Many artists struggle to draw the perfect diamond. This is because diamonds, much like other gemstones, are often characterized by having flat, geometric surface patterns.
The surfaces of cut diamonds are divided up by edges that join the corners of the key shapes within the design. This involves a lot of angles and even more straight lines.
Follow this step-by-step tutorial to learn how to draw an ultra-realistic diamond— it’s even suitable for beginners!
Before You Start…
It helps to know the basic structure of a diamond before diving straight in. Some of these words may pop up later.
Cut diamonds consist of 3 main sections; the Crown, the Girdle, and the Pavillion.
The crown refers to the flat face of the diamond, which we’ll be placing at the center of our diamond drawing.
The girdle is the circular section around the central face. This part of the diamond is made up of multiple geometric shapes. These geometric shapes are called facets.
The pavilion is the name for the bottom of the cut diamond (the tapered/pointed part).
In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw a diamond face-on, so you won’t be drawing a pavilion.
What You Will Learn In This Guide
This diamond drawing guide is suitable for pretty much anyone with any ability— so whether you’re a drawing maestro or a complete beginner, you’re in the right place.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:
- The Structure of a Diamond
- A Quick Preview of All Steps
- How to Draw a Diamond Step-by-Step
- Finishing Touches
A Quick Preview of All Steps
Firstly, here’s a quick rundown of each and every step in this tutorial. Don’t panic! Although it may look daunting right now, we have broken the process down into small, easy to manage steps. It’s just a good idea to evaluate the bigger picture and all the steps involved before diving straight in headfirst.
How to Draw a Diamond Step-by-Step
Step 1 – Make a Circle
As the finished diamond will be circular, this is the best place to start. You can achieve a perfect circle using a compass set to your desired size.
Alternatively, you can use a circular item (such as a bowl), place it face-down on the paper, and trace around the perimeter of it. You should now have a perfect circle.
Step 2 – Add Two Dots Towards the Top of the Circle
Now that you have your circular outline, it’s time to start thinking about adding depth to your diamond. Before making any harsh lines, it’s a good idea to mark out where you want your lines to go. To do this, you’ll need a straight line, a ruler works best for this.
Using your ruler, pencil 2 dots at the top of your circle, at an equal distance, just as shown in the image.
Step 3 – Add Another Two Dots Towards the Bottom of the Circle
Next, you’ll need to follow the exact same instruction as Step 2, but this time, make the dots at the bottom of your circle. Now, you should have four dots in a square shape, as the illustration shows.
Step 4 – Draw a Vertical Line by Connecting the Top Right and Bottom Right Dots of the Circle
Using your ruler, connect the upper and lower right dots by drawing a vertical line between them.
Step 5 – Draw a Vertical Line by Connecting the Top Left and Bottom Left Dots of the Circle
Once again, using your ruler, connect the upper and lower left dots by drawing a vertical line between them.
Step 6 – Draw a Horizontal Line just Below the Top Dots Connecting the Two Vertical Lines
Next, you’ll need to draw a horizontal line at the top of the circle, connecting the two vertical lines.
Step 7 – Draw a Horizontal Line just Above the Bottom Dots Connecting the Two Vertical Lines
Repeat the previous step, but this time draw your horizontal line at the bottom of the circle. This should leave you with a circle with a central square inside it, as shown in the illustration.
Step 8 – Connect the Left End of the Top Horizontal Line to the Bottom of the Right Vertical Line
Now it’s time to start including some diagonal lines. These will add depth and realism to your diamond drawing. Begin by connecting the top horizontal line with the bottom of the right vertical line by drawing a diagonal line.
Step 9 – Connect the Top of the Left Vertical Line to the Right of the Bottom Horizontal Line
Next, draw a second diagonal line running parallel to the previous one. This diagonal line should connect the left vertical line with the bottom horizontal line. This should leave you with a kind of ‘strip’ running through your square.
Step 10 – Connect the Bottom Right of the Strip with a Diagonal Line
As you can see, this ‘strip’ running through your square contains a cross shape on each end, where the lines meet. These consist of 3 small triangular sections, as seen in the diagram. Focus on the triangle that forms the outer edge of the circle, and connect the points using a straight line.
Step 11 – Connect the Top Left of the Strip with a Diagonal Line
Repeat step 10, but this time, focus on the other triangle section that forms the outer edge of the circle. Connect the two corners by drawing a straight line.
Step 12 – Connect the Right End of the Top Horizontal Line to the Bottom of the Left Vertical Line
Now it’s time to draw some more diagonal lines. You’ll be creating another diagonal line ‘strip’, crossing through the previous one. It’s best to do this line by line.
Connect the right end of the top horizontal line with the bottom end of the left vertical line. This should create a diagonal line that passes directly through the other ‘strip’ we drew earlier.
Step 13 – Connect the Top of the Right Vertical Line to the Left of the Bottom Horizontal Line
Next, you’ll need to create the second ‘strip.’ Do this by drawing another diagonal line parallel to the one you drew in Step 12.
This line should connect the top end of the right vertical line with the left end of the bottom horizontal line. Once you’ve done this, you’ll notice that your diamond drawing features a circle, with an inner square, and a sort of cross running through it.
If executed correctly, at the end of this step you should be left with a small central diamond right in the middle of your diamond drawing. If this is off-center, this means that your lines are not accurate, so you may need to erase them and try again.
Step 14 – Connect the Bottom Left of the Strip with a Diagonal Line
Just as you did in Step 10, connect the points where one of the small triangles meets the edge of the circle.
Step 15 – Connect the Top Right of the Strip with a Diagonal Line
Repeat step 14, but this time focus on the opposite triangle. Connect the points by drawing a straight line.
Step 16 – Connect the Top of the Two Vertical Lines with a Horizontal Line
Now you’ll need to add in some more lines to make a second square, slightly bigger than the first. Start by drawing one horizontal line at the top of your circle, connecting the tops of the two vertical lines. This creates a rectangle at the top of the circle.
Each of these lines play a part in creating the different facets in the crown of your diamond drawing.
Step 17 – Connect the Right of the Two Horizonal Lines with a Vertical Line
Work clockwise around your diamond drawing creating this second bigger square.
On the right side of the circle, connect the two horizontal lines by drawing a vertical line. Refer to the image to get an accurate idea of where to place these lines.
Step 18 – Connect the Bottom of the Two Vertical Lines with a Horizontal Line
Once again, move around the circle in a clockwise direction by drawing a horizontal line connecting the bottoms of the two vertical lines.
Step 19 – Connect the Left of the Two Horizonal Lines with a Vertical Line
Next, draw the final side of the square by connecting the two horizontal lines you just made with a vertical line.
At the end of this step, you should be left with a cross within a square within a circle.
Step 20 – Focus on the Top Trapezium, Draw a Diagonal Line Connecting the Top Left Corner with the Bottom Right Corner
As you can see, the ‘square’ is made up of 4 trapeziums. Using this knowledge, focus on the uppermost trapezium.
Draw a diagonal line connecting the top left corner with the bottom right corner.
Step 21 – Draw a Diagonal Line Connecting the Opposing Corners of One Part of the Shape
Next, focus on the inner ‘cross’ of your diamond drawing. Draw a diagonal line connecting the opposing corners of one part of the shape.
Step 22 – Similar to Step 20, Draw a Diagonal Line Connecting the Top of the Leftmost Rectangle to its Bottom
Next, focus on the sideways trapezium shape on the left-hand side of your diamond drawing.
In a similar fashion to Step 20, draw a diagonal line connecting the top right corner with the bottom left corner of this trapezium.
Step 23 – Draw Another Diagonal Line in this Shape
Now you’ll need to place your focus back on the uppermost trapezium shape.
Draw another diagonal line in this shape, but this time connecting the top right corner and bottom left corner. This should leave you with a cross shape inside your trapezium.
Step 24 – Connect the Opposing Corners
Just as you drew a diagonal line through the central cross in Step 21, do this again but this time going the opposite way, connecting the opposite corners.
Step 25 – Connect the Upper Right Corner of the Top Trapezium with the Bottom Right Corner of the left Trapezium
Next, draw another diagonal line within this central rectangle.
This line should connect the upper right corner of the top trapezium with the bottom left corner of the bottom trapezium. Although this sounds a little confusing, using the red lines on the diagram can make this easier.
Step 26 – Connect the Bottom Left Corner of the Top Trapezium with the Upper Right Corner of the Bottom Trapezium
Repeat step 25, but in the opposite direction. Do this by connecting the bottom left corner of the top trapezium with the upper right corner of the bottom trapezium.
Step 27 – Connect the Bottom Right Corner of the Left Trapezium with the Upper Left Corner
Next, draw a diagonal line to connect the bottom right corner of the left trapezium with the upper left corner.
Step 28 – Connect the Upper Right Corner of the Bottom Trapezium with its Bottom Left Corner
In a similar fashion, connect the upper right corner of the bottom trapezium with its bottom left corner.
Step 29 – Draw a Diagonal Line Connecting the Upper Left Corner with the Bottom Right Corner
Still focusing on this bottom trapezium, draw a diagonal line connecting the upper left corner with the bottom right corner.
Step 30 – Connect the Bottom Right Corner of the Right Trapezium with its Upper Left Corner
Focus your attention on the trapezium on the right-hand side of the circle.
Connect the bottom right corner of this trapezium with its upper left corner.
Step 31 – Connect the Upper Right Corner with the Bottom Left Corner
Draw another diagonal line in this same trapeze, but this time in the opposite direction.
Do this by connecting the upper right corner with the bottom left corner.
Step 32 – Draw a Vertical Line Directly Down the Center of your Circle
Now, move your attention away from the trapeziums (Phew, finally!).
Draw a vertical line directly down the center of your circle, as shown in the illustration.
Step 33 – Draw a Horizontal Line Directly Through the Center of your Diamond
Next, cross over this vertical line by drawing a horizontal line directly through the center of your diamond drawing.
Step 34 – Draw a Diagonal Line Connecting the Right End of the Central Horizontal Line with the Bottom Corner of the Top Trapezium
Now it’s time to connect these centerlines with the angles you drew earlier.
To begin this, draw a diagonal line connecting the right end of the central horizontal line with the bottom corner of the top trapezium.
Step 35 – Connect the Bottom End of the line you just drew to the Bottom of the Vertical Line to its Left
Take the line you just drew in Step 34 and connect the bottom end of it to the bottom of the vertical line to its left.
Step 36 – Draw a Diagonal Line to Connect the End of the Central Vertical Line with the Bottom Right Corner of the Bottom Trapezium
Once again, work your way around the shape in a clockwise direction.
So next, draw a diagonal line to connect the end of the central vertical line with the bottom right corner of the bottom trapezium.
Step 37 – Connect the Left End of the Bottom Horizontal Line with the Lower Right Corner of the Left Trapezium
Now you should focus on the left-hand side of your diamond drawing.
Connect the left end of the bottom horizontal line with the lower right corner of the left trapezium.
Step 38 – Connect the Central Horizontal Line with the Bottom Right Corner of the Left Trapezium
You guessed it!— draw yet another diagonal line. This time, it should connect the central horizontal line with the bottom right corner of the left trapezium.
Step 39 – Draw a Diagonal Line Connecting the Leftmost Vertical Line with the Left End of the Central Horizontal Line.
Follow a similar process as you did for the previous step, this time, however, connect the leftmost vertical line with the left end of the central horizontal line.
Step 40 – Connect the Vertical lines on the Left Side of the Top Trapezium
Again you need to draw a diagonal line within a trapezium. This time, however, connect the leftmost vertical line with the top end of the central horizontal line.
Step 41 – Draw the Last Line to Connect the Polygon
For this step, simply draw a single line in the upper right area of your diamond to connect the polygon.
Step 42 – Connect the Corners
Now it’s time to connect the corners.
This can be done easily by drawing a “V” shape in the middle of your diamond drawing. The bottom angle of your “V” should be at the very bottom of your diamond and it should be central.
The lines of the “V” should point diagonally upwards and connect to the upper corners of the top trapezium.
Step 43 – Draw yet Another “V”
Following the same fashion as step 42, you need to draw yet another “V”.
This time, it needs to be upside down.
To do this, the angle of the “V” should be right in the center at the top of your circle, and the lines should point diagonally downwards and connect to the bottom two corners of the bottom trapezium.
Step 44 – Draw the Third “V”
Now, you’ll need to draw the third “V”.
This one will be drawn sideways, with the point of it meeting the right end of the horizontal central line.
Step 45 – Draw the Final“V” Shape
Next, draw the final “V” shape.
This time, the point should be positioned at the left end of the central horizontal line.
Step 46 – Draw a Diagonal Towards the Upper Right Corner of the Top Trapezium
Next, turn your attention to the central horizontal line.
Take the left end of it, and draw a line diagonally upwards from it and connect it to the upper left corner of the top trapezium.
Additionally, draw a second diagonal line, this time pointing downwards from the horizontal line, and connect it to the bottom right corner of the bottom trapezium.
Mirror this exact process for the right-hand side of your diamond drawing. Use the illustration to guide you.
Step 47 – Repeat Step 46 but for the Central Vertical Line
Now you’ll need to focus on the central vertical line, but the process is pretty much the same.
From each end of the central vertical line, draw two diagonal lines stretching outward to meet the respective corners of the nearest trapezium. Mirror this at the bottom of the diamond.
Step 48 – Finished
Ta-Da! You have completed your diamond drawing.
If you’re thinking about adding color to your diamond drawing to make it appear more realistic, read on for some pro tips.
Finishing Touches
While the finished result resembles an attractive jumble of geometric shapes, the real beauty can be seen when you add color.
Shading in each segment will create the illusion of depth, thus making your drawing look more like the real deal.
Don’t be afraid to really jazz it up by making a few of the geometric segments a lighter color than the rest. This will create the illusion that your diamond is reflecting light, much as real ones do.
Leave a few of the geometrically shaped segments blank too. This will emphasize the ‘glittering’ effect.
An important thing to note here is that if one facet is bright, then the one right next to it is probably darker.
Don’t limit yourself to just greys and whites, experiment with different colors to create the illusion of different lightings and environments.
You can even create a gradient effect by coloring certain parts of the shapes in a darker color and blending it out into a lighter one.
Conclusion
Drawing a diamond isn’t always an easy task, especially if you’re looking to create one that is geometrically accurate. We hope this guide made this more easy for you, and if you enjoyed this tutorial then please have a look at some of our other drawing tutorials as well.