You may have always been afraid to design your own gemstone engagement ring, maybe thinking the process would be too complicated. Customizing a ring indeed involves more than one facet. However, when you break the formation of your idea into steps, the final jewel comes together pretty quickly.
Choose Your Gemstone
Your choice of gemstone allows your engagement ring to sparkle with unique style and flair. Whether you go with a classic diamond or gravitate towards sapphires and emeralds with accents, you can achieve elegance with either natural stone or laboratory creations. Many couples are leaping into the realm of alternatives to traditional diamonds. Gems like Moissanite are almost impossible to distinguish from a diamond without a magnifying loupe or side-by-side comparison and yet, provide an economical and environmentally sound option to natural gemstones.
Style
Once you select a stone, your next step is to determine how you want it cut. The shape of stone sets off your ring, the beauty of the precious gem, and your finger.
- Oval – With 69 facets, it illustrates a brilliance similar to round-cut gems.
- Antique or Cushion – So-named because it resembles a couch cushion, cushion-cut consists of 64 facets, give-or-take, and shows off the stone’s brilliance.
- Round – A round-cut gem has 57 facets and displays the ultimate brilliance of a stone.
- Octagon – Ideal for stones possessing deep color, an octagon is an asymmetrical step-cut gem with about 53 facets.
- Emerald – A rectangular cut with about 50 facets, emerald-cut stones emphasize clarity and vivid color.
- Princess-cut – Potentially the most brilliant cut, the princess is a square modification of the round gem with 58 to 76 facets.
- Asscher – Features a readily-discernible X and distinct step-like cuts that enhance the gem’s clarity. It is a cross between an emerald and a princess cut.
Band Metal and Design
You would typically choose between a white, yellow, or rose gold band when you design your own gemstone engagement ring. However, you also have options like platinum and silver. Next, you can select the best way to set off the gem with how the jeweler mounts it. You need not limit yourself to a solitaire ring, although beautiful. You may prefer a band with side stones, a halo design, a three-stone center, or the intricacy of a promise ring.