The perfect engagement ring must be decided upon after a number of factors have been considered, including the shape of the diamond. There are a variety of shapes to choose from, and this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly since the stone is the most important visual aspect of the ring. Before making your decision, familiarize yourself with the different diamond shapes and choose one based on your bride-to-be’s preference as well as the shape most suited to her hand and lifestyle.

Diamond Shapes

For those who aren’t familiar with the 4 C’s of diamonds, diamond cuts and diamond shapes may seem interchangeable – they aren’t. A diamond’s cut refers to the number of facets in a diamond and how those facets are proportioned. Shape, on the other hand, is simply the overall outline of the finished diamond. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the various diamond shapes available and choose the one that best suits you and your bride-to-be’s budget, her personality and overall preference.

• Round

Round diamonds are arguably the most popular choice and are traditionally found in classic solitaire rings. The round diamond’s versatility make this an exceptionally popular choice, because it works well with a number of settings and accent stones.

• Emerald

Emerald diamonds feature a rectangular cut with trimmed corners. Because emerald shaped diamonds are elongated, couples often choose to place accent stones around the diamond to provide the overall appearance of balance.

• Pear

Also known as a teardrop diamond, pear shaped diamonds are very popular in jewelry, and more couples are turning to this shape as the focal point for an engagement ring. Pear shaped diamonds are usually left to stand alone, as the unique shape would be unbalanced with many accent stones.

• Heart

Romantic and a bit whimsical, heart shaped diamonds are exceedingly hard to find, as the cut can be difficult to make. If you choose a heart shaped diamond, carefully examine the stone to ensure there are no obvious flaws or imperfections present.

• Princess

Princess diamonds are square shaped and look exceptionally well set in a three-stone ring design because of their unique shape, which works well with accent stones. Examine the color of a princess shaped diamond carefully, as lower-quality diamonds can show color differences towards the corners of the stone.

• Marquise

Characterized by a slim oval shape with ends that taper into a point, the marquise diamond is a classic choice for a bride that loves the traditional look. While the stone can be used in engagement rings, marquise shaped diamonds are more often used in bridal ring sets.

• Oval

Oval diamonds are typically used in more elaborate settings, accented with other stones to complement the diamond. Ovals also work well as simple solitaires.

While these are the most common diamond shapes, specialty shapes such as trilliant, asscher or cushion diamonds are more rare and should be carefully selected because of their uniqueness.

It may seem intimidating when faced with so many diamond shapes to choose from, but with a little research and some careful planning, you can find the right diamond shape for a beautiful engagement ring the bride-to-be will love.