If you’re looking for a stunning, timeless engagement ring that will make a big statement, an emerald-cut diamond is likely on your shortlist. You’re not alone – although emerald-cut diamond engagement rings are certainly not new, they’ve recently been having a major moment. The fancy shaped diamonds have been spotted everywhere in the last several years, including on the left hands of several A-list celebrities such as Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lawrence, Amal Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, and most recently Nicola Peltz, the soon-to-be Mrs. Brooklyn Beckham.
It’s not difficult to see what the hype is all about; emerald cut diamonds are eye-catching and exceptional, cut in such a way to really showcase the stone’s clarity. Whether you’ve already decided on an emerald cut engagement ring or you can’t distinguish an emerald from an Asscher, there’s a lot to learn when it comes to diamonds – and it goes way beyond the four C’s.
What is an emerald-cut diamond?
Emerald cut diamonds are elegant and classic, yet incredibly distinctive. Their elongated rectangular shape features cut corners and “stepped” cuts, or chiseled facets that are arranged alongside one another. Step-cut diamonds, as their name implies, resemble sets of stairs and while emerald-cut diamonds throw off plenty of sparkle, they have a much bolder and more dramatic mirror-like effect and less of a traditional twinkle. This gives emerald cut engagement rings a unique understated glamour and the effect actually helps to make the fingers appear elongated and more slender – something everyone can appreciate!
How diamonds became emerald-cut
As you may have guessed, the emerald cut was originally used primarily on emeralds and other colored gemstones. In the 1400s, gem cutters started slicing off the stones’ rounded surfaces, leaving behind a flat surface called a table. The cutters soon realized that also cutting off the four corners reduced pressure on the stones and resulted in fewer chips and cracks. Unfortunately, the completely flat surface of table-cut stones didn’t reflect light or sparkle whatsoever, so cutters continued to experiment.
Eventually, they created a culet at the bottom of the stones, a pointed facet that allowed light to reflect back out through the surface. Because of their large table, stepped facets, and deeper cut, emerald-cut stones draw the eyes inward, which has the effect of intensifying the color. With the new light-reflecting cutting technique, the substantially brighter stones led cutters to add eight more facets along the edges and begin using the technique on diamonds as well. That was the birth of today’s step-cut diamonds.
Interestingly, the term “emerald cut” wasn’t used until the 1920s during the Art Deco period. Art Deco saw fashion as art and focused on streamlined, symmetrical looks with clean lines and geometric ornamentation. Emerald-cut diamonds, and particularly emerald cut diamond engagement rings, fit the bill perfectly and became synonymous with the Art Deco movement. Although jewelry trends come and go, emerald cut diamond rings have remained steadily popular for the last century.
How to select an emerald cut diamond
Overall quality is – of course – important when you’re shopping for any style of engagement ring. When it comes to emerald cut engagement rings, however, special consideration should be given to the diamond’s clarity and cut. Because emerald-cut diamonds have a large, relatively flat table surface and elongated step cuts, they don’t conceal inclusions and other imperfections well.
At Adiamor, we recommend a clarity grade of VS1 or higher for emerald cut diamond rings, to ensure there are no visible blemishes. Getting an emerald-shaped diamond that’s proportionate and has been precisely cut, or what we call an “excellent make” in the industry, is also extremely important. You want the attention to be on the diamond’s table surface, which means its depth shouldn’t be cut too shallow or too deep and its facets should be smooth, not bulging. Look for an emerald cut diamond in the range of 1.25 to 1.55 carats to best emphasize the stone’s clarity and sophisticated facets.
Adiamor’s most popular emerald cut diamond engagement rings
If you’re wondering, “Are emerald cut engagement rings popular?” the answer is a resounding yes! Although it may sound a bit cliche, you truly can’t go wrong with an emerald cut engagement ring (we mean it!). Emerald-shaped diamonds are extremely versatile and well-suited to so many different styles and personality types, so it’s not at all difficult to find the perfect ring setting.
There is really no limit to the ways you can customize an emerald cut engagement ring, but there are some styles that are clear favorites.
3 Stone Emerald Engagement Ring Setting With Trapezoids
Emerald cut solitaire engagement rings are stunning in their own right, but pairing them with trapezoid-shaped diamonds at the sides is a wonderful way to showcase the center diamond and maximize its shine. Demi Lovato recently got engaged with this luxurious style ring.
- Center emerald cut diamond available in 1-10 carats
- Trapezoid diamonds are approximately 0.75cttw
- Band available in 14K, 18K, 19K, or Platinum 950
Tapered Baguette and Emerald Three Stone Setting
This classically gorgeous emerald cut engagement ring is styled after Grace Kelly’s, which is arguably one of the most iconic celebrity rings of all time. Jennifer Lopez also received this type of engagement ring from Alex Rodriguez in 2019. It’s easy to see why it’s a favorite – the tapered baguette diamonds beautifully showcase the center diamond.
- Can be set with diamonds of all shapes and sizes
- Tapered baguettes are approximately 0.45cttw
- Band available in 14K, 18K, or Platinum 950
French Cut Basket Setting Diamonds 3/4 Down
This dainty diamond-encrusted band and basket setting provide a spectacular complement to an emerald-cut diamond. The French Cut Pave hidden halo and open details of the basket allow the center stone to be the star of the show, while adding an abundance of extra sparkle.
- 1.5mm band with pave diamonds extending 3/4 of the way
- Can be set with diamonds of all shapes and sizes
- Band available in 14K, 18K, 19K, or Platinum 950
- Matching wedding bands available, style R2982 or R2987
Whichever setting you select for your emerald cut diamond engagement ring, it will be even more meaningful because at Adiamor, we’ve been custom-making all orders right here in Los Angeles since 1977. Every single piece of your ring is designed and built from scratch in-house; from CAD design which then becomes the wax ring model and the entire casting process, to pre-polishing the metal and setting the stones by hand.
When you shop with Adiamor versus going into a store and purchasing a ring out of a jewelry case, you have the added benefit of knowing it was truly designed for you. We hand-select side stones to complement your center diamond, and then we make manual adjustments to the angles of those stones.
All of our ethically-sourced diamonds are GIA-certified, and customers have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Shop our entire selection of engagement rings, wedding rings, and diamonds, and please don’t hesitate to contact us online, call us at (877) 627-5094, or connect with us on social media!
