How The Shape of a Diamond Affects Your Engagement Ring Choice
Choosing a ring based on the 4 C’s and its shape can help find the ring that guarantees your partner will say yes!
July 9 2025, Published 2:53 p.m. ET

An engagement should be a memorable moment in a couple’s life. It’s challenging, however, for many people to find a ring worth presenting to their partner. It's understandable that selecting a worthwhile diamond is difficult, considering the endless options.
Don’t worry if diamonds cost more than your budget allows. Lab diamonds are an excellent alternative that many couples choose instead. The diamonds are created in a lab, but are very much real diamonds made from pure carbon.

Mined diamonds take millions of years to form in the Earth’s mantle, and are not exactly easy to come by. They also present numerous environmental and ethical impacts. This explains their cost and the concern many people feel. Lab diamonds are more affordable, giving some relief to couples who love diamonds but not their price.
Lab-made diamonds cost as much as 70% less than mined diamonds, and that’s savings worth bragging about.
The average person cannot distinguish between a mined and a lab-grown diamond. They are nearly identical to the eye. Even gemologists find it tricky. Some lab diamonds pass diamond testers, further ensuring shoppers that it's a real stone.
The 4 Cs of Diamond Quality
Choosing a lab diamond from an online retailer like Lab Grown is a great way to cut costs without sacrificing quality. Consider the 4 Cs as you shop. The 4 C’s are the universal standards for grading diamonds.
The 4 C’s:
- Cut
- Carat
- Color
- Clarity
The 4 C’s affect the overall quality and appeal of the engagement ring. Of them, cut is most important as it determines how well diamonds reflect light, creating the sparkle that makes diamonds, diamonds. Lab diamonds come in colorless or colored options. It's graded based on its color, starting with a D-grade lab diamond, the colorless option, to the Z-grade, which has a beautiful yellow hue.
Claret refers to the flaws that a diamond has. It affects the ring's visual appeal. Carat is the weight of the diamond. It is a key factor in determining the cost of an engagement ring.
Have you noticed that diamonds come in many different shapes? Lab diamonds feature the same great shapes, from round to oval to emerald cut, each offering unique appeal. The shape of the diamond affects its overall appearance and its cost. Evaluate each diamond shape while selecting an engagement ring.
Lab Diamond Shapes: Pick Your Favorite
Pay attention to your future bride when they speak of diamonds. Many times, they leave subtle clues that help determine their favorite shape. The diamond shape affects the ring’s appearance, cost, and aesthetics.
Some of the most popular diamond shapes include:
- Round Cut: The most popular diamond shape for engagement rings, the round cut has classic and timeless appeal, cherished by so many. It is a symbol of love and togetherness. For hopeless romantics and traditionalists, the round-cut diamond never goes out of style.
- Princess Cut: Chic, bold, and glamorous, the Princess Cut is popular with celebrities, especially those of Gen X. Its square shape is stylish, fun, and brilliant. It stands out on your bride’s hand!
- Oval Cut: The shape designed for trendsetters, the oval cut is bold, daring, and elegant. It is unique, creative, and fun, yet still has vintage inspiration. Oval cuts make fingers appear longer, making them look larger on the hand. Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber rock the oval cut ring.
- Emerald Shape: An emerald-shaped diamond is sophisticated and elegant. It is known for its unique clarity and vibrant aesthetics, most often selected as the shape of choice by old souls and minimalists. Celebrities like J.Lo and Beyoncé rock emerald-shaped rings.
- Pear Cut: A unique diamond shape that symbolizes individuality and empowerment, pear cut rings convey a powerful emotional statement to your future bride. Often seen on the hands of artists and collectives, it's the perfect shape for anyone who appreciates non-traditional styles.
How to Choose The Best Diamond Shape for an Engagement Ring
Ultimately, personal preference is the deciding factor when choosing a lab diamond shape. If the shape is one your future bride fancies, it could be perfect for an engagement ring. If you need more information to help narrow down the selection, keep the information below in mind.
- Specific diamond shapes may not be suitable for brides with active lifestyles, since they may snag (Princess cut) or be incapable of withstanding the added wear and tear.
- Whether the bride enjoys lots of sparkle or minimal dazzle
- The bride’s fashion sense. If your bride prefers one lab diamond shape over another, it’s the one!
- Which ring shape is most flattering? Sometimes, choosing a ring is as simple as going with the one that you can’t stop staring at.

Lab Diamond Shape FAQ
- Which shape is most popular? The round diamond shape is among the most popular choices for engagement rings. Oval is a close second, a trending shape that is especially popular with couples in their 20s and 30s.
- Which shape has the most sparkle? Cut with 58 facets designed to reflect light, the round shape offers the most sparkle of all the different diamond shapes. Keep in mind, however, the 4 C’s also impact its overall appearance and appeal.
- Does hand or finger size affect the shape? Elongated shapes make shorter fingers look longer. Choose oval or pear for shorter fingers. Wider shapes, such as the round cut, can make longer fingers appear shorter.
- Does a lab diamond shape affect the cost of an engagement ring? Yes, the diamond shape affects the overall cost of the ring. Less common shapes, such as marquise or heart, often include the lowest price because they are not as in demand as shapes like round diamonds. The round shape is the most expensive. Oval, pear, and emerald are more affordable, averaging 10% to 30% less per carat than a round diamond.
The Bottom Line
Cherish every moment of your proposal and future marriage when you present your bride with a carefully selected lab diamond engagement ring. It’s the perfect piece of jewelry for couples looking to make an impact wearing diamonds without the sacrifice of going into debt. Choosing a ring based on the 4 C’s and its shape can help find the ring that guarantees your partner will say yes!