Pear Cut Engagement Rings Are The Best Option For Brides Who Want Big Diamonds - Here's Why
Back in 2001, a Season 4 episode of "Sex and the City" made a statement regarding what is (and isn't) a good engagement ring. In the episode, Carrie Bradshaw and Aidan Shaw's relationship is advancing quickly after rekindling their romance, and she accidentally finds an engagement ring in his bag. Rather than get excited, she runs to the kitchen and hurls into the sink. Why? As she tells her girlfriends over brunch, "The ring was not good ... It was a pear-shaped diamond with a gold band." Cue the "icks!" and "ugh!" from Charlotte and Samantha. Wait, what? Did we miss something?
During the turn of the millennium, perhaps pear-shaped diamonds were not all the rage amongst affianced women, but we wonder if an upcoming episode of "And Just Like That" will show Carrie eating her own words, as pear-shaped diamonds are now de rigeur. And, it turns out, it all comes down to not just a diamond's shape, but also its size. If you want a big diamond that looks larger than it actually is, experts agree you should forget everything "Sex and the City" taught you and opt for the pear shape. Here's why.
Pear-cut diamonds appear larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight
Ladies, we hear you: You want your partner to not only get you a nice-looking diamond for your engagement ring (and a conflict-free diamond at that) but also a big honkin' diamond. Big diamonds may seem to be an indicator of the profundity of your partner's love, but when it comes to pear-shaped diamonds, the size can look large, but the carat weight may not be, making the pear-cut diamond also more cost effective.
Ring Concierge founder Nicole Wegman told Bustle that pear-shaped diamond engagement rings are a hot trend that actually stem from the Carrie Bradshaw era. "Pears spread larger than their carat weight, meaning they look even larger than their size — even more so than ovals — making them extremely desirable. Another '90s trend making a huge comeback," she told the outlet.
Jewelry designer Anna Sheffield agrees, noting that the cut will set you apart from other brides. "The pear shape has always been a beautiful option for the classic but still a bit unconventional bride-to-be. It's a combination of a marquise-cut and a round-faceted stone, a very elegant and intentional shape for a diamond," she said. Sheffield also commented on the carat weight versus larger appearance in size, saying, "Also, they can be lighter in carat than they appear, which is a plus!" (via Refinery29).
They can chip but tend to mask imperfections well
Like any jewelry choice you make, there will be pros and cons. In addition to the pros mentioned above, experts say that pear-shaped diamonds mask imperfections better than other stone shapes. Jewelry designer Octavia Zamagias told Who What Wear that, because of the pear's shape (a combination of both round and marquise), the stone makes for "an elegant option, but with a personality ... its brilliance can mask color and imperfections well. Like the oval, the pear elongates your finger."
We like having elongated fingers — sounds perfect. But Zamagias warns of additional cons of pear-shaped diamonds when compared with other diamond shapes. That marquise (a.k.a. the point at the end of the pear shape) can chip. "Its sharp point can chip like the princess-cut diamond. This can be remedied by a V-tip-prong setting style or the wearer being extra careful," she said. Zamagias also warned of the "bow-tie effect," which occurs when light hits the stone in a particular way, making the center of the diamond appear as if there's a bow-tie shadow inside it.
Now that you know the pros and cons of pear-cut diamonds, we're certain you won't hurl into your kitchen sink, à la Carrie Bradshaw, when you come across them while engagement ring shopping.