Make Her Feel Like Royalty: Princess Cut Engagement Rings

When it comes to picking out the perfect engagement ring, few diamond cuts symbolize modern elegance and classic charm quite like a princess cut diamond. Celebs like Kate Bosworth and Jaime Pressly have fallen in love with these square-shaped beauties and your significant other will likely do the same!

In this blog, we’ll show you how to snag a stunning princess cut that meets your budget and surpasses your expectations. Brides have been saying ‘I do’ to one for centuries, and you’re more than welcome to join the tradition!

What is a Princess Cut Diamond?

The princess cut diamond is known for its distinctive square shape and four pointed corners. Comprising between 50 and 58 chevron-shaped facets, these precision-cut diamonds exude high brilliance, drawing the eye and creating an enchanting sparkle.

If you’re up for a history lesson, the princess cut dates back over 700 years, when it first appeared as the basic square cut. In the early 1900s, it evolved into the French cut. It wasn’t until the 1960s that it became the princess cut that we know and love today: innovations in diamond cutting made it more brilliant than its predecessors. The public fell in love with it, and even today it’s a top choice for couples beginning their lives together.

You have some great options if you’re on the market for a princess cut. Natural diamonds, lab diamonds, Moissanite, and even natural gemstones like emeralds and sapphires look killer with the super-sharp cut.

Princess Cut Diamonds

Why Choose a Princess Cut Engagement Ring?

For couples looking for the perfect blend of style, sparkle, and affordability, princess cut engagement rings are a great choice. Here's why!

Versatility with Different Styles

Their symmetrical shape and balanced proportions make them an excellent choice for a variety of settings, whether traditional, modern, or avant-garde. Princess cut diamonds can be set in a solitaire for a classic look, a side-stone setting for added grandeur, or a vintage setting for heritage glam. With a princess cut diamond, the possibilities are endless. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some ideas!

The Kamellie is an exquisite design that effortlessly elevates the beauty of a princess cut diamond. Its simplicity and delicate hidden halo perfectly showcase the geometric symmetry and sparkling brilliance of square sparklers. This allows the diamond's inherent beauty to take center stage, capturing light from all angles and producing an impressive display of fire and brilliance.

The Claire pairs superbly with the modern aesthetics of a princess cut diamond. The ring's band is adorned with a row of scintillating pave diamonds on each side, offering a lavish backdrop for the central stone. The princess cut diamond, with its sharp angles and high brilliance, is distinct and striking against this twinkling setting, drawing the eye directly towards it.

The Twig, with its unique nature-inspired design, perfectly harmonizes with the contemporary charm of a princess cut diamond. Its delicate band, with its organic twig-like structure, beautifully complements the geometric lines of the diamond while the soft accent stones highlight the facets, reflecting light in a variety of directions and creating an enchanting interplay of sparkles.

The Penelope has a streamlined band that allows the princess cut diamond to shine brightly, making it appear larger and more radiant. The design ensures that the focus remains on the center stone, magnifying its beauty and allowing it to capture the light from all angles. Six pavé-set accent diamonds frame the princess cut in a halo of sparkle, making an unforgettable impression.

The Jasmine has milgrain detailing with an old-world charm that complements the modern aesthetics of the stone. The princess cut's sharp, clean lines offset the intricate patterns, creating a captivating balance between antique grandeur and contemporary refinement. As the semi-band of accent diamonds catch the light, they reflect it back onto the diamond, making it appear even more spectacular.

Modern Aesthetic and Popularity

With its clean, geometric lines and contemporary aesthetic, the princess cut diamond appeals to those seeking a more modern look. Since its introduction in the 1960s, the princess cut has consistently been one of the most popular diamond shapes for engagement rings. Its popularity means you'll have a wide array of design options to choose from, whether shopping in-store or online.

Brilliance and Fire at a Competitive Price

Princess cut diamonds have a sparkle that rivals the popular round brilliant cut but at a significantly lower cost. This is because the princess cut utilizes up to 80% of the rough stone, while the round cut typically uses only about 50%. To put this into perspective, a 1 carat princess cut lab diamond is typically priced the same as a 0.80 carat round brilliant lab diamond, offering you more diamond for your dollar.

Natural vs. Lab Princess Cut Diamonds

Princess cut lab diamonds and princess cut natural diamonds share the same geometric beauty and brilliant sparkle that make this cut such a popular choice for engagement rings. The key difference lies in their origin.

• Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth over billions of years under intense heat and pressure.
  
  
• Lab diamonds, on the other hand, are created in controlled laboratory environments using high-tech processes that replicate the natural diamond formation conditions.

Both types of diamonds possess the same properties, but lab diamonds come at much more affordable price point and present a more environmentally conscious choice. While natural diamonds may carry a tradition and mystique rooted in their natural formation, lab diamonds provide a modern alternative that aligns with ethical and sustainable values. Choosing between the two ultimately depends on personal preferences, budget, and values, as the appearance and quality can be virtually identical.

Buying Guide for Princess Cut Diamonds

When buying a princess cut diamond, it's important to know how to judge its quality. The universal method for grading diamonds is the 4Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

• Cut: While 'cut' refers to the diamond's shape, it also relates to how well the diamond has been cut from the rough stone. The cut determines how well the diamond will reflect light, contributing to its sparkle and brilliance. For princess cut diamonds, an 'Excellent' or 'Very Good' cut grade will deliver a dazzling sparkle. Look for symmetry in the cut: the sides should be parallel, and the corners should be sharp.
  
  
• Color: Diamonds are graded on a color scale from D (colorless) to Z (noticeable color). We recommend choosing a princess cut diamond in the D-G range. This range offers the best balance between color and cost, with the slight hint of color not easily noticeable to the naked eye, especially when set in a ring.
  
  
• Clarity: Clarity refers to the absence of internal and external flaws, known as inclusions and blemishes, respectively. Princess cut diamonds tend to hide inclusions well due to their faceting pattern. While flawless diamonds (FL) are the most desirable, they are also the most expensive. A 'Very Slightly Included' (VS1 or VS2) or 'Slightly Included' (SI1) grade offers great value as the inclusions are typically not visible to the naked eye. At Keyzar, we recommend VS-VVS clarity.
  
  
• Carat Weight: Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. Keep in mind, a larger carat weight doesn't always mean a larger looking diamond. It's about the dimensions and how the diamond is cut. For instance, a well-cut 1-carat princess diamond will look larger than a poorly cut 1.2-carat princess diamond.
  
  
• Symmetry and Proportions: Symmetry and proportion directly affect the diamond's brilliance. A symmetrical princess cut diamond will have even sides and angles, and all its facets will align perfectly. The table (top flat surface) should ideally be 65-75% of the width of the diamond, and the depth (height) should be between 64-75% for the most brilliance.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a diamond that offers versatile style, a brilliant sparkle, and affordability, the princess cut is an excellent choice. It truly offers a royal look without the royal price tag. If you’re looking for an engagement ring for the princess in your life, visit Keyzar today!