Just curious what the fav is for the ladies right now? From what I understand, with a princess more of the rock is viewable when mounted versus the RB, but to me it just dosnt sparkle as much.
Rounds for sparkle and ''ease'' of purchase. More information on rounds out there... and more rounds period.
Princesses are nice enough if you want a square. But there are other square stones I''d take over a princess... a Flanders is a bit like a cut cornered princess and I like them better, and then asschers.
But if I had to pick one diamond shape. I''d either go with an oval-- IF I could find a good one. Or a cushion. And if not those two. A fat emerald cut.
Rounds are nice and a lot more common. It''s easier to find a nicely cut round brilliant. I don''t like princess cuts. Though they are nice, they are just not me. If you want a square shape, I''d pick a radiant or asscher. It''s harder to find a well cut one, but worth it when you do. I prefer the square shapes, and I''m also biased because I''m getting a square radiant.
I''m in the minority, and like it that way. I''m a princess lover through and through, and would NEVER trade my princess for another shape. After princess cuts I like emeralds, pears, and cushions best. Of the square stones, princesses are the most brilliant. But, each of the stones have their own unique qualities.
If you''re unsure of which shape to get your safest bet is a round. I personally don''t love them (they''re too common and look odd on me IMO) but they''re the most traditional shape.
If the person you''re buying the stone for prefers princess cuts, I''d get her what she wants. There are some AMAZING new princess cuts out there (AGS-0 stones) but they are few and far between. I agree that MOST princess cuts are not nearly as amazing as rounds, but the new princess cuts definitely compete with rounds--more so than other square shapes.
Before I got my round I really thought I would get a princess. My friend has a beautiful 1.5ct princess and I love hers. I went to stores and started trying on stones and decided that unless I could get a beautiful 1.5ct that it wasn''t going to be big enough and it didn''t sparkle enough either. Turns out that my .92 RB looks just about as big on my hand as her 1.5ct princess and it sparkles so much more! I love rounds so I''d vote RB!!!!
In answer to your question, I would choose for my first pick a RB. My second choice would be a Square Hearts and Arrows, Third choice, Radiant.
I would eventually of course love to have one of each!
Are you thinking of buying a ring for a special lady? If so, may I suggest that you find out what she would like. It is such a personal thing / taste. Some like the sharpness of a princess, and others like the softness of the round, others like myself ... love the curvyness of a pear, and I am sure it can go on and on!
Researcher and I are going against the grain here, I love my 1ct E VVS2 princess and I wouldn''t swap it for quids!! When we were looking at erings I not once looked at RBs, I think they look gorgeous on other people but have never appealed to me. I never even tried one on! From what I have seen on PS, RBs are very popular followed by cushions I''d say. Princesses don''t seem to come up much, I think the cut is becoming more popular. When I look in jewellers windows here in Australia there are so many princesses available but there aren''t that many women wearing them.
Admittedly princesses lack that awesome sparkly factor that you do see in pictures on here but they are a very refined look. (I am updating my setting to include pears each side to add a little more bling power!).
The same carat weight of princess will face up smaller than the same weight RB, so I don''t quite agree with your statement in your original post. I prefer rounds, and I''d go with square H&A or asscher for a square cut stone.
I am also in the minority I guess, I''ve knew I wanted a Princess. My second choice would be Radiant which I did try on. However, they way my Princess is cut (very shallow), it has more of a Radiant look. I never even tried a Round on, I guess it I thought they Princess was a little more modern.
I LOVE RBs! My husband proposed in 1995 with a .81 RB. I loved it and at the time did not know or care that it was not so well cut. This year he bought me an asscher cut 1.6 and I loved but but realized that I would rather have that money spent on a well cut RB. My husband did not mind trading it for a RB since it was not an engagement ring but rather a gift after many years of marriage.
I got a 1.63 RB,AGS O (ideal cut), F color, VS2 and LOVE it. It is so beyond sparkly and bright. I had it set in platinum with a baguette on each side (like the classic tiffany style).
Princess are very popular right now. But I prefer RB.
When I was first shopping around for my E-ring, I tried on both RB's and Princesses as I liked the look of both (on others). The princess won, hands down. It's more "me".
As far as the sparkly factor, there's a bit of work involved to find a great performer. But once you do, it can easily outsparkle most RB's!
I can't say that I like either, as they are both so common. If I had to choose, I would say RB because it is classic, will never go out of style, is easy to buy, and has lots of sparkle.
I prefer RBs over any other cut. (asschers and ECs are tied at a close second) I can''t describe why I''m not a huge fan of princesses...I''m just not. I was gonna say that it might be because I prefer rounded lines, but asschers and ECs are very angular and they really appeal to me. So it''s just an inexplicable, innate preference. The best thing is to somehow find out which shape your GF prefers....most people like one or the other, but rarely both.
I prefer RB over anything else. RB''s just have more fire and brilliance. Plus with a Princess, you have to be more careful to get really good clarity because of the larger table.
princess cut is very trendy for the moment and in texas very trite.
in ten years I personally think that the princesses will go the way of the pear and then the marquise, out of style. and we will wonder just WHAT we were thinking. i think it's already seen its day.
a woman got married in the 60s and 70s with the pear, in the 70s and 80s it was the marquise, and in the 90s and 2000s it was the princess.
I know I''m in the minority on this site, but I wouldn''t be happy with either of those...
I don''t think rounds look good on me and feel they are too common, I agree with ladykemma (no offense meant here to everyone with princesses) that princesses can be a bit trite. I love a square shape, but for me that means asschers and ECs. I love their blinding flashes of chunky light. What can I say, I''m just picky!