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Engagement Ring Guru > Additional Articles - Series 1

Diamond Shapes

Diamonds come in a beautiful array of shapes and cuts. Choosing the shape that best suits both of you can be a spectacularly romantic way of showcasing what your love means to you. Distinctive shapes also enable the contemporary woman to express her sense of individuality and style through stunning pieces of diamond jewelry.

There is nothing a woman will wear that will be more precious to her heart than her engagement ring. It becomes a part of her hand and her soul from the very moment she slips it on; proper time and thought are therefore
essential for choosing each element of it.

There are seven main diamond shapes: Round, Marquise, Emerald, Princess, Pear, Oval and Heart.

Rounds: are the most popular shape of diamond cuts. It is also the most brilliant of all the cuts. Rounds are the most expensive cuts, and with good reason. It is usually possible to retain more weight from a rough (unpolished) diamond if it is cut into a fancy shape than if it is cut to a round.

Marquise: an elongated diamond shape which is perfect for an unforgettable woman. This French shape was developed in the 1740's and is believed to be named after the Marquise de Pompadour, a mistress of King Louis XV.

Emerald: can be either rectangular or square in shape. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. The facets are broad with flat planes resembling the steps of a stair. Unlike the Marquise brilliant, there is no bow-tie effect on an Emerald cut.

Princess: a square or sometimes rectangular-shaped diamond with 49-50 facets. Princess-cuts are sometimes channel set, creating a solid line of brilliance along a mounting.

Pear: resembles an actual teardrop. When set in a ring, the point of the diamond is typically worn facing outward to lengthen the appearance of the finger.

Oval: are, of course, oval in shape. This cut of diamond leaves an everlasting impression of luxury regardless of how they are worn. This piece is destined for lovers who demonstrate both creativity and dependability.

Heart: beautifully and simply reflect a relationship that is meant to last "happily ever after." Although the heart is feminine and delicate, its spectacular shape captures all the attention it deserves, as this shape is very difficult to cut.