Marquis engagement rings are oval shaped diamonds which have both ends pointed. Marquis diamonds have 56 facets and are twice as long in length as their width. The 2 to 1, length to width ratio is considered ideal and something to think about when shopping for a marquis, as it will effect the sparkliness of the diamond. A good cut is important cut is also important in that it helps prevent the dreaded “bow tie” effect, whereby the center of the diamond is darker and has reduced brilliance. While the Marquis diamond is by no means my favorite shape, it boasts a number of cool properties:

1) It has a cool story behind it: The shape of the stone was said to be designed for Louis XIV of France who wanted a diamond fashioned after the Marquise de Pompadour’s smile.

2) The marquis diamond is considered one of the most flattering for the hand as it makes the finger look more slender

3) The stone may look bigger than it actually is. The marquis diamond not only has a large surface area but the elongated lines can make the carat size look larger than what you plunked down money for.

Yes, I’m a pear-hater. Perhaps I’ve been influenced by some of my friends who also don’t like the pear. I remember one time when an acquaintance of mine got engaged. My friend, who was closer to this person, forwarded me a picture of her pear diamond with a disparaging caption about the ring shape. All cattiness aside, everyone has different views on what looks good, so don’t let my taste unduly influence you.

The pear shaped diamond is considered to be a round brilliant diamond at one end and a marquise shape at the other. It is sometimes referred to as a tear drop due to its rounded side and pointed edge. A length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and 1.75 is typically considered most desirable for the pear. Just so you know, the pear-shaped diamond is less sparkly than the round brilliant, and loses more brilliance, if poorly proportioned. One thing in particular to avoid when shopping for a pear shape is the dreaded bow tie effect: a dark area in the middle of the diamond which looks just like a black bow tie. It is hard to avoid the bow tie effect completely with the pear. One nice thing about the pear is that it tends to make one’s fingers look slimmer.

I hope I’m not offending anyone by saying that I think heart shaped engagement rings are ugly. I used to wear rings with hearts on them in middle school, thus I connect heart shaped rings to a typically horrifying period in most anyone’s life. Plus, the symbolism of a heart shaped engagement ring lacks creativity. We already know you’re in love, if your wearing an engagement ring. At this point, your woman’s not only got your heart, but your savings account, freedom, and body, mind, and soul. You’re whipped. No need to let the world know this with a big, cheesy heart. Don’t get me wrong…there are plenty of heart-shaped diamond admirers. Some would say that the heart shape is the most romantic of all the diamonds. In fact, Joan Collins received a heart shaped engagement ring from her husband.

Hearts can either be wide or long. They are most similar to the pear shaped diamond but have a cleft at the top. When looking to purchase a heart, make sure the top arches are symmetrical in appearance. Assymmetrical hearts will look more like pears. When looking at other women’s ring fingers, you won’t see too many hearts. Hearts are less typically found in an engagement ring setting and more commonly seen in earrings or pendants. I will say one good thing about heart shapes: that they cost around 20%-25% less than round diamonds.

The author recently got married and sports a beautiful ascher cut diamond ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect engagement ring.

10k White Gold Garnet and Diamond Heart-shaped Ring $89.99 Click here for Ring Sizing ChartLovely garnet and diamond ringJewelry crafted of 10-karat gold

10k White Gold White Topaz and Diamond Heart-shaped Ring $103.99 Click here for Ring Sizing ChartLovely white topaz and diamond ringJewelry crafted of 10-karat gold

Sterling Silver 1/2ct TDW Red Diamond Heart Ring $179.99 Red diamond heart shape ringSterling silver jewelry Click here for ring sizing guide

18k Gold 7/8 ct TDW Certified Brown and White Diamond Pendant (G-H, VS1-VS2) $1599.99 18k Gold 7/8 ct TDW Certified Fancy Orange-Brown and White Diamond Heart-Shape Drop-style Pendant

10k White Gold 1/10ct TDW Diamond Heart Necklace (H-I, I2-I3) $111.99 Lovely necklace features a swirled heart glistening with fiery diamondsHeart-shaped pendant is the perfect gift of romance for your belovedJewelry is crafted of lustrous 10-karat white gold

14k Two-tone Gold 1/3ct TDW Heart Link Bracelet (H-J, I1-2) $410.99 Adorn your everyday look with this lovely 14-karat two-tone braceletAttractive jewelry sparkles with diamondsHeart-shaped yellow gold links and a tennis-style design make this an ideal accessory for a special occasion

Ateco 5357 11 Piece Plain Round Cutter Set $12.64 Complete with a tin storage box to reduce clutter, this set of 11 round, stainless-steel cookie cutters comes in handy for all seasons. The cutters range in size from 3/4 inch high to 3-5/8 inches high, and they have rolled edges on top to protect fingers during the cutting process. They’re constructed to be long-lasting and are dishwasher-safe. –Fred Brack…

Fox Run Texas Hold’em Cookie Cutter Set $6.99 Add a little fun to your next poker party with this 6 piece poker themed cookie cutter set from Fox Run. The shapes include a heart, diamond, spade, club, poker chip and dollar sign. Perfect for cutting out cookies, jell-o, brownies or even using for crafts….

LARGE 3D DIAMOND Wedding Candy Mold Chocolate $1.75 This is a first quality, tough plastic mold. It is durable and reusable. It is not machine washable. Suitable for chocolate and soap making as well as plaster and concrete crafting. FDA approved….

DRG Records 25th Anniversary: Show-Stopping Performances from Original Cast Albums $7.27 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Glam Rock $29.06 Forever Young CollectionSynthetic Fashion Wig Fiber Type: SyntheticCap Style: StandardCap Size: Average Length: Bangs 5.5″ • Crown 14.25″ • Sides & Back 13″ Color Shown: 1B Looks best on the following faces shapes: Oval, Round, Diamond, Heart, Oblong Glam Rock: A punky and edgy style with razor textured face framing layers. This modern shag is sure to bring out your rocker side while still being…