic-cuts/beyond-the-tolkowsky-brilliant)
- [Diamond cut grade: Excellent vs Poor, side by side](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/four-cs/diamond-cut-grade-excellent-vs-poor)
- [Diamond 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond)

## 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 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 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)