You ask a woman what kind of engagement ring she wants and generally the first thing she is going to mention is the cut of the diamond.  Most ladies seem to be less concerned about what the ring is made out of and more about the shape of the diamond. While they are all diamonds, the cut of a diamond is just as unique as the woman you are hoping to present it to.

The cushion cut is one of the oldest cuts of diamond and is just as popular today as it was hundreds of years ago. A square cut diamond is given rounded corners which gives it the distinctive cushion shape. They tend to have a better fire than some of the more modern cuts and are a popular choice in vintage or faux-vintage settings.

The princess cut diamond has become increasingly popular over the years thanks to its brilliance comparable to a round cut diamond. It is also one of the more economically priced right diamond cuts due to its ability to have two princess cut diamonds cut out of one rough stone.

The most in-demand cut for diamonds today is the round cut. It is also the most expensive due to the amount of waste that comes from the cutting process. They have been known to fetch more than 25 to 35% more in price than any of the other fancy cut diamonds.

When searching for a right diamond cut, the three things you want to compare are brilliance, fire, and scintillation. They are what gauge a successful cut and can vary from shape to shape.

The brilliance is measured by the amount of brightness you see when white light is reflected off of the surface or inside of your polished diamond. Fire is the flashes of color you see and scintillation is the amount of sparkle, or flashes of dark and light, when the diamond is moved in relation to a light source.

*Courtsey AGI New York