Choosing an engagement ring is a difficult task. There is personal taste of the loved one that needs to be considered, the available budget of the buyer, and many other factors. However, the shape of the stone is one of the most important facts to consider when buying a diamond engagement ring. So let’s check out some of the most popular shapes you could choose from.

How the cut affects the beauty of the diamond

The cut of the diamond refers to how the facets and angles of the stone are cut and polished so as to reflect as much light as possible. The cut gives the diamond its special fire and sparkle everyone is looking for. A poorly cut diamond, no matter what shape will not be able to reflect light as well, making the diamond look duller and not brilliant like it should be. Of course, the higher the brilliance, the better the cut which also has a direct effect on its value. Diamonds with the same shape can have different types of cuts, and each of them will reflect light differently.

Which is the most popular shape?

When it comes to diamond engagement rings, the most popular shape is the round cut brilliant. Approximately 75% of all diamond engagement rings sold are round cut. Why? Firstly, a diamond in the rough can be easily cut into two round brilliants, without actually losing too much crystal. There are other types of cuts which will require a lot of crystal to be lost, and this makes the diamond also more expensive.

A round cut brilliant will reflect light in the best possible way, and this is yet another reason for its high popularity. Next to a round cut brilliant, there is the princess cut which is also a popular choice and a relatively affordable one too. Both the round cut and the princess cut diamonds reflect light the best possible, regardless of their size. Even the smallest round cut or Princess cut diamond has a perfect fire and sparkle, as compared to other cuts that would require a greater size diamond to give the same brilliance.

Other popular shapes

If you are not looking for the most traditional round and princess cut diamonds, there are several other cuts that look beautiful on engagement rings. These include: pear cuts, cushion, heart, Asscher, oval, Marquise, Emerald or Radiant with its mirroring sides and reflections. If you are looking to get the best value for a more restrained budget, experts agree you should choose a high clarity, high color, smaller carat diamond.

Another important consideration regarding clarity. For example, a Flawless clarity graded diamond does not carry any imperfections or blemishes that are visible to the naked eye or under the microscope. However, as you will go down the clarity scale, diamonds will get cheaper. There are many lower clarity grading diamonds which still do not display any imperfection to the naked eye. This allows you to purchase a lower clarity but higher carat weight for your available budget.