Diamond Shapes for Engagement Rings

The shape of a diamond that people choose demands a lot of thought. There are several factors to consider more than just what shape is liked best. Certain ring styles and certain finger conformations lend themselves better to specific diamond shapes. The first is the actual formation of the stone. Even if it is the right shape, it may be cut well or cut poorly. Will the ring have any accent stones to set off the diamond? An elongated stone will look more elegant with accents. The width of the band will also determine the shape of the diamond. A wide band will look better with elongated stones while a narrow, more delicate one works best with round or square. Perhaps the most important factor for the choice of engagement rings is the shape of the bride’s hand. A woman with long fingers might choose a princess cut while a woman with shorter fingers might feel better with the length of a marquise or oval stone. Of course many women look to see what is “in style” at the time they are getting married according to what their favourite movie star is wearing. But this can be tricky. What is “hot” today can quickly look cheap and out of date if it is too drastic or unusual as shape. And it can be difficult to find other jewellery that looks good with it.

Emerald-cut aquamarine ring with diamond set shoulders

One must also think about the wedding bands that will be worn with the engagement rings. They must work well together either by being of the same shape, weight and decoration or by choosing a plain wedding band of the same material and finish. Some of the most well-liked shapes are: round, the most traditional of shapes is still the most popular choice as it works well with a variety of settings with or without accent stones; oval, which is often thought be of a more classical or antique design yet was only introduced widely in the 1960’s; emerald, a rectangular diamond with rounded off corners; heart, which is mostly a novelty shape for specific occasion gifts in earrings and pendants; pear also called teardrop, while also mostly used for earrings or pendants, can also be quite striking for engagement rings; marquise, which is a narrow oval shape with pointed ends is traditional and elegant; radiant, a square stone with slightly cut corners which increase its brilliance; and princess which while also square has uncut corners so can be easier to cut. With all of these possible shapes, the final diamond will be created based on what the raw stone was like and the skill of the person who cut it. It is important to understand the characteristics of different shapes and how each will look on a particular hand. With that in mind, the couple’s personal tastes, personalities and budget can then be taken into account. It is important to take enough time to try on a variety of ring styles with several different shapes of diamonds.