Mark Bronner Diamonds shares an infographic that explains the anatomy of a diamond:

Shape plays an important role in making a diamond uniquely yours. Here’s a guide that highlights the distinctive qualities of each shape and whether it’s the right fit for you.

Round

Used frequently in earrings, pendants and solitare engagement rings, round remains the most popular shape for diamonds. Virtually all round diamonds are brilliant-cut and for good reason. When cut as a round brilliant, the diamond’s angles help to enhance it’s fire and brilliance.

Square

This dynamic shape has the extraordinary ability to look either modern or vintage, and creates the illusion of a larger diamond. Most square-shaped diamonds will feature either a princess or quadrillion cute, and are quite popular engagement ring choices. When choosing a square diamond, make sure all sides are parallel, and choose a prong setting that will protect the corners.

Oval

Oval-shaped diamonds have a long history, dating back as early as 1304 with the famous Koh-i-Noor. Today, they’re making a strong comeback, and are a popular choice, particularly if you want your finger to appear longer and slimmer. Like round diamonds, ovals cut in the brilliant style exhibit a similar fire and brilliance.

Rectangle

Rectangular shapes come in a variety of cuts, including cushion, baion and baguette. The Asscher cushion cuts surged in popularity in the early 1990’s, making these ideal for those who prefer classic jewelry. Look for parallel sides and even corners with this shape.

Octagonal

You’ll often see octagonal-shaped diamonds with an emerald cut, the emblem of the Art Deco period. The rectangular table and step-cut facets give it a mirror like appearance, which means that clarity will be an important quality for the diamond, since inclusions are highly visible.

Marquise

Named after a mistress of King Louis XV, whose mouth it was thought to resemble, this shape creates an illusion that the diamond is larger in size. Watch out for symmetry in marquise-shaped diamonds – even the slightest difference can make a diamond appear uneven and unbalanced.

Pear

Resembling a teardrop, the pear shape blends the best of the round and marquise shapes. Rounded shoulders and wings create an appealing outline, but symmetry is key for this shape. Wear the point out toward the tip of your fingers for a slimming effect on your hand.

Heart

This eternally romantic and feminine shape is not as prevalent as you might expect, making it all the more special. Heart-shaped diamonds should have two symmetrical halves with a distinct cleft and even wings and lobes. A perfect shaped gift to give on Valentine’s Day!

As springtime approaches, there is love in the air and engagements are likely to happen each and every day. Regardless of season, there is always someone out there getting ready to pop the question. There are many aspects to an engagement, but one key aspect to a traditional engagement is a diamond ring. However, diamond rings can be extremely pricey and you will want to save up for the wedding! Here are a few ways to shop engagement rings for less:

1) Plan Your Purchase

When you are looking for a diamond ring, it is important to begin with a particular budget in mind. It is also important to make sure you save money before you buy this ring. Saving money here and there and allotting it toward the ring is necessary to prepare for this pricey purchase. Make sure that before purchasing the ring, you truly take into account your partner’s taste. Furthermore, take into consideration the lifestyle and job of the person who will be wearing the ring. For example, a nurse, doctor, or anyone who needs to wear gloves will want a low setting, since a high setting is likely to tear the gloves.

2) Consider the Four C’s

In an infographic earlier on this blog, I discussed the four C’s: carat, cut, clarity, and color. But there is a very specific way to consider these things to be extra thrifty. One important way to save is to get a diamond that is less than 1 carat. The prices of diamonds jump at the full and half-carat weights, so if you like the look of a 1 carat diamond, it is best to get a 0.98 carat diamond, which will give you almost the exact same size for a drastically different price. In terms of cut, it can be difficult to figure out which cut is ideal. One great way to get a good-quality cut for cheap is to use Pricescope’s free Cut Adviser tool.

There are also many ways to save in terms of clarity. Clarity refers to how many imperfections can be seen in a diamond, but the truth is that there are many unnoticeable imperfections that can take a good amount of money off of the price. For example, if you get a diamond with small inclusions, you will be able to save thousands, even though these flaws are typically only seen with a microscope. The last of the four C’s is color. While color is graded from D (colorless) to Z (yellow), the difference between G and D, for example, is not visible to the naked eye. In order to get a good quality diamond for a smart price, the ideal color range would be from G to J.

3) Ring Setting Tips

There are a number of ways that you can set a ring to make the stone look larger than it really is. For example, if you choose a bezel setting, the diamond will appear bigger. If you chose a halo ring, there will be accent diamonds surrounding the center diamond, thus adding significant size without adding too much to the price. Another way to make the stone look large is a thin band. The thinner the band, the larger the center diamond will appear. Another option is choosing an elongating stone. Not only do elongated stones make a stone look larger than it is, but they also add a unique flair to the ring that will make it stand out from the rest.

When it comes time to pop the question, many people want a large rock, but don’t have a large amount of money to spare. Luckily, there are plenty of clever ways to save on diamond rings that the jeweler won’t tell you about. If you follow these helpful tips, you are guaranteed to get your ideal ring for less!

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