Emerald Cut Engagement Rings

Emerald cut engagement rings have been popular since the Art Deco period with clean lines and a graduated step appearance.

The emerald cut diamond is usually rectangular in shape and always has trimmed corners.

Depending on the ratio of length to width you'll find some emerald cuts that are skinny and long while others almost appear square.

The squarer ones, when set in an engagement ring, look very similar to (and are often confused with) an Asscher cut engagement ring which is an entirely different cut and became hugely popular after it was showcased by Carrie Bradshaw on the TV show Sex And The City.

Emerald Cut Diamonds

The emerald cut of diamond is referred to as a step cut or table cut because of the way it is faceted parallel to the edges of the stone.

As diamond shapes go, this type of cut has fewer facets to reflect light and hide minor defects, so flaws and inclusions will be more apparent in an emerald shaped diamond as opposed to a brilliant round or princess cut.

This cut also tends to be less bright and fiery compared to brilliant cut stones which have much more complex faceting.

Instead, emerald cut engagement rings get their character from the large table that showcases a diamond's clarity. So good clarity (one of the 4C's) is essential for an emerald cut diamond ring because the large table (the largest facet on top) shows off clarity better than any other shape, as well as any flaws or inclusions.

The remaining rectilinear facets or 'steps' usually run the full length of the stone making the diamond shiny and bright. The corners of the stone are then mitered or "smoothed out" to protect the stone from chipping and other damage.

Emerald Cut Diamond Ring Proportions

The preferred range for emerald cut diamonds is between 1.30 and 1.50 with the sweet spot being 1.40. In other words the ratio of length to width of the stone should fall within this range, like in the amazing diamond below.

Emerald Cut Engagement Rings: A Perfect Setting

Emerald cut diamond engagement rings are rarely seen with a simple prong setting. Because of the shape and cut of the stone, an emerald cut diamond is often paired with baguettes or other shaped diamonds to add sparkle and brilliance.

This amazing ring from JamesAllen is a perfect example. It actually has a center emerald diamond flanked by two smaller ones on either side that act like baguettes (only these are more square and not as skinny and long).

Then for a little extra Bling! it has a pave set diamonds running halfway down the band.

A simple prong setting just doesn't work as well with an emerald cut stone... unless of course your diamond happens to be in the 5 to 7 carat range, because those babies go with everything. ;-)

Emerald Cut Engagement Rings: Expert Tips

Emerald cut diamonds that don't fall within the 1.30 to 1.50 range are seen as less desirable and often a poor investment. The further you stray from the ideal proportion of 1.40 the truer this becomes.

Because of the large table, clarity is key! So don't go any lower than a VS2 by GIA standards and preferably higher. Your diamond needs to be absolutely eye-clean with the emerald cut.

If you want to make the stone appear bigger than it really is, use a setting that is similar to the one at the top of this page and frame the diamond with accent stones. The smaller diamonds cost very little and you get a lot more Bling! for your buck.

A squarer shaped emerald cut diamond (closer to the 1.30 ratio) will be better suited for longer fingers while the more rectangular shapes (1.50) will elongate the finger.

The clean and geometric lines of the emerald cut diamond that became so popular in Art Deco engagement rings are making a big comeback.

Celebs known for having a personal style, like Eva Longoria, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Melanie Trump Knauss (just to name a few) have all been spotted wearing emerald cut engagement rings which probably accounts for a good part of their popularity today.