Pear Shaped Diamond
By Jared James ยท Last updated 21 May 2026
Quick answer
A pear shaped diamond, sometimes called a teardrop diamond, has one rounded end and one gently pointed tip. The things worth checking are the length-to-width ratio, which most buyers like somewhere between 1.50 and 1.70, the point alignment, the bow tie effect through the centre, and the prongs that keep the tip protected. Choose pear if you want an elongated shape with a little more softness than a marquise.
Shape at a glance
| Detail | Typical detail | Buying note |
|---|---|---|
| Facet pattern | Modified brilliant with one rounded end and one point. | The shape blends the softness of an oval with the length of a marquise. |
| Typical ratio | Around 1.45 to 1.75, with 1.50 to 1.70 reading balanced to many buyers. | Fuller pears feel softer and rounder, while longer pears feel more dramatic. |
| Sparkle | Bright when well cut, with possible bow tie and colour near the point. | Always inspect the exact stone, because pears vary widely in how balanced they look. |
| Best for | Solitaire rings, halos, pendants, drop earrings and asymmetric designs. | Choose pear when you want a distinctive shape that still feels soft and graceful. |
What is a Pear Shaped Diamond?
A pear shaped diamond is a teardrop-shaped brilliant cut with one softly rounded end and one pointed end. It can be worn either way in a ring, though having the point face the fingertip is the more familiar orientation and the one most people picture.
Balance is everything with a pear. The point should line up neatly with the centre of the rounded end, and the shoulders should curve smoothly into the body of the stone without looking flat or lopsided.
What to check before choosing
Check the bow tie on a pear diamond
Most pear shaped diamonds show some shadow through the centre, known as a bow tie. You are looking for a soft, balanced bow tie that flickers and moves with the stone, rather than a dark band that sits over the middle and stays there.
Best length-to-width ratio for a pear diamond
Most buyers prefer a ratio between 1.50 and 1.70, where the teardrop reads graceful without feeling too long. A fuller ratio closer to 1.45 feels softer and rounder, while anything above 1.70 feels more dramatic and slender, so it is worth seeing a few before you decide.
Protect the point with the right setting
The pointed tip is the most vulnerable part of the shape, so look for a V-prong, a bezel or a chevron-style head that covers and protects it. That matters most on an engagement ring, which has to stand up to daily wear.
Settings that suit this shape
- A solitaire keeps the teardrop outline clear and lets the shape speak for itself.
- A halo makes the pear look larger and softens the point a little, so the outline feels gentler.
- Three-stone rings with round or tapered side stones help balance the natural asymmetry of the shape.
Who does pear suit?
Pear shaped diamonds suit anyone who wants an elongated stone with a graceful, less common outline. They look especially good when the design leans romantic, vintage or a little asymmetric, like a toi et moi.
Watch for
- The point can show colour a little more than the rounded end does.
- A strong bow tie can pull the eye away from the shape itself.
- An uneven shoulder is easier to spot once the stone is set, so check it early.
Watch: thinking of buying a pear cut diamond?
A quick look at what to weigh up before you choose a pear shaped diamond.
Other diamond shapes
- #01
Round
If you want the most sparkle and the easiest stones to compare, the round brilliant is the shape to reach for. It is also the only common diamond shape that comes with a proper cut grade, so settle on cut quality first and then choose colour and clarity grades that still look clean and bright once the stone is set.
- #02
Oval
An oval diamond gives you a larger, more lengthening look than a round diamond of a similar weight, and it keeps the bright sparkle pattern of a brilliant cut. There is no single cut grade that tells you whether an oval is a good one, so the things to look at are the bow tie, the length-to-width ratio, the shape of the shoulders and how evenly the two ends mirror each other.
- #03
Emerald Cut
An emerald cut diamond is a step cut, which means it has long, open facets and neatly clipped corners, and it gives you a rectangular outline with broad flashes of light rather than the fast glitter of a brilliant cut. Clarity, colour and ratio all show up more clearly here than in other shapes, so most buyers start at VS1 or VS2 clarity, G colour or better, and a length-to-width ratio somewhere between 1.40 and 1.55 for a balanced, classic look.
- #04
Cushion Cut
A cushion cut diamond has a square or rectangular outline with soft, rounded corners, and depending on the facet pattern it can look antique, modern, chunky or crushed ice. Many buyers find themselves choosing between a true square cushion at a ratio close to 1.00 and an elongated cushion somewhere around 1.15 to 1.30, so it helps to decide the sparkle style and the outline you want first, then compare colour, depth and setting from there.
- #05
Marquise
A marquise diamond is a long brilliant-cut shape with two gently pointed tips, and it gives you one of the largest face-up looks you can get for the carat weight, so it always makes a statement. The trade-off is that it needs excellent symmetry, a bow tie you can live with and tips that are properly protected, so choose it when you want length, drama and presence.
- #06
Princess Cut
A princess cut diamond is a square brilliant cut with sharp, uncut corners and plenty of sparkle. It is often called a square diamond, and it is a popular modern alternative to a round brilliant that usually costs a little less per carat. The one practical catch is that the sharp corners need protecting from chips, so look for V-prongs or a bezel, and keep an eye on face-up size, symmetry and colour near the edges.
- #07
Radiant Cut
A radiant cut diamond pairs a square or rectangular outline with cropped corners and brilliant-style facets. It gives more sparkle than an emerald cut and has softer corners than a princess cut, so it suits anyone who wants geometry without giving up brightness. The first thing to decide is whether you want a square radiant at a ratio close to 1.00 or an elongated one at 1.15 to 1.35, and from there you can check the centre brightness and the facet pattern.
- #08
Asscher
An asscher cut diamond is a square step cut with cropped corners and long, parallel facets that draw the eye down into the stone, giving the deep, concentric hall of mirrors look the shape is known for. It is essentially a square version of the emerald cut, so the same things matter most: clarity sits on show through the open facets, body colour can be visible, and you want a ratio close to square at around 1.00 to 1.05.
- #09
Old Mine
An old mine cut diamond is an antique cushion-shaped cut, hand-cut from roughly the early 1700s through to the late 1800s, long before electric light and modern faceting. It has a soft, squarish outline, a tall crown, a small table and a large open culet that shows as a little circle in the centre, and it was cut to glow under candlelight rather than to throw out the bright sparkle of a modern brilliant. No two are quite alike, so each stone is judged on its own.
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View pear ringsFrequently asked questions
- What is a pear shaped diamond?
- A pear shaped diamond is a brilliant-cut diamond with one rounded end and one pointed tip, which gives it a teardrop outline. It blends the softness of an oval with the length of a marquise, and it is sometimes called a teardrop diamond.
- What is the ideal ratio for a pear shaped diamond?
- Most buyers prefer a length-to-width ratio between 1.50 and 1.70. A lower ratio near 1.45 feels softer and fuller, while a ratio above 1.70 feels more elongated and dramatic.
- What is the bow tie effect on a pear shaped diamond?
- The bow tie is a shadow that runs across the centre of elongated brilliant cuts. A soft bow tie that flickers as the stone moves is completely normal, so the ones to avoid are stones where a dark band stays visible from every angle.
- Which way should a pear shaped diamond face on a ring?
- Most pear engagement rings are worn with the point toward the fingertip, which lengthens the finger. Point-up and east-west orientations also work well in toi et moi and asymmetric designs, so it really comes down to the look you want.
- What is the difference between a pear and a marquise diamond?
- A pear shape has one rounded end and one point, while a marquise has two pointed ends and a more symmetrical outline. Pear reads softer and more graceful, and marquise reads sharper and more dramatic.
- Are pear shaped diamonds good for engagement rings?
- Yes. Pear shaped diamonds are hard-wearing enough for daily wear as long as the point is protected with a V-prong, bezel or halo, and they sit beautifully in solitaire, halo and three-stone engagement rings.
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