Emerald Cut Engagement Rings

An emerald cut diamond ring is exactly the right choice when shopping for a sophisticated, elegant Audrey Hepburn kind of girl. If she has long, slender fingers, a majestic air, and classic taste, she will love this ring and maybe even say "Yes" to the would-be-groom. Refined and chic, the emerald cut features a rectangular diamond with very slightly cropped corners, an open cut, and vivid flashes of light. It is the epitome of classy jewelry--and surprisingly affordable! Jewelry hunters will find that taking a few minutes to learn about this diamond style and its exceptional possibilities is more than worth their while.

The emerald cut was, as one might guess, originally designed for emeralds, which are deep green to bluish green colored minerals; hard, brittle stones full of natural flaws called inclusions, which cause them to break very easily, emeralds are nonetheless rare, valuable, and breathtakingly regal. Because of the temperamental nature of the stone, jewelry makers found it very difficult to manipulate, and therefore developed a rectangular shape with cropped corners to avoid breakage. Later, jewelers realized that this design gave a pleasing, stylish look to other stones as well, especially diamonds. Thus, emerald cut engagement rings emerged as a popular option for shoppers with sophisticated tastes. Although somewhat similar to the princess and asscher, both of which are square, the emerald cut is a very unique and distinctive choice.

The drawback to the emerald cut diamond ring is that its stone is not as brilliant as those of other shapes such as the round and princess because of its open, or step, design, which is very simple and has larger facets and longer lines than other cuts. Because of this, buying a diamond of the highest color and clarity that the buyer possibly can is very important. Otherwise, the diamond may appear dull and low-quality because its simple outline makes flaws very visible. Also, choosing the correct length to width proportion is essential in order to ensure a balanced, even appearance; the ideal proportion is 1.5 to 1, but this can be varied based on the buyer's taste. Most jewelers will agree that women with wide, short fingers should avoid this diamond, especially as a solitaire; however, if a woman really prefers this particular cut she may be able to make it work for her by adding additional stones or baguettes to spread the attention outward.

Fortunately, diamonds of this shape are much, much less expensive than more popular diamonds such as the princess or brilliant round cuts, which are especially fashionable right now. By choosing from emerald cut engagement rings, a buyer can afford a larger diamond of higher quality than if he chose a different style, saving hundreds, perhaps even thousands of dollars. For example, there may be a thousand dollar difference between a colorless, high clarity emerald cut diamond and a princess diamond of the exact same quality, simply because the first is not currently as trendy. Because almost every newly-engaged girl today is sporting an overpriced princess or brilliant round, a woman with an emerald cut diamond ring will stand out from the crowd in a unique and classy way.

These diamonds look nice as solitaries, especially if the wearer has thin, delicate hands, but also are beautiful if accented with additional, smaller diamonds or other gemstones. One striking example of an accented ring is a large emerald style diamond with slightly smaller diamonds on either side, finished with six very small princess diamonds along a white gold band. Another interesting idea is to combine actual emeralds with the diamond, to create a colorful, stylish band with a little more flair than the average girlish band. There are hundreds of options for emerald cut engagement rings, and they can be designed to suit the most distinctive of jewelry tastes.

Of course, engagement is not the only occasion for which this lovely diamond is appropriate. Anniversaries are a perfect time to present a woman with an emerald cut diamond ring because it sends a very clear message of esteem, respect, and admiration for one's wife or loved one. Anniversary rings are becoming as popular as engagement rings and there is a wide selection available, both in standard jewelry stores and online. The purchase of an anniversary band might be an excellent opportunity to include birthstones, either those of the wearer or of her children, or simply gemstones of her favorite types and colors. An anniversary ring is a thoughtful, tangible way to show one's loved one how cherished she really is: "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself" (Ephesians 5:28).

Of course, giving a woman a gift is not the only or even the best way to express one's love, devotion, and appreciation, but it is certainly one way to warm her heart. Emerald cut engagement rings really are ideal: less traditional, less trendy, and less expensive, they are an economical way to say that a woman is exceptional and one-of-a kind. A bride's newly engaged friends most likely won't be wearing an emerald style, and she will feel that her groom-to-be took the time and effort to discover a piece of jewelry that she will love for the rest of her life. Available in yellow gold, white gold, or platinum; alone or accented; and any size and proportion the buyer desires, an emerald cut ring is sure to be the perfect fit for a classy woman.

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