Princess Cut Bridal Sets: How to Choose the Ring and the Wedding Band
A princess cut engagement ring has a square center stone with sharp corners and a lot of sparkle, and it looks especially clean when it's paired with a matching wedding band. A princess cut bridal set (the engagement ring and band made to go together) takes the guesswork out of finding a band that sits right. This guide covers what to look for in the stone, the setting and the band.
What is a princess cut?
The princess cut is a square (sometimes slightly rectangular) brilliant cut. Seen from the top it has four sharp corners. Underneath, its many facets are arranged to throw back a lot of light, which is why a princess cut often looks as bright as a round stone. Because it's square, it reads as modern and geometric, and it often shows a larger top surface than a round stone of the same carat weight.
Protecting the corners
The four points are the most delicate part of a princess cut, so the setting matters. Look for:
- V-prongs or corner prongs that wrap each point.
- A halo of small stones around the center, which frames the square and adds a layer of metal around the corners.
- A tension or tension-style setting, where the band ends hold two sides of the stone. Our tension ring guide explains how these work.
Choosing the stone
Our princess cut bridal sets come with three kinds of center stones:
- Moissanite: very hard (9.25 on the Mohs scale), with more fire than diamond, at the lowest price.
- Lab-grown diamond: chemically and physically a diamond, grown in a lab. Our certified lab-grown diamonds come with an IGI report.
- Natural diamond: mined diamond. Our certified natural diamonds come with a GIA report.
Not sure which is right for you? See moissanite vs. lab-grown diamond and IGI vs. GIA certification.
Which wedding band goes with a princess cut engagement ring?
This is one of the most searched questions about princess cut rings. The answer depends on how the engagement ring is built:
- Straight band: works when the center stone sits high enough that the band slides underneath it. This gives a clean, flush look, and a straight pavé or channel-set band echoes the square lines of the princess cut.
- Contoured or notched band: needed when the setting or halo sits low and a straight band would leave a gap. The band curves around the center so the two rings sit together.
- Matching set: the simplest option. In a bridal set, the band is designed alongside the engagement ring, so the fit, metal color and stone style already match.
Browse princess cut bridal sets to see engagement rings and their matching bands together.
Two bands, three rings
A popular way to wear a princess cut is between two bands, one on each side of the engagement ring. It makes the whole set look fuller and frames the square center stone. You can find these in our engagement rings with two bands collection.
Three princess cut stones
A three-stone ring sets three princess cuts in a row, usually a larger center with two smaller stones beside it. It's a classic way to get more sparkle across the finger and is often said to stand for past, present and future. Three-stone styles are among our princess cut engagement rings.
Metal and size
Our sets are made in solid 14K white, yellow or rose gold. White gold makes a colorless stone look its brightest, while yellow and rose gold give a warmer, vintage feel. Princess cut sets with a halo, tension or channel-set band can be hard to resize, so confirm your size before you order: our ring size guide walks you through it.
Shop princess cut bridal sets
See all princess cut bridal sets, or browse GIA certified natural diamond bridal sets and our full range of bridal ring sets. Every piece is handcrafted in Los Angeles and ships free in the US and Canada. Questions about a specific set? Call us at 310-486-8838 or email knrinc@att.net.