What Is a Princess Cut Diamond?
The princess cut is a square (sometimes slightly rectangular) diamond with sharp 90° corners and brilliant faceting — 57–76 facets. Developed in the 1960s–70s to deliver round-brilliant fire in a clean modern silhouette, with a distinctive X-pattern flash.
- Best value — uses ~80% of the rough crystal (vs 40–50% for round), so it costs 15–25% less per carat than round.
- Corner integrity — sharp, undamaged corners are critical and structurally vulnerable; we verify before every center stone.
- Best ratio — 1.00–1.05 for a true square, up to 1.10 for slightly elongated.
Why ATL Luxury Jewelers for Your Princess Engagement Ring
We hold every princess center stone to GIA or comparable certification and source both natural and lab-grown princess cut diamonds across the full color (D–J) and clarity (FL–SI2) range. Every ring includes lifetime cleaning, prong-tightening, and rhodium-plating service. For matching wedding bands, see diamond wedding bands.
Princess Cut Engagement Rings by Carat — 1ct, 2ct, 3ct
Princess cut pricing runs 15–25% lower per carat than equivalent round brilliants because the cut wastes less rough diamond during shaping. Common princess sizes:
- 1 carat — compact but solid on the finger. $3,200–$8,500 natural ($1,500–$4,000 lab-grown) at G color / VS2 clarity.
- 2 carat — statement size with crisp geometric presence. $9,000–$25,000 natural ($4,000–$10,500 lab-grown).
- 3 carat — milestone size with dramatic geometric impact. ($8,500–$20,000 lab-grown). At 3ct+ we use heavy V-prongs to shield the sharp 90-degree corners.
