What Your Engagement Ring Says About You

  

Round

The look: Also known as brilliant-cut, this tried-and-true shape reflects more light than any other, and is the most popular. Avril Lavigne showed her traditional side by wearing a round diamond engagement ring.

This choice says you're: Trustworthy and easygoing.

  

Emerald

The look: Inspired by the Asscher, this glamorous choice is also a rectangular step-cut shape. It has fewer facets than some of the other shapes, so look for an emerald-cut that offers maximum brilliance.

This choice says you're: Efficient and straightforward.

  

Cushion

The look: Rectangular with curved sides, the cushion-cut first hit big in the 18th century. A recent resurgence in popularity has given it a modern-meets-vintage feel. Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Garner a cushion-cut rock.

This choice says you're: Organized and daring.

  

Princess

The look: This relatively new square shape, with a modern, understated feel, combines a sparkly, brilliant effect with a geometric step-cut. You can attribute its spectacular glitter to extra faceting around the rim.

This choice says you're: Decisive and fun-loving.

 

Heart

The look: This century-old shape, symbolizing love and devotion, should be well proportioned for optimum sparkle. Kid Rock proposed to Pamela Anderson with a yellow heart-shaped diamond.

This choice says you're: Sentimental and dreamy.

  

Pear

The look: Resembling a teardrop, a pear-shaped diamond has the fire and beauty of a round shape, but with a less conventional look. This shape can also make a wide finger look slimmer.

This choice says you're: Even-tempered and adaptable.

 

Oval

The look: If you love the gorgeous sparkle of a round, brilliant-cut diamond but still want something unique, consider an oval. A fresh take on a timeless style, this new shape came about in the early 1960s. Actor Jerry O'Connell recently gave his betrothed fashionista, Rebecca Romijn, an oval-shaped sparkler.

This choice says you're: Risk-taking and creative.

 

Asscher

The look: Square with angular corners, this shape dates back to the late 1800s. If you look closely, you'll see that it's step-cut, meaning the facets are rectangular and seem to descend into the stone.

This choice says you're: Feminine and meticulous.

Diamonds by the Numbers

73: Percentage of brides who help choose or affect the choice of engagement ring.

4: Average number of jewelry stores those brides visit.

$2,600: Average amount spent on an engagement ring.

50: Percentage of diamond engagement rings that include round diamonds. The runner-up: square shapes like princess and emerald-cut. The biggest rise in popularity has been in vintage-inspired shapes like cushion and Asscher.

Photos courtesy of Blue Nile