Engagement Rings - Selecting A Stone Shape

When it comes to the look of engagement rings you want to present to your soon-to-be-spouse

, shape of the main stone will determine the personality and even the brilliance of the diamond. There are 10 standard cut shapes, which gives a lot of room for individual choice. Clarity of the stone will matter with some shapes, due to the way they are cut; if the clarity is too low, the inclusions will be quite obvious and ruin the effect. Alternatively, some cuts are designed to allow for inclusions, hide them and make the diamond look clearer than it is.

Round cut, also known as brilliant cut, is the most popular for engagement rings due to the flash and brilliance. These stones boast 58 facets all together, for maximum light refraction.

Oval cut is a variation on the round cuts, an unusual cut that offers a more distinctive personality without sacrificing any sparkle. This is an excellent choice for the bride who wants something a little different.

Pear cut provides a distinctive pear shape, but stones are usually graced with 58 facets for good shine and bling factor. It's less common shape tends to make a greater impression than the round cut, but is a highly subjective shape for engagement rings.

Princess cut stones are very clear, with sublime brilliance gained from their exquisite shape, allowing for more inclusions than many other cuts. Make sure your setting protects the four corners.

Emerald-cut diamonds are those cut in steps usually reserved for emeralds. It offers extreme clarity and precision, but less brilliance than some other cuts. It's bold and very beautiful.

Asscher cut is also called square emerald-cut diamonds, because the same technique is used as the emerald-cut. The cropped corners give it an almost octagonal look. It is extremely clear and inclusions are visible, so a flawless stone is necessary.

Radiant cut combines a rectangular look with the brilliance of a round cut diamond. First introduced in 1977, it combines the emerald cut with the brilliant cut for a truly stunning stone.

Cushion-cut combines an antique style with a romantic flair. Designed with large facets and rounded corners, it was meant to catch the candlelight. The Hope Diamond is a cushion-cut.

Marquise cut diamonds are boat-shaped, allowing the cutter to utilize the most of the carat weight, yet carve away prominent inclusions and retain the least flawed part of the stone. The elongated shape can make colour and clarity flaws more prominent, however.

Heart cut is a newer cut, in the shape of a heart, with a large table and many facets on the crown. It's a cut that is considered cute and some ladies enjoy it quite a lot as a symbol of love in their engagement rings.

by: Gareth Parkin

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