Dreaming about what engagement ring are you in the world of diamonds and gold?

You are going to take the leap and propose to the woman who has been the light of your life for the past three years. You want the ring to be special and reflect your soon-to-be finance’s personality. As you look at her, you wonder: What engagement ring are you?

You more than anyone else know what makes your girlfriend tick, her likes and dislikes, her color preferences, the type of jewelry she ordinarily wears. Keep this in mind when shopping for the perfect ring.

What style?

Consider a diamond solitaire, which is traditional and lovely, featuring a single central stone. Or go for vintage or antique, which is ideal for the artistic, romantic and creative women. Think about one featuring three stones. The center and largest stone is a diamond or any kind of gemstone, surrounded by two stones of your choosing.

What about a colored gemstone? Look at emeralds, sapphire and rubies. Use them alone or a mixture thereof or incorporate them with a diamond or diamonds.

A side stone pave set may be the right choice for your loved one.

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There is so much to decide … the style, the setting, the cut, the type of stone, the metal — Gold? White gold? Sterling silver? Pink gold? — and the thickness of the band. it’s enough to make your head spin.

Which setting?

There are various settings, which make a significant difference in the look. A bar setting utilizes a thin metal bar to hold stone in place on both sides. This creates a contemporary look. In a bezel setting, gemstones or diamonds are kept in place by a collar or rim that encircles the sides of the stone and extends just a bit above the stone. This is secure and is good for those who are active.

Diamond and gemstones are put into a channel when the channel setting is used. The stones are in a line creating a smooth look. This works particularly well for round diamonds.

An invisible setting is when the stones are closely placed together so the metal setting isn’t seen. This gives the impression of stones running uninterrupted in a row.

The half bezel setting setting consists of a collar or rim encircling the stone but the rim only surrounds a portion of the stone, showing off the other sides. In a full bezel setting all sides are encircled. This is a good choice for solitaire diamonds.

The pave setting is classic. Diamonds are put into pre-fashioned holes and situated almost level to the surface. The stones are often secured with tiny metal beads. Stones set in the pave method appear larger than they really are.

Tension setting means the center stone is held in placed between the sides of a metal band using a compression spring within the band The stone is suspended and looks as if it is floating.

The most typical setting is the prong. Two or more prongs grasp the stone, forming a base. The prong tips are bent so they rest just over the face of the stone. This results in a radiant and dazzling look.

The v-prong setting protects the ends of the stone that come to a point such as those found in marquise-, princess- and pear cuts. V-prongs hold the stone at the corners, covering the edges, shielding the stone from wear and tear.

What about the cut?

There are many cuts to choose from.

Consider the emerald cut. This features a rectangular stone with trimmed corners. This is considered a stunning look. This cut was originally devised for cutting emeralds, thus the name. This cut puts off dramatic, broad flashes of light, although it may not be as fiery as a round brilliant cut. This is an open cut so any flaws or a poor cut are apparent. The emerald cut is not as trendy as the princess cut.

A pear-shaped stone makes fingers look slimmer. It is sometime called the teardrop diamond. This cut combines the round brilliant cut and the marquise cut.

A marquise cut features a slim, oval-shaped stone consisting of tapered and pointed ends. An oval is often used in conjunction with other stones. This is an elliptical-shaped brilliant cut. This cut displays more inclusions and colors than other brilliant cuts.

The Asscher cut is uncommon. It was developed in 1902 by the Asscher brothers in Holland.
This is a stepped square cut, often called the square emerald, featuring cropped corners. It requires a four-prong setting.

The combination of brilliant and triangular equal a trillion diamond, which is frequently used as accent. This cut is also called Trilliants or Triangular Brilliants. Mixed cuts with uniformly straight or slightly bowed sides, this cut is shallow and often used as side stones but can work as the centerpiece stone. This produces a lively and dazzling piece of jewelry.

When the corners are trimmed, this creates the radiant cut diamond that was created for greatest intensity. It is sometimes a rectangle with cropped corners, but it does not have long, trim lines such as the emerald cut. it is faceted for blaze.

A square diamond with pointed corners is a princess cut. This cut is the second most popular when it comes to engagement rings, right behind the round brilliant. The face of the square diamond is rectangular or square and the side-on or profile shape is very much like that of an inverted pyramid, featuring four beveled sides. This cut first appeared on the scene in the 1960s.

The round brilliant cut diamond is crafted to make the most of brilliance. This cut can be used in a  three-stone configuration or a solitaire or set with other stones. This is the most sought after diamond shape. It includes 58 facets and shows the more fire and vividness of all the cuts.

The cushion cut is an antique cut comparable to a present-day oval shape. This cut looks like a cross between the old mine cut and a modern oval cut. Sometimes this cut is referred to as the candlelight diamond or the pillow cut. This cut isn’t as sparkling as newer cuts but it is timeless and quixotic.

When you go shopping, print this out and take it with you!