Choosing an engagement ring is a blessing and headache, two-in-one, so to speak. What cut of stone, what shape, what color, bigger or smaller, modern or vintage, trendy or timeless?
As expert jewelers who have helped many happy couples find that one special stone, we suggest that you begin with the cut of the stone, and the rest will click in place almost automatically. The right cut can look great as a solitaire, which means you don’t have to worry about design. It can significantly enhance other ring designs, and in general change your initial idea of a perfect ring.
So let’s look at popular engagement ring cuts and find out what they are best for and how they can impact the overall appearance of the ring.
What Are Engagement Ring Cuts?
The first point to remember: a stone shape and a cut are not the same thing. A shape is a general outline that you can describe as round or rectangular, for example. A cut is the number and mutually determined placement of facets that builds the stone sparkle and makes it look like an icy flame.
To provide a simple illustration, the baguette cut and the emerald cut are of a similar rectangular shape, i.e. two shorter sides and two longer sides, but their cuts differ greatly. The emerald cut has ‘steps’ and trimmed corners, with additional facets replacing them. The baguette cut has visually square corners and relatively few facets. From a distance, two stones may appear the same, but when the light hits them, the difference becomes visible because the emerald cut creates a lot of brilliance and depth, while baguette stones are more modest in this regard.
The cut is not the clarity of the stone (clarity is an inherent feature a stone is created with, whether in a lab or in the rock). But a well-selected and executed cut can improve the stone clarity and unveil its true beauty by removing the impure parts and increasing the sparkle a millionfold.
So while choosing diamond cuts for engagement rings always look at the exact cut of the stone, as it is this factor that will maximize the wow effect of a diamond.
Popular Types of Diamond Cuts
Due to their ability to create a dazzling diamond even out of a modestly sized stone, some cuts are more popular for engagement rings than others. It happens because engagement rings are usually (not always, but frequently) rather minimalist in design and the central stone becomes a real focus of the ring. So the stone just needs to live up to the expectations and bedazzle the viewers.
Of all diamond cuts, a round cut is considered traditional. All other cuts are called fancy, even the restrained princess or the elegant emerald cut.
Round Cut
Round cut is the oldest and the most ’classic’ type of diamond cut. The shape is round, with over 56 facets that catch and reflect the light. The central table lets the light inside the stone where it focuses in the sharp tip and reflects back into small facets that descend from the table in concentric rows. The effect is mesmerizing, as light reflects manyfold inside the stone and sets the diamond on fire, poetically speaking. This cut made the diamond a legend among stones, refined, elegant, and desired.
Round cut for engagement rings is versatile and timeless because it never comes out of fashion. It compliments longer and shorter fingers and makes even the simplest ring a stunner. The sparkle effect is huge because many small triangle facets bounce the light seemingly endlessly.
A round cut can be fit into any type of ring, from a solitaire and a halo ring to Art Deco and Victorian-like styles.
Princess Cut
This is a rectangular shape with a very particular type of cut and facets that make the stone a truly one-of-a-kind. The facets on these stones are chevron-shaped, or V-shaped, and they descend in rows from the X-shaped center. This intricate cut is a derivative of the brilliant cut aimed at maximizing the passage of light and the sparkle of the stone. With its sharp rectangular corners, a well-executed princess cut is a one single field of liquid light that passes from a facet to a facet mesmerizingly.
The ready stone features over 50 facets, and its scintillation rate is among the highest across various cut types.
The princess cut for engagement rings is modern and more abstract, fit for minimalist rings and for bolder, more eye-catching looks with additional elements, like a three-stone ring.
Emerald Cut
The emerald cut got its name from the cut reserved for emeralds. These noble stones are treated in a specially delicate way to protect them from chipping, and the emerald cut maximizes the look while protecting the stone from losing its bits.
Specifically, the corners are trimmed and facets replace any potentially sharp edges or tips. As a result, the stone features a long clear table and gradually descending parallel facets, or steps. This type of cut shows off the clarity and depth of the stone and creates a hall-of-mirrors effect.
This cut is great for long narrow stones with high clarity and absence of unwanted color, since long open facets let viewers to appreciate the quality of the stone.
The emerald cut is about brilliance, but it is also about that special clear water look that is so valued in diamonds. Emerald cut for engagement rings is more reserved and calm, but it is perfect for elegant rings that double as special occasion jewelry and will make a valuable heirloom piece.
Additionally, a longer emerald cut will visually elongate and slim fingers, so it’s perfect for people who want the effect of a slender longer palm.
Oval Cut
The oval cut is a variation of a round cut that got stretched along one axis, with the classic count of 57 or 58 facets. It features the sparkle and scintillation of a round diamond paired with sophistication and elegance of a marquise stone. The marquise cut lost its sharp ends and gained visual softness and fullness instead.
The great thing about the oval cut is that it visually enlarges the stone. If you look at a round and an oval stone of the same carat weight, an oval stone will seem bigger and bolder. This is just a cute illusion, but it can make all the difference between a cool ring and a dazzling ring that makes people compliment it endlessly.
Yet since an oval cut has a larger clear table, only a good quality stone will look sublime in this cut. On the positive side, an oval stone will make fingers look longer.
The oval cut for engagement rings is one of the timeless styles, so your jewel will be in fashion happily ever after.
Cushion Cut
Cushion cut is often praised as romantic and soft, but that’s just a beautiful illusion. The cushion (or pillow cut) is a spin on the classic round cut with its perfect fire and 58 facets. The round shape was turned into a rectangular one but corners are trimmed and rounded, no sharp edges. That’s why it’s called a cushion - it’s a ‘marriage’ between two shapes, which accounts for an interesting ‘softened’ visual effect.
A cushion cut for engagement rings has as much sparkle and scintillation as its parent cut (round), so it will make even a smaller stone look bold and bright. Additionally, the softened corners make the stone more fit for rings with a halo and a double halo, as the string of stones will flow smoothly around the central element.
This styling is one of the most interesting, because the stone itself is like a drop of fire, and surrounding stones will only boost this impression. So even with a modest stone and a halo you’ll get the effect of a boulder of the highest clarity. This ring will be hard to forget.
Radiant Cut
This type of diamond cut was invented in the 1970s with maximized sparkle in mind. Typically, a stone has 70 facets arranged similarly to those in a round cut, but the shape is distinctively of an emerald cut. So you get a rectangular stone with a mind-boggling sparkle effect. Compared to more traditional cuts, a radiant cut creates a surreal image of myriads of small fires, like ripples on the water or a piece of fresh crushed ice. The stone is so unusual that it looks almost asymmetric, a new type of stone altogether.
But the increased count of facets means that there is a little space for the flat table, so consideration of brilliance will move to the second position. This cut is all about sparkle and rainbow fire since it will bounce even the tiniest bit of light. So if you want a deeper, more sophisticated look that underscores the clarity of the stone, you may want to opt for an emerald or an oval cut.
A radiant cut for engagement rings is best suited for solitaires as its play of sparkle and shining will catch the eye, obscuring other decorative elements.
How to Choose the Right Cut for Your Engagement Ring
As it becomes clear, stone cuts can impact the brilliance and sparkle of a stone while also creating a specific styling effect.
It all begins with what you (and your loved one) want and how this stone cut fits into your lifestyle. Stones with rounded shapes and trimmed corners are fine for everyday wear and active lifestyle, because there are no protruding edges that can chip off.
If you have a more temperate lifestyle and don’t engage in active sports or hands-on hobbies like gardening, you can choose any type of stone, including the princess cut or marquise cut, for that matter. Their sharp corners need to be secured carefully in a ring because they are fragile and don’t take strong impacts (like scratching or hitting against something) very well.
Plus, keep in mind the effect you want while shopping for a stone or a ring.
- Some cuts are all about sparkle (round, princess, cushion, and radiant cuts),
- some are the best fit for top quality stones as they display the brilliance perfectly (emerald and oval),
- and some can trick an eye and make a mid-sized stone look bigger and bolder (oval, princess, and cushion).
So if you have a limited budget but want to get the most for your money, choose a cut that will boost the stone's potential and present it as a truly impressive rock.
Tips for Maximizing Sparkle and Brilliance
A perfect stone will look amazing at first glance, so simply look at the selection of rings and stones to decide what you like. The cut is one of three parameters that define its excellence, the other two being symmetry and polish. When the balance of three parameters is right, even the smaller stone will look brilliant and breathtaking.
Yet even the Triple X cut certificate (the highest excellence grade reserved for round cuts only) won't save the stone if it has lots of inclusions or a muddy color. No matter the cut, the resulting gem will look dull and unappealing.
So if you look at the stone and like its fire and brilliance, there are high chances that the balance of the cut, symmetry and polish is excellent. The precise cutting and careful polishing bring out the best in the stone, revealing the sparkle hidden under the unfaceted surface.
The higher the precision, the better the look of the stone and the more fire and sparkle you will get. For emerald cuts, high precision brings out the clarity and icyness of diamonds, making them into mysterious wells of light, mirror halls that look almost magical.
However, always check what a certificate for the gem has to say. You need to know its carat weight, degree of colorlessness, presence of inclusions, and other important information. Then you can be sure that you are not being overcharged for a smaller stone or that you don’t get a stone with hidden flaws that are masterfully disguised by a perfectly selected cut.
We at YourAsteria offer only top-quality ethical stones with certificates and will be happy to answer your questions. So pick a beautiful diamond or other type of gemstones from our collections and get a warranty that its quality is sublime, no less.
Conclusions
All in all, every stone cut has its unique appeal and advantages, and the selection often depends on your taste and budget. Decide what you want to see in an engagement ring, what style will you prefer, how the cut will fit into that style, and then choose.
If a stone looks like a diamond as you imagine it - it shines and sparkles and reflects the pure white light - it is already a good one. Dull stones won’t look that great even with the best of cuts, that’s a little insider’s secret we will spill here.
So let your heart guide your gaze and then double-check the stone certificate. That you’ll get a ring that is perfect for you!
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