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A Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring: Your Best Guide

A Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring: Your Best Guide

Irina Collier Irina Collier
7 minute read

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Why Should You Choose A Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

Princess cut diamonds are a fantastic choice for an engagement ring because of their contemporary and edgy appearance. Discover the benefits and drawbacks and how to get a princess cut diamond ring with maximum brilliance and sparkle.

The princess cut is the most popular fancy diamond form that gives diamond jewellery a classic style with cutting-edge flair.

By reading this article, you can find out the benefits and drawbacks of princess cuts and how to select a beautiful diamond engagement ring.

What Is A Princess Cut Diamond?

The princess cut, also known by its more technical term as the square modified brilliant, is a form of diamond cut that is frequently seen in engagement rings. Today, the princess cut shape is the second most popular diamond shape used in engagement rings, behind the brilliant round cut and above the cushion cut.

The princess cut, as it is known today, was developed in 1980 by Betazel Ambar, Israel Itzkowitz and Ygal Perlman. However, the word princess cut dates back to the 1960s when it was applied to several modified square cut shapes.

When seen from above, the princess cut takes on the appearance of a square or rectangle, but when seen from the side, it takes on the appearance of an upside-down pyramid with four bevelled sides. The princess cut's height of popularity was during the 1980s and 90s. Still, it saw a resurgence in popularity in the late 2000s that continues today. By 2015, the princess cut had risen to its current popularity. Now a princess shape is chosen in around 30% of all diamond engagement rings.

Princess Cut Diamond Shape

The Shape Of A Princess Cut Diamond From The Top And Side

What Woman Is Likely To Choose A Princess Shape Diamond Engagement Ring?

There are no rules about diamond types and personality – life might be easier for many anxious engagement ring buyers if that were true, but…

If we were forced to make a suggestion based on our years of experience, we might say the following:

If a woman goes for this particular type of diamond, she is probably an adventurous, brave, powerful, and edgy person. More broadly, the princess shape is also a stunning emblem of the love shared by the couple purchasing this shape of a diamond in their engagement ring.

In the final analysis, anyone can fall in love with the visually large, brilliant diamond with its classic connotations – especially when it is set in a forward-looking, modern setting and band.

Certified Princess Halo Diamond Engagement Ring with 0.35ct in 18k White Gold

Certified Princess Halo Diamond Engagement Ring with 0.35ct in 18k White Gold

£720.00 £1,237.00

With its elegant design, this engagement ring is perfect for the girl who wants a ring that will last a lifetime. A classic style that speaks to your love for elegance and timelessness, this princess-cut diamond engagement ring will make… read more

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Why Should You Consider A Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring?

The apparent size of the diamond

Look at a round and princess diamond of the equivalent quality and weight. You'll notice that the round diamond has a little bigger face-up surface area than the princess diamond has. However, since princess cuts have a much larger diagonal measurement, they look larger than a round diamond.

This means you will be able to get an engagement ring that has a princess cut diamond that is noticeably larger than a round cut diamond while still being within your budget.

Princess cut diamonds cost less than round diamonds

In the diamond trade, it is common knowledge that princess cut diamonds are sold at a lower price than the more traditional round form. A rough diamond has the form of an octahedron. When raw diamonds are sliced in half, gem cutters can produce two princess diamonds with little wastage. (each half has the appearance of a pyramid.) Round-cut diamonds lose more diamond material in cutting, meaning that the price of a round diamond will be higher than that of a princess cut diamond. Due to the increased efficiency of the princess cut, a princess cut diamond can be as much as 25% cheaper than an equivalent round diamond.

Princess cut diamonds have outstanding sparkle and brilliance

The brilliance of a princess cut can be particularly stunning. On the other hand, the brilliance of these diamonds cannot compare to that of round diamonds. However, compared to other fancy cut diamonds (every shape apart from round diamonds), no other fancy shape matches their superior light output. Therefore, princess cuts have the potential to have fantastic brilliance. Still, they will never have quite the same level of sparkle as a perfect round. However, nobody will be disappointed by the sparkle of a princess diamond when on the finger!

Princess cut diamonds hide flaws

The shape of princess cut diamonds tends to conceal internal flaws (inclusions) and other blemishes better than many other diamond shapes. We suggest choosing a clarity grade of SI or better for your diamond. Still, a lower clarity grade may look better than other fancy shape diamonds on a princess cut.

Channel Set Trilogy Princess Ring 0.33ct G/SI Quality Platinum

Channel Set Trilogy Princess Ring 0.33ct G/SI Quality Platinum

£997.00 £1,777.00

This beautiful ring is a timeless piece that is sure to become a must-have in any jewellery collection. Crafted from high quality platinum, this classic piece is the perfect addition to any outfit. It has a timeless, classic style that… read more

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Drawbacks Of A Princess Cut Damond Engagement Ring

Less durable than some diamond shapes

Princess cut diamonds are renowned for their durability when mounted in an appropriate setting. The corners of a princess cut need to be protected with prongs to reduce the potential for damage to the diamond.

Since the corners of a princess-cut diamond may snag, they're more likely to chip than round diamonds or other shapes with rounded or no corners. Although round diamonds can still chip, they don't have any weak points, so they are less prone to chipping.

A limited range of setting types

Your options for diamond settings will be more limited if you go with a princess cut stone since its corners are more prone to damage than other parts of the form. Because the stone's corners are a weak point, you will be restricted to choosing from only a limited range of settings if you want to keep the stone in good condition.

Watch the colour grade of your princess cut diamond!

More so than many other cuts, the princess can display some unattractive colouring in the diamond, such as yellows and browns. This is because the princess cut is square-shaped with a large top area. This is not an issue if you do not over-economise the colour grade. If you choose a diamond graded as G or better, you will have no problems!

Overall, the princess cut has more advantages than drawbacks. A well-designed and crafted engagement ring will have an appropriate setting that protects the diamond. If you do not buy too low a quality gemstone colouration is not an issue. At All Diamond, our princess cut diamond rings are all of G/SI quality or better.

What Are The Most Beautiful Ring Settings For A Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring?

We noted above that buyers of princess cut engagement rings are limited in terms of the choice of setting. We do not think this should be a problem. The halo and the four-prong settings are two types of settings that work best for princess cut diamond rings. Check out our halo and solitaire rings for examples of these lovely setting styles. Another alternative is the channel setting, where the diamonds are inset into a groove in the ring's precious metal.

Princess Channel Diamond Full Eternity Ring 1.00ct 18k White Gold

Princess Channel Diamond Full Eternity Ring 1.00ct 18k White Gold

£1,809.00 £3,117.00

This elegantly feminine half eternity diamond ring in shimmering 18k white gold will delight your loved one and enhance her jewellery collection wonderfully. An entire carat of G/SI quality diamonds hand cut and shaped into princess cuts are skillfully set… read more

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Please Check Our Collection Of Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

We have a range of princess cut diamond engagement rings in many styles and prices. There are solitaires, halos and trilogy styles. All our rings are designed and handcrafted in the UK, and each has a lifetime workmanship guarantee,

We are confident that our designers and artisans have created beautiful rings that will inspire you to pop the question at a special time with a very special diamond ring! 

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