Pear Diamond Engagement Ring: The Complete Guide

The pear diamond, also called a teardrop diamond, combines the rounded end of the oval with the point of the marquise. It is a slender, feminine and distinctive shape, increasingly chosen for an engagement ring. In this guide: how to choose a pear diamond (proportions, symmetry, color), what size to expect by carat, which way to wear it, which setting and which wedding band, and how much a pear diamond ring costs. All our rings feature IGI- or GIA-certified lab-grown diamonds, in 18k gold or platinum, and can be tried on in our 10 showrooms in France.

Contents
Why this diamond · Size and carat: the chart · What to check · Compare shapes · Which setting · Which metal · Which wedding band · Price · Frequently asked questions

Why choose a pear diamond?

• It lengthens the finger. Its tapered silhouette, point toward the fingernail, slims the hand like few other shapes.
• It looks large. Like the oval, it offers a large visible surface for its weight: a 1-carat pear measures about 9 × 5.8 mm.
• It sparkles brightly. Cut as a brilliant, it returns light almost as well as a round.
• It is distinctive without being eccentric. Less common than the round or the oval, it remains classic and catches the eye immediately.
• It can be worn either way. Point toward the fingernail, it elongates; point toward the wrist, it becomes more unexpected.

Pear diamond: size, carat and price

Carat measures weight, not size. The chart below gives the typical dimensions of a pear diamond with classic proportions (length-to-width ratio of about 1.55), along with the price of our Montaigne Pear solitaire in 18k gold, for each of our three diamond qualities.

Thanks to its length, a 0.70-carat pear already has as much presence on the finger as a much heavier round. At 1 carat, it is almost one centimeter long.

Choosing your pear diamond: 5 things to check

1. The length-to-width ratio

Between 1.50 and 1.70, you get the classic pear. Below that, the teardrop is rounder and “plumper”; above it, the shape becomes very slender. The calculation is simple: length divided by width, both listed on the certificate. The right ratio depends above all on your hand.

2. Symmetry

This is the key point for a pear. The point should be well aligned with the center of the rounded end, and the two “shoulders” of the stone should be identical. An off-center point or uneven shoulders are visible on the finger. Symmetry is graded on the certificate, but nothing beats seeing the stone itself.

3. The “bow-tie” effect

Like the oval and the marquise, a pear can show a dark area across its wide section. When faint, it adds contrast; when pronounced, it dulls the stone. It is not noted on the certificate: you need to see the stone in person or on video.

4. Color

The point concentrates color slightly. In white gold or platinum, aim for at least H, and F or D for a very crisp white. In yellow or rose gold, an H color still looks white to the eye. We offer three qualities: H/VS2, F/VS1 and D/VVS1.

5. Clarity and the point

A clarity of VS2 is eye-clean. Simply avoid an inclusion near the point, the thinnest part of the stone. The point is protected by a V-prong, which wraps around it and guards against knocks. To read a certificate in detail, see our article on lab-grown diamond certification.

Pear, oval or marquise?

These three elongated shapes all slim the finger. The oval is the softest and most classic; the marquise, with its two points, is the most dramatic; the pear sits between the two, with one rounded end and one pointed end. At Laveran, a pear solitaire costs the same as a round or an oval for the same carat weight and quality. Here is how it compares with other shapes:

To learn more, read our guide which diamond shape to choose for an engagement ring, or which ring to choose for your hand shape.

Which setting for a pear diamond?

• The solitaire shows off the teardrop silhouette, with a V-prong to protect the point: this is the Montaigne Pear, from €880.
• The pavé band carries the sparkle along the band: this is the Vendôme Pear, from €1,280.
• The halo follows the outline of the teardrop and makes it look larger: this is the Odéon Pear, from €1,480, or the Odéon Double Halo, from €1,580.
• More unusual: the Étoile Pear, from €1,280.

Which way? Traditionally, the point faces the fingertip: this is what lengthens the hand the most. We can also set the pear horizontally, on request.

Yellow, white or rose gold, or platinum?

All our rings are available in 18k yellow, white or rose gold, and in 950 platinum. Yellow gold and rose gold bring out the vintage, romantic side of the pear; white gold and platinum give it a more modern, luminous look. Platinum is the densest and most durable of the four. For a full comparison, see the differences between yellow, rose and white gold.

Which wedding band with a pear ring?

The point of the pear leaves a small gap against a straight wedding band, which is no problem in everyday wear. For a matching set, the Montaigne Pear Diamond Wedding Band echoes the teardrop all the way around the finger. A slim half-eternity band leaves the spotlight on the solitaire. To know which order to wear them in, see in what order to wear your engagement ring and wedding band.

How much does a pear diamond ring cost?

At Laveran, a pear solitaire starts at €880 and the 1-carat solitaire is available from €1,744, with an IGI or GIA certificate. The price depends on four things: carat weight, diamond quality (H/VS2, F/VS1 or D/VVS1), the setting and the metal. The chart above gives the breakdown carat by carat.

A lab-grown diamond costs significantly less than a mined diamond of the same size and quality, which often means you can choose a larger carat weight for the same budget. To learn more: how much a lab-grown diamond costs, the 1-carat lab-grown diamond and the average price of an engagement ring. Our diamond guide also covers each of the 4Cs in detail.

How does buying from Laveran work?

1. You book an appointment in one of our 10 showrooms in France or by video call. The appointment is free, with no obligation.
2. You compare stones and settings. An advisor shows you several pear diamonds, you try them on, and your ring size is taken with a professional ring sizer.
3. We make your ring in your size, in 18k gold or platinum, with the diamond you chose.
4. You receive your ring with the stone’s IGI or GIA certificate, whose number is laser-inscribed on the diamond.

Frequently asked questions

Which way should a pear diamond ring be worn?

Traditionally, with the point toward the fingertip: this lengthens the hand the most. Point toward the wrist is more unexpected. Both are done.

How big is a 1-carat pear diamond?

About 9 × 5.8 mm for a pear with classic proportions. The exact measurements are listed on the certificate.

Is the point of a pear diamond fragile?

The point is the thinnest part of the stone. In our settings, it is protected by a V-prong that wraps around it: you can wear your ring every day.

What is the best length-to-width ratio for a pear?

Between 1.50 and 1.70 for a classic pear. The best one is the one you like on your finger: during an appointment, we show you several proportions.

Pear or oval?

The oval is softer and more classic; the pear, with its point, is more distinctive and slims the finger even more. Both are the same price at Laveran.

How much does a 1-carat pear diamond solitaire cost?

At Laveran, €1,744 in H/VS2 quality, €2,096 in F/VS1 and €2,360 in D/VVS1, in 18k gold, with an IGI or GIA certificate.

Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?

Yes. It is pure carbon, with a hardness of 10 and the same optical properties as a mined diamond; only its origin differs. Each stone is IGI- or GIA-certified, with its number laser-inscribed.

Can I see the rings before buying?

Yes, in one of our 10 showrooms in France, by appointment only and with no obligation, or by video call. Each ring is then made in your size.

Other diamond shapes: round · oval · cushion · princess · marquise · emerald cut

Also discover: all our engagement rings · our diamond wedding bands · how to measure your ring size · caring for lab-grown diamond jewelry