Are there certain diamond cuts or shapes which call for better clarity?

First off, you have to distinguish between cut and shape - they mean two very different things in diamond lingo, though they are frequently confused. The shape of a diamond is basically its top-view silhouette – whether it's round, square, oval, princess, etc. The cut of a diamond, however, depends on a lot more factors that affect how much of the light entering the diamond is reflected back out, rather than lost out the bottom – in short, how much it sparkles. What's most important here is the ratio of the diamond's diameter to its depth, the symmetry of the diamond's facets, and so on. Now, in answer to your question, cut, shape and clarity are independent properties. A poor diamond cut will reduce the quality of a diamond, no matter what its clarity. Some cuts however do maximize the visibility of flaws in a diamond's clarity.

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In general, as the cut grade of the diamond rates higher so does its clarity grade, a diamond with a finer cut means a clearer diamond. However, there are certain diamond cuts which call for better clarity, for example: cuts which exhibit the diamond's step facets usually require better clarity since inclusions and blemishes are more visible in these instances.

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All cuts call for better clarity. Cut isn't a function of clarity it is simply a way of making the most of diamond shape, symmetry. However, there are certain diamond cuts, for example, the round cut diamond, which requires a more symmetrical rough diamond shape and a higher clarity is typically expected from diamonds like these.

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Like the last responder said, cut is the actual proportions of the diamond not shape. I can tell you, however, that a hearts and arrows ideal cut requires a very clear and perfectly symmetrical diamond in order to achieve the hearts and arrows pattern.

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A diamond's shape and cut mean two different things? I really thought this meant the same thing. I was under the impression that diamond cutting and diamond cut are two different terms, cut referring to shape, and cutting referring to ratio and proportion....

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