Engagement Rings - Shapes of Quality

It is important to consider the shapes of the stone being mounted in engagement rings. The most traditional shape and still the most popular is the round diamond. It fits beautifully with a wide spectrum of settings. Oval stones are often thought be a more antique or classical motif yet only reached popularity in the 1960's. An emerald cut diamond is rectangular with rounded off corners. The heart shape is mostly a novelty shape used in earrings and pendants given as a gift for a specific occasion. Pear shaped diamonds, also called teardrop, while mostly used for earrings or pendants, can also be quite striking in a ring. A marquise diamond, which has a tapered oval shape with pointed ends, is elegant and traditional. A radiant cut diamond is square with corners cut only a little to increase its brilliance. A princess cut diamond is also square but because it has uncut corners can be easier to cut.

With this in mind, the budget, personal tastes, and personalities of the bride and groom can then be taken into account allowing them enough time to try on a variety of ring styles with several different shapes of diamonds. There are four qualities, known as the four C's that determine how rare each diamond is compared to all others on the market. These are all included in a grading report issued from an independent laboratory. The Gemological Institute of America is the most famous of these. These organizations do not buy or sell diamonds but issue a certificate to identify each diamond according to the four factors. Since almost engagement rings are diamond rings, knowing these factors can be a valuable asset. The first C is Cut, which refers to the shape and proportion of the stone. Proportion means how the diamond reflects the light that hits it and is comprised of brilliance, which is the light that goes from the diamond into the viewer's eye; and fire, which is the light absorbed into the diamond which bounces around inside it.

The second C is Colour. This is determined by comparing the stone to a set of real diamonds certified by GIA. Colour is very important when allocating a value to a diamond. D, E or F diamonds are spectacular. The third C is Clarity. All diamonds have tiny imperfections that can only be seen under a 10-power microscope. Most of these do not detract from the beauty of the stone. Because of this, clarity has less effect on the personal preference for a diamond. The fourth C is Carat. This means the size of the stone according to weight. A one carat diamond weighs two tenths of a gram. Larger diamonds are worth more per carat than smaller ones because there are less of them available. Putting these four factors together, the choice for which diamond to set in engagement rings can be made logically. If cost is not an issue, the best of all elements can be included.