How to appreciate a jewel


My Least Favorite Diamond Shapes for Engagement Rings

Yes, I'm biased ... against ugly diamondside and pointed edge. A length-to-width
shapes. I really dislike marquise, pear andratio between 1.45 and 1.75 is typically
heart shaped diamond engagement ringsconsidered most desirable for the pear. Just
Marquis engagement ringsso you know, the pear-shaped diamond is less
are oval shaped diamonds which have both endssparkly than the round brilliant, and loses
pointed. Marquis diamonds have 56 facets andmore brilliance, if poorly proportioned. One
are twice as long in length as their width.thing in particular to avoid when shopping
The 2 to 1, length to width ratio isfor a pear shape is the dreaded bow tie
considered ideal and something to think abouteffect: a dark area in the middle of the
when shopping for a marquis, as it willdiamond which looks just like a black bow
effect the sparkliness of the diamond. A goodtie. It is hard to avoid the bow tie effect
cut is important cut is also important incompletely with the pear. One nice thing
that it helps prevent the dreaded "bow tie"about the pear is that it tends to make one's
effect, whereby the center of the diamond isfingers  look  slimmer.
darker and has reduced brilliance. While the
Marquis diamond is by no means my favoriteI hope I'm not offending anyone by saying
shape, it boasts a number of cool properties:that I think heart shaped engagement rings
are ugly. I used to wear rings with hearts on
1) It has a cool story behind it: The shapethem in middle school, thus I connect heart
of the stone was said to be designed forshaped rings to a typically horrifying period
Louis XIV of France who wanted a diamondin most anyone's life. Plus, the symbolism of
fashioned after the Marquise de Pompadour'sa heart shaped engagement ring lacks
smile.creativity. We already know you're in love,
if your wearing an engagement ring. At this
2) The marquis diamond is considered one ofpoint, your woman's not only got your heart,
the most flattering for the hand as it makesbut your savings account, freedom, and body,
the  finger  look  more  slendermind, and soul. You're whipped. No need to
let the world know this with a big, cheesy
3) The stone may look bigger than it actuallyheart. Don't get me wrong...there are plenty
is. The marquis diamond not only has a largeof heart-shaped diamond admirers. Some would
surface area but the elongated lines can makesay that the heart shape is the most romantic
the carat size look larger than what youof all the diamonds. In fact, Joan Collins
plunked  down  money  for.received a heart shaped engagement ring from
her  husband.
Yes, I'm a pear-hater. Perhaps I've been
influenced by some of my friends who alsoHearts can either be wide or long. They are
don't like the pear. I remember one time whenmost similar to the pear shaped diamond but
an acquaintance of mine got engaged. Myhave a cleft at the top. When looking to
friend, who was closer to this person,purchase a heart, make sure the top arches
forwarded me a picture of her pear diamondare symmetrical in appearance. Assymmetrical
with a disparaging caption about the ringhearts will look more like pears. When
shape. All cattiness aside, everyone haslooking at other women's ring fingers, you
different views on what looks good, so don'twon't see too many hearts. Hearts are less
let  my  taste  unduly  influence  you.typically found in an engagement ring setting
and more commonly seen in earrings or
The pear shaped diamond is considered to be apendants. I will say one good thing about
round brilliant diamond at one end and aheart shapes: that they cost around 20%-25%
marquise shape at the other. It is sometimesless than round diamonds.
referred to as a tear drop due to its rounded



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