Engagement and diamonds are inseparable. Diamonds are rare and so is true love. And giving something precious to someone even more precious is one of the best gifts ever. That's where the engagement ring steps in. Even within the diamond ring circuit, (an obviously popular choice) there's a new and rapidly upcoming contender, the pear shaped engagement ring. Yes, these rings are truly unique in style and appearance. Whether they are antique or the more contemporary ones, they are gorgeous in all forms. Let's start from the beginning. What exactly is a pear shaped engagement ring? As you may have already guessed, it's a ring which has a pear shaped diamond set in it. This ring is called by different names, such as the marquise, teardrop or a combination of oval and round. The most famous pear shaped engagement ring was perhaps the one that Richard Burton gave to Elizabeth Taylor, which sold for a whopping $3 million! The distinct shape of this ring is what makes it a favorite among celebrities too. It is said that this special style of ring was invented in Belgium in the 15th Century. The genius creator of this ring was Lodewyk van Berquem. Since then, women have adorned their fingers with this stunning ring. Many women wonder about which way to wear this ring because of its shape: whether the tapering end should face towards the body or away from the body. Well, here's the answer. Because it has such a distinct shape, the method of wearing it depends entirely on the woman wearing it. Wearing it facing away from the body definitely makes the finger looks longer and more slender, while wearing it facing the body may make it seem closer to the heart. The best part about this ring is that it can match almost any diamond jewelry and looks great with formal and casual clothing. Buying an engagement ring must always be done with utmost care. And for a pear shaped ring, even more. There are certain specifications required for a pear shaped diamond, which need to be taken care of, in order to have the perfect precious pear shaped gemstone. These specifications are mentioned below.

• The stone should have 58 individual aspects/facets.
• The bottom of the 'pear' should have a distinct arch to it. Some jewelers avoid this to increase the karat count. Make sure yours has the arch!
• The most suitable ratio of the length of the diamond to its width is, on an average, somewhere between, 1.50 to 1.70.
• All the sides of the diamond should be symmetrical. You can judge this even by just looking at it.
• When you look at the stone from any angle, if you see the formation of a blackish bow tie effect at the center, ask the jeweler to cut the stone more, to slightly reduce this effect.
• The point of the pear should be sharp. However, it should be duly concealed in a V-shaped prong to protect the stone and the wearer.
• Most solitaires are set with 3 prongs, but because of its pear shape, this ring should ideally have 6 prongs.
• Gold or platinum are the best bases to enhance and swank its stunning beauty.

Most women will go for pear shaped engagement rings with side stones, but I think the ones with pave diamonds give a more classy look. Another question to answer is how and what kind of wedding bands are the best option for these? Well, you can go for a simple band in gold or platinum for your wedding. Wear the wedding ring first, and then the engagement ring. This keeps the wedding ring closer to your heart. So, that's almost everything you need to know about these rings. I'm guessing you're almost halfway out the door by now! Sparkle away!