Get your fairytale ending with a princess-cut engagement ring. This cut is incredibly popular, and graces the ring fingers of celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski, Cameron Diaz and Kate Bosworth.

The princess-cut is the most popular of the fancy cut diamond shapes, according to Shimansky. It is a timeless shape, with a geometric silhouette that makes the stone appear brighter and whiter.

If you’d like to join the ranks of the rich and famous, here’s what you need to know about the princess-cut.

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The shape:

A princess-cut diamond has a square-shaped stone with pointed corners, and can have up to 78 facets. From the side, it appears as if the stone is the shape of an inverted pyramid.  This cut offers stunning sparkle thanks to its high levels of brilliance and fire.

About 80% of a rough stone’s radiance is retained when cutting a princess shape, compared to the 50% of a round brilliant shape. This makes a princess cut the more economical choice as well.

This cut requires master craftmanship. In the wrong hands, the stone’s delicate and intricate facets can appear chunky.  It must have a deep cut, a relatively slim girdle and pointed corners. V-shaped prongs hold the body of the stone securely in place while also protecting the corners.

“The square shape of this cut is associated with the personality traits of independence, audacity and confidence. Thanks to its beauty, brilliance and striking appearance, it’s not difficult to understand why the princess cut diamond has become such a popular cut among modern-day brides,” says Shimansky.

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The origin:

This shape is one of the newer cuts on the market, and has had multiple precursors. It is believed its origins began back in the 1960s when diamond cutter Arpad Nagy created the ‘profile’ cut in 1961. This cut has 58 facets and was designed to allow less of the rough stone to be lost in the cutting process.

South African designer Basil Watermeyer then introduced the Barion cut in the 1970s, which was a stunning cut with 81 hard to replicate facets. Israeli diamond duo Betazel Ambar and Israel Itzkowitz followed up by creating the ‘quadrillion’ cut, which is the closest to the modern princess cut as we know it.

How it got its current name is not definite, but jewellers suspect it is because of its radiant sparkle that makes the stone appear fit for royalty.

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What to consider:

If you’re on the market for a princess-cut ring, there are a few things to keep in mind. Generally, this cut is priced lower per carat because more of the rough stone is saved during the cutting process. Due to their multiple facets, incusions or natural imperfections are hidden quite well in the stone.

However, because most of the weight is on the underside of the diamond or the pavilion, this cut may make the stone appear smaller than another diamond with the same carat weight.

As such, you get higher brilliance on this cut but may sacrifice size. Each customer must decide for themselves what they care about more.

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You’re engaged and you want to flaunt your ring all day, every day, we don’t blame you. But wearing a new and expensive piece of jewellery 24/7 takes some getting used to and there are times and places not to wear your engagement ring to keep it safe and sound.

Here are some places you might want to go ring-free:

The beach

You want to take a selfie in your stellar bikini and show off your gorgeous ring but there’s a risk of losing it in the sand or the water. Sand can also easily get into the ring setting or under your stone.

The gym

You could probably wear your ring during cardio but if you’re doing weights don’t even try it. The strong pressure of the weights could bend the band and if you have a pavé band it’s possible that the smaller stones may fall out of the setting if it takes too many knockings.

The shower

This one may be obvious but it’s easy to forget to take off your ring if you’re in a rush to shower. Shampoos, body washes, soaps, hair and beauty products all cause a residue buildup either on or under your stone which is difficult to clean. Also remember to be careful when you’re applying lotion or hair serum with your ring on.

The pool / jacuzzi

Chlorine in pool water can cause damage to your ring, and over time it will discolour the metal of your ring band.

While cleaning

Whether you’re cleaning the oven or your car or even just washing the dishes, take your ring off! If you have a coloured stone you need to be even more careful because the chemicals from the detergents can erode the finish and polish of the stone.

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Diamond’s are a girls best friend but gemstones are so mysterious and make an excellent choice for the alternative bride’s engagement ring.

Alexandrites are unique, colour-changing gemstones that are as mesmerising as they are beautiful. If you want a unique stone to centre your engagement ring, this gem is the perfect choice. Here’s what you need to know.

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Modern June birthstone alexandrite is a rare variety of chrysoberyl. This unique gem is pleochroic, meaning its colour appears to change depending on the lighting it is in. During the day, the stone ranges from a more greenish-blue to dark yellowish-green. Candlelight makes the stone appear pink or red, because of the way the mineral absorbs light.

This phenomenon is so unique that it has been coined the ‘alexandrite effect’. Many experts consider it an emerald by day and ruby by night due to its colour shifts.

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The stone was discovered in 1834 in emerald mines in Russia’s Ural Mountains. Legend states that its discovery coincided with the day Russian tsar Alexander II came of age, which is what inspired the stone’s name. It soon became the national stone of Russia during its tsarist regime as its red and green colours reflected that of old Imperial Russia.

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Alexandrite scores an 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it quite durable. Its price depends on its colour, as the stronger shades rack up more money. Those that display both warm and cool tones are top of the line. They are still cheaper than diamonds, making them a more affordable and unique option for an engagement ring.

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Gemstone engagement rings have been trending in the wedding world for years. From emerald to ruby, there are so many unique stones to choose from.

Moonstone may be a lesser known gem, but that doesn’t make it any less special. This unique stone has a stunning iridescent finish perfect for a boho bride.

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Moonstone is made up of two minerals: orthoclase and albite. Both of these minerals fall under the feldspar family, which makes up more than half of the Earth’s rocky crust. During formation, the minerals first intermingle then separate into alternating layers.

When light falls between the various layers of this stone, it creates a unique phenomenon called adularescence where the light appears to billow across the gem and make it appear as if it is glowing.

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Moonstone has been revered by many cultures over the years. The ancient Romans believed it was formed by the moonbeams and thus associated the stone with lunar deities. Hindu mythology also suggests the stone is made of solidified moonbeams. In Indian culture, the stone is a sacred stone and is said to bring special dreams.

Adularescent moonstone was once named’ adularia’, named after Adular, a city in Switzerland where the first yield of high-quality moonstone was discovered.

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The stone varies in colours from completely colourless to yellow to blue to pink, meaning any bride can find a shade she likes. Its value comes in its size. The thinner, the more valuable as more light is scattered off the stone, creating its characteristic mesmerising iridescence. Transparent blue moonstones are the rarest form.

As with diamonds, moonstone is also judged on the four C’s: cut, clarity, colour and carat.

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Moonstone is said to bring good luck. Some even believe if you hold a moonstone in your mouth during a full moon, you’ll see the future.

The stone ranks a 6.0 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it durable enough for everyday wear. It complements a range of cuts and metals, making it a jack of all trades in the gem world. However the ring is designed, your moonstone will shine bright.

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For those looking for a unique engagement ring, jade is an unusual and unexpected choice. The ancient ornamental mineral is revered in Chinese culture for its healing properties.

With many colours to choose from and good durability, this compelling stone will make an amazing centre for your ring.

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Jade refers to two separate mineral: nephrite and jadeite, which are both metamorphic rocks made up of tiny interlocking mineral crystals. The stone appears in various colours, including green, white, orange, yellow, lavender and black. However, the most valued shade is semi-transparent emerald green.

They often have a unique, streaked colouration that provides a compelling visual texture. The tones in nephrite tend to be more muted than that of jadeite, which is also the rarer of the two.

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Early Spanish explorers named the stone after the Spanish expression ‘piedra de ijada’ which translates literally to ‘stone of the pain in the side’. They were inspired to choose this name after finding Central American natives holding the stone to their sides to relieve pain. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs are believed to have used jade for medicinal purposes, as well as to create jewellery, ornaments and religious artefacts.

Historically, jade has been used since the time of prehistoric humans, who fashioned it into weapons, tools, ornaments and ritual objects.

Sometimes, carvings were etched onto the stone to invoke the powers of heaven and earth.

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The stone has long been considered heavenly. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the philosopher Confucius wrote that it is like a virtue and it’s brightness represents heaven. In fact, a flat disc of jade with a hole in the middle, known as a ‘bi’, is symbolic of heaven in Chinese culture.

The stone is called ‘yu’ in China, which means heavenly or imperial. This explains why jade is often considered the imperial gem in Chinese culture, and has been found in the tombs of Shang kings.

The stone is also symbolic of prosperity, success and good luck. The Chinese associate the stone with a clarity of mind and purity of spirit. They often carve specific shapes using the stone to represent motifs. For example, a bat is symbolic of happiness, a butterfly of long life and a peach of immortality.

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The stone is quite tough and durable, making it a good choice for an engagement ring stone. Jadeite ranks a 6.5 to 7 and Nephrite a 6.0 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Its quality is determined by looking at five key factors: colour, transparency, texture, cut and carat weight.

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Peridot may be an unusual and largely unknown stone for an engagement ring, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. Modern brides wanting to be different should opt for this unique and incredibly rare green stone that is truly otherworldly.

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Peridot is a remarkable stone found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth’s mantle. Most of it is formed deep inside the earth when the seafloor spreads and splits the earth’s crust. Rocks from its mantle are then pushed to the surface of the earth. The gem also often occurs in volcanic rocks called basalts.

This unique stone is truly out of this world. According to the Gemological Institute of America, a rare version of peridot was found in pallasite meteorites, remnants of our solar system’s birth. In 1749 a meteorite containing peridot crystals was found on a desolate hilltop in Siberia, and it is believed to have fallen to the earth’s surface some 14.8 million years ago.

In 2005, peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the Stardust robotic space probe.

Some scientists even believe large portions of the moon are made of these crystals.

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It’s name is derived from the French word ‘peritôt’ meaning ‘unclear’, as a result of the stone’s numerous imperfections and internal fractures. The word also comes from the Arabic ‘faridat’, meaning ‘gem’.

While typically yellow-green in hue, the stone can range in colour from brown-green to pure green.

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Early historical texts suggest it was first mined in an island of the Red Sea called Topazios, now called St. John’s Island or Zabargad.

This stunning stone was much loved by the Egyptians, who called it ‘the gem of the sun’.  Some wore it as a form of protection to ward off evil spirits.

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Peridot is the birthstone of August babies and also symbolic of 16 years of marriage. It is considered the stone of compassion and believed to bring good health, peace, and balance to relationships.

It ranks a 6 and a half to 7 on the Mohs scale of Hardness, meaning it is durable enough for everyday wear. However, it is sensitive to heat, acids, ammonia, and hot water so wearers must be cautious.

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Many may consider pearls to be old-fashioned and matronly, but we disagree. This timeless gem adds a vintage feel but can easily be updated to reflect more a modern design.

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Trends come and go, but style is eternal. A pearl engagement ring is the perfect choice for a timeless bride. This classic gemstone is also known as the ‘Queen of the gems’ and can be dated back to 520 B.C. A pearl fragement was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, making this stone the oldest known gem to be worn as jewellery.

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The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all revered this gemstone. In fact, the Greek word for pearl can also translate to ‘unique’, in honour of the fact that no two pearls are the same. Pearls quickly became a symbol of wealth and status, and at one point int time, a law was passed allowing only nobles to wear this gem in public.

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Pearls are the only gemstones that grow inside another living organism. They come in various types, which will determine the price. The most rare and expensive is the natural pearl. This type is formed when an irritant like a parasite naturally enters a a bi-valve mollusk like an oyster, mussel or clam. A fluid coats this irritant as a defense mechanism, and continues to deposit multiple layers of this coating until a pearl is formed. 

There are an estimated 8000 different species of bi-valve mollusks, of which only 20 can consistently produce pearls. As a result, natural pears are incredibly rare.

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Cultured pearls are made in a similar fashion, except the process requires human intervention. An irritant like a bead or piece of shell, known as Mother of Pearl, is surgically inserted into the mollusk.  The cultural process takes years to complete. After 3 years, mussels are at a mature stage and are able to receive an irritant either naturally or via implantation. Once there, it take another three years for the pearl to reach its full size. Only 5% of pearls produced are true gem-quality.

Cultured pearls are grown in pearl farms under strict conditions, and fall into two categories: saltwater and freshwater.

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Imitation pearls are typically made of glass beads coated in a solution made from fish scales. It’s easy to tell whether a pearl is an imitation by rubbing it against you teeth. A fake pearl will glide across, while a real pearl will feel gritty.

While this gemstone is most commonly round, it can also come in alternative shapes like pear or baroque pearls.

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