If you’re planning to propose soon, you may be wondering how to pick the perfect engagement ring. Of course, one of the most important factors is whether your girlfriend or fiancée will love it, but what about the diamond itself?
You might be surprised to learn that your diamond shape has an impact on its appearance. To help you choose the right diamond shape and cut for her unique engagement ring style, we’ve put together this handy infographic guide on how to pick the perfect engagement ring for your diamond shape.
Round Cut: Princess Cut
A princess-cut diamond is an ideal choice for around engagement ring because of its visual similarity to a traditional round diamond.
As such, these two cuts match very well together. Princess cuts are particularly suited for thin fingers, as they elongate and thin out slightly from top to bottom. For someone with thick fingers or thin fingers that don’t work well with round-cut diamonds, a princess cut may be your best bet.
If you like your stone large enough that it stands out in terms of size, but you want it set in a classic four-prong setting, you could also consider alternative shapes that have more sides on them (octagon), creating an illusion of extra size.
Pear-Shaped: Emerald Cut
The emerald cut is an ideal engagement ring for pear-shaped diamonds because of its rectangular profile and its ability to balance out an elongated shape.
The corners of your emerald-cut engagement ring should extend beyond your diamond’s widest point, helping it sit higher on your finger.
Emerald cuts also look great with round diamonds that are set at an angle. Asscher Cut: Not all rectangular engagement rings are created equal, but they can give off a princess-cut vibe if you’re not careful.
Marquise-Cut: Oval Cut
Oval diamonds have an elongated oval appearance and a smaller diameter. While thinner than other shape diamonds, their length can make them appear larger than round diamonds of similar carat weight.
Marquise-cut diamonds may look great paired with an emerald-cut engagement ring setting because its elongated shape will help frame and draw attention to it.
These thin and long-shaped stones are ideal for individuals who prefer a flashier diamond and might need some extra light refracted into their stone.
Their elongated nature may cause eye fatigue in some settings, however, so keep that in mind when picking marquise cut engagement rings or wedding bands as they may not be suitable if you prefer something more subtle in size or style.
Cushion-Cut: Asscher Cut
Asscher-cut diamonds take their name from Dutch banker and diamond cutter Joseph Asscher, who created them in 1902.
The highly rectangular shape of an Asscher cut can be nearly as wide as it is long, though ideal dimensions are square with a length of between 5 and 6 times its width. If you love traditional diamonds with lots of sparkle and fire, go with an Asscher.
The cushion cut is gaining popularity because it sits lower on your finger than most cuts (which means it’s hard to lose) and also tends to look bigger than traditional cuts that sit higher on your finger.
Those qualities have made cushion-cut engagement rings some of the biggest trends today.
Radiant Cut
If you have a Radiant cut diamond, then you should go with a Radiant Cut engagement ring. This will give you more sparkle, which is what Radiant Cut diamonds do best.
A radiant cut has stepped from one side of it to another; if you look at your stone on different angles, it will look like little pyramids popping out at you.
Because of these steps, sometimes referred to as facets, radiant cut diamonds tend to reflect light more readily than other cuts (if they are well-cut) and therefore appear brighter and more colorful — even when compared to non-radiant cuts in identical carat weights.
There are many reasons to choose lab-grown diamonds for your next lab-grown diamond engagement ring purchase one reason being that they are more affordable than mined stones as well as less likely to have any imperfections caused by faults in Earth’s mantle from which mined gems were made.
Asscher Diamond Shape
An Asscher diamond, just like a princess cut, is a square-shaped diamond. In fact, it’s one of only three shapes that can be called a square.
The other two are emerald and cushion. When cut correctly, an Asscher will have 57 facets on each side: 32 diagonals and 25 smaller ones.
If your heart is set on an Asscher-cut diamond, consider purchasing a ring with pave settings or channel set diamonds to draw attention away from any sharp edges or imperfections.
Also, consider vintage-style rings which tend to be more angular than rounder styles which work well with softer gemstones such as moissanite or morganite.
Baguette Diamond Shape
One of our favorite diamond shapes is also one of our favorite ring styles: emerald cut. With elongated, rectangular sides that are often accentuated by a row of baguette-cut diamonds down either side, they’re sharp and elegant, without sacrificing any style points.
For a stunning example in platinum with fancy baguettes, look no further than Blue Baguette Pendant Necklace.
Emerald Diamond Shape
The emerald cut diamond is one of the most popular shapes available. Its unique teardrop shape adds a beautiful twist to any engagement ring.
Because it’s so trendy, there are a number of different ways you can go about buying an emerald-cut diamond. For example, you could choose a larger stone, or opt for something more vintage-inspired and small.
If you want something delicate and classic, pairing your stone with smaller accents like diamonds or pearls will add drama to your overall design.
On the other hand, if you want a bolder look with plenty of sparkles that still looks elegant and polished, opting for larger side stones with bigger accents will make your ring stand out in any setting.
Trilliant Diamond Shape
The Trilliant is known as a combination of round and emerald cut. It combines all the benefits of both shapes into one elegant, captivating stone.
When shopping for your Trilliant engagement ring, keep in mind that there are two varieties: high-combination and low-combination. In a high-combination setting, you’ll have more room to work with when choosing your diamond shape.
You can select any shape you wish because it’s not being hindered by corners or sharp edges like in other settings. The only limiting factor here is your budget; buying larger diamonds will require more money spent on setting and prongs.
Rose Diamond Shape
The round shape of a rose-cut diamond makes it look traditional, and thus perfect for an engagement ring. The best way to complement your rose-cut diamond is with a setting that highlights its depth, like three claw prongs or a Tiffany-style basket setting.
Another elegant option is to choose diamonds in a rectangular shape with rounded corners—as opposed to square stones—which give your ring an added touch of lightness.
At Carats Inc., we carry designer rings from David Yurman and De Beers that are ideal for rose-cut diamonds. consider taking your fashion sense to new heights with one of these four lab-grown diamond rings.
Princess Diamond Shape
Princess diamonds can come in either a square or rectangular shape, which means they’re usually surrounded by sparkling diamond accents.
There are three different types of princess-cut diamonds: The most popular version is called a modified-cushion cut, which has 59 facets. Then there’s a traditional cushion cut, which has 58 facets.
And lastly, there’s an Asscher cut—this one isn’t as common—which has 57 facets and an elongated rectangular shape. All three of these styles are attractive but only one stands out as truly impressive:
The cushion cut is often considered more ideal because it has fewer side facets, which makes it less expensive than other versions and thus more affordable for those shopping on a budget.
Oval Diamond Shape
When it comes to finding a diamond shape that complements an oval engagement ring, you can’t go wrong with a round cut.
This classic cut has been prized since King Louis XIV of France chose one for his bride in 1642.
Its clean lines and consistent symmetry make it universally flattering and easily adapted to your personal style—whether you prefer modern or classic. There’s no better way to shine than with a round cut!
Heart Diamond Shape
Heart diamonds are another example of something most people would classify as a princess cut diamond. The one exception is that a heart-shaped diamond should never be cut too deep in order to retain its shape.
A typical heart shape should have some depth, but not too much. This will cause it to resemble a square or rectangle more than a true heart shape when viewed from above or below.
It’s possible (though not recommended) to get your heart-shaped diamond cut into an emerald or Asscher if you so desire – however, doing so will make it harder to determine what its true shape is while looking at it face-up and down.
Best Diamond Shapes
Here’s a rundown of some of our favorite diamond shapes. Just keep in mind that every diamond shape has its own specific characteristics, so some will stand out more than others depending on your personal style or preference.
Round cut diamonds are shaped like well, a circle! The square facets around a round diamond sparkle from all angles, which makes them great if you’re looking for something bright and eye-catching.
But these diamonds aren’t just about looks; because of their even shape and hardness, they have an excellent durability rating (9 out of 10) and have less likelihood of chipping or breaking.
round brilliant cut
The round brilliant cut is considered to be one of the diamond’s most classic cuts. It’s also one of its oldest, with references dating back to at least 1514.
The round brilliant-cut style originated in India, and Indian diamonds are still prized for their sharp brilliance. While popular in modern-day engagement rings, brilliant stones have not always held that reputation.
In fact, they were known as magnificent diamonds before they became known as brilliant or round brilliant cuts. Even today, some retailers use them interchangeably.
