Choosing a suitable engagement ring with a diamond is much more complicated than it appears at first glance. Firstly, it is probably one of the most important pieces of jewelry you will ever buy, and secondly, there is a lot to consider when choosing a diamond. In the following I will explain what is important for the diamond and I will emphasize the cut of the diamond. I present the most famous cuts and give my opinion on materials that can be combined well, such as silver or platinum. Finally, I give away an insider’s tip, through which an engagement ring will stand out and attract attention.

What to look for when buying diamonds

In general, the purchase of a diamond depends on the so-called 4C’s. These were established by the GIA, the American institute which deals with gemstones, in the late 20th century as the most important criteria. The GIA issues certificates for each of the 4C’s, which confirm the authenticity, because the differences in quality are minimal and not visible to the naked eye. The 4C’s stand for cut, color, clarity, and carat. Even if you should never pay attention to only one of the four criteria, I will specialize in the following on the right cut for the engagement ring and explain which cuts are more and which are less suitable.

The most famous diamond cuts for engagement rings

The most traditional and at the same time most conservative cut of a diamond is the round cut. There are good reasons for its popularity, as the round cut can improve the appearance of a diamond, even if it has minor flaws. For example, inclusions are easy to hide with a round-cut, and the color of a diamond is also optimized. L diamonds can quickly look like G or H diamonds through a round-cut, which can make a big difference especially on platinum rings.

Another well-known cut is the oval cut. Oval diamonds radiate strongly and look fancy without being pompous. After the round cut, the oval cut is probably the most popular when it comes to diamonds for engagement rings.

If you have read more about diamonds, you will have heard about the following three cuts, as they are becoming increasingly popular and are well suited for engagement rings. The first one is Emerald, a cut which is known for its elegance and is therefore especially suitable for petite women. The Emerald cut is good at making the diamond appear larger than it actually is, but for some people it looks a bit hard because it has clear edges and therefore looks a bit repellent. In my opinion, this cut is not the best choice for an engagement ring, but if you choose Emerald, make sure you combine it with a silver or platinum ring. Also, you can check more of them on https://yourdiamondteacher.com/.

The second cut is the princess cut, which is becoming increasingly popular. This makes the diamond appear smaller due to its square shape, but looks very elegant. As with the emerald cut, the clear edges are a plus for some, for others they seem too hard. The combination with a silver or platinum ring fits much better than a gold ring.

The third and final cut among the rising stars is the Asscher cut, which has become increasingly popular in the USA and Europe. The Asscher cut is impressive because of its symmetry and its clear cut and is suitable for platinum as well as for gold rings, whereby in my opinion light materials make a more elegant impression.

The other 4C’s should not be neglected

However, when choosing the perfect diamond for your engagement ring, you should not forget the other criteria, as the choice of the right cut also depends on the other C’s. If, for example, a diamond in the L or M color category is purchased and is to be mounted on a ring with a light material, such as platinum or silver, it is important to choose a cut that hides rather than highlights the color of the diamond. Emerald, Princess and the Asscher cut are less recommended than the oval cut. The best choice for a diamond of a lower quality color like M is definitely the round cut.

The woman’s taste

Even though a study by the GIA states that about 82% of women in the USA find the round cut the most beautiful, it is strongly dependent on the material of the ring, as well as the individuality of the woman to be given a gift. Because the round cut stands for tradition and conservatism and is therefore not always appropriate. Emerald and princess are clearly more contemporary and, especially for women with a light skin tone, in combination with a platinum ring, they appear in my opinion to be much more elegant than the traditional, but perhaps also somewhat boring, round cut. Regardless of color, carat and clarity, in the end the taste of the woman should always play the most important role, even if this means that the diamond costs more money, because the round cut does not fit anymore.

Insider tip

A cut that stands out and yet is chosen relatively rarely is the pear shape cut. This is a combination of the marquise and oval cut and was first made in the 15th century. The shape resembles a teardrop and has a charming vintage look. For small women’s hands, this cut looks very beautiful in combination with light ring materials and will be an eye-catcher at every party. However, this cut is not common and therefore not everyone’s taste.

Summary

Besides the size of the hand, the taste of the woman, the materials of the ring, and the right cut, the other C’s of diamond buying should not be neglected. For a classic ring, the round cut is recommended, as it brings out the most from the diamond optically. For an extravagant, bold ring, the pear shape cut is recommended, as it is exceptional and rarely seen.