As you choose an engagement ring, you are involved in one of the most important purchases that you will ever make. A diamond engagement ring portrays love and commitment like no other gift or piece of jewelry. Close consideration of detail is absolutely a requirement throughout this journey, and one of the biggest choices affecting the impression your ring will give is the selection of your diamond shape, or “cut”, and its size.

Here you can see several of the most commonly found diamond shapes, particularly those that are modern and contemporary:

• A favorite timeless diamond shape can be seen in cushion cut engagement rings. Over hundreds of years, the cushion shape is one of the most classic shapes in which diamonds have been cut. A long time before recent technology was built to fashion perfectly round diamonds like we have today, the cushion cut was being used to shape many of antiquity’s most stunning diamond stones.

  This unique diamond cut is patterned after the 57-facet design of the round cut, but is shaped in a square or slightly rectangular shape with very rounded corners. Visually stunning, cushion cut engagement rings are known for being highly sparkly and packed with fire.

  A special nuance of cushion diamonds is that they may be displayed very nicely in bigger sizes. Rather than projecting an overwhelming, gaudy appearance, multi-carat cushion stones handle their large size with elegant dignity, and are a great choice for couples with expensive preferences. 

• Somewhat more traditional in style, emerald cut engagement rings are the kings of timeless engagement diamond rings. The emerald shape has been used for centuries, and remains one of the most alluring cuts to this day. The visual depth of the emerald cut continues to be frequently chosen for engagement settings, and these stones are among the most beautiful settings to be seen in the market today.

  The geometric attributes of the emerald cut is particularly well-suited for a broad spectrum of phenomenal ring designs. From gorgeous solitaires to tension and halo settings literally encrusted with diamonds, emerald cut engagement rings are true showpieces of elegance. Working with a diamond expert to find a well cut emerald stone will go a long way toward making your ring a piece of wearable art.

• Next, princess cut engagement rings are the third most popular diamond engagement style. The geometry of this cut is often a choice of diamond cutters, since its set of angles requires the least waste to be accumulated during the cutting process, retaining as much of the original weight and size as possible. This efficiency often means that you can select a nicely-sized princess diamond for somewhat less expense than alternative shapes.

  The princess cut is specifically chosen to bring attention to the “fire” of a stone – that is, when viewed from above, sunlight is expected to be refracted in such a way as to make the diamond appear white. When placed in a white gold ring setting, the juxtaposition creates a uniquely brilliant display.

It is frequently suggested to select your diamond shape and your engagement setting design together as a pair. This helps you to envision exactly what the finished ring will look like, instead of making your selections separately. Of course, if you currently have a keepsake diamond, then your search will be focused on finding a setting style that matches the cut of your existing stone as closely as possible.