Emerald-Cut Diamond Engagement Ring: The Complete Guide

An emerald-cut diamond is a rectangle with cut corners and step-cut facets. It is not the green stone: it is a white diamond whose cut was originally invented for emeralds. Its long parallel facets create a mirror effect, elegant and distinctly Art Deco, for an engagement ring of great restraint. In this guide: how to choose an emerald-cut diamond (clarity, color, proportions), what size to expect for each carat weight, which setting and which wedding band, and how much an emerald-cut diamond ring costs. All our rings feature IGI- or GIA-certified lab-grown diamonds, in 18k gold or platinum, to try on in our 10 showrooms in France.

Contents
Why this diamond · Size and carat: the table · What to check · Comparing shapes · Which setting · Which metal · Which wedding band · Price · FAQ

Why choose an emerald-cut diamond?

• A different kind of brilliance. Rather than sparkling in a thousand points, it returns broad flashes of light, like a hall of mirrors.
• Timeless elegance. Straight lines, cut corners: it is the most understated and most Art Deco of shapes.
• It looks large. Its wide table and rectangular outline offer a generous visible surface that elongates the finger.
• It is sturdy for everyday wear. Its cut corners (the “canted corners”) avoid fragile points.
• It showcases clarity. Its transparency reveals a diamond as clear as water: it is the connoisseur’s shape.

Emerald-cut diamond: size, carat and price

Carat measures weight, not size. The table below gives the usual dimensions of an emerald-cut diamond with classic proportions (length-to-width ratio of about 1.40), along with the price of our Montaigne emerald-cut solitaire in 18k gold, for each of our three diamond qualities.

The emerald cut is especially beautiful from 1 carat: its large facets and mirror effect are all the more striking as the stone gets bigger.

Choosing your emerald-cut diamond: 5 points to check

1. Clarity, above all

This is the golden rule of the emerald cut. Its large, transparent facets reveal everything inside the stone: an inclusion invisible in a round diamond can show here. We recommend VS1 clarity or better; a VS2 can work if you check that it is eye-clean.

2. Color

Step-cut facets also show more color. In white gold or platinum, choose F or D; in yellow or rose gold, an H color remains a good choice. We offer three qualities: H/VS2, F/VS1 and D/VVS1. For this shape, F/VS1 quality is often the best balance.

3. The length-to-width ratio

Between 1.30 and 1.50, you get the classic emerald cut, with around 1.40 to 1.45 for the most elegant. Closer to 1, it becomes almost square (this is then called an Asscher cut).

4. Even steps

The facets should be parallel and even, and the four canted corners identical. This is what gives a crisp, deep mirror effect. It is judged by looking at the stone under good light.

5. Depth

An emerald cut that is too deep looks dark in the center and small for its weight. Check the dimensions on the certificate: about 7 × 5 mm for 1 carat. To read a certificate in detail, see our article on lab-grown diamond certification.

Emerald cut or oval?

Both elongated shapes slim the finger, but their light is very different. The oval, a brilliant cut, sparkles; the emerald cut plays on broad, crisp, more understated reflections. Compared with the princess, another angular shape, it is calmer and more elegant. At Laveran, all our Montaigne solitaires are the same price for the same carat weight and quality. Here is how the emerald cut compares:

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

Which setting for an emerald-cut diamond?

• The solitaire with four prongs highlights the stone’s clean lines: this is the Montaigne emerald-cut, from €880.
• The pavé band adds sparkle around a more understated stone: this is the Vendôme emerald-cut, from €1,280.
• The halo frames the rectangle with a line of diamonds, very Art Deco: this is the Odéon emerald-cut, from €1,480.
• More original: the Saint Paul emerald-cut, from €1,280.

Vertical or horizontal? The emerald cut is traditionally worn along the length of the finger. Set horizontally (east-west), it becomes very graphic: we make this version on request.

Yellow, white, rose gold or platinum?

All our rings are available in 18k yellow, white or rose gold, and in 950 platinum. Platinum and white gold enhance the clarity of the emerald cut; yellow gold gives it a very chic Art Deco look; rose gold a softer touch. Platinum is the densest and most durable of the four. To compare them all, see the differences between yellow, rose and white gold.

Which wedding band with an emerald-cut ring?

An emerald cut calls for clean lines. A baguette diamond wedding band, its stones also step-cut, extends its mirror effect perfectly: this is the Montaigne Baguette Diamond Wedding Band. A pavé band of round diamonds, by contrast, adds sparkle. To know in which order to wear them, see in which order to wear an engagement ring and wedding band.

And in color?

The emerald cut also comes in colored diamonds: our Odéon ring is available with a blue, pink or yellow emerald-cut stone. To learn more, read our article on colored lab-grown diamonds, or our article dedicated to the emerald-cut engagement ring.

How much does an emerald-cut diamond ring cost?

At Laveran, an emerald-cut 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: the carat weight, the diamond quality (H/VS2, F/VS1 or D/VVS1), the setting and the metal. The table above gives the details carat by carat.

A lab-grown diamond costs significantly less than a mined diamond of the same size and quality, which often allows you to choose a more generous carat weight for the same budget. To go further: 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 details each of the 4Cs.

How does buying at 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 emerald-cut 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

Is an emerald-cut diamond an emerald?

No. It is a white diamond, cut in a shape originally invented for emeralds: a rectangle with cut corners and step-cut facets.

How big is a 1-carat emerald-cut diamond?

About 7 × 5 mm with classic proportions. The exact measurements are listed on the certificate.

Why choose a higher clarity for an emerald cut?

Because its large, transparent facets let you see inside the stone. VS1 clarity or better ensures a limpid diamond.

Does an emerald-cut diamond sparkle less?

It shines differently: less sparkle, but broad, crisp flashes, like a mirror. It is a more understated brilliance that many find more elegant.

What is the difference from the Asscher cut?

The Asscher cut is a square version of the emerald cut. The classic emerald cut is rectangular, with a length-to-width ratio of about 1.40.

How much does a 1-carat emerald-cut 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 · pear · marquise

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