A truly unique shape, the marquise engagement ring is for the bride that wants to stand out. It has a rich history and eye-catching design for the adventurous soul.

If you’re on the market for a rock to decorate your fingers, here is what you need to know.

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The marquise shape has a an interesting French historical background. According to Shimansky, the shape was created for Louis the XIV, a monarch who ruled as the King of France.

“Legend holds that Louis the XIV, also known as Louis the Great or the Sun King, wanted a diamond that would be as brilliant and in a shape that could match the smile of the Marquise of Pompadour. And that was how the Marquise shape diamond was born. Because of its shape, it is sometimes also known as “navette” (little boat),” they explain.

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The stone has 58 facets and a slender, elongated shape that is characterised by two sharp points on either end of it. It typically has a length to width ratio of 1.75 – 2.25 to 1, with the ideal ratio being 2 to 1.

Thanks to its long shape, this cut makes the diamond appear to be of greater weight and size than it actually is. It’s shape can also have the ‘bowtie’ effect, in which the diamond appears to take on the shape of a bow tie due to the absence of light reflection in the table of the diamond. This can easily be solved by adding more facets to the crown of the stone.

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You’ve found your perfect partner, now find your perfect ring. If you are a lover of all things delicate and elegant, the pear shape may just be for you.

Also known as the teradrop shape, the pear shape offers a stone a unique style. If you’d like a piece of this pear, read on for everything you need to know.

 

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The pear cut features 58 facets and is typically cut in the brilliant style. This hybrid shape is considered to be a blend of the round and marquise cut. Pear cut stones should have a length to width ratio of 1:5:1. The stone’s elongated shape makes the diamond appear larger, which is always a bonus.

The stone is securely held in place by either three or five prongs, with one of the prongs at the point of the diamond to protect it.

The beauty of this shape is that is allows the colour of the diamond to come across the strongest, so it best suited for yellow and pink stones. If the stone is larger than one carat, however, it may display some darkness towards its point. You will thus want a stone with even colour distribution throughout.

 

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This stunning shape was created in 1458 by Flemish diamond polisher Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem of Brugge, Belgium. From its inception, the stone polarised the jewellery industry. Some loved its unusual shape while many disliked the stone because a large amount of the rough diamond is lost during the cutting process.

 

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This stone elegantly elongates fingers, making it an excellent choice for an engagement ring. It’s also often the more affordable option. Pear shaped diamonds can cost anywhere between 10-30% less than a round diamond of the same carat weight, according to the Gem Society.

 

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The celebrity go-to in the engagement ring world is the emerald cut. Notable names like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Demi Lovato all rock this cut on their ring finger.

It’s easy to see why this Art Deco-inspired shape is a celeb favourite. The elongated shape of the stone is incrediby flattering, makes a diamond appear much larger than other shapes and its mirrored edges give some serious drama. Sometimes, bigger is better.

If you’re on the market for an emerald-cut ring, here’s what you need to know.

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An emerald cut features a rectangular stone with trimmed corners and step-cut facets that often lay parallel to the girdle or thin perimeter of the stone. It typically has 50 to 58 facets, depending on the number of rows on the crown and the pavilion, and a length to width ratio of 1.5-1.7 to 1 is ideal.

The stone appears to have less brilliance than other cuts like a round or princess cut diamond, due to the step-cut facets. However, it’s just a different, more subtle sparkle.

Shimansky explains that the step-cut creates a ‘hall of mirrors’ effect because of its flashes of light.

“This illusion creates flashes of bright white light in stark contrast to the dark planes within each step. The emerald cut appears less fiery, but its long lines and dramatic flashes of light give it an elegant and sophisticated appeal,” writes Shimansky.

Its elongated shape makes fingers appear longer and slender, and of course makes the diamond itself appear larger. The emerald cut is believed to have a 5% greater surface area than a round cut diamond of the same weight.

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History:

This cut is one of the oldest diamond shapes, and has been been around for decades. The emerald cut was developed specifically for the emerald gem, but in time it became a popular cut for many gems, including diamonds.  It was only in the 1920s that the term ’emerald cut’ was commonly used and began to gain popularity for its clean lines and symmetry.

The cut rose in popularity among jewellers because it required less pressure during the cutting process.  This cut, however, is incredibly unforgiving as inclusions and other impurities are much more visible on this bold cut. You need a high quality diamond in terms of colour and clarity to pull this cut off. The higher the clarity, the better the appearance for this cut.

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Who does the style suit?

“The emerald cut shape of diamond is linked to organised, resourceful, disciplined and decisive personalities,” says Shimansky.

“It has a vintage appeal that is both beautiful and distinct and speaks to women who appreciate the beauty of antique-style jewellery. Because of the versatility of this cut, a number of shapes and settings work well with it. The emerald cut has been favoured by the likes of Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Angelina Jolie.”

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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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