So you’re planning on getting engaged ... but which ring will you choose? Which cut will suit her best? Will she like something more traditional, or would she prefer something more unique?
To help you make this very important decision, we’ve broken down the aspects, as well as the pros and cons, of the most popular diamond cuts.
Round cut
As the most popular diamond cut, round diamonds accord for 60% of all engagement rings, according to jewelry and style expert Michael O’Connor. Round cuts are also the go-to for those looking for the sparkliest option.
Their brilliance (sparkle) is due to strategically place facets (cuts on the stone’s underside) so that the diamond can take in and reflect as much light as possible, according to vice president of XIV Karats Caryn Alpert. She also noted that they are the “most traditional, most sought-after” diamond shape.
In an interview with Vogue, gemologist Olivia Landau said that round-cut diamonds are perfect for those looking for a more traditional and timeless look.
“A round brilliant is perfect for someone who wants a traditional look that will last through the ages; the brilliant faceting is also great for women looking for maximum sparkle,” she said.
According to Who What Wear, round-cut diamonds are also great for hiding flaws and masking color.
Nevertheless, since the round cut is the most in-demand, it is also the most expensive diamond cut. The cutting process for round-cut diamonds also leads to a high amount of diamond wastage, which also results in its high price tag, according to Jewelry Shopping Guide.
Celebrities with round-cut engagement rings include Miranda Kerr, Amy Adams, Mila Kunis, Allison Williams, Brooke Shields, Emily Blunt, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Gisele Bündchen, Natalie Portman and Michelle Obama, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
Emerald cut
The emerald cut was created to bring out the color of the emerald gemstone, but over time was adopted for use in diamonds, according to Jewelry Shopping Guide.
According to Today, emerald-cut diamonds are of the more classic diamond shapes and give off a more muted kind of light.
Since emerald-cut diamonds have large, glassy tables with step-cut facets, they are the perfect shape for showing off high-quality diamonds. Landau also noted that the rectangular shape of the emerald cut works to elongate the finger of its wearer.
While the emerald cut is great for showing off the perfection of a high-quality diamond, this also means it is great for showing off the imperfections of a diamond of lesser quality, according to Alpert.
“It is very important for an emerald cut to have high clarity because you will see the imperfections more clearly,” she said. “It has to be clean in order to be pretty.”
Emerald-cut diamonds are also not great for women looking for more sparkle in their engagement ring.
Some celebrities who have worn emerald-cut engagement rings include Beyoncé, Amal Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey, Kate Hudson, Grace Kelly and Olivia Wilde, according to Vogue.
Princess cut
The princess cut boasts a traditional square shape with pointed corners and gives a lot of sparkle, with a combination of step- and brilliant-cut facets, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
This cut is also the second-most popular cut of diamond, but is less expensive as it makes good use of the rough diamond, using over 90% of it, according to Jewelry Shopping Guide.
On the downside, princess-cut diamonds are prone to chipping, as its four corners are vulnerable. Depending on the setting the diamond is in though, this issue can be prevented.
Octavia Zamagias of Octavia Elizabeth Jewelry also noted that, similar to round-cut diamonds, the princess cut is also great for masking imperfections and color.
Some celebrities who wear princess-cut engagement rings include Kate Bosworth, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Hilary Duff, according to Vogue.
Cushion cut
According to Today, the cushion cut is one of the oldest diamond shapes and was most popular throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The cut was originated in the 1800s, and was the closest thing to a round cut at the time, due to the technology that was available.
In an interview with Who What Wear, Zamagias noted that one of the great aspects of the cushion cut is its low price tag.
“The cushion cut or ‘pillow cut,’ as I call it, is a beautiful, romantic shape that’s less harsh than your square, precise princess cut,” she told Who What Wear. “(It’s) one of the least expensive shapes, and when you work with a good jeweler ... and someone who’s familiar with this cut, you can get a gorgeous stone at a very fair price.”
Alpert told Today.com that the cushion cut is more suited for those who want more of a white-light return, rather than the rainbow effect.
As people have turned more towards vintage designs in recent years, the cushion cut has become the third-most popular diamond shape, according to Jewelry Shopping Guide.
Nevertheless, the large facets of cushion-cut diamonds are known to show flaws in the diamond, and the shape is not good for hiding color tints, requiring the purchase of a higher-quality diamond.
Celebrities who wear cushion-cut engagement rings are Kim Kardashian, Ciara, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Sofia Vergara, Chrissy Teigen, Leighton Meester, Bar Refaeli and Gabrielle Union, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
Oval cut
According to Harper’s Bazaar, oval-cut diamonds are typically cut in the brilliant faceting style, giving sparkle similar to that of the round cut. Due to its shape, oval cuts also give the illusion of length and can make smaller diamonds appear larger.
As Landau noted in her interview with Vogue, this diamond shape is great for those who like to stay ahead of trends, but also want a classic, elegant look. Since oval cuts have no sharp edges, they are also less likely to catch on objects and chip.
While this cut comes with a lot of sparkle and a lower price tag, they tend to show more flaws within the diamond and have what is called the bow-tie effect, according to Zamagias in an interview with Who What Wear.
“The bow-tie effect can be seen in the center of the diamond, and it literally looks like a man’s bow tie,” she told Who What Wear. “It’s caused by uneven light distribution and not enough depth.
Zamagias also noted that the bow-tie effect is not something that can be seen on a grading report, but is something that is only found when jewelers examine the stone in person from all angles.
Celebrities with oval-cut engagement rings include Blake Lively, Kate Middleton, Behati Prinsloo, Julianne Hough, Kate Moss, Serena Williams, Katie Holmes and Christina Aguilera, according to Vogue.
Marquise cut
The marquise cut is one of the oldest diamond cuts and was originally commissioned by Louis XV, inspired by the smile of his mistress, Marquise de Pompadour, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
The cut resembles the shape of a football with pointy tips at both ends. This shape of diamond is also great at elongated fingers due to its longer shape.
According to Alpert, since the shape isn’t popular at the moment, it is a lot easier to find high quality stones in the marquise cut.
Nevertheless, the long shape of the stone requires wedding bands to sit underneath or in perfect compliment to it, and its pointed ends run the risk of chipping, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
Those who have worn marquise-cut engagement rings include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Portia de Rossi, Christina Milian and Ashlee Simpson Ross, according to Vogue.
Pear cut
As a cross between a marquise and an oval cut, pear-cut diamonds work well to elongate the finger of its wearer, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
The unique shape of these diamonds also makes smaller stones appear larger and allows for the diamond to hold more color than other cuts.
As this pear-shaped diamonds are of the least common cuts, their wearers tend to have unique tastes, according to Landau.
“Women who move to the beat of their own drum and don’t want a ring like everyone else gravitate toward a pear,” she said.
While pear-shaped diamonds are more unique, since they have some aspects of oval-shaped diamonds, they also tend to come with the bow-tie effect, according to Zamagias. These diamonds also run the risk of chipping at their pointed end.
“The downside is that there can be a bow-tie effect, and additionally, its sharp point can chip like the princess-cut diamond,” she said. “This can be remedied by a V-tip-prong setting style or the wearer being extra careful.”
Celebrities who have worn pear-shaped diamonds include Jackie Kennedy, Margot Robbie, Zoe Saldana, FKA Twigs, Mia Farrow, Sophie Turner, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Kaley Cuoco, Katherine Heigl and Anna Kournikova, according to Vogue.