Finding a right diamond engagement ring is a herculean task for everyone. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, ranging from the classic round cut to heart shaped diamonds. Each diamond cuts have different characteristics and choosing the right one for the engagement ring requires good knowledge about each one of them.
All diamond cuts are beautiful and unique in their own way. The most popular engagement ring cuts are round, square, solitaire and the princess cut diamonds. If you are in a search of finding a perfect engagement ring, here is the list of some of the popular diamond cuts for engagement rings that you can choose from.
Round Cut Diamonds
These are the most popular diamond cut across the world since a long time. In fact, they make up about 75 % of all diamonds sold in the market. They are also known as Round Brilliant diamond. Round cut diamonds have a classic uniform and symmetrical shape and its 57 perfectly aligned facets help it to outshine other diamond cuts. In the round cut diamonds, the light passes through the stone and undergoes a total internal reflection, giving optimum sparkle and scintillation.
Cushion Cut Diamonds
The popularity of these diamonds has been growing rapidly over the past few years. The name, cushion cut, comes from the softer square or rectangular shape that resembles a cushion or a pillow. They consist of 58 facets and round corners. Cushion cut is a cross between round brilliant cut and princess cut diamonds. Cushion cut engagement rings have a classic romantic appeal. Many people love a cushion cut diamond set into a scallop set halo engagement ring design.
Princess Cut Diamonds
Princess cut diamonds were designed by Betezal Amber and Israel Itzkovitz in 1979. The shape has the combined benefits of both round cut and square cut diamonds. Because of their clean edges and modern design, they are becoming widely popular engagement rings. They have a pyramid like shape with four equal sides and four corners. With its 76 facets, the princess cut is great at hiding the imperfections. Princess cut diamonds can be relatively expensive. So usually people prefer princess cut halo engagement ring, which is made by adding a small ring of Pavé diamonds surrounding the center stone. The halo setting in the princess cut halo diamond rings make it look bigger and add more sparkle to the ring.
Emerald Cut Diamonds
The emerald cut diamonds are very beautiful because of its elegant distinctive step cut and alluring symmetry. Emerald cut diamonds was emerged in the 1920s. The cut was originally designed to reduce the pressure on the stone during the cutting process. The reflective facets of emerald cut diamonds can act as mirrors. When the light hits the sides of emerald cut diamonds, it tends to flash with a more elegant fair. But the sparkle that the diamond offers is less prominent than the other diamond cuts.
Oval Shaped Diamonds
Oval shape diamonds are slightly longer than round cut diamonds and have similar sparkle. The oval cut diamonds have the ability to make wearer’s fingers appear longer and thinner. The modern oval shape diamond was designed by Lazare Kaplan in 1957. They have 58 facets and appear larger than the round cut diamonds. Generally oval shape diamonds are cheaper than round shaped diamonds. An oval cut diamond ring with a halo setting is an excellent choice for an engagement ring.
Marquise Cut Diamonds
The marquise shape was created in the 18th century. These diamonds are elongated oval with pointed ends. In the 1990s, the marquise cut diamonds were the most popular diamonds. But its popularity declined due to the emergence of cushion cut and princess cut diamonds. Because of its elongated shape, marquise diamonds will appear longer than a round cut diamond of the same carat weight. Like oval shape diamonds, marquise diamonds also has the ability to make the wearer’s fingers appear longer and thinner.
Pear Shaped Diamonds
The popularity of pear shape diamond is rising from 2016. They are also called as teardrops because of the rounded bottom and pointed top. Pear shape diamond was created in the 15th century and it is one of the oldest designs for a diamond. Pear shaped diamonds have combined elements of both round and marquise diamonds. This combination gives the diamond a unique and modern shape, but also holds the exceptional sparkle of round shaped diamond.
Radiant Cut Diamonds
Radiant cut diamonds are square shaped diamonds that resemble princess cut or cushion cut diamonds. The shape was created by Henry Grossbard in 1977. He wanted to combine the symmetrical shape of emerald cut diamond with the sparkle of round cut diamonds. Radiant cut engagement rings are very popular because of its 70 facets that give a greater light dispersion. The extra facets of the diamond create the appearance of a higher clarity grade by concealing the flaws.