This week we are focusing on something that every girl loves thinking about- diamonds. Not just any diamonds- engagement rings. At some point in life, we have all thought about what shape, what cut, exactly what design we imagine being on our fingers for the rest of our lives. But do we really know all of the options available? Of course we have all heard of the princess cut, the round (brilliant) cut, even the emerald cut. Here is a rundown of the numerous shining possibilities.
Let’s start with the 4 C’s- cut, color, clarity, and carat. The stone’s cut has a large impact on it’s brilliance. A diamond’s color ranges from blue to yellow with even some surprising shades of red, amber, pink, violet, and orange in between. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) labels these colors from D to Z. The clarity of a diamond is determined by the imperfections that may or may not exist within it. These imperfections may exist on the inside and outside of a diamond. Lastly, the carat (the bigger, the better- right ladies?) is the actual weight of a diamond- which can also be measured in points. A one carat diamond equals 100 points.
Now that we know the basics, here a few shapes in which that diamonds are often cut. Other than a standard Round (most common) and Princess (newer square-shape) cut, many girls are choosing the Cushion cut (my personal favorite). This is actually a rectangle-shape with rounded corners- giving it a very antique look. Emerald cut diamonds are those which are a basic rectangle shape. These are often not as brilliant due to having less facets than other diamond shapes. Thus, the Asscher cut was created to resemble the Emerald cut and provide more brilliance. Likewise, the Radiant cut also resembles an Emerald cut and provides more brilliance due to extra facets on the underside. The following non-conventional shapes are recently gaining popularity among brides who are looking for something a little different. The Oval and Pear shape are slight variations of a standard round diamond- maintaining most of the same brilliance. Lastly, the Marquise cut diamond (basically an oval with rounded sides and pointed ends) is often preferred because, when cut properly, it may actually look larger than it actually is.
Have you decided what shape is your favorite yet? This may be a tough decision, but what comes next may be even tougher- how to set your diamond. The most popular setting is still a pronged-solitaire. Pronges can be made into different shapes and a diamond (depending on the shape and size) may require one to three pronges to secure it. Probably the second most well-known ring style is a 3-stone setting. This style is symbolic of the past, present, and future of a relationship. The stones can be all the same size, but typically the center stone is the largest. Next most common may be the bezel or half-bezel setting- basically a solitaire with a metal rim, or group of small diamonds, surrounding the center stone. This is perfect for the traditional bride who prefers a little extra “bling”. A baguette setting contains smaller rectangle stones with very few facets on either side of the center stone- making the larger diamond appear larger. Often seen in wedding bands, the channel and channel-end settings contain a row of stones either sandwiched between two horizontal, or multiple vertical, grooves which hold them in place. Less common are the Pave (raised metal forms into beads that secure flush small diamonds) and tension settings (compression-spring pressure which holds the stone in place- making it look like it’s floating).
Last but not least, it is important to know what metal best suits your skin and your lifestyle. Traditionally, most rings are created from 14k (more durable) or 18k (more pure) gold since it is less expensive and widely available. Recently, platinum’s undeniable strength, purity, and density is gaining popularity (it’s also hypoallergenic for those of us with sensitive skin). Likewise, it is also more expensive so look for a platinum stamp, such as plat, pt 950 or .95 plat to ensure that you’ve got the real thing!
So next time you’re browsing through the mall, “casually” peeking at the diamond counters, you will really know what to look for to best suit your own personal style and vision. Then all you’ll have to worry about is dropping enough hints for your guy to buy the right one!
Let’s start with the 4 C’s- cut, color, clarity, and carat. The stone’s cut has a large impact on it’s brilliance. A diamond’s color ranges from blue to yellow with even some surprising shades of red, amber, pink, violet, and orange in between. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) labels these colors from D to Z. The clarity of a diamond is determined by the imperfections that may or may not exist within it. These imperfections may exist on the inside and outside of a diamond. Lastly, the carat (the bigger, the better- right ladies?) is the actual weight of a diamond- which can also be measured in points. A one carat diamond equals 100 points.
Now that we know the basics, here a few shapes in which that diamonds are often cut. Other than a standard Round (most common) and Princess (newer square-shape) cut, many girls are choosing the Cushion cut (my personal favorite). This is actually a rectangle-shape with rounded corners- giving it a very antique look. Emerald cut diamonds are those which are a basic rectangle shape. These are often not as brilliant due to having less facets than other diamond shapes. Thus, the Asscher cut was created to resemble the Emerald cut and provide more brilliance. Likewise, the Radiant cut also resembles an Emerald cut and provides more brilliance due to extra facets on the underside. The following non-conventional shapes are recently gaining popularity among brides who are looking for something a little different. The Oval and Pear shape are slight variations of a standard round diamond- maintaining most of the same brilliance. Lastly, the Marquise cut diamond (basically an oval with rounded sides and pointed ends) is often preferred because, when cut properly, it may actually look larger than it actually is.
Have you decided what shape is your favorite yet? This may be a tough decision, but what comes next may be even tougher- how to set your diamond. The most popular setting is still a pronged-solitaire. Pronges can be made into different shapes and a diamond (depending on the shape and size) may require one to three pronges to secure it. Probably the second most well-known ring style is a 3-stone setting. This style is symbolic of the past, present, and future of a relationship. The stones can be all the same size, but typically the center stone is the largest. Next most common may be the bezel or half-bezel setting- basically a solitaire with a metal rim, or group of small diamonds, surrounding the center stone. This is perfect for the traditional bride who prefers a little extra “bling”. A baguette setting contains smaller rectangle stones with very few facets on either side of the center stone- making the larger diamond appear larger. Often seen in wedding bands, the channel and channel-end settings contain a row of stones either sandwiched between two horizontal, or multiple vertical, grooves which hold them in place. Less common are the Pave (raised metal forms into beads that secure flush small diamonds) and tension settings (compression-spring pressure which holds the stone in place- making it look like it’s floating).
Last but not least, it is important to know what metal best suits your skin and your lifestyle. Traditionally, most rings are created from 14k (more durable) or 18k (more pure) gold since it is less expensive and widely available. Recently, platinum’s undeniable strength, purity, and density is gaining popularity (it’s also hypoallergenic for those of us with sensitive skin). Likewise, it is also more expensive so look for a platinum stamp, such as plat, pt 950 or .95 plat to ensure that you’ve got the real thing!
So next time you’re browsing through the mall, “casually” peeking at the diamond counters, you will really know what to look for to best suit your own personal style and vision. Then all you’ll have to worry about is dropping enough hints for your guy to buy the right one!
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