Your Guide to Every Engagement Ring Cut
From classic round sparklers to unconventional cuts and shapes.
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From a technical perspective, the cut of a diamond can affect the amount of light it reflects (i.e. how sparkly it is), what type of setting you'll need, and how much you'll likely end up spending. Beyond that, there's aesthetics and style to consider; the shape of your engagement ring says a lot about your personal style. Are you a classicist who is drawn to traditional round brilliant cut stones, or a daring trendsetter who wants something unique and one-of-a-kind? Here, we're breaking down the basics of each diamond cut and outlining the bridal style it's best suited for; consider this your definitive guide to the engagement ring cuts every bride and groom-to-be should know—and shop.
Round Brilliant
Round brilliant is the most popular shape when it comes to engagement rings. And no wonder, the sparkling cut boasts a standard 58 facets for maximum reflection of light. One stare at its brilliance (no pun intended) and it's clear why this style is so iconic.
Van Cleef & Arpels "Tête-à-Tête" platinum ring, $280,000, vancleefarpels.com.
Marisa Perry “Tie The Knot” diamond solitaire engagement ring designed by Douglas Elliott, price upon request, marisaperry.com.
SHOP
Zameer Kassam "Lantern" ring with platinum and diamonds, price upon request, zameerkassam.com.
Round Brilliant
What It Says About You: You have classic style. You appreciate tradition and things that withstand the test of time. Elegance is your middle name. Your closet is an expertly edited collection of modern staples and investment pieces that are simply timeless.
Tiffany & Co. "The Tiffany Setting" gold ring, price upon request, tiffany.com.
Round Brilliant
Celebrity Match: Miranda Kerr, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Gisele Bündchen, Natalie Portman, Michelle Obama
Fred Leighton 18k gold ring with diamonds, $35,000, fredleighton.com.
Round Brilliant
Chopard "Magical Setting Collection” with round brilliant-cut diamonds and round shaped diamonds in 18K white gold, price upon request, chopard.com.
SHOP
Round Brilliant
Edward Avedis "Rochelle" ring with classic halo ring with round brilliant cut diamonds in a shared prong setting, price upon request, edwardavedis.com.
Round Brilliant
McTeigue & McClelland "Wildflower Collection" Flora Embrace ring, price upon request, wildflowercollection.com.
Round Brilliant
Octavia Elizabeth "The Margot" with a round diamond and a custom cut halo of tapered baguette diamonds in gold, from $7000, octaviaelizabeth.com.
Emerald
Boasting a large, glassy table (that's the top facet of the ring) and step-cut facets, an emerald cut is ideal for showing off diamonds with a high grade of clarity. Plus, the lean rectangular shape elongates the hand for an ultra-flattering appearance.
De Beers "Classic Trio" diamond ring, $25,500, debeers.com.
Anna Sheffield "Bea" diamond and gold ring, $8,000, annasheffield.com.
Jessica McCormack three stone diamond emerald cut and kite engagement ring in 18K white gold, price upon request, jessicamccormack.com.
Emerald
What It Says About You: Emerald-cut lovers are all about understated luxury. You're drawn to things that are modern, glamorous, and elegant–but not over-the-top. You pay attention to detail and are drawn to things that are exquisitely crafted and high quality.
David Yurman "DY Delaunay" faceted emerald engagement ring in 18K yellow gold, price upon request, davidyurman.com.
Emerald
Celebrity Match: Beyoncé, Amal Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey, Kate Hudson, Grace Kelly
Harry Winston emerald-cut diamond solitaire with tapered diamond baguettes in platinum, price upon request, harrywinston.com.
Emerald
London by De Beers "Battersea Light" diamond ring in 18K white gold, price upon request, debeers.com.
Single Stone "Greer" ring, $12,400, singlestone.com.
Emerald
Greenwich Street Jewelers "G.St Ceremony Baxter" engagement ring, $19,500, greenwichjewelers.com.
Emerald
Selim Mouzannar ring in 18K pink gold and ivory enamel set with diamonds, $11,170, selimmouzannar.com.
Cushion
Cushion cuts feature softened corners and large facets for extra sparkle—which means it's a cut better suited to larger stones. This style has a distinctive vintage charm, but put it in a sleek setting and it feels instantly updated.
Tiffany & Co "Tiffany True" new square mixed-cut, for maximum brilliance, engagement ring in platinum, from $7,000, tiffany.com.
Jade Trau "Parasol" ring, starting at $4,700, jadetrau.com.
Diamond Star Jewelry diamond and 18k gold ring, $89,000, 1stdibs.com.
Cushion
What It Says About You: You are a romantic at heart. You have a sense of nostalgia for tradition and old-world elegance, but a flair for the glamorous. You incorporate such elements into your style with a modern twist that feels fresh. You'll probably wear lace on your wedding day, but you'll opt for a version in a cool, sheer white instead of antiqued ivory. You may add a dramatic veil, but you'll wear your hair sleek and down instead of a classic updo.
Lauren Addison cushion-brilliant diamond ring with diamond pave in platinum, price upon request, laurenaddison.com.
Colleen Banks is a seasoned jewelry and weddings editor, having been a style editor at Martha Stewart Weddings for 8+ years. Colleen’s love for the best-of-the-best jewels, bold color, whimsical details and epic parties make her an expert at thinking outside-the-box when it comes to weddings. When Colleen isn’t styling a wedding or writing about them, she’s most likely filling her online shopping cart with the Gucci she’s currently coveting, listening to Britney Spears, or taking Instagram pictures of her cat, Shelby.
