Practical Engagement Rings for Athlete Active Lifestyles: The Best Stone Cuts
Rounds, Cushions, and Ovals are the most practical diamond cuts for your engagement ring.
The most practical stone cuts for active people
Ovals, cushions, and rounds are best for active lifestyles. The reason being that there’s no edges, points, or hard lines to brush up against, bang on a table, etc. These sharp points have a higher tendency of breakage like cracking, chipping, scratching. With ovals, cushions, and rounds, your stones won’t get caught on sweaters, people that are really active and doing mountaineering, skiing, things like that – there’s just less opportunity for them to damage their ring because there’s no sharp edges and no sharp points.
The Kiva custom engagement ring features all round cut stones.
Round Cut Pros and Cons
Odds are when you picture an engagement ring in your mind, you see a round cut diamond solitaire of a gold band. Round cut stones are by far the most popular and traditional stone cut for an engagement ring. The reason being is because they are the most brilliant cut and allow your stone maximum sparkle. Being round they make an excellent choice for a durable engagement ring because there are no edges or points that increase the chance of chipping or cracking.
Because they are in consistent demand, round cuts are also easier to source, however, they are the most expensive cut because of this as well. If you are wanting a more alternative look, a round cut may be too traditional for your tastes.
The Christophany engagement ring features an oval cut moissanite center stone.
Oval Cut Pros and Cons
Oval cut diamonds are just as brilliant and sparkly as round cuts and can vary from very long and narrow spheres to shorter, rounder ovals. They are an excellent choice for people with active lifestyles because of their rounded edges. They have a famously royal lineage and are popular with A-list celebrities including Kate Middleton (via Princess Diana) and Blake Lively. Oval cut engagement rings are a versatile shape that can easily transition between classic and timeless or bold and alternative, especially if the stone is set horizontally or east-west or you opt for a colored diamond or gemstone. It’s also considered to be a flattering shape that elongates the finger.
A con to oval cuts is that most oval diamonds have some level of the “bow-tie effect”: dark triangles through the center that look like a bow-tie. If you are someone who wants max brilliance and sparkle this may not be the cut for you.
The Kristy diamond engagement ring features a cushion cut center stone with a round diamond halo.
Cushion Cut Pros and Cons
If you are someone who loves stones with angles, but need something practical and durable, a cushion cut may be a good middle ground for you. Cushion cut is an umbrella term for a four-sided square or rectangular diamond with rounded corners; giving the stone a soft, pillow-like appearance. Simply put, it’s like a cross between a round and square cut stone. But because the edges are rounded, it makes it a good choice for a practical engagement ring because it won’t snag or get caught on things.
This cut is the third most popular shape for engagement rings. Some cons to choosing a cushion cut include, the larger facets in the cut which can show inclusions and flaws in the diamond. It also does not hide color in a diamond as well as other cuts.
Want to be even more informed on all your engagement ring choices? Download our free guide: 7 Things You Need to Know Before Buying an Engagement Ring.
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