How Engagement Ring Shape Affects Sparkle, Size, and Wearability

The shape of your engagement ring changes everything. While it’s easy to focus on the stone itself, the shape is what will determine how it sparkles, how big it looks, and whether it’s comfortable to wear every day. The right engagement ring shape – whether it’s a round cut or oval engagement ring – will balance aesthetics with your lifestyle.

You want to choose an engagement ring shape that will look – and feel – just as good in 10 years’ time as it does the first time you slip it on.

What Actually Creates Sparkle in Engagement Rings?

We’ve all heard the cliché that “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, but is it really the sparkle that we’re obsessed with? The cut of your engagement ring matters more than the carat weight when we’re looking at its sparkle. 

A lab-grown diamond that has an excellent or ideal cut quality will have optimal sparkle as it’s able to balance the stone’s natural brilliance with its fire. The facets within a diamond also act as mirrors, helping to reflect light and create even more sparkle.

Which Engagement Ring Shape Sparkles Best?

There are four main types of engagement ring shapes to consider if you’re prioritizing sparkle:

Round Brilliant: A round brilliant lab-grown diamond offers maximum sparkle due to its faceting. It’s the perfect option if you want a traditional but timeless engagement ring.

Oval & Marquise: The elongated shape of an oval or marquise diamond improves the stone’s brilliance. This engagement ring shape is worth considering if you want a custom engagement ring.

Cushion Cut: A cushion cut offers a softer type of sparkle that is ideal for couples searching for a fantasy or vintage-inspired ring.

Emerald Cut: An emerald cut is the perfect option if you’re looking for an elegant engagement ring but still want a little sparkle. This shape offers a mirror-like effect that produces a natural sparkle.

The surface area of your engagement ring matters more than its carat weight when we’re looking at sparkle. If you want a dazzling engagement ring, you’ll want to choose an elongated shape, such as marquise, pear, or oval. These engagement rings appear larger than their carat weight and are a great option if you want a statement ring at a more accessible price point.

Wearability: How Shape Impacts Everyday Comfort

Wearability is something that’s often overlooked when couples are shopping for engagement rings. If you frequently travel or have an active lifestyle, it’s worth considering how a particular engagement ring shape might fit into your daily life. Opting for an engagement ring with a bezel setting, like our ‘Remi’ ring, can help to protect your store from scratches or catching on your clothes.

FAQs About Engagement Ring Shapes

Which engagement ring shape sparkles the most?

A round brilliant shape will give you the best sparkle for your engagement ring and is a great option if you want a lab-created diamond engagement ring.

Which engagement ring shape looks biggest on the finger?

If you want a ring that looks bigger than its carat size and offers great sparkle, choose an oval, marquise, or pear-shaped engagement ring.

What engagement ring shape is best for daily wear?

Oval, round brilliant, and cushion cut engagement rings are a great option for everyday wear as they’re more durable, especially if they have a six-prong setting.

Are certain shapes better for lab-grown diamonds?

The benefit of lab-grown diamonds is that they can be specifically created to optimize the sparkle and radiance of a specific cut or shape. You’ll always get a “better” lab-grown diamond than a natural diamond of the same price.

The Best Engagement Ring Shape is the One That Fits Your Lifestyle

No matter what you read online, there isn’t a single engagement ring shape that is the “best”. Instead, you want to focus on what makes an engagement ring shape that’s best for you as a couple, from giving you the sparkle you want to being the right size. Wearability is just as important as sparkle and at Valley Rose, our unique engagement rings make it easy to find the perfect ring that fits your lifestyle.