Which Diamond Shape Defines Your Style?

Some girls spend their whole lives dreaming about getting married someday – they have every detail memorised, down to the engagement ring their love should offer when he pops the question. This may sound over the top but, afterall, it is one of the few pieces of jewellery which they will wear for the rest of their lives.

But what if you don’t have a the vision of that perfect diamond ring in mind? There are numerous options that translate into hundreds of possible combinations. How do you decide if you don’t know what those options are? To give you a helping hand, we’re going to break down the options for you over the course of some upcoming posts, beginning with shape.

According to Lang Antiques, “Diamonds were believed to protect the owner from all kinds of mishap and for a long time it was believed that this divine crystal would lose its powers when it was in any other state than the natural one. Cutting diamonds was as much a taboo as it was difficult in the Ancient times”.

Over the centuries, fashions – and technology –  and technologies have changed. Today, the discerning purchaser has a plethora of choices when it comes to diamond shapes. Today’s most common are:

 

Round Cut Diamond: For most of us, when we think of engagement rings, we think of the classic cut round diamond. This shape seems to outlast the changing world of fashion, always remaining a tasteful choice. This timeless classicism made it the perfect choice when Princess Elizabeth (now Britain’s longest reigning monarch) became engaged to Philip Mountbatten.

 

Princess Cut Diamond: Coming in second in the popularity sweepstakes is the princess cut diamond. It was created in 1980 and is widely used in engagement rings. The princess is traditionally a square cut and is set with prongs that protect the four corners. Pop stars love it too: Cheryl Cole announced her whirlwind marriage to her boyfriend of three months by posting a picture of her dazzling princess-shaped diamond on Instagram.

 

Oval Cut Diamond: Created in the 1960s, the oval shape diamond is the perfect choice for the person who wants the classic look of a round stone, but yearns for something just a bit different. This classic-but-unique character explains why oval was the shape chosen by Prince Edward to propose to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999.

 

Emerald Cut Diamond: It is the large, open top surface of the emerald shape that holds the secret of its allure. This shape has a mysterious, hall-of-mirrors feel to it that is perfect for the person who wants to make a real statement with jewellery. Prince Ranier of Monaco chose a 12-carat emerald diamond to help transform a movie star into a Princess.

 

Marquise Cut Diamond:Named for after the infamous mistress of the French King, the Marquise de Pompadour, the marquise shape is long and narrow with a bit of a football shape to it. This shape tends to look larger than its carat weight, making it a good choice for someone looking to impress. Giving this impressive shape her own unique twist, Catherine Zeta Jones wears her marquise diamond ring with the points across her finger rather than the more usual top-bottom orientation.

 

Pear Cut Diamond: Perfect for the person who can’t settle for just one shape, the pear – a combination of round and marquise – is generally worn with the narrow end pointing toward the hand of the wearer making the fingers look longer and slimmer. Katherine Heigl chose a pear shaped stone as the centerpiece of her unique diamond engagement ring.

 

Heart Cut Diamond: For obvious reasons, the heart-shaped stone is a popular choice for making the grand romantic gesture and is generally only used for stones over .50 carats. It is important that the two sides of the heart shape are identical. Speaking of grand gestures, when Taylor Kinney proposed to Lady Gaga on Valentine’s Day, he presented her with a heart-shaped diamond ring that he had designed.

 

Asscher Cut Diamond:  Renowned for its unparalleled lustre, this striking cut was born out at the start of the 20th Century out of the famous Art Deco movement. Its creator, Joseph Asscher, was commissioned by King Edward V11 to cut the diamonds for the English crown jewels, making it fit for any princess.

 

Cushion Cut Diamond: Over the last decade, this cut has increased tremendously in terms of its popularity thanks to its large facets and ability to create a spectacular array of spectral colours. This cut is bound to be one which transcends time and fashion thanks to its versatility and undeniable beauty.

 

There’s certainly a diamond shape for everyone – but there are other considerations to weigh when choosing diamond jewellery as well. We’ll be taking a look at them over the next several posts so you can get to know your personal diamond style.

Which shape sets your heart aflutter? Is it the classic round or something a bit more unusual? View our range of diamond rings here and share your thoughts with us on Facebook and Pinterest!