Looking for something in a square? Princess cut engagement rings absolutely slay. They’ve got all the sparkle of a round brilliant and cost a lot less. What’s not to love?

Ok, so they’re a bit smaller carat for carat than every other stone (we kinda buried the lead on that one). But that doesn’t mean you can’t find yourself an absolutely perfect princess, size and all, for a little less than you might think. Let’s get a little regal, shall we?

All Hail Stunning Sparkle

Princess cut diamonds are four-sided stunning, thanks to years of precision sparkle science. The OG princess could be considered the square cut of the 14th century–yeah, she’s been around a while.

After a few evolutions and a lot of technique and technical upgrades later, we have the princess we know and love today. Sometimes simply called a square cut, princess cut diamonds are also known as a square modified brilliant. That stunning and angular look is most certainly a popular stone, but it maintains an unexpected appeal. A striking shape and the second most sparkle of all rocks, the princess is more affordable on average than a round to boot.

Off With Their Heads

All that stunning comes with one minor catch–ok, actually, four of them. Those sharp little corners can be snag city, bye-bye favorite sweater. The points of a princess are also fairly fragile, giving people reason to avoid them for fear of chippage.

The good news is if you don’t work with your hands, you’ll be fine. Truthfully, it’s easy to add a little extra protection even if you do. A four-prong setting covering your corners will be great for light protection. If you need something heavy-duty, go with a bezel.

Slice + Square = Sparkle

The cut is important with all stones, it’s responsible for the sparkle, and what's the point of a princess with no magical glitter? Round is the only diamond shape with a professional cut grade from an Institute. But that doesn't mean you can't find the perfect princess.

Poorly cut stones are dark and dull, so look at your potential pick in the light, or even better, check the HD 360 view online. These up close and personal previews give you a stellar look at every nook and cranny so you can find a stone with tons of sparkle.

If you're trying to eyeball an ideal cut, look for a stone that bounces back tons of light. Avoided diamond with dark-looking facets, that's the light leaking out. Too many dark spots make for a majorly sad situation, and no one wants a sparkle-free engagement ring.

If you're fixing to find the perfect square, you’ll need to look for one with a good length-to-width ratio. Look for a 1:1 LTW or as close as possible for a perfectly square appearance.

Crispy Crystals

Time for a clarity quest? Brilliant cuts like princess make this part of the game a little easier. All those stunning sparkles do a lot of work hiding blemishes and imperfections in a stone. Princess cut diamonds have a large table that acts like a window straight down to the center. That’s part of why it’s so stunning, but it also means it’s extra important to ensure all those imperfections are hidden.

You should always look for an eye-clean diamond, and that’s easy to do with a princess. Shop for a stone in the VS range to save cash, and find an eye-clean diamond every time.

If you’re shopping for natural diamonds, it’s worth a little extra time to see if you can snag an SI1 diamond that’s eye-clean. Finding the perfect princess cut for your engagement ring will be worth the quest, and you’ll save some major scrilla.

VVS2 Princess Diamond

Color Me Colorless

Imagine you pick the perfect princess cut engagement ring only to find out it's glowing a mucky yellowish color against your gorgeous white gown. Thanks, but no thanks. No matter the shape, you always want to snag a diamond that appears colorless. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ve gotta spend the big bucks. You know we’ve got you covered.

Check out some stones in the G-H range. You’ll save a little cash–which you can spend on size instead if you like–and the stone will still appear colorless. And, fun fact, if you’re thinking pink or yellow gold, you’ve got even more wiggle room.

Little Square, Big Sparkle

The royal carats await. No, really, princess cut diamonds have one major downside: they’re heavy on their downside. Princess cut diamonds carry much of their weight below the belt, so a 1ct princess will look smaller than a 1ct round diamond.

But don’t rule out the sparkly square just yet. Princess cut diamonds look slightly smaller carat for carat than a round. But they're also more affordable, so go ahead and size up.

Learn about Princess Cut Diamonds

Not-So Pricy Princess

Princesses may be smaller carat for carat. However, a princess cut diamond is also much more affordable. All tea, the square stone will cost about 20% less than a round diamond. That’s partly due to the fact that the shape resembles a natural stone, so less diamond goes to waste in the cutting process. No matter the reason, tho, the important thing is you can spend those 20% savings on sizing up your stone. Is there really a downside to going home with the princess cut engagement ring? Not that we can see.

Full Court Set

How do you set these sparkly little squares? Well, you really can't go wrong. Princess cuts are stunning in any setting and switch up otherwise ordinary silhouettes. The square shape lends itself to unique-looking engagement rings, so you can really follow your heart. However, if you’re looking for some inspo, you know we’ve got you covered.

Fairytale Two Ways

Love a fairytale romance? Who doesn’t? If you want to level up the princess vibe, you cannot tell us The Nelly doesn’t slay the ball down. It’s a stunning and classic solitaire with a hidden halo snuggled up to the base of the stone. The sparkly little band gives the diamond a little extra lift and adds a whole Disney princess energy that we are totally here for. It’s refined and sophisticated in a full fantasy package.

Babe in the Woods

More whimsy? We’ve got you. The Textured Twig is stunning and ethereal. Delicate branches wrap around your finger, kissed with a little round brilliant sparkle. It’s like two twinkling stars surrounding the princess. How can you not? It’s major fairytale magic with a little bit of pixie dust. We are low-key obsessed.

Drenched In Stardust

The Pavé Kamellie is timeless and stunning, with a whole lot of sparkle mixed in. The micro pavé diamonds add the look of endless sparkle, while the hidden halo ensures it glitters from every angle. The subtle lines and classic look of the engagement ring highlight the stunning beauty of the princess cut. It’s understated and immaculate. What more can we say?

Criss-Cross Sparkle Sauce

Looking for an engagement ring with a nod to the opulent vintage vibe in an entirely modern package? The Angelina is all kinds of stunning with a gorge split shank design. Two stunning strands of pavé sparkle cross over to meet at a gorgeous hidden halo with a divinely unique diamond bridge below.

The split shank adds dimensional shine to the band while leading your eye to that stunning square-shaped diamond. The smooth lines and sharp angles combine for an interesting and unique design that catches some serious attention.

Antique-Like Angel

Sweetheart feels met with vintage vibes in this stunning art deco-inspired setting. The Jasmine looks absolutely stunning with a square princess cut diamond, and it seriously doubles down on the antique aesthetic in rose gold. The delicate band is intricately decorated with milgrain texture and round diamond accents set in a repeating marquise-like design. Their intertwining silhouettes lead your eye to the center stone and set the stage for all that sparkle.

If you’re in love with the old-school energy of the engagement ring, there’s no accent quite like a matching wedding band. It’s a uniquely dainty set with a rich and luxurious feel.

Ready To Pick Your Perfect Princess?

Princesses really bring the stunning sparkle. While it may be a top pick among diamond engagement rings, there’s something seriously special about the square.

Protect your corners, snag a well-cut stone, and you’ll have a perfect princess that outshines the best, and you’ll get it for less. It’s the little square shape stone that does the absolute most, with all the sparkle, in any setting. What’s not to love?

How To Snag The Most Stunning Princess Cut Engagement Ring

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