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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Rapper 2 Chainz and wife Kesha Ward are celebrating their two-year wedding anniversary. In a sweet Instagram post, the hip-hop veteran shared throwback images of the pair on…
Spring is fast approaching in South Africa, bringing with it vibrant colours and sunshine. It is a time of rebirth and to celebrate new beginnings.
If you’re planning a spring wedding, why not lean into the theme? Spring is all about colour and life. Give your bridal party that extra shine by opting for fun, lively shades like yellows, pinks, greens and blues to represent the season.
Take inspiration from the West Coast, which is currently blooming as Flower Season reaches its peak. From pastel shades to vibrant hues, any bright colours will match this theme.
You could go on-the-nose with floral print dresses, or simply incorporate the colours. We also love mismatched bridesmaid dresses for this theme, it will make your best girls look like the blooming beauties they are.
Here are some beautiful bridal parties giving us major goals with their outfits:
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Feature image: Unsplash
There are a handful of days you’ll always want to remember. Your 21st birthday, a graduation and the birth of your first child are likely high up on…
Iconic performer Elton John has had hit after hit over the decades. The Rocketman performer has had a tumultous life, one made much sweeter when he met future husband David Furnish.
After almost 30 years together, Elton John and David Furnish has become one of the most famous same-sex celebrity couplings. They continue to work together to break stigmas and support worthy charities. Here’s how they found love.
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The legendary musician met the Canadian filmmaker and former advertising executive back in 1993, and the love connection was instant. At the time, John was newly sober after a decade of substance abuse. He had left his home in Atlanta to return to his estate in Windsor, England and decided to host a dinner party.
“I wanted to meet new people so I rang up a friend in London and said, ‘Could you please rattle some new people together for dinner here Saturday?’” he told Parade in 2010. Furnish had accompanied a friend on the evening, thinking it was going to be a dull affair. It was anything but, as the pair had an immediate attraction.
“I was attracted to David immediately,” John told Parade. “He had a real job, his own apartment, a car. He was independent. I didn’t need to take care of him. I thought, ‘God, this is new territory for me — someone wants to be with me just because he likes me.’ I knew he was the one because he is not afraid of me. He always tells me exactly what he thinks.”
The very next evening, they met up again for a one-on-one dinner at John’s home. One dinner led to more, and they quickly fell in love.
The pair eventually began working together. In 1997, Furnish made his directorial debut with Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras, a documentary about the musician that earned a BAFTA award.
In 2005, Elton John popped the question while hosting a dinner party at their Windsor home. At the time, however, marriage was not legal for same-sex couples. They then made history by becoming one of the first couples in the UK to form a civil partnership on December 21, 2005.
On December 21, 2014, nine years exactly to the date, the pair officially tied the knot when gay marriage was made legal in the UK.
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This was not the first marriage for Elton John. He was engaged to Linda Hannon in 1970 before cancelling the wedding days before the ceremony. He later married sound technician Renate Blauel from 1983 to 1987. John had already come out as bisexual in 1976. Soon after their divorce, he told Rolling Stone Magazine that he was gay.
Throughout the course of their 27-year relationship, philanthropy has been close to their hearts. John is head of the Elton John AIDS Charity, and David serves on its board. Together, they work to break the stigma and raise awareness and funding for the AIDS crisis and programs around the world. Every year, their black tie charity event raises millions of dollars for the foundation.
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Samuel L Jackson surprised fans with some sweet words for his wife LaTanya on their 40th wedding anniversary. The pair have been together for half a century. In…
Wedding planning is going full steam ahead now that weddings are allowed to continue under Level 2 lockdown. If you need some inspiration, consider these key trends that are expected to make huge waves in 2021.
Micro-weddings:
While the micro-wedding concept has been around for years, it has been given new life due to the pandemic. With limited guests allowed, couples are pretty much forced to have a micro-wedding under current regulations.
This isn’t a bad thing, however. There are a host of benefits in having a micro-wedding. They are more affordable, more intimate, have fewer practical arrangements and are much less stressful.
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Sentimentality:
One bonus of this crazy year is that many have truly found the value in their family. Spending so much time with your loved ones can be a bit much at times, but it mostly makes you appreciate them. Some have also unfortunately lost loved ones due to the virus, and may want to pay tribute to them on their big day.
We predict many brides and grooms will want to incorporate some sentimental meaning into their outfits, decor or even the venue. You could opt for a family member’s backyard for your I do’s, use some fabric belonging to a special family member in your wedding outfit or even attach a picture of them to your boutonnierre. Of course, including your loved ones in the bridal party is also pretty sweet.
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Inspired by nature:
Considering we’ve spent most of 2020 cooped up indoors to prevent the spread of coronavirus, being outside is a welcome change! On a practical level, outdoor venues are also the safer choice as it allows for fresh air, which is handy amid the pandemic.
We predict many will want a return to nature to celebrate their freedom and enjoy parts of the world that were closed off for so many months. Parks, gardens and beaches will likely be popular locations in 2021. Along with the venue, we also expect massive florals to take centre stage.
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Safe and stylish measures:
With the pandemic, hygiene has become a top priority all over the world. There are a number of ways your wedding can be shaped to include hygiene and social distancing measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Sanitising stations are already growing in popularity. Set up a fun stand with a bunch of hand sanitisers on deck so that your guests can stay clean throughout your big day. Another fun touch is to have personalised face masks made for your guests! You can use your wedding colours, and have your names and wedding date printed on them.
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Charity donations:
This pandemic has also made many realise how much they have, even if its not that much. By virtue of having a home, a salary and food on the table, many of us are priviledged.
We predict that couples will opt to include some form of giving back into their big day. Instead of wedding gifts, couples can ask for donations to their favourite charity. The wedding flowers can be donated to the local old age home, and supporting local will go a long way in helping rebuild the wedding industry.
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