Giving your loved one a diamond ring really shows a great deal about the way you feel about them. Diamond rings are often given at a wedding, engagement or anniversary because rings symbolise the bond between the two people involved. Diamond rings are the ultimate offering and often fill the recipient with the same sparkle and brilliance the diamond produces.

There is an astonished at the number of diamond shapes available and settling on one is difficult. Some of the most common round diamonds are: Round, Marquise, Oval, Pear, and Heart. Round diamonds are by far the most common shape making availability widespread. The classic and symmetrical look of a Round diamond is probably the most versatile when factoring in the ring’s setting. A Marquise shape often resembles a simple leaf or an oval with pointed ends. It, like most other shapes can take multiple forms depending on its proportions. Some Marquise shaped diamonds are long and slim, whereas others are short and more rounded.

Oval shapes still give the classic feel of the Round diamond, but with added uniqueness. Pear-shaped diamonds are also known as Teardrops, because they resemble an upside-down drop. They are rounded on the top edge, with a pointed bottom edge. Lastly, a Heart-shaped diamond needs no explanation. Depending on their dimensions they can look a little animated, like they have been stretched out or squished down.

Common square-shaped diamonds are: Princess, Emerald, Asscher, Radiant, and Cushion. They all have a square or rectangular look, with either sharp or rounded corners. The Princess shape is quite popular and is classically square in appearance, but some are more rectangular. The corners are sharp, so it appears quite boxy. An Emerald shape is rectangular, but its rounded corners give it a softer appearance than the Princess shape.

The Asscher shape is more of a compromise between the Princess and Emerald shapes. The cut and corners are similar to the Emerald, but it has a square shape like a Princess diamond. Both Radiant and Cushion diamonds are similar in their shape to the Asscher shape; they all resemble a rounded square. The differences between them are shown in the cut.

The options can be overwhelming. There are probably very few shapes I can think of that do not exist in diamond form. I happen to like triangles and there’s a diamond for that too. The Trillion shape looks like the classic equilateral triangle.

Every diamond needs a place to stay, so it will need a setting. Depending on what is more important, the setting will determine the type of diamond or the type of diamond will determine the setting. Some settings are designed to hold a particular shape or size, so that has to be taken into consideration. The most common settings are solitary rings or ones capable of holding accent gems.

Ring bands are most often available in platinum, gold, or silver. Gold is recommended to be at least 14K, but preferably 18K. Aside from the quality of the setting and if it can hold the right diamond, everything else is personal preference. The band itself can be thick or thin, and how the complete setting looks might depend on the size and shape of the diamond, accent gems if included, and what looks good on the hand wearing it.