Every couple has their own unique style. The best engagement rings capture your personality in bold or subtle ways, depending on what look you go for: The first step is figuring out the cut of stone you’d like—round, cushion, emerald—from the many options out there. The cut, or shape, brings out features of the diamond itself, including its clarity, brilliance or craftsmanship, and it’s what sets each ring apart.
To find the best engagement rings, start with the cut of the diamond first, then pick your setting.
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If you’re not a gemologist, it’s easy to get lost in all the facets of diamond research. With that in mind, we had an independent diamond expert explain what makes each cut special and then found stunning engagement rings that highlight the shape beautifully so you can find a look that matches your style and has sentimental value. From classic cushions to unique emeralds to timeless princess cuts, here are the best engagement rings. (And for more inspiration, we also rounded up the best place to shop for diamonds and the best lab-grown diamonds from top jewelers).
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Round cut diamonds are one of the most popular because it has the most facets, and is therefore, “the most sparkly,” says gemologist and jewelry designer Ashley Fox of Ashley Fox Collection. “It’s the only cut that gets a cut grade, which indicates superior sparkle and craftsmanship of a diamond. This is typically the most expensive cut because you lose the most rough when cutting it.” This particular setting from Blue Nile is both timeless and simple, letting the stone itself take center stage.
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This is a newer cut—it originated in 1979—so while it’s not considered as classic, Fox says it has the benefit of appearing larger than a round cut because of the stone’s large diagonal measurements. “With natural princess cut diamonds, their faceting hides inclusions as well as color imperfections,” says Fox. “You can typically get bigger stones for less money in a princess cut.” Brilliant Earth’s design has classic prongs holding the center stone, and the minimalist band gives it a delicate, feminine look.
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An emerald cut—a rectangular shape with round corners—emphasizes clarity rather than sparkle, and is rare and harder to find. “This is considered one of the more elegant cuts of diamonds,” says Fox. “An emerald cut diamond engagement ring is sometimes flanked by other stones, whether baguettes or shield cut stones or even smaller emerald cuts.” Emerald cuts also come in all shapes and sizes—some are longer, while others are shorter and wider. “It’s nice because the emerald cut can be catered to the desire of the buyer,” Fox says. This option from Vrai features a lab-grown stone that’s designed to sit low, so it’s less likely to snag, and is comfortable to wear.
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As the name implies, cushion cut diamonds are meant to look like a cushion—since from the side it looks like an actual pillow. “This cut is very romantic as it was cut to capture candle light,” says Fox. Cushion cuts were originally used in royal crowns, and commonly come in a halo setting with micropave diamonds around it, which has the effect of making the cushion cut look bigger. James Allen’s ring shows off this shape beautifully, and can be designed with either lab-created or natural diamonds.
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A radiant cut features beautiful faceting, which makes it shine and sparkle with a timeless shape. “Radiants are square rectangular and have the appearance of a round brilliant because of the faceting,” says Fox. “It’s a popular cut with those who like the look of a round diamond but in a rectangular or square shape.” Yellow or colored diamonds are often radiant cut because it helps enhance the color, according to Fox. Jean Dousset’s lab-grown diamond ring features a stunning radiant diamond flanked by three rows of pave.
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Pear-shaped diamonds are an unexpected and unique choice—famously worn by both Elizabeth Taylor and Victoria Beckham—and are a cross between a marquise and round diamond cut. “Pear cut diamonds are not as common—in fact, only about 4% of diamonds on the market today are pear shaped,” says Fox. It helps to work with a larger diamond in order to really see the effect and shape of a pear cut, she adds. This lab-created diamond ring from Plum Diamonds is set in a cathedral style, which accentuates the center stone by setting it higher, and is finished with a halo of pave diamonds around it.
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Ovals are prized for their dainty and feminine shape—they’re often set as a single solitaire surrounded by pave or as three ovals within a row. Stone And Strand’s minimalist design features a delicate yellow gold band in a classic four-prong setting. One thing to look out for when shopping for an oval cut: If the stone is not well cut, it can a bow tie effect reflected in the center, which looks like two darkened triangles that meet in the middle, says Fox. A perfect oval cut, instead, will have a clear center.
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Asscher cut diamonds feature a facet arrangement that creates an effect known as the hall of mirrors. “An Asscher is a square cut emerald that has 58 facets,” says Fox. “A true Asscher has a high crown angle and an extra facet on the pavilion which makes them very deep but also gives them more sparkle. People like them because they appear shinier than a traditional emerald cut.” Clean Origin’s dazzling design features a lab-grown asscher diamond in the center with with 16 micro diamonds on the band.
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Famous wearers of marquise cut diamond rings include Catherine Zeta-Jones and Portia de Rossie. “This cut is an unconventional choice, and it was quite popular in the 1970s,” says Fox. “Sometimes people like them because they’re shallower, so they appear bigger.” Another plus: A marquise cut can make fingers appear longer and more delicate. The center stone of Ritani’s gorgeous ring is secured with four prongs and has a chic hidden halo of diamonds at the base. This design can be made with either natural or lab-grown diamonds, too.
A heart cut diamond ring is a great choice for a sentimentalist. “The heart shape is not as common, but for those who really are in love with hearts, it’s a beautiful option,” says Fox. The split shank of Grown Brilliance’s setting offers extra sparkle, and the small diamonds on the side of the band accentuate the effect.
What To Consider When Buying An Engagement Ring
Your Lifestyle: When choosing your setting, think about your daily life. “If you’re an active person, consider a lower mounting that won’t interfere with movement or snag easily on things,” says Fox. “I highly recommend not wearing jewelry while exercising. Diamonds are considered one of the hardest materials in the world, but they can still chip.” If you’re gripping things very tightly, a metal can also be misshapen which can affect the prongs holding the diamond, and stones can fall out.
Stone Shape And Grading: When purchasing an engagement ring, Fox advises considering stone shape before looking at a setting. “Make sure you have a sense of the 360-degree view of the ring,” says Fox. “Often the mounting is adapted to the stone when choosing a ring online.”
The price of your diamond—whether it’s a natural diamond or it’s lab-grown—will be determined by its quality. Both the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and American Gem Society offer great descriptions of the 4 C’s of diamond quality: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. How colorless a diamond is, whether or not it has any blemishes or inclusions, how skilled the faceting is, and how much it weighs are all points to consider.
Certification: Whether choosing a lab grown diamond or natural diamond, make sure it’s certified. “If you’re purchasing a ring online, use a reputable source,” says Fox. “You should be sure it has a GIA certificate so you have a roadmap to your diamond and know color, clarity and cut and any inclusions.” She also recommends double checking your certificate against the GIA website to ensure it’s not forged.
Return Policy: Make sure you’re aware of a retailer’s return policy before purchasing. Many offer 30-day returns. When it comes to engagement rings, “you want to love it and you want your fiancé to love it,” Fox says.
What Is The Best Cut For An Engagement Ring?
It’s really all about personal preference. More than half of engagement rings sold today feature round diamonds as the primary stone, but a variety of cuts—including ovals—are making a comeback for engagement rings, according to the International Gem Society.
How Often Should I Clean My Engagement Ring?
“I recommend bringing a ring to a jewelry for a professional cleaning once a year,” says Fox. “Also, if you use lotion on your hands or are active outdoors while wearing your ring you want to clean it more often with a mild jewelry cleaner. You can also invest in a sonic cleaner, but do not use a sonic cleaner with a pave setting because it can loosen stones over time.”
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Good For Engagement Rings?
Lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds have the same physical, chemical and optical characteristics, and it takes a trained expert to tell the difference. The main difference between a lab-grown engagement ring diamond and a natural engagement ring diamond is the way in which they’re made. Natural diamonds are formed over millions of years underneath the earth’s surface and must be mined. Lab-grown diamonds are made in a lab through one of two processes—the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method or the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. In general, lab-grown diamonds cost 30% to 50% less than naturally occurring diamonds.
How Long Does It Take To Make An Engagement Ring?
If you buy an engagement ring from an online retailer, you can typically receive the ring in two to three weeks. To make a custom engagement ring, it can take anywhere from two to twelve weeks because you need to source a diamond and work through the design process.
