How to pick your engagement ring - choose your stone

When it comes to choosing your stone, shapes are what to decide on first!

Here’s the deal, there are really only ten significant center stone shapes in the diamond vocabulary, and they all have characteristics and quirks that make them unique. When choosing your perfect engagement ring, shape is the first thing to get clear about, and we take the time to make sure you have tried on every shape to find out what really suits you and what you LOVE! Let’s face it, you are going to be looking at it for a very long time!

So here are the classic top ten:

Round brilliant: The quintessential diamond, the most classic shape for a traditional feel. It’s symmetrical and elegant, and has been cut to a science, making it the most brilliant and scintillating cut in the book! This is a timeless shape that will be a classic forever!

Pear shape: This is the hottest shape in Paris right now and we are seeing a come back in NYC! The pear is a contradiction of curves and angles, elongated and fascinatingly faceted, you really should try one on before you dismiss this bootylicious cut!

Oval: The Oval is always elegant, for a woman that steps away from the traditional round, but is still attracted to soft, curvy lines and feminine edges. Ovals tend to be more “spready”, which often means that they look larger per carat then a round brilliant cut, which is always a perk!

Cushion: The Hybrid. A cushion pleases those who like geometry, and appreciate a slightly more boxy, unconventional shape, but doesn’t want to loose the softness which round and oval diamonds offer. The squared edges are gently curved and the corners rounded, with brilliant faceting for absolute sparkle!

Asscher: A characteristic class act! The Asscher Diamond ( a square Emerald Cut), was designed in the 1920’s, and carries that Gatsby era charisma. It’s a square design and step cut instead of brilliant cut, giving it a distinctly deco edge. A must see, just to appreciate the olde-world craftsmanship!

Emerald: Everyone has a place in their heart for the Emerald cut! An Art Deco Icon, the Emerald is typically a rectangle in shape, and also step cut with clipped corners, giving the stone a broad table to admire the “hall of mirrors” effect within. This is a mesmerizing and very distinctive stone. - We’ve won awards for some of our Emerald cut settings, ask to see them when you come in!

Princess: Perfectly square. This is an entrancing cut, more intricately faceted than the Asscher, with precise sharp edges and clean points. This stone is well suited to a decisive and perhaps analytical type, it’s firm and distinctive, but undeniably enchanting!

Heart shape: Have a guess…. Yes, this one is exactly as it sounds, a delicate heart cut into the world’s most treasured stone. The heart is not for everyone, but we can’t help but love it for it’s romance and detailing! And Heart Shape are especially delicious in large carat weights!

Radiant - This is the to the geometric family what a Round is to the curvy cuts. The quintessential shape with the most exquisite faceting, and maximum brilliance and fire! It needs to be seen to be understood!

In order to really figure out the stone for you, you have to see them, hold them, and try them on to see how each looks on your hand - you might be in for a surprise!

For a number of reasons we advise against getting a stone online. It’s so important to always see a stone before investing in it,as well as seeing how it looks on your hand. And if you have seen a stone you think you like, feel free to ask us about it, we always offer honest and neutral advice, we are in the business of seeing people happy!

Reach out to us and schedule a free consultation where we will take the time to really show you all the shapes and their characteristics, and narrow down what is right for you!

Schedule a consultation with one of our team by visiting marisaperry.com.

All the best, Marisa Perry