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Best prices of GIA certified diamonds, JewelsBoutique.com.

Princess, have we got a stone for you! The square princess cut diamond marries the sharp geometry of an oblong with all the brilliance of a traditional round.

There are three basic styles of diamond cuts: brilliant, step, and mixed. Brilliant cuts—including the classic round and our modern princess—have kite-like facets radiating from the center of the stone. A step cut has parallel facets, and a mixed cut combines both. Because the princess is a brilliant cut, it will have more fire and sparkle than either the step-cut emerald or the mixed-cut radiant. Remember that the word “cut” really refers to the arrangement of facets in a diamond, not the shape of its perimeter.  But since each shape also has a basic arrangement of facets, it is ok to just say “cut” and nobody will think Your Highness hasn’t learned her diamond facts.

The facet arrangements of a princess-cut diamond. Left, face up, and right, face-down. The kite-like facets underneath are what give it its brilliance.

A princess cut is a little more forgiving than the emerald or radiant cut, so even if your prince’s budget isn’t quite royal, you can drop a grade or two in clarity and still have a beautiful stone.

The princess cut lends itself well to channel setting, where diamonds are tightly lined in a row between two metal “walls,” i.e. in a channel; and to invisible setting, where they are held in place by metal set underneath and the top appears as an unbroken surface of diamond.

Take care that your princess-cut solitaire is set to protect its delicate corners from chipping. A bezel around the stone is one option, but if you want a more open look, then choose a classic prong setting. You’ll need at least four prongs, and make sure they gently cup all four corners of the stone.

But why, you ask? Isn’t a diamond the hardest material on Earth?

Yes, it is. Diamond is as hard as it gets: a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which means that nothing but another diamond will scratch its surface. But toughness—meaning how well it resists impact—is not the same as hardness. A diamond is pretty tough, but a sharp blow in the wrong place can chip it, especially on the vulnerable corners of a princess cut.

Always take your fine jewelry off before playing sports, cleaning the house, or (as Queen Elizabeth purportedly can do) fixing the car.

It’s hip to be square!

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Even before Catherine Middleton seamlessly blended old and new tradition when she wed Prince William, brides were blending antique-style jewelry with modern strapless dresses. The cushion-cut diamond, with its romantic vintage appeal, is a perfect center stone for antique-inspired rings with delicate details like scrollwork, engraving, and millegrain settings.

The cushion cut is a very old style of diamond cutting, dating back hundreds of years. Until the late 1800s, diamond-cutting technology had not advanced enough to produce the brilliant cut (characterized by kite-like facets radiating from the center of the stone), and it wasn’t until 1919 that mathematician and master diamantaire Marcel Tolkowsky devised a set of proportions that came to be the standard for an ideal-cut round brilliant. But until then, the cushion cut, along with the old mine and old European styles of cutting, were the best methods known to maximize a diamond’s natural sparkle. The cushion cut was favored for larger stones.

The cushion cut, also occasionally called a pillow cut, refers to its shape, which is a rectangle with rounded corners. Unlike the oblong emerald or radiant cut, however, a cushion cut is a short rectangle: its length-to-width proportion should differ by no more than 30%, and often it is much less.

Cushion cuts also feature larger facets than a brilliant cut, which give it a soft radiance more like an emerald cut than the fiery sparkle of a brilliant. But its larger facets can make inclusions and off-color more visible, and the quality of the cutting is absolutely central to the stone’s beauty. Because it’s not as forgiving as a brilliant cut, a cushion typically will be a higher-value stone than a comparable-size brilliant. But high-quality cushions are greatly prized by collectors, so it’s a sound choice for those who are worried about the long-term value of their diamond as well as its current romantic appeal.

The facet arrangements of a cushion cut shown face up (left) and face down (right). Note also that the cushion is a short rectangle; length to width ratio is within 30%.

Once the brilliant cut was devised, cushions grew rare. For a long time, the best—if not only—place to find one was in estate jewelry. But when the vintage look grew popular, diamantaires again began cutting cushions; this time, however, with modern technology that ensures a more consistent quality. Lucky is the bride today who doesn’t have to hunt that elusive but just-right piece of estate jewelry—she can simply recreate the look with a soft, super-feminine cushion cut diamond.

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Why does a diamond need a report card? After all, it’s not applying to college or looking to get a job.

A diamond report card—called a certificate—is an objective evaluation of its quality characteristics. These characteristics are what determine the stone’s market value.

Many retail jewelers employ graduate gemologists on staff who are qualified to evaluate a stone’s physical qualities, but many also use a gemological laboratory to provide an independent evaluation. While there are a number of gemological laboratories in the world, the one that is recognized universally as a leader is the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA. It’s most commonly called by its familiar acronym, GIA.

A GIA certificate describes a diamond’s physical attributes, including the Four C’s: its color, its clarity, its carat weight, and how well it’s been cut. Color grades go from D (clear as pure water) down to Z, which has very noticeable color. Clarity grades go from “Flawless” (Fl), down to “Included” (I), meaning that inclusions (tiny imperfections) are large enough to be seen by the naked eye. Cut grades range from “excellent” (displaying optimum fire and brilliance) to “poor,” which often means that the stone has been cut to retain as much carat weight as possible, but to the detriment of its natural beauty.  A certificate also can identify whether the stone is natural or laboratory-grown, and whether it’s had any enhancements or treatments.

Sample grading certificate, © GIA. Reprinted by permission.

A GIA certificate does not provide a monetary valuation for the stone. The monetary value of a stone is determined by comparing its objective physical qualities to the market and establishing a fair price based on the current state of the market. In that respect, it’s much like real estate, except that location doesn’t matter. A qualified retailer or appraiser would take the certificate, compare it to the market, then determine the value and/or set a price for the stone.

Because diamonds are graded by human eyes—whether in a lab or by a jeweler—slight variances in grade may occur between two people looking at the same stone. But these variances should be very small—within one grade—and GIA often will have several graders review a stone.  Where there are disagreements, the diamond is referred to the most experienced graders to be the “umpire” and render a final opinion.

But let’s get back to the diamond report card. Why is it so good for a diamond to get a D, when that same grade got you grounded in high school?

Simple. Until the middle of the 20^th century, there was no single consistent method for evaluating a diamond. One jeweler’s A, B, or C was another’s I, 2, or 3 was another’s 0, 1, or 2—which made it very difficult to determine market value. In the early 1950s, GIA developed its International Diamond Grading System, now the global standard. But to set itself apart from all other grading methodologies in use at the time, GIA chose D as the top grade for its color scale. It also, incidentally, leaves room at the top in case someday some intrepid explorer unearths a diamond whose color is better than the best anyone has yet seen.

Renaissance Engagement Ring Mounting with Emerald Diamond

Why is an oblong diamond called an “emerald cut?”

Don’t worry—your diamond isn’t turning green with envy. In this case, “emerald” refers to one of the classic styles of diamond cut.

While the different styles of diamond commonly are called “cuts,” names like emerald, princess, pear, and marquise, oval, or round actually refer to the shape of a diamond, while the word cut technically refers to the arrangement of facets within the diamond to maximize light return. The way the individual facets are cut—their angles and proportions in relation to each other—is what gives a diamond its magnificent sparkle. That said, however, each of the traditional shapes also has a basic arrangement of facets, so using the word cut really is just fine.

An emerald-cut diamond got its name because it mimics the way emeralds are traditionally cut. Emeralds belong to the beryl family of minerals, while diamonds are pure carbon. The crystalline structure of a beryl grows in a vertical pattern, which lends itself best to the familiar oblong we often see in emeralds, especially for larger stones.

Because an emerald-cut diamond has such a large table (the top of the stone) in proportion to the rest of the stone, inclusions are especially noticeable with this cut. Equally noticeable is an off-color stone. For this reason, emerald-cut diamonds tend to be exceptionally high color and clarity, and therefore typically are more expensive than other cuts of the same weight.

Because of its facet arrangement, an emerald-cut diamond may not have the same degree of fire as other cuts. A brilliant cut, such as the popular round, has kite-like facets radiating from the center. A step-cut like the emerald has elongated parallel facets, and a mixed cut employs both types of facets.

At left, a face-up drawing of an emerald-cut diamond shows the large table and step-cut facet arrangement. At right, the stone is flipped over for a view of the facets underneath.

Think of an emerald cut diamond as a crystal clear pool of water reflecting sunlight, whereas a round brilliant is more like a twinkling star or a camera’s flash. For those who want the best of both worlds, diamond cutters have developed a newer version of the emerald cut, called a radiant cut, which is a mixed cut combining the shape of an emerald cut with the addition of some brilliant kite-like facets to reflect more light. While a radiant is a beautiful option, the elegance and quality of a classic, understated emerald cut remains unparalleled.

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As you browse through our collection, you’ll find several rings with diamonds in the traditional and most popular round shape. But you’ll also discover many rings suitable for princess cut diamonds, the bold square and rectangle shapes often seen in the luxury diamond engagement rings worn by celebrities. Other featured stone shapes include ovals, pear shapes and even hearts.  Shop diamonds…

Contact our concierge specialists for advice and insights on the differences among shapes and which diamond shapes look best on each hand shape.

Some shoppers prefer genuine antique bands because of the often mysterious personal history of each piece and its former owners. But before you choose the same path, consider the fact that the vintage looking engagement rings manufactured today feature antique designs but are created using modern methods.

The computer-assisted systems used in the design of each JewelsBoutique.com engagement rings ensures that our symmetry is true, our gemstones are securely anchored in place and our bands are seamlessly constructed for strength and durability.

Manufacturing Vintage Style Engagement Rings

Although the craftspeople at JewelsBoutique.com use plenty of technology and modern methods in the design of jewelry, they haven’t forsaken the old world techniques that jewelers used to create the intricate designs we now appreciate in our antiques.

Many tried-and-true practices are used at all stages of design and production of our vintage looking engagement rings. We do this because we recognize that newer isn’t always better, and that the best approach is to borrow the finest techniques from all eras and schools of thought. The result of this commingling of craftsmanship is a growing collection of vintage style engagement rings that surpasses other reproductions and genuine antiques in nearly every category.

To learn more about the design and manufacturing of any ring in our featured collection, please call or e-mail our knowledgeable concierge services department using the contact information on our customer service page.

About Vintage Style Engagement Rings

No one engagement ring style is objectively superior to any other, but each style comes with its own set of distinct benefits. One of the most significant benefits of vintage style engagement rings is a major concern for ring buyers and wearers alike: the perceived size of the center stone.

Many of the older styles feature unusual or dish-shaped mountings that reflect and enhance the center diamond, making it appear more vibrant and noticeably larger than its actual size. Compared to the prong settings used in most modern ring designs, the now hard-to-find settings of antique style engagement rings can effectively make smaller center stones appear bigger, brighter and particularly beautiful.

Source: The Knot (www.TheKnot.com)

Whether you go timeless, trendy, or somewhere in between, make sure your wedding ring choices stand the test of time with our 7 simple rules.

Browse Jewels Boutique Wedding Bands

1. Start Your Search Early

If you’re like most couples, you’ll have a basic idea of what you want before you start shopping but that doesn’t mean you won’t find five different bands you love once you start shopping. Give yourselves at least two months to browse, research, price, and revisit rings that catch your eye. Allow even more time if you’re interested in a custom piece — extras like engraving can take up to one month. If you’re pressed for time, you may need to save the sweet talk for later. Ask if you can bring your wedding rings back for engraving before you buy.

2. Have a Budget

Shop with the assumption that you’re going to spend about 3 percent of your total wedding budget on rings. The average price for a gold band is around $150. For a platinum band, the average rises to $600 or $700. Diamonds can add considerably more to the cost.

3. Consider Form and Function

Basing your ring decision on looks alone is like choosing a groom without having spoken to him first. (Even though he looks like Brad Pitt he might turn out to be a dud.) Your ring should respect your lifestyle: Those who enjoy sports or music should opt for a slimmer ring with rounded edges (appropriately called a “comfort fit”), rather than a wide, bulky band. Those who work with their hands will want a simple, solid metal ring, as stones can come loose and carvings will trap dirt. And those who are highly allergic to certain metal alloys will want to invest in platinum, as its purity renders it hypoallergenic for most people.

4. Inspect for Quality

Wedding bands should have two marks inside the band: the first is the manufacturer’s trademark (which proves that the company stands behind its work), and second is the quality mark (24K or PLAT, for example, which proves that it’s what they say it is). If the ring consists of two or more metals, make sure there is a quality mark for each.

5. Think Style

This is a ring that’s going to have to look cool for a long time, so select a style that will look as great with jeans as it will with that Armani suit you’re going to own in 20 years. Stick with a basic shape and a clean finish, and avoid unusual stones that will be over next week. Mix metals — like many ring designers are doing — if you’re someone who wears both gold and silver on a day-to-day basis. Make sure your wedding band is one you’ll want to wear ’til…well, you know.

Knot Note: You don’t have to marry your ring. If you can’t afford your hearts’ desire, swing what you can (white gold) with the promise of an upgrade (diamonds) on your third anniversary.

6. Be Different

Just because you and your fiancé are a perfect match doesn’t mean your rings need to be. Feel free to pick wedding bands that reflect each of your style sensibilities and tastes. Some aspect should match, which can be as simple as metal or inscriptions.

7. Size It Right

Never finalize your ring size in the morning (you retain water from the night before), after exercise (fingers swell), during menstruation (swelling, again), or when you’re extremely hot or cold. Do your “final fitting” when you are calm and your body temperature is normal.

Rings, clockwise from top: A vintage white gold ring with an emerald cut center stone by Christopher Designs; Stackable white gold rings with diamonds or blue sapphires by Suzanne Felsen; An intricate openwork platinum band of diamonds by Fusaro.

– Joanna Saltz

Source: The Knot (www.TheKnot.com)

Here it is: a super-size list of wedding proposal ideas. Browse the categories and select with care- your future depends on it!

Marriage on your mind? She’ll be telling the story of how you proposed to friends and strangers for the rest of her life, so tailor one of these ideas to make sure it’s memorable.

Read on for 50 great marriage proposal ideas, or skip to the type of proposal you think fits best:

Best Public Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Have a flair for the dramatic? Get in touch with the stage manager of an appropriately themed production and propose after the cast’s curtain call.
• Take out a full-page ad in a newspaper you know your girlfriend reads daily.
• Arrange a surprise proposal with a street caricaturist. Have him sketch a picture of you two with word bubbles. Yours will read, “Will you Marry Me?”, and hers will say, “Yes!”
• Pay the divers at an aquarium to put on a proposal show inside their biggest fish tank. Give them handwritten signs that say “Will You Marry Me?” to hold up against the glass.
• Send your girlfriend on a treasure hunt. Start with a clue at home, then send her on a tour of your favorite spots all over town. When she gets to the last hint, the prize should be you on one knee.
• Go out for a night of dancing, and ask the DJ or band leader to pass you the mic so that you can dedicate a song and propose on the dance floor.
• Have a friend or family member set up a picnic — complete with wine and cheese, or course — for you in a park. Take your girlfriend for a hike on a route where you’ll stumble upon this surprise “Proposal Picnic.”
• Hire a skywriter to spell your proposal for everyone around to see.
• Flying anytime soon? Use the plane’s loud-speaker system (of course, run your plan by the flight attendants first) and propose at 35,000 feet.
• Movie buffs? Ask your neighborhood theater to run an ad featuring your proposal and make sure you get there in time for the previews.
• Gather a bunch of your friends and family for a party. Have everyone in attendance put on a T-shirt bearing one of the letters in the phrase “Will You Marry Me?” When you walk in the room with your girlfriend, suggest a group picture and let the shirts speak for themselves.

Best At-Home Marriage Proposal Ideas

• For a simple surprise, after she goes to bed, go to her jewelry box and replace her everyday ring with the engagement ring. She’ll be completely shocked in the morning when she goes to put on her regular ring.
• Draw a bath and place a floating candle or rubber ducky in the middle with a ring tied around its neck. Make a path of roses leading to the tub. (And make sure the drain is well-plugged!)
• Speaking of paths, turn off all the lights in your apartment and make a trail of candles that leads to a circle of votives positioned around a ring.
• Slip the ring on her finger while she’s sleeping and wake her with champagne and strawberries. At first, the gesture will simply seem romantic — the real surprise comes when she notices her new piece of jewelry.
• Tie a red velvet ribbon from one spot in your home to another. Attach little notes recalling perfect moments in your relationship along the way. You wait at the last stop, ring in hand.

Best Tech Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Create your own podcast proposal and sneak it onto her iPod.
• Upload a video of your proposal on YouTube (tell her you have a hysterical home movie to show her).
• Steal her digital camera and head to her favorite local outdoor spot. Bring a friend with you and have posters made with the words “will,” “you,” “marry,” “me?” Have your friend photograph you holding each one in a different position. Then, let her know you borrowed her camera and ask if she will upload your photos.
• Take the scavenger hunt high-tech: Send your mate a text message leading her to a secret spot. Keep her engaged by text messaging her sweet nothings along the way (and directions of course), as you lead her to you, on bended knee.
• We had to add this one: Create a web page declaring your love and intentions. Leave your sweetie a clue with the web address written on it — don’t say a word. After the proposal has been officially accepted (which, of course, it will be!), she can proudly send the page to friends and family.

Best Foodie Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Make the box with her ring a selection on the dessert tray at your favorite restaurant.
• Put together a gift basket of yummy delicacies — the best chocolate, caviar, coffee — and hide the ring among the presents (in its box, so it doesn’t get lost in the goodies).
• Ask the pastry chef to write, “Will you marry me?” in chocolate sauce around the rim of her dessert plate.
• Ask a baker to make a cake with the proposal written in frosting. Have him display it in the storefront and suggest a little window-shopping to your girlfriend.
• Create a personalized fortune cookie with your own proposal message.

Most Playful Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Create your own crossword puzzle (it’s easy with this site) and be prepared to help her work it out over breakfast.
• Spell your proposal out in glow-in-the-dark star stickers on your ceiling. Get into bed, turn the lights off, and wait for the inevitable gasp.
• Spell out your proposal with refrigerator magnets.
• Scratch your proposal into the frost on her car’s windshield.
• If your girlfriend is a teacher, sneak into her classroom before school starts and write your proposal on the blackboard. Stay hiding in the coat closet or right outside the room for the moment she arrives.
• Get a ring size chart and ask your girlfriend to look up her size. When she accuses you of ruining the surprise that you’re shopping for a ring, say, “Okay, try this one instead,” and show her that you’ve already shopped for a ring.
• During your annual Halloween prep, challenge her to a pumpkin-carving contest and carve the words “Marry Me” in your pumpkin.
• Write “Will You Marry Me?” on the underside of a kite and take flight one warm, breezy afternoon.
• Play Hangman and have the phrase be “Marry Me.”

Best Summer Marriage Proposal Ideas

• If you love to hit the beach, head down a few hours before her and write your proposal in the sand with large white rocks.
• Go to the beach and casually build a sandcastle (at a safe distance from the ocean!) and place the ring on the highest turret. Then invite her to admire your handiwork.
• Gather your families together for a summer barbecue and make it a family affair.
• Make your own message in a bottle. On the night before a beach day you’ve planned, write a love poem on a piece of parchment paper, roll it into an antique bottle with a cork, and bury it in a well-marked spot in the sand near your towels. Be sure you “find” the bottle as you dig together — and have the ring at the ready.

Most Thoughtful Marriage Proposal Ideas

• If you’re artistically inclined or just like to make things with your own two hands, integrate something you’ve made into the proposal. For example, if you have woodworking skills, present the ring in a special hand-carved jewelry box.
• Buy a pet that she has always wanted (bunny, kitten, puppy) and loosely tie the ring around its neck. Or, substitute a stuffed animal — still cute, but less maintenance!
• Tell your girlfriend you want to make a time capsule together to bury and dig up years into the future. As you’re gathering the items, say it wouldn’t be complete without a picture of the moment you two got engaged! Have a Polaroid camera ready to take that shot right after you present her with the ring.
• Rent a Vespa scooter and invite your girlfriend for a ride, but remind her to be safe and wear a helmet. Put the ring in the helmet box and then zip around town to celebrate.
• Meet for a drink at a posh hotel bar. When it’s time to go, casually mention that you’ve already reserved a room for the night. When you open the hotel room door, have roses, candles, and champagne all set up — everything for a perfect surprise proposal.

Cheesy (but Hilarious) Proposal Ideas

• Make a list of 10 reasons you’d like to marry your beloved. Read them to her in front of a crowd, have them delivered via singing telegram, or send them written on individual note cards over the course of a day (or 10!), with the last card arriving by personal messenger (you!).
• Want to really surprise your girlfriend? Cut out the bottom of a huge box, wrap it with pretty paper and ribbon, and attach a card that says, “What’s inside the box is a gift to last a lifetime.” “Deliver” yourself to his or her office or front door.
• Make her ring the surprise in a box of Cracker Jack.
• Write your proposal in sunscreen on your stomach, so that your tan will “stencil in” the words.
• Make her feel like a movie star and set your proposal to the scene of her favorite romantic movie. You could arrange your own Pretty Woman moment (the finale, of course) — rent a white limo and climb through the moonroof with flowers in hand to proclaim your love as you arrive at her place.
• Another funny movie proposal? Steal from that famous Say Anything scene — park yourself outside her house with a stereo blaring your favorite tune and propose on the front lawn.