Say the words engagement ring and the first thing that often comes to mind is the classic ring, the brilliant-cut round solitaire, most often set in a white gold mount on a yellow gold band. But the times are changing and other cuts are becoming the new trend. Bloomberg has a report on diamond cut trends for engagement rings. While the round is still the most popular shape, research from the Diamond Information Center reports that square cuts are now a full 30 percent of the market up from just nine percent in 1999.

Why the squares? Part of it is that celebrity brides have been spotted wearing cushion cuts, Asscher cuts and other more squared stones. Also today's advanced cutting techniques can deliver as much fire and brilliance from a square cut stone as a round one. The round stone also has the reputation of being both classic and perhaps a bit staid. A quote from Tracy Lantz of the Diamond Information Center used in the article gives another clue behind the trend. Lantz says that she received a round stone for her first engagement ring and now on her second marriage she wanted something different. I think the round is often the first engagement ring, the ring of the of the young bride whereas the older bride, with a craving for something different, and perhaps a groom with a bit more cash to spend opts for a squared cut such as the Tiffany Novo shown above.

Square cuts aren't exactly new, even Marilyn Monroe sung about them in the song "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" saying "square-cut or pear-shaped, these rocks don't lose their shape." The pear shape however, has fallen out of favor lately.