Does princess still feel current?
Square, sparkly, and unmistakably 2000s-classic. Here's how princess reads at true scale today.
What it actually looks like
Princess is a square brilliant — sharp corners, brilliant faceting, more per-carat weight tucked underneath than any other shape.
Face-up it looks smaller than a round of the same carat weight because more of the diamond hides in the depth. This is why princesses tend to feel like a value cut — you often need to size up a quarter carat to match the face-up presence.
The look is unmistakably 2000s and cyclically due for a comeback. It's clean, geometric, and works beautifully in a bezel or channel setting.
Princess carat-to-mm at true scale
Chevron facets and why they matter
Best settings: solitaire, four-prong, bezel
Princess vs. cushion vs. asscher
Princess size, at true scale
A 1ct princess is about 5.5 × 5.5mm — noticeably smaller face-up than a 1ct round. Size up to 1.25–1.5ct to get a comparable face-up presence.
FAQ
More shape
Oval engagement rings, at true scale.
Ovals stretch a stone's face and finger-flatter without shouting. Here's how each carat weight actually reads on a hand.
Read →Round brilliant, the one everyone starts with.
The most brilliant cut and the easiest to size in your head. See what a 1ct, 1.5ct, and 2ct round actually look like at true scale.
Read →Cushion cut, soft and romantic.
Cushions read pillowy and vintage. Here's how they compare face-up to round and oval at every carat weight.
Read →Emerald cut, quiet and architectural.
Emerald cuts read long and lean. See how each carat weight covers the finger and pairs with wedding bands.
Read →Pear cut, elegant and unmistakable.
Pears elongate the finger and photograph beautifully. Here's what to know about orientation, setting, and true scale.
Read →Radiant cut, brilliant and bold.
Radiants combine emerald-shape geometry with brilliant-cut sparkle. See how they compare at every carat weight.
Read →