Princess Cut Wedding Rings

Princess cut wedding rings will probably never go out of style. After all, symmetry is beautiful, and this is one of the most symmetrical styles out there. They're also easy to dress up for a diamond solitaire engagement ring.

Princess cut wedding bands are popular choices.

Princess cut styles feature square-shaped diamonds cut to display incredible brilliance. They can be solitaire styles or the central princess cut diamond can be surrounded by side stones (diamond or gemstone), baguettes, pave diamonds, or even dressed up with a ring guard later. Simpler bands may be a single row of princess stones, or wider bands may use multiple rows of gems and can be paired with nearly any type of engagement ring.

If you happen to look over a lab report or grading certificate, you may see the princess cut style listed as square modified brilliant, which is the technical name for this outstanding diamond shape.

The princess diamond cut itself has only been around since the 1970s and came about as a result of the patented Barion cut, which was limited in availability. Today, it is one of the most popular cuts for diamond or cubic zirconia wedding rings both in the United States and in the rest of the world. Modern technology has been able to create an outstanding array of settings and styles for this lovely shape, making it popular both with traditional brides and couples interested in contemporary designs.

One way to make this popular style a bit unusual is to turn it so that the corners point north, south, east, and west. The stone will appear to be "diamond-shaped" rather than square. It should be noted, however, that this orientation may be more difficult to pair with a separate engagement ring.

In any position, be careful when choosing a setting. Since the corners are prone to chipping, you'll need to inspect the setting carefully to make sure that it properly shields the corners of the diamond. Always make sure you can trust your jeweler to assist you in analyzing the safety of your diamond within the setting, especially with princess cut stones.

Tips for a safe setting include:

• Have the corners properly seated in the ring prongs so that they are shielded
• Have the corners "chamfered", which means to remove a very slight amount of the point on each corner without changing the overall shape; this will strengthen each corner
• Have the corners clipped, which is similar to chamfering, but more obvious because the shape is slightly different from a sharp-cornered square, similar instead to an Asscher cut
• Opt for a channel setting that protects all sides of a row of matching princess cut diamonds

• If you love the look of a brilliant round cut, but aren't so thrilled with the shape, the princess cut diamond is a possible compromise. It's more brilliant than similarly shaped—and usually step-cut--emerald and other square shapes.
• The princess cut is modern and it has clean lines, so you can easily dress it up or wear it as a solitaire.
• Princess cuts look beautiful as solitaire wedding rings—not bare or "lonely" as some other stones can. For those who want a genuine diamond engagement ring but aren't thrilled by the price, solitaires are often a great way to go.
• The cut of the diamond makes it easier to hide diamond flaws and inclusions and harder to see variations of color. To the naked eye, the stone may appear perfect when in reality, it has a few minor inclusions. Depending upon your priorities, purchasing a princess cut ring with inclusions could be another way to save money.

• You may not want to be like everyone else (and modern may not be your thing, either) with their princess cut wedding rings, and no amount of dressing it up with ring guards and side stones will disguise the fact that you're wearing a square-shaped diamond in the middle. If you want to go with classic or unusual cuts, you'll want to look elsewhere.
• The corners are most prone to chipping so you'll need to take extra care when selecting your setting. You'll want something that cushions those corners.

Simple Princess Wrap

• Trusting your jeweler is very important at any time, but especially when you're purchasing a wedding ring with a princess cut stone due to the ease with which this particular cut hides imperfections.

Princess cut wedding rings are easy to dress up due to their symmetry. Here are a few ideas:

• Add semi precious gemstones or additional diamonds on either side of the center stone—nearly any shape will complement princess cut center stones, but be sure to check styles that feature trillion and pear-shaped side stones.
• Choose an intricate band set with pave stones
• Opt for baguettes on either side
• Enhance the ring with a wedding ring guard

Almost any wedding ring retailer will have princess cut rings for you to try on. Don't forget about the jewelers that will allow you to design your own, choosing any side stones or metal detail you'd like. That's a great way to take a popular diamond cut and make it uniquely yours.

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