written by Jessica
Is the Princess Cut Engagement Ring the Most Underrated Ring in 2025?
So you’re looking for a princess cut engagement ring.
Welcome to the blog, friend.
First of all—you’re getting engaged! We just want to take a moment to celebrate with you.
At this stage, you might be saving engagement ring styles on your Pinterest board, thinking about all the details ahead—when the proposal is happening, what you’ll be wearing, who to tell first, and so much more.
Deep breath.
This moment is about you and your partner, and it should be filled with joy. 💕
With that in mind, let’s dive in!
In this blog, we’ll cover:
✨ What the princess cut is
✨ How to style the princess cut engagement ring
✨ How to make it your own (because you don’t have to follow trends!)
The Rise, Fall, and Quiet Return of the Princess Cut Diamond Ring
For years, the princess cut engagement ring reigned as the second most popular diamond shape, right behind the round cut (which still holds the top spot today!).
In the engagement ring world, stone shapes are categorized as round vs. “fancy” cuts, and among the fancies, princess was once a strong contender. But over time, preferences shifted, and we now make princess cuts in much smaller quantities.
So what is a princess cut?
She's a modern day princess
She’s a geometric square. Those 90 degree angles give her a regal sophistication, and her brilliant cut gives her a bounce of fresh life. It’s giving Princess Diana.
It’s giving Meghan Markle. Below is the actual princess cut engagement ring we made for her character Rachel Zane on “Suits”!
Both the princess cut and an emerald cut have a strong geometric presence, but they achieve very different visual effects:
- Emerald Cut – Features a rectangular shape with a linear step-cut that creates a sleek, hall-of-mirrors effect, allowing you to see deep into the stone. Its elegance comes from its subtle, sophisticated flashes of light rather than intense sparkle.
- Princess Cut – Though also geometric, the princess cut has a brilliant faceting style, meaning it delivers intense, fiery sparkle rather than the structured reflections of an emerald cut.
For anyone that has a love for architectural design, more symmetry, you’re gonna get that with a princess cut.
How to style the princess cut engagement ring
So where did the princess cut…go?
In short, it’s just not flowing with the current wave of trends.
But here’s our hot take: it doesn’t matter if it’s not on trend. With every good trend, it goes out of style, then has a comeback!
Exhibit A.
Pear and marquise! For a good chunk back there we weren’t making engagement rings with pear or marquise cuts. But now we’re doing plenty.
What hasn’t made a comeback yet is the princess, but don’t let that mere fact stop you from choosing her for your engagement ring. Who said the crowd knows what they’re doing?
Exhibit B. (are we doing this right?)
Remember when margarine was a thing? Deemed to be a better alternative to butter? The tide then started to turn as margarine had its cons as well. But now some love margarine more than butter. I mean the debate could go on forever.
What we’re trying to say is don’t follow the trend.
This engagement ring is a reflection of your personal story, style and aesthetic.
Perhaps the problem is people don’t really know how to style the princess cut engagement ring. So let’s take you in and show you all the different ways you can style your princess.
Setting: Square or Kite?
Do you want your princess square, or kite set? A slight adjustment in the setting has a totally different effect. Take a look at these two styles!
princess CUT fEAT. CUSHION HALO
The softer princess 🧚♀️
Sometimes our clients will compare a square cushion to a princess. They love the shape of a square, but find the sharp angles of a princess cut engagement ring too angular.
The square cushion cut retains the square shape but features softer, bowed edges that create a gentler, more romantic feel—almost pillowy, like a cushion!
Okay we’re hearing something from across the screen👂
You’re saying “aren’t you guys Engage Studio? Don’t you do all things custom? What if I want the best of both worlds? The clean cut linear princess and some softer rounded lines in my engagement ring design?”
Well we’d say to that: great point. Great point indeed.
There’s a myriad of ways we can add some softness to a princess cut engagement ring!
We could include a halo design around the princess with rounded edges aka. cushion halo!
EXPERIEMENT WITH SIDE STONES!
You can incorporate different shapes around a princess cut.
Take a look at this design—we’ve maintained a strong linear aesthetic, but notice how the gradual slope of smaller stones creates a soft, cascading effect! This subtle transition balances the angular nature of the princess cut, preventing all the focus from being on its sharp geometry.
Prongs
Elements like colour and the prongs also play a role in shaping the overall look. These details not only complement the princess cut but also soften its appearance, creating a more harmonious design. And we love harmony.
The prongs are the key to keeping a princess-cut stone secure.
We usually recommend V-tip prongs for princess cuts because their sharp corners can be a potential weak point—V-tips provide excellent protection while maintaining a sleek look. Round-tip prongs are another option, though they need to be a bit chunkier to fully safeguard those delicate edges. Either way, it’s all about balancing security with style!
Perhaps asking where the princess cut went is not the right question. A better one might be: How can we create the perfect princess-cut engagement ring for you?
If you love the princess cut but feel a little intimidated, we’re here to reassure you—you have full agency over your own engagement ring design. Don’t let hesitation hold you back. We’ll guide you through the process, helping you explore different ways to make your princess-cut ring uniquely yours.
We strive to involve you deeply in the process by keeping you in the know so you can truly enjoy designing the ring. When you’re ready, get in touch and we’ll design the perfect princess cut engagement ring with you.
Visit us at our downtown Toronto location or virtually online!
