| The smart groom-to-be does his research before | | | | cuts include: |
| buying his fiancée a diamond ring! There are | | | | Elara – a square-cut diamond with rounded |
| more styles and cuts to choose from than ever | | | | corners |
| before. It's not enough to be educated about the | | | | Asscher – a square diamond with rounded |
| four Cs of diamonds – cut, color, clarity and | | | | facets that gives an unusual complexity to the |
| carats. Now there are all types of diamond cuts | | | | diamond |
| and settings to choose from. | | | | Couples diamond – this diamond is faceted to |
| The most popular style is still the round brilliant. It's | | | | reveal either a circle of hearts or arrows inside. |
| one of the earliest cuts ever developed and now | | | | It's a truly unusual diamond that requires precise |
| relies on precise mathematical equations to create | | | | cutting for the image to appear properly. |
| a stone with fire and brilliance that the earliest | | | | The price of a diamond increases exponentially |
| gem cutters could only have dreamed of. | | | | with its carat weight. A one-carat diamond costs |
| But many brides want something completely | | | | much more than 10 10-point diamonds and a |
| unique. There are many traditional cuts to choose | | | | two-carat diamond costs more than twice as |
| from. A pear-shaped is just that – wider at | | | | much as a one-carat diamond (given equal quality |
| one end than the other. Or she can choose an | | | | in other areas). |
| oval, emerald or heart-shaped diamond. There are | | | | One way to enhance a ring is with embellishments |
| other cuts with unique faceting, such as the | | | | such as baguettes or trillions. A baguette is a small |
| square princess-cut diamond. | | | | emerald-shaped diamond that can be placed on |
| Some cuts are patented, like the elongated | | | | either side of the main stones and a trillion is a |
| Ashoka diamond or the Asprey & Garrard | | | | triangle-shaped diamond that also is a good |
| Eternal cut diamond. Other branded and patented | | | | enhancement to the center stone. |