Start with Diamond Shape

When picking out the perfect engagement ring feels overwhelming, our first tip is to start with diamond shape! The shape of your main gemstone is your ring's first impression, and this one decision will have a huge impact on your engagement ring.

While metal, setting, and carat size all play a role in your ultimate engagement ring, the shape of your gemstone is often the first thing people notice and can direct other decisions in your ring's style. 

The shape of a diamond can drastically alter the look of the ring, the way it catches the light, and how the stone sits on your hand. With more than ten different possible shapes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

We've pulled together the most popular diamond shapes that you are likely to see while shopping for an engagement ring, and different characteristics that might make each a match for you.

Start with Diamond Shape

Round

The round shaped diamond is by far the most popular choice for engagement rings around the world, for a few reasons. Round is a safe bet if you aren’t sure what kind of diamond your fiancée prefers, as it is universally popular and shaped to capture the most light when worn. It’s also likely to please a woman with traditional style who doesn’t like anything too unique or funky.

Emerald

The emerald is a rectangular shape with multiple long facets cut along each side to encourage the light to reflect and sparkle. These are called stepped cuts, and they encourage light refraction. This cut can make the diamond attract more light than other shapes like a round or square cut. Fashionable and unique, many celebrity women love emerald cut diamonds for both modern and vintage-inspired engagement rings.

Princess

Like the emerald cut, a princess cut is a variation on a geographic shape. While the top of the stone is a square or rectangle, the bottom side comes down to a point. This inverted pyramid shape is due to the beveled cut, which creates multiple beautiful facets. A relatively new shape, the princess cut originated in the 1960s and quickly became the second most popular shape for engagement rings, behind the round shaped stone.

Pear

The pear-shaped diamond should really be called teardrop with its rounded bottom that comes up to a pointed tip. Pear shaped diamonds saw a surge in interest in early 2018 when Ariana Grande wore a pear-shaped diamond engagement ring during her short-lived engagement to Pete Davidson. Pear shaped diamonds are said to make short fingers appear longer and stand out thanks to the pointed shape, which refracts extra light.

Square or Cushion

Eye catching and unique, the distinctive shape of a square cut diamond draws the eye as it stands out against the finger. A square shaped stone is best for women with long fingers, as it can make short fingers look even shorter.

Heart

A heart shaped diamond can stand out in a sea of engagement rings, because you do not see as many of them as the more traditional shapes. For obvious reasons, a heart shaped diamond is a romantic choice for an engagement ring.

Choose Any Shape With A Custom Engagement Ring

Custom engagement rings are our specialty. When you cannot find the perfect ring, sometimes you just have to build it from scratch. Learn about our custom jewelry design process here. 

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