An engagement ring needs to match her style. Learn about all the different diamond shapes and their pros and cons.
When it comes to picking the perfect engagement ring, there are 3 main things to consider:
Your budget
Picking the biggest, sparkliest diamond on that budget
Choosing a ring that matches her personality
We’ve already talked about budget and diamond prices and all that stuff. Today, we’re talking about the fun part – the 3rd bullet!
This is just as important because she’s going to wear this ring for the rest of her life. So it should be something that she absolutely adores.
In fact, this is the part you should nail down first before picking a diamond. And part of that is figuring out what shape is best for her. A round diamond may be classic, but it may not be her style. It’s important to get a shape that matches her personality and tastes.
Note that the diamond shape is NOT the same as cut – though many use the terms interchangeably. Cut refers to the proportions, symmetry, and polish of the diamond. These factors affect the way light is reflected back (in other words… how sparkly the diamond is).
Is she classy and elegant? Or is she daring and bold? Does she like to make her own rules or is tradition important to her?
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the most common shapes, who they’ll appeal to, and what to watch out for.
In this guide:
Round Brilliant Cut
Princess Cut
Oval Cut
Marquise Cut
Pear Shaped
Emerald Cut
Asscher Cut
Cushion Cut
Radiant Cut
Heart Shaped
Round Brilliant Cut
This is by far the most popular shape! Over half of all engagement rings sold have a round center diamond. Not only are round diamonds classic and timeless, they also give off the most brilliance. Round diamonds are cut in such a way that allows for maximum light return.
Because of the intense bling of round diamonds, their sparkle can hide inclusions and mask color. So you can afford to go down grades in color and clarity. We suggest a color of H (J for yellow gold bands) and clarity of VS2.
Watch out: Round cut diamonds are also the priciest. They often cost as much as 20% - 40% more than fancy-cut shapes. This is because the most rough material is lost when making a round diamond, so that’s factored into the price.
Round diamonds are also notorious for looking small! They tend to look smaller when compared with another fancy-cut diamond of the same carat weight. Keep this in mind if you have a certain size goal.
Princess Cut
This is the 2nd most sought-after shape. Princess cut diamonds are edgy and contemporary, yet still feminine and delicate. Created only in the 1960’s, it quickly became famous for its stunning brilliance. They’re popular for being almost as sparkly as round diamonds.
Just like round diamonds, princess cuts are so brilliant that they hide a number of faults. So you can save some money on color and clarity. They also look nice no matter how small (or large!) the stone is and work with almost any kind of setting design.
Did you know? A 1-carat princess cut diamond (which is 5.5 mm across) is actually smaller than a 1-carat round diamond (which is 6.5 mm across). However, the diagonal (corner to corner) length of the princess cut stone is 7.8 mm, so it still appears larger than a round diamond.
Watch out: The most common issue with princess cut diamonds is chipping the sharp corners. So consider that if your girl is active or does a lot with her hands. Or you can protect the rock in a bezel setting.
Oval Cut Diamonds
For a modern twist on the classic round, we love the oval diamond. It is elegant, yet unique enough to stand out. Oval diamonds are for the girl who appreciates tradition, but likes to express individuality.
Oval diamonds are basically modified rounds, so they are close to round in terms of brilliance and fire. A couple of the huge pros are that they are cheaper and look larger. Plus, they give a slenderizing effect to a woman’s finger.
Watch out: Most oval diamonds exhibit a bow-tie effect. This is a dark area in the center due to uneven distribution of light and often the result of a too-shallow cut. However, having completely no bowtie is a sign of a too-deep cut. You want to get a diamond whose bowtie complements the diamond.
Oval diamond with bowtie and without
A grading report won’t tell you if the oval diamond has a large bowtie or not. The only way to know is to spin it around and see it from all angles. If there is one, a bowtie will be really easy to spot. This is why we suggest only buying from a store that has videos of the actual diamond, such as James Allen.
See: Pros and Cons of the Oval Diamond
Marquise Cut
This is truly an eye-catching shape. It is for the girl who’s not afraid to stand out in a crowd – in fact, she loves the attention! This is certainly not for everyone, but the more and more I look at it, the more I like it. The elongated shape is super flattering on the finger.
And another plus? This cut looks huge compared to other shapes of the same carat weight. It has the largest surface area of any shape.
Fun fact: This modern-looking cut actually has quite the historical background. Its creation dates back to in the 1700’s, when King Louis XV wanted a diamond made in the shape of his mistress’s lips.
Watch out: Because of the shape, yellow tints are more easily noticed, especially at the pointed tips where color tends to get trapped.
If you want a white looking diamond and plan to set it in a white gold or platinum setting, we advise going 1 or 2 color grades up. Go for a color of G at the lowest, and adjust up in grade as the diamond size increases.
Marquise cut diamonds also exhibit the bow-tie effect we mentioned earlier. So again, it’s best if you’re able to see it in person or at least a 360-degree video.
Pear Shaped Diamond
The pear cut is the love child of the brilliant round and marquise. It has a round edge that tapers down to a point. It’s elegant and has a lot of character at the same time. Most people wear it with the end pointed towards the fingernail, which helps to make the finger appear more slender.
Fun fact: This teardrop shape is so gorgeous that some of the world’s most famous diamonds are cut in this shape, e.g., the Star of Africa (the largest diamond in the world at a whopping 530.4 carats) and the Millennium Star (203.04 carats).
Watch out: It’s easy to chip the pointed, delicate tip of the teardrop. The best way to protect it is with a V-shaped prong.
Protect the tip with a V-shaped prong
Pear shaped diamonds have the same faults as marquise and oval diamonds. They also exhibit a bow-tie effect and the pointed tip traps more color. The same advice would apply: look for a diamond higher in color grade, and never buy blind without being able to view it at all angles.
Emerald Cut
The emerald cut is a step cut diamond. Unlike brilliant cuts, this is known for its depth and luster instead of brilliance. It has a large rectangular table that’s like peering into a hall of mirrors (or like looking at steps going down). The corners are faceted, so you do get some sparkliness at the edges.
This cut reached its heyday in the art-deco period, and is gorgeous on vintage ring settings. It’s sophisticated, elegant, and has a timeless appeal.
Watch out: Because of its depth and translucency, any color or imperfections are easily revealed. Nothing can be hidden with this cut!
Some good news: the emerald cut is one of the cheapest of all shapes. So we recommend that you put any extra money towards higher color and clarity grades. Go for at least a color of H (G if the diamond is larger than 1 carat) and VS1 clarity.
Also, if the emerald diamond is poorly cut, a large area will appear as black. Obviously you want to stay away from this. Unfortunately, fancy cut diamonds aren’t given a cut grade, so the only way to know is to see photos of the actual diamond.
The above shows an example of emerald cut diamonds with large blackout areas, and an ideal looking one.
Asscher Cut
The asscher cut is often thought of as a square emerald. But there are slight differences in the cut style. The emerald cut has a large open table and is “flatter” on top. The asscher usually has a higher crown, a smaller table, and larger step facets. This makes the asscher cut more brilliant than its emerald cousin.
The asscher cut will appeal to the ladies who enjoy the vintage look but want something sparklier and with more of a modern style.
Watch out: The asscher cut may have 2 large turn-offs. First, it’s among the priciest of the fancy-shaped diamonds. And on top of that, it has one of the smallest surface areas of all diamond shapes. But the trade-off is a very unique look and shine that will definitely stand out.
And just like with the emerald cut, you can more easily seen yellow tints and flaws. So the same tips for color and clarity would apply.
Cushion Cut
The cushion cut was first introduced over 200 years ago, but has regained popularity within the past decade. So much so that it’s now the 3rd most popular cut (after round and princess).
Also called the “pillow cut,” this cut is typically square-ish (though some are rectangular too) with rounded corners and slightly curved edges. It’s cut in the same faceting pattern as the round brilliant diamond. This is another great one for hiding color and flaws.
The cushion cut will appeal to ladies who want to stick to tradition but want something a little bit different.
Radiant Cut
This cut is the hardest to categorize. It’s a combination of the round brilliant cut, the princess cut, and the asscher cut. Because it takes the best of different cuts, the radiant cut diamond displays incredible brilliance, fire, and scintillation.
Many people ask about the difference between a radiant cut and princess cut. The radiant cut has cropped corners (like the asscher) and a less geometric/symmetrical look. A princess cut will have a neatly lined up X pattern when looking at it face-up. And a radiant cut diamond has more of a chopped up “crushed ice” look. It just depends on your personal preference!
Radiant cut (left) vs. princess cut (right)
Watch out: This cut is more expensive than the princess cut for a diamond of the same carat weight, because more rough material is lost during cutting. But because of its cropped corners, it’s a better choice for more active girls.
Heart Shaped Diamond
A heart is the ultimate symbol of love. This is the shape for true romantics.
It’s best to get a stone over 0.5 carats, because anything smaller and you won’t be able to see the heart shape. To showcase the beautiful heart, a simple solitaire or bezel setting is best. A thin pavé band or custom halo can also be great too, but anything more than that will bury the heart shape.
Watch out: This is another challenging shape to buy right! Different proportions will have a significant impact on how it looks. In our opinion, a ratio of 0.9:1 or 1:1 (length to width) will give the most pleasing looking heart shape.
You also have to pay attention to the outline of heart shape. You want one that has completely symmetrical wings that are neither too rounded nor too flat. You also want it to have a clearly defined clef and tip.
Unfortunately, ugly heart shaped diamonds are all too common. Most diamonds are cut to maximize the shape of the rough diamond instead of for beauty. In the above picture, the first two are examples of unattractive looking hearts (too thin and too fat), and the third is a beautiful, pleasing heart shape.
The grading report will not tell you what the final shape of the diamond looks like. Once again, it’s so important to only buy from an online retailer who provides actual images.
Conclusion:
That was a lot of information. To condense it, here are some major points to remember:
Round, princess, and radiant cuts give off the most brilliance. Their incredible sparkle can hide a multitude of flaws. This gives you more leeway when it comes to color and clarity.
Round diamonds are the most expensive, followed by oval, marquise, and asscher.
Step cuts, like emerald and asscher, are not known for brilliance, and instead shine in a different way. They easily reveal color and clarity, so you’ll need to choose higher grades in these areas.
Fancy cuts, such as oval, marquise, and pear, exhibit a bow-tie effect. Look for a diamond whose bow-tie adds to its beauty.
Only round and princess cut diamonds are given a cut grade by GIA.
It is so important to see actual photos of fancy cut diamonds since they are not given a cut grade. We recommend looking at James Allen for their HD 360-degree videos of every diamond in their collection.
We hope you have a better idea of the different diamond shapes and what to watch out for! Every girl is unique with different interests and styles, and a diamond that matches her will be all the more special.
Diamond Shapes: What Shape is Best for Your Ring? appeared first on CreditDonkey
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