Princess vs. Round Diamonds for Bridal Jewelry

Pause for a second and think about the jewelry industry, with a special emphasis on engagement rings.. Is this area a mystery to you? Are you well-versed in the innumerable styles to be found in our culture? How about the different monetary factors that influence the cost of different types of diamonds, gemstones, and gold or platinum settings? Well, once you are preparing to propose to your girlfriend, it will be time for you to build up your knowledge in these areas, or at least have a basic understanding of these concepts.

The simplest attribute of an engagement ring is the quantity, and size, of diamonds set in it. Every girl wants a big "rock" to wear, but upon looking through the different styles of diamond settings, you will discover that some of the most beautiful designs are those that visually balance the center diamond with sidestones set in the sides of the ring. This style of setting will balance the shape of the center diamond with contrasting smaller stones. For example, one popular variant is a traditional center diamond set at a higher plane than a line of princess sidestones. Or, the sharp corners of a princess cut diamond might be complemented by a baguette stone on each side. In the industry, these specimens are called 3 stone engagement ring, and can be found showing all the stones displayed on a similar plane, or with the center stone raised above the other two, as earlier described. The diamonds may resemble each other in geometry (such as in a style similar to anniversary rings) or with the center placed higher than the others.

Traditional circular-cut diamonds are a simple shape which has existed for eons, with many different methods of shaping the various facets that compose the face of the stone. However, for a more unique engagement ring style, another option is the princess cut diamond shape. These show off a more striking, dramatic appearance than the round shape. Segments of a princess cut diamond are more elongated extending from the center radially out to each edge. When set in a ring, princess cut engagement rings are fundamentally similar to asscher cut engagement rings, with the exception of having pointed, instead of beveled, corners. Look through as many examples as you can find of these unique stones to develop a sense of which is most preferable to your eye. After all, diamonds are individually unique, and you should inspect lots of samples of stones in a certain shape to gain a good understanding of how the shape is generally to be found.

Although the visual emphasis of an engagement ring is usually focused around the center stone, more options are becoming available that feature multiple stones in arrangements that are designed to display an overall ensemble of stones. In fact, these three-stone and five-stone rings frequently are seen as being less showy, but still are visually appealing and produced with the best available metals and stones.

Use caution when dealing with jewelry vendors hawking stones for more than you believe they may be worth. Before investing a large sum with any reseller other than a well-known reputable establishment, consult with a diamond specialist to get a third-part review of the value of your stone prior to spending your money. Gemstone resale policies and prices are tightly manipulated at the hands of a few large international distributors, and, as a result, prices wherever diamonds are sold should be quite stable at any given time.