The shaped diamond body is mfd. by forming a layer (32) of etch-retardant material of non-uniform thickness on a polydiamond body (30); and contacting with etchant material (31) at an appropriate temp. to form a shaped, etched polydiamond body (30'). The etch-retardant material has less than 5 at.% solubility with the etchant and forms no intermetallic with it.
