Princess Cut Engagement Rings

The princess cut engagement rings are among the most sought-after for engagement rings. Diamonds and other gemstones like sapphires are often given princess cuts by lapidaries to allow the stones to reflect light more readily. Thus it is said that princess cut diamonds have great "sparkle and fire". The origins of today's princess cut are credited to Johannesburg diamond cutter Basil Watermeyer, who developed the cut in 1971.

A princess cut diamond is a rectangular or octagonal shape. It typically has 76 facets, but there are a few variations on the theme:

58 facets (33 pavilion, 21 crown, 4 girdle)
50 facets (25 pavilion, 21 crown, 4 girdle)
Up to 144 facets, dependent upon the cut of the pavilion

Experts say that a princess cut diamond should really be a square, with a 1:1 ratio of length to width. But they usually aren't a perfect square, so don't worry about finding one that is.

The cut of a diamond is one of the four Cs of the gemstone world. The other Cs are color, clarity, and carat weight. If you select a princess cut diamond for your engagement ring, you should choose a "colorless" diamond if possible. However, if you want a colored diamond or can't find a colorless one within your budget (since they are the most expensive), avoid getting yellow princess cuts. These tend to be murkier in clarity than other diamonds of this cut. Brown or "chocolate" diamonds are in vogue these days and they are less expensive than other diamonds of similar carat weight.

Carat weight is considered the most important of the Cs. Some people think that wearing diamonds with more carat weight is more impressive, and it might make a diamond look more dazzling in many instances, but with the princess cut it's not really necessary to have a diamond of more than one carat for it to look exquisite, and even less than a carat is beautiful if the color and clarity of the gemstone are good. This is important for your budget considerations, since more carat weight raises the price of a diamond.

If you're going to try to get a princess cut diamond engagement ring, find a jeweler that has many different rings for you to choose from. You could also look for a loose princess cut diamond and then find a jeweler who will set it for you. Remember to first know your budget before you go shopping so that you don't overspend. Do your research ahead of time to see what you can afford in a princess cut diamond ring. If you get a loose stone and have it set, stick with a white gold or platinum band.

A princess cut diamond engagement ring is a beautiful way to show your future bride how much you love her. If you want to surprise here, just be certain that you know her tastes in diamonds and jewelry first!