When we look at the popularity graph of alexandrite, we find that the gemstone has touched new heights. The reason is that alexandrite had been an underrated gemstone for a long time. It was not much exposed among jewelry enthusiasts. But in the last few years, people recognized its worth and praised it a lot because of its color-changing property. These days most couples love to choose something out of the box for their engagement. Another plus point of choosing alexandrite is that it changes color and both shades go perfectly well with almost all metals. But choosing an alexandrite stone is not enough, you should also know which type of alexandrite will be able to grab the attention of everyone. You should be aware of many other factors to make the overall appearance of your ring appealing.
The most significant factor that elevates the beauty of an engagement ring is a gemstone cut or the shape of an alexandrite stone. This is the reason we decided to keep our audience equipped with knowledge about all the gemstone cuts and their appearance in different metals & ring designs.
Let us pick the most popular alexandrite gemstone shapes one by one and meticulously learn every aspect of them.
Oval Cut
The oval cut is most suitable for rings. The shape makes its wearer’s hand appear slimmer. The risk of chipping off is very low if you choose an oval-cut gemstone because it does not have any sharp edges. Nowadays, ovals are cut in a brilliant style with 58 facets. Ovals hide inclusions much better than cushions because they have more sparkle. Both shades of alexandrite look sparkling and elegant in an oval cut. The oval cut is the most preferred cut for both men and women. So you can go for an oval cut without giving it a second thought.
Marquise-Cut
The crown surface area of the marquise or navette cut is the largest. This gives the gemstone the appearance of being larger than any other cut for the same carat weight. Symmetry is important in a marquise-cut gemstone because any variation in such a slender shape is noticeable. The marquise’s points must be aligned, and the stone’s shoulders must curve smoothly (not fall in or bulge out). The ideal length-to-width ratio in a marquise cut stone is 2.15 and 1.75.
Emerald Cut
The emerald cut is the most popular among celebrities and influencers of all the famous gemstone cuts. Many of them may have been seen wearing an emerald-cut gemstone. Many celebrities, including Beyoncé, Amal Clooney, and Grace Kelly, wear rings with emerald cut stones on their fingers. The emerald cut is famous for producing a hall of mirrors effect. This dramatic pattern is depicted by alternating lines of light and dark shades. Step cuts are straight cuts parallel to the girdle of an emerald-cut stone. Another intriguing feature of this cut is the ability to see the gemstone’s heart. However, in the case of alexandrite, you require a shape that makes the gemstone appear less transparent so that it can showcase its color shift well.
Princess Cut
Princess cut was invented in the 1960s. It is basically the square version of the round brilliant cut. It was popular for decades because of its brilliance and modern looks. Princess cut endows the best fire and brilliance on a gemstone. That’s because it reflects an incident ray through its multiple facets. This cut is the first choice for diamond lovers, but in the case of a dark-tone gemstone such as alexandrite, this cut appears like a simple square cut. Although fire and brilliance in princess cuts are relatively higher than in traditional square cuts, it is hard to spot the difference from a distance. To go for a princess-cut alexandrite stone for your engagement ring, you are required to choose a gemstone of a bigger size. Undoubtedly this shape looks mesmerizing in a halo or pave-setting engagement ring, but it will also stretch your budget.
Pear Cut
The pear cut is one of the most popular gemstone cuts. It is also known as the teardrop cut. A modern pear cut has 58 facets. Same as ovals, pear-cut gemstones make the wearer’s hand appear slimmer. It is one of the most appealing gemstone cuts and alexandrite gemstones look fascinating in this cut. Whether you choose a side stone ring or a halo ring, pear cut will never disappoint you. The reason behind the popularity of pear cut in alexandrite engagement rings is that it perfectly showcases the color shift and goes perfectly well with almost all metals.
Heart Shape
No other gemstone cut can portray your feelings for her more than a heart-shaped gemstone. Most couples choose this gemstone cut for a proposal or an engagement ring. Whether they are choosing an emerald or ruby as a center stone, heart shape always rules their mind. So we can say that it is a perfect cut for a gemstone that is emerald by day and ruby by night. When choosing a heart shape gemstone, you should ensure that the two halves of the heart should be symmetrical. The center cleft should be deep enough to elevate the beauty of the heart shape.
So we have discussed all the popular gemstone cuts for an alexandrite engagement ring. To make it easier for you, our experts have arranged these alexandrite stone cuts in descending order of popularity.
Marquise cut
Pear cut
Oval cut
Heart shape
Emerald cut
Princess cut
Because everyone is unique and has different tastes, it is hard to set any standards. Some gemstone cuts are popular but demand a higher-carat weight gemstone. On the other hand, some gemstone cuts make the smaller gemstone appear bigger. If we talk about the pricing part, a top-quality alexandrite stone will cost you around $33000 per carat.
Choosing an alexandrite engagement ring with an appealing gemstone shape can surprise her and it will be a jewel she will cherish for life. So which gemstone shape are you picking for your engagement ring? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
By Eric
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Jewelry
