Looking for engagement rings can feel overwhelming; especially if you have NO idea where to begin. Luckily, we've got you covered! Here are a few things to consider when engagement ring shopping:
Diamond Cuts
There are at least a handful of different types of diamond cuts. Old European, Old Mine, Emerald, Pear, Marquise, Portrait, Asscher, and Heart are among the most popular diamond cuts.
Prongs vs. Bezels
Prongs are the claw-like wires that sit and fold over a stone's girdle to secure it in a setting. You can have as many as ten prongs or as a few as four prongs - it really depends on the cut and size of the stone. When you think about the most common simplest version of what an engagement ring looks like, often it is a prong-set solitaire - made popular by Tiffany & Co back in 1886.
A bezel is the rim of metal that surrounds a stone; often reads as a modern design option, but is really a style as old as time! Bezels can also have milgrain, which is the application of tiny dots of metal along a bezel, indicative of old school craftsmanship/vintage vibes.
Shoulders vs. Cathedral
Shoulders are the point at which the base of the head sits atop the shank. In a cathedral setting, the stone is usually set higher and flanked by more metal, adding height and detail along the gallery. Cathedral style settings also help a ring stack more easily with a band, as that center stone is lifted by arches which come up from the shank. It can be made up of plain metal, or more decorative with diamonds gemstones, metal cutouts, filigree, etc.
