Princess Cut Engagement Rings

Princess cut engagement rings are amongst the most popular types available today, and they are my personal favorites too. When you buy an engagement ring, one of the first decisions is which type of cut. There are a number of choices, including asscher, cushion cut and round diamond (which is the most common), but the princess cut offers something a bit different. It maintains the brilliant appearance of a traditional round cut, but is designed with a square shape.

If you want a diamond engagement ring that stands out and makes your lady feel special, then keep reading to find out more!

History Of The Princess Cut

Creating a diamond princess cut engagement ring is a difficult process, so it’s relatively recently that these types of diamond rings have become available. In fact, the princess diamond cut has only been around since the 1960s, and has only become popular in recent years. To avoid confusion, remember that it has also sometimes referred to as a square modified brilliant diamond.

The origins of the princess cut diamond aren’t completely clear, although it was probably a modified version of the French cut.

What To Know Before Buying

There are a number of benefits to buying a engagement rings princess cut. The great thing about this cut is that it combines the high level of light that’s associated with a round brilliant diamond, with the interesting and distinctive square shape. It obviously comes down to a matter of personal taste – and whether you think your lady will prefer the square shape – so make sure you think hard about which engagement ring to buy!

When buying a diamond engagement ring, there are a number of factors you need to consider. Here are some of the most important characteristics of a diamond.

• Cut – this refers to the quality of the cut, and signifies both the finish and proportions of the diamond.
• Color – this is just the appearance of the diamond.
• Clarity – the clarity of a diamond is how it appears internally.
• Other characteristics of a diamond to consider are the depth percentage and table.

It’s important to remember that the more money you pay, the better the characteristics of the diamond will be. If, for example, you want a high quality princess cut diamond, then a cheap princess cut engagement ring probably won’t have high quality characteristics.

We recommend that the minimum you should look for when buying princess cut engagement rings is a diamond with a very good cut, color rating of G, depth percentage between 58-77% and a clarity of VS2. If you aren’t sure what these ratings mean then make sure you discuss it with the jeweler before you buy. While it is possible to find cheap princess cut engagement rings, diamonds with characteristics much less than this will be noticeably poorer in quality.

For something a little bit special, you could also consider going for a princess cut engagement ring with side stones.

You also need to consider the type of engagement ring. There are a number of different options, including platinum princess cut engagement rings, white gold princess cut engagement rings, 1 carat, 2 carat, cubic zirconia (which is almost indistinguishable from real diamond in some cases) and many more. We appreciate how difficult it can be to find the right engagement ring, especially when you can’t ask your partner for advice! The secret is to take your time, read as much information as you can and make an informed decision that gives you the most value for your money. If it were me, I’d focus on finding the best possible diamond instead of looking for the right setting and band, but all parts are important.

Essential Tip: It’s VITAL that you make sure the setting for a princess cut engagement ring protects the four corners of the diamond. If the corners aren’t protected the diamond can easily chip (yes, I’ve seen this happen several times).

Price Of Princess Cut Engagement Rings

A common question is how much do princess cut engagement rings cost, and there is no easy answer. As we discussed earlier in this article, princess cut engagement ring prices depend on the characteristics of the diamond, the type of material used for the setting and various other things. While it’s possible to find princess cut engagement rings for less than $300, we don’t recommend it. Instead, pay a bit more for a high quality diamond that isn’t noticeably poor in quality.  Cheap princess cut engagement rings are available, but the beauty of the diamond is often greatly reduced.

How To Choose An Engagement Ring

Buying princess cut engagement rings is similar to any other sort of an engagement ring i.e. not easy! Here are some tips for choosing the right engagement ring for your future spouse.

• One of the hardest pts about choosing an engagement ring is often trying to get your head around the various technical terms. Make sure you understand terms such as band, setting, the four Cs (clarity, cut, color and carat) and others that come up regularly. The internet makes this much easier, so by the time you actually start looking you should have a good idea of the different technical terms.
• If your engagement ring is going to be a surprise, then choosing becomes a lot more difficult, as you won’t have a clear idea of the type that your partner likes. If possible, try to discuss rings in general so you can subtly find out the type of styles that she likes. Be very careful when you do this, otherwise the secret may not stay secret for long! If you want the engagement to be a surprise but aren’t sure which ring to get, you could always buy a cheap “placeholder” ring and tell your partner that after she says “yes” you’ll go out together and buy her the ring that she wants.
• Your budget is one of the main considerations when buying a princes cut engagement ring, as there are a huge number of rings available for a range of prices. The tradition is that you should spend two months of your salary on an engagement ring, but in the modern world its completely up to you to decide how much you can afford. The most important thing is to set a budget – whatever it may be – so that when you start visiting jewelers you know (and he knows too!) how much you’re able to spend. Remember, if you want to customize your engagement ring then this will cost more money and take more time.
• It’s essential that you know a lot about diamonds, as this is the type of gemstone that you’ll probably want to buy as an engagement ring. The carat of the diamond is something to consider, whether you want to get a 2ct, 3ct or even a half carat princess cut engagement ring.
• There are a lot of other considerations when buying an engagement ring. Making sure that the ring is practical, which is something that’s often overlooked, is a good idea, as most women like to wear the ring as much as possible. The size of the ring is also important, although it can be difficult to find out the sizing when you can’t directly ask. Other factors include the durability of the ring and buying from a reputable jeweler (either online or offline).

Where To Buy

Buying princess cut engagement rings has become a lot easier in recent years, as online shopping has become more and more secure. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t buy a diamond Princess cut engagement ring online, as long as you check to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller. Any well respected online jeweler dealer should be fine to buy from. If you’re worried about buying online then you can find unique princess cut engagement rings in nearly all major jewelers.

Here’s a good video providing an overview of what a princess cut diamond is: