Engagement rings can be customized to fit any person’s preferences. Choosing the gemstone shape is one of the first steps to finding the right ring. Whether you want a ready-made ring or to design your own, a jeweler has multiple customization options for you to choose from. Here is more information about selecting a stone shape for your engagement ring:
Gemstone Terms To Know
The jewelry industry uses industry-specific language that can make choosing an engagement ring stone shape simpler if you understand each term. Here are some industry-specific words to know:
- Color: Color is the hue, tone, and saturation of a stone.
- Clarity: Gems can have flaws called inclusions and blemishes. Gems with no fractures, holes, or scratches are flawless and stones with those imperfections are called included.
- Carat: Carat weight measures the weight of a gem. Often the higher the carat weight, the more valuable the stone.
- Cut: The cut of a gem includes factors like stone shape, light reflection, and facet quality.
- Brilliance: Brilliance refers to the path light travels through a stone. A stone with good brilliance will reflect light to the viewer’s eye through the crown of the stone.
- Facet: A gemstone’s facets are the geometric, flat surfaces on a stone.
Gemstone Shapes
Gemstones do not form perfectly in nature and must be shaped by gem cutters. There are many different shapes available but here are some common ones to choose from:
1. Asscher
An Asscher-cut stone is square-shaped with cropped corners. From the top view, the facets form an X pattern, giving a kaleidoscope effect. This cut also has a tall crown, which helps it stand out from other square-shaped stones. People who choose this shape for their engagement rings like the grandeur of the Asscher cut. Blemishes and inclusions are easy to see with this cut so if you want an Asscher-shaped stone, look for one with good clarity and brilliance.
2. Cushion
Resembling a pillow, the cushion-cut stone is a square or rectangular shape with rounded edges. Cushion stones are often less brilliant than other cuts but reflect light in a unique way that many ring wearers love. If you want a vintage-style ring, a cushion shape might be the right one for you.
3. Marquise
The marquise shape looks like a horizontal oval with pointed edges like the pear shape. It has 56 to 58 facets, which provide good brilliance and a unique shape. The shape of the stone makes it look larger than it is so you can choose one with lower carat weight and still get a quality-looking stone. Its cut also hides blemishes well, so you can choose one with a lower clarity rating without diminishing how it looks.
4. Oval
The oval stone is shaped like an oval and has good brilliance. The elongated shape of oval stones can make your fingers look slimmer and longer. Its rounded corners also make it less susceptible to chipping. Many people like how an oval stone looks in a solitaire setting. You can make this stone shape more unique by changing the direction the stone faces in its setting.
5. Pear
If you like the look of a marquise stone and round stone, the pear shape is a good in-between. It can look like an upside-down teardrop or pear, depending on how it’s set in the ring. Its asymmetrical shape makes it a unique option for a gemstone. Some people like to use two pear-shaped stones next to each other to add symmetry to their rings.
6. Princess
A princess-cut stone is square-shaped from above and an inverted triangle from below. Princess-shaped stones have good brilliance but may be more prone to chipping because of their sharp cut corners. To avoid chipping, these stones should be set in strong prongs. The princess cut creates an illusion of a large size, which allows you to choose a stone with low carat weight. A princess stone looks good in a solitaire style or a three-stone style ring.
Find Engagement Rings From Quality Jewelers
Jewelers have engagement rings in all kinds of designs and stones of varying colors, cuts, and clarities. When deciding on the shape of the stone for your engagement ring, look for one that best fits your personality. Visit a jewelry store today to explore your options.
