Emerald Cut
Engagement Rings
Emerald cut engagement rings are treasured for their elegant, timeless and versatile designs. To find out if the emerald style is just what you are looking for, read our helpful guide below which includes information on characteristics of the emerald cut, pros and cons, best settings for emerald cut rings and shopping tips.
Characteristics of the Emerald Cut:The emerald cut is a type of fancy cut known as a step cut. The cut was created well over 300 years ago specifically for emerald gemstones, but it was soon discovered that the cut looked quite captivating on other types of gemstones including diamonds. The cut results in a shallow, rectangular gemstone or diamond with an average number of 58 facets. The facets are quite large, and bright flashes can occur when light is reflected off the long, glossy and polished facets of the emerald cut. Length-to-width ratios on emerald diamonds or gemstones are generally over 1.25. Classic emerald cut rings have a length-to-width ratio of around 1.35, while longer and more rectangular emerald cuts have a ratio of over 1.40. Pros and Cons of Emerald Cut Engagement Rings: The emerald cut style is one of the most versatile of all gemstone and diamond cuts because it looks absolutely stunning on a number of gemstones (including diamonds) and it can be styled in almost any type of design – solitaire emerald engagement rings are just as popular as emerald cut rings made with side stones or pave baguette stones around the band of the ring. Just a few of the more popular types of gemstones which look fabulous in an emerald cut style include the emerald cut citrine ring, the emerald cut aquamarine ring and the emerald cut peridot ring.
  
The tapered edges of the emerald cut are also extremely secure – they are not prone to chipping or catching on hair or clothes – and this type of engagement ring style is extremely flattering on slender hands with long fingers.Emerald cut diamonds are also much more affordable than other types of fancy cuts – usually half the price of a comparable brilliant round diamond. Unlike many other types of diamond or gemstone cuts too, a supreme emerald cut can be achieved in extremely large carat sizes (well over 5 carats). One other major benefit to emerald cut rings is that gemstones and diamonds tend to look larger in the emerald cut style because of the shallow depth on the cut. So, a 1.0 carat emerald cut gem will look a lot larger than a 1.0 carat brilliant round cut gem. Most of the cons associated with the emerald cut ring style have to do with the cut itself. The emerald cut sacrifices brilliance and fire to create those lovely long facets; this type of cut will not sparkle or dazzle like other types of fancy cuts – for example, the brilliant round, the princess, the Asscher or the pear. Instead of brilliance and fire, the cut highlights the luster, polish and clarity of a gemstone. It creates flashes of light and depth which are quite striking – but if you are looking for an engagement ring that has a lot of bling to it, this may not be the right style. The large facets of the emerald cut will also highlight even the slightest imperfections on a diamond or gemstone - inclusions, blemishes and color flaws will be magnified. Because of this characteristic, only high grade quality gemstones and diamonds should be used for the cut. If you are looking for an emerald cut diamond engagement ring, try to stick with rings made with diamonds that are graded VS2 or above on the GIA Clarity scale or a 4 or above on the AGS Clarity scale and a G or above on the GIA Color scale or a 1.5 or above on the AGS Color scale. One other con associated with this style is that when an emerald cut gemstone or diamond – especially in a larger carat size – is worn on a hand that is somewhat plump, the hand can look even larger and the fingers may look shorter than they actually are. So, while the cut is extremely flattering to long slender hands, it may not be as complimentary to petite and plump hands. Best Settings for Emerald Cut Engagement Rings: The 4 prong setting is the best type of setting for emerald cut engagement rings. This type of setting will securely hold the diamond or gemstone, and it will also allow the maximum amount of light to enter and reflect off the stone. Longer emerald cut gems may be held with a 6 prong setting, but for most gems the 4 prong setting is quite secure.
Find Emerald Cut Engagement Rings at Blue Nile
Shopping Tips and Precautions:To find emerald cut engagement rings made with the highest standards in mind, stick with jewelers and jewelry boutiques which offer a laboratory report on the diamonds or gemstones used in the rings. The most reputable laboratories are the GIA and AGS – if another type of lab report is offered, research the laboratory to make sure they are reputable and legitimate. If you are searching for emerald cut diamond engagement rings, keep the GIA and AGS grade parameters listed above in mind to make sure the diamonds used in the rings will not show any imperfections or color flaws. Last but not least, be sure to purchase your ring through a retailer who offers at least a 30-day no-nonsense refund policy.
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