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    Pear Shaped Diamonds: Everything You Need to Know

    Whether your shopping for a pear shaped or a well-deserved pear ring present to yourself, we're here with everything you need to know about pear shaped diamonds! Keep reading for:

    • What is a pear shaped diamond

    • Why we love them

    • How to choose a pear shaped diamond

    • Pear shaped diamond Q & A

    • Our favorite pear shaped custom rings we've made

    • Famous teardrop engagement rings

    WHAT IS A PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND?

    As you might have guessed, a pear shaped diamond (also known as a teardop diamond) is shaped just like a pear, except with a much pointier tip. A fancy shaped diamond, pear diamonds marry the outrageous sparkle of a round diamonds with the elongated glamour of an oval diamondor marquise diamond.

    WHY WE LOVE PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS

    PEAR DIAMONDS SPARKLE SHAMELESSLY

    As a brilliant cut, a pear cut diamond is made to sparkle.Compared to other diamonds like step cuts, a pear diamond is a glitter bomb that shimmers and shines in every light. They're not quite as sparkly as a round diamond, but they come very close!

    PEAR CUT DIAMONDS GIVE YOU MORE DIAMOND FOR YOUR DOLLAR

    Pear cut diamonds are less expensive per carat than most other diamond cuts, meaning you get a bigger diamond for your budget! Yes, please.

    pear shaped engagement ring

    Pear diamond ring

    WHY ARE PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS CHEAPER?

    The pear diamond uses more of the rough diamond when cutting, meaning less waste and a lower price for you! Not to mention, less waste = more sustainable, which we're all for.

    PEAR DIAMONDS ARE FINGER FLATTERING

    With their elongated proportions, pear diamonds can slim and lengthen the look of your finger - they're the LBD of diamond rings.

    PEAR CUT DIAMONDS ARE VERSATILE

    Unlike most diamonds which look the same no matter which way you wear them, the perfectly assymmetrical shape of a pear diamond means you get two looks in one - wear it tip side down or flip it around for a different look. It's two in one with a pear shaped engagement ring.

    PEAR CUT DIAMONDS LOOK BIGGER

    Thanks to their shape, pear cut diamonds look bigger than a round diamond of the same carat weight. And it's not just an illusion - the diamond top is actually about 8% bigger!

    A PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND IS A UNIQUE CHOICE

    If you like to do things differently like us, you'll love a pear shape diamond. While they're a timeless and incredibly elegant cut, pear cut diamonds are still a uncommon choice, making up only 4% of all diamonds sold worldwide.

    WHAT ARE THE CONS OF A PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND?

    Every set of pros has it cons and pear cut diamonds have a few potential hiccups to keep in mind:

    PEAR CUT DIAMONDS ARE MORE PRONE TO DAMAGE

    Thanks to their pointed tip, pear cut diamonds can get chipped much easier than round or oval cut diamonds. Having said that, a well-made setting with a claw prong or v-shape prong at the tip will mitigate this risk in your pear engagement ring.

    IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A GREAT PEAR CUT DIAMOND

    Pear cut diamonds are a bit of an enigma - it's not easy to find a great one. The diamond industry is flooded with poorly cut pears so it takes some expert sifting to find that pear shape diamond unicorn. Having said that, that's what we're here for! We will find you the teardrop diamond of your dreams - whatever your dream may be!


    HOW TO CHOOSE A PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND - THE 4CS

    PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND - CLARITY

    Clarity measures inclusions and blemishes in a diamond. Like other brilliant cut diamonds, pear diamonds hides imperfections well. That means you can opt for a lower clarity grade vs other diamonds cuts and still get an eye-clean diamond. With less money spent on clarity, more of your budget can go towards the most important factor - cut.

    The goal here is to find the lowest clarity grade that still looks eye-clean. The highest clarity grades are exponentially more expensive, and it's really not worth paying more for a difference that only be seen under intense magnification.

    Generally, an SI1 or SI2 pear shaped diamond (and all grades above that) will be eye-clean. As a diamond gets larger, inclusions become more apparent, so if you're splurging for a stone over 2 carats, you'll likely want to move up the clarity scale to stay in the eye-clean range.

    Inclusions near the pointed tip or along the edge of a pear shaped diamond are very difficult to see, whereas inclusions near the center of the diamond are more noticeable. Also, black inclusions are more noticeable than white ones (unless you're looking for a salt and pepper diamond, then embrace those cosmic flecks!).

    Champagne pear shaped diamond ring

    Of course, every diamond is different so use these parameters as loose guidelines and work with an expert jeweler to find the most beautiful diamond for your budget.  

    The GIA clarity scale

    • Flawless (FL) - No inclusions or blemishes can be seen with 10× magnification

    • Internally Flawless (IF) - No inclusions (but some blemishes) can be seen with 10x magnification

    • Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) - Inclusions are difficult to see under 10× magnification

    • Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) - Minor inclusions can be seen under 10x magnification

    • Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) - Noticeable inclusions under 10x magnification

    • Included (I1, I2, and I3) - Obvious inclusions under 10× magnification

    PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND - COLOR

    Diamonds are graded for color by the GIA from D (colorless) to Z (champagne).

    Diamond color is subjective and looks different in every stone, so whether you're searching for a bright white diamond or a golden champagne diamond, pick the diamond you love the look of first, and worry about stats second.

    Having said that, pear shaped diamonds show color differences more than round brilliant diamonds, so keep that in mind when comparing color grades.

    PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND - CUT

    The most important C of all, 'cut' is the true predictor of a diamond's beauty. A well-cut diamond will sparkle and shine with a magical blend of white and colored light.

    Like all fancy shaped diamonds, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) doesn't give pear cut diamonds an overall cut grade like they do for round brilliant diamonds. That means alot more research and vetting is needed to find the well-cut diamond of your dreams. Your best bet: work with an expert jeweler to ensure you get the highest cut quality for your pear shaped engagement ring.

    If you want to shop stones solo, peruse the chart below to see the recommended cut quality standards for pear cut diamonds.

    Recommended proportions for a pear shaped diamond

    Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

    Table %

    57 - 62

    55 - 63

    53 - 64

    Outside Ranges

    Outside Ranges

    Depth %

    58 - 64

    56 - 67.5

    54 - 69

    Outside Ranges

    Outside Ranges

    Polish/Symmetry

    Excellent

    Very Good

    Good

    Outside Ranges

    Outside Ranges

    Length to Width

    1.45-1.55

    1.40-1.44 or1.56-1.65

    1.35-1.39 or1.66-1.80

    1.25 - 1.34 or 1.81 - 2.00

    >1.25 or<2.00

    Girdle

    Thin to Thick

    Thin to Thick

    Very Thin to Thick

    Very Thin to Very Thick

    Extremely Thin to Extremely Thick

    Culet

    None

    Very Small

    Small

    Outside Ranges

    Outside Ranges

    THE BOW TIE EFFECT IN PEAR CUT DIAMONDS

    Well-cut diamonds reflect light throughout the stone without any glaring blocks. Poorly cut pear cut diamonds can have a dark bow-tie-eqsue section in the centre of the stone which prevents light from reflecting through that spot.

    Some bow ties are less obvious while others are very distracting. The main takeaway: you want to ensure any bow tie region still sparkles and allows light to pass through. This is yet another reason why a diamond's visual appearance is more important than its grading report - a glaring bow tie does not show up on a grading report. You need to see a diamond in motion and in different lights (or have your trusted jeweler do so) to know the full picture, including any bow tie issues.

    SYMMETRY IN PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS

    The most aesthetic teardrop diamonds are symmetrical in shape. It's one of those things you might not notice directly, you'll just feel the diamond is somehow off. How to tell if a pear diamond is symmetrical: if the pointed end aligns with the center of the rounded side, your diamond is symmetrical. Of course, you can also find this in a GIA report!

    IDEAL PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND LENGTH TO WIDTH RATIO

    The ideal length to width ratio for a pear cut diamond falls somewhere between 1.55 to 1.75. Having said that, this is entirely up to your personal preference - pick the pear that feels perfect to you! Pear diamonds are a stone on their own with no rules. Some people love an ultra elongated marquise-esque pear, others enjoy a chubbier pear profile, and the rest fall somewhere in the goldilocks middle region. We've made custom pear shaped engagement rings with every shape of pear, and all garner compliments the world over.

    HOW TO CHOOSE A PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND: SUMMARY

    1. Start with cut - choose the highest quality cut your budget allows. Work with a trusted jeweler or peruse our cut guide chart above to start your search.

    2. For a colorless diamond set in white gold, start at H (and up) on the GIA color scale. If you're choosing a yellow gold, rose gold, or peach gold setting, you can get away with a lower color grade. Keep in mind, every diamond is different and stats don't tell the whole story.

    3. Choose the clarity grade that corresponds with an eye-clean diamond. Pear shape diamonds hide blemishes well so you can usually pick a lower grade and direct your budget towards more important factors, like cut for your pear engagemet ring.

    4. Consider the length to width ratio: start by looking in the 1.55 to 1.75 range but be open to any proportions that catch your eye.  

    Pear shaped engagement ring with pink sapphire side stones

    YOUR PEAR CUT DIAMOND QUESTIONS ANSWERED

    HOW RARE ARE PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS?

    Pear diamonds make up only about 4% of the diamonds on the market, making them a deliciously rare and unique choice.

    WHAT RING GOES WITH PEAR SHAPE?

    Honestly your options are endless when it comes to picking a wedding band or stacking ring for your pear diamond! The best place to start: check if your ring stackable or not. Stackable rings have a raised head allowing straight bands to slide underneath the setting, whereas non-stackable rings sit flush to the finger. For non-stackable rings, you'll want a tiara band, chevron band, or open cuff band to frame your diamond.

    If you're on team #moreismore with us, go for both! To the left is an example of a non-stackable ring with a diamond tiara band on top and a diamond open cuff band on the bottom.

    For more on how to find a matching wedding band for your engagement ring, read our blog!

    ARE PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS MORE EXPENSIVE?

    Pear shaped diamonds are about 10 - 30% less expensive than round brilliant diamonds of the same carat weight. So, if you'd like a bigger diamond for your budget, befriend a pear shaped diamond.

    IS A PEAR DIAMOND GOOD?

    Pear shaped diamonds are a stunning and unique diamond cut. They look bigger than other diamonds cuts and are noticeably less expensive than the more popular round brilliant diamond.

    WHAT DOES A PEAR SHAPED DIAMOND SYMBOLIZE?

    Pear shaped diamonds symbolize distinctiveness and confidence. They're the diamonds worn by effortlessly chic trendsetters the world over. On a more romantic note, the teardrop shape is said to symbolize tears of joy - aww.

    IS PEAR OR OVAL CUT DIAMOND BETTER?

    Both incredibly sparkly and elongated brilliant cut diamonds, the choice comes down to what you love best! A couple things to keep in mind if you're just not sure:

    • Pear shaped diamonds are more prone to chipping thanks to the pointed tip. A well-made setting will mostly mitigate this risk however.

    • Pear shaped diamonds look larger than oval cut diamonds of the same carat weight.

    • Oval cut diamonds usually have slightly better brilliance (white light reflection) than pear shaped diamonds.

    Is a 2 carat pear diamond too big?

    The size of your diamond is completely up to you and don't let anyone tell you a stone is too big or too small! Because pear diamonds look larger than other diamonds, a 2 carat pear diamond will look substantial with some satisfying finger coverage. It's all about what you love - whether you're a fan of dainty engagement rings or statement-making knuckle duster pear engagement rings.

    What is the ideal cut for a pear diamond?

    The ideal length to width ratio for a pear cut diamond is between 1.55 to 1.75 - those who like a chunkier pear diamond should stay on the lower end of that ratio and those who love an elongated length can opt for the higher end of the ratio.

    What is the best clarity for a pear shaped diamond?

    The goal for clarity is eye-clean, meaning you can't see any inclusions with the naked eye. So, to maximize size for your budget, choose the lowest possible clarity grade that still appears eye-clean. Pear diamonds, as a brilliant cut, hide inclusions fairly well so you can usually opt for a lower clarity grade when compared to other diamond cuts. Read our Complete Guide to Diamond Clarity for more on choosing the right clarity grade for you.  

    Why not buy a pear shaped diamond?

    Thanks to their sharply pointed tip, pear shaped diamonds are more delicate than other diamonds cuts, however a well-made setting will mitigate risk of damage. It's also more difficult to find a well-cut pear shaped diamond, however they do exist!

    Salt and pepper pear cut diamond ring

    Geo cut pear shaped diamond ring with diamond bezel

    OUR FAVORITE SETTING FOR PEAR CUT ENGAGEMENT RINGS

    Whether you're looking for a pear shaped engagement ring or teardrop diamond treat-yourself ring, there are two settings we favor for pear diamonds:

    FIVE PRONG SETTING

    This setting allows the stone to shine its brightest with minimal diamond coverage and protects the delicate diamond tip with that fifth prong. It's minimal, chic, and perfectly secure.

    HALO SETTING

    There's something so mesmerizing about a pear shaped diamond surrounded by a glittering diamond halo - it's vintage yet timeless and opulent yet chic. Not to mention, your stone is seriously secure and protected in this setting style.

    THE MOST FAMOUS Pear shaped ENGAGEMENT RINGS

    While the queen of chic, Victoria Beckham has 15 engagement rings (yes, you read that right) from David Beckham, one of the most spectacular is her 17-carat pear engagement ring with a platinum pavé band.

    Our favorite Barbie, Margot Robbie said yes in 2016 to a 1.5 carat pear shaped engagement ring with a half pavé band from her now hubby Tom Ackerley.

    Not an engagement ring, but a history-making ring nonetheless, was Elizabeth Taylor's 69.42(!!) carat pear shaped engagement ring casually gifted to her by Richard Burton after an argument. It was later re-set into a necklace as it was too heavy to wear on her finger - for real!


    Thinking of creating your own pear engagement ring? Book a free consult with us to talk diamonds and designs!

    Browse our full selection of loose pear shaped diamonds (and every other shape under the sun) from Misfit Diamonds here. 


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