Pear Engagement Rings

The pear cut — also called the teardrop — is a hybrid shape, combining the pointed tip of a marquise with the rounded base of an oval. Set with the point facing away from the hand, it elongates the finger noticeably; set point-down toward the palm, it reads as a more enclosed, contemporary silhouette. This collection brings together 268 made-to-order pear engagement rings, spanning classic solitaire settings, shoulder-set three-stone designs, and ornate halo arrangements, each finished at our Hatton Garden workshop and hallmarked at the London Assay Office.

Centre stones in this collection are available as certified diamonds, coloured diamonds or gemstones — the pear cut suits a wide range of materials, and several pieces here demonstrate that range directly. The Luxe Rhiannon Three Stone Sapphire Engagement Ring (£1,771) sets a pear-cut sapphire between two round accent stones; the Arden Diamond Ring with Lab Emerald Accents (£1,312) pairs a pear diamond with emerald shoulders; and for clients drawn to the classic colourless diamond, the Lumiere Diamond Engagement Ring (£1,312) offers a clean solitaire profile. Every diamond over 0.10ct is independently certified by GIA, IGI or HRD.

Every ring is made to order following a fixed process: CAD design, a silver or wax sample reviewed at the Hatton Garden showroom, casting, setting, hand-finishing, polishing, and hallmarking. Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation. All orders include complimentary insured UK delivery, free resizing for life, and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Bespoke and engraved orders are not returnable; all other orders carry a 30-day return window.

What is a pear-shaped engagement ring?

A pear-shaped engagement ring uses a pear-cut stone — one with 58 facets, a rounded base, tapering shoulders, and a single pointed culet — as its centre stone. The cut was developed in the fifteenth century and has remained continuously in production since, passing in and out of fashion without ever disappearing from fine jewellery entirely. It is sometimes called a teardrop cut, though the two terms refer to the same shape.

The pear is classified as a modified brilliant, meaning its facet arrangement is derived from the round brilliant but reconfigured to fill an asymmetric outline. Light return is high — closer to an oval or round than to a step-cut like an emerald or Asscher — but the shape demands precise proportioning. A well-cut pear has a length-to-width ratio between 1.45:1 and 1.75:1; ratios outside this range produce a stone that appears either too squat or implausibly elongated. Selecting a certified stone from GIA, IGI or HRD is the most reliable way to confirm the cut grade and proportions before purchase.

How a pear diamond looks on the hand

The pear's most practical advantage is finger elongation. Set point-up toward the nail, the stone's visual axis runs along the finger, making both the finger and the stone appear longer than their measurements suggest. A 1.00ct pear measures roughly 8.5mm × 5.5mm — noticeably larger in face-up area than a 1.00ct round at 6.4mm diameter. This size-to-carat ratio is one of the main reasons the shape has maintained a following among buyers who want visible presence without moving to a higher carat weight.

One characteristic specific to the pear is a phenomenon called the bow-tie effect — a dark shadow visible across the centre of the stone when light enters at a steep angle. It is present in most pear-cut diamonds to some degree; a well-cut stone minimises it so that it reads as depth rather than shadow. The bow-tie cannot be assessed from a certificate alone and is worth examining in person or in high-resolution video before committing to a specific stone. Every diamond in this collection can be reviewed at our Hatton Garden showroom before the order is confirmed.

Best settings for a pear-shaped diamond

The claw setting is the most common choice for a pear, and for practical reasons: the pointed tip is the most structurally vulnerable part of the stone, and a dedicated claw at the apex — sometimes called a V-claw or V-prong — protects it without obscuring the shape. A five-claw arrangement (two at the shoulders, two at the sides, one at the point) is standard; some designs use six claws for additional security on larger stones.

Three-stone settings complement the pear particularly well because the tapering outline creates natural space at the shoulder for smaller accent stones. The Luxe Rhiannon Three Stone Lab Emerald Engagement Ring (£1,705) and the Secret Garden Lab Emerald and Diamond Engagement Ring (£2,138) both illustrate how the pear's outline reads differently when framed by accent stones versus left unframed. Pavé shoulders — as in the Begonia Vine Diamond Engagement Ring (£2,426) — add surface light without changing the centre stone's silhouette. Halo settings are less common for pears than for rounds or cushions, because the pointed tip requires additional metalwork to frame accurately, though several designs in this collection achieve it cleanly.

How much does a pear engagement ring cost in the UK?

Within this collection, prices begin at £977 for the Ballad Three-Quarter Coverage Diamond Engagement Ring and rise to £2,793 for the Luxe Secret Garden Diamond Engagement Ring. Prices are principally driven by total diamond weight, metal choice and setting complexity. A 0.50ct pear solitaire in 9ct gold sits toward the lower end; a 1.00ct+ pear in 18ct gold or 950 platinum with pavé shoulders or a three-stone arrangement sits in the £2,000–£4,500 range, depending on the stone's certification grade and cut quality.

UK buyers spent an average of £2,247 on an engagement ring in 2026 (Bridebook), and the majority of designs in this collection sit within that range. The pear's size-to-carat advantage can make a meaningful difference at a fixed budget — a 0.80ct pear will appear visually comparable to a 1.00ct round at a meaningfully lower price point, simply because the elongated outline covers more finger area. For clients considering coloured stones, pear-cut sapphires and emeralds are available across several designs in this collection at prices that compare favourably to a diamond of equivalent visual weight.

Sizing and proportion: a carat-to-mm guide

Pear diamonds are measured across their longest and widest points, and the face-up area is what determines how large the stone appears in the setting. As a working reference: a 0.50ct pear measures approximately 7.0mm × 4.5mm; a 0.75ct stone measures around 8.0mm × 5.0mm; a 1.00ct stone runs roughly 8.5mm × 5.5mm. These figures vary by cut — a shallow-cut pear will have a larger face-up area at the same carat weight, though it may sacrifice depth and fire.

Length-to-width ratio is the most useful proportioning measure. A ratio of 1.50:1 produces a compact, modern pear; 1.60:1 is the most widely considered balanced; 1.70:1 and above gives a distinctly elongated silhouette. Personal preference is the final arbiter, but for clients selecting remotely, reviewing a stone's measurements from its GIA, IGI or HRD certificate and comparing it to a printed scale drawing at the intended ring size is a reliable way to calibrate expectations before committing to the setting.

Made to order at President Jewellers

Every pear engagement ring in this collection is made to order in our UK workshop. Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation — simpler solitaires complete toward the faster end; three-stone arrangements, pavé shoulders and bespoke commissions tend toward fourteen days. The process begins with a CAD rendering for approval, then a silver or wax sample is prepared for a try-on appointment at our Hatton Garden showroom, where the profile and proportions can be assessed on the hand before any precious metal is cast. Setting, finishing, polishing and hallmarking at the London Assay Office follow before insured UK delivery completes the order.

If you are bringing a loose certified diamond or gemstone, the stone is delivered separately within 5–7 working days; setting it into the ring moves the project to the 7–14 working day timetable. For bespoke requests — a specific stone certificate, a non-standard metal combination, or a modification to an existing design — contact the workshop before placing the order and the team will confirm lead times and costs in advance. Resizing is complimentary for life on every ring.

Frequently asked questions

What does a pear-shaped engagement ring symbolise?

The pear shape has no single fixed meaning — symbolism in jewellery is largely personal rather than universal. The teardrop outline is sometimes associated with emotion and sentimentality, and the shape's historical longevity means it carries associations with both classical fine jewellery and contemporary fashion, depending on the setting. More practically, many clients choose the pear because of what it does optically: it elongates the finger and delivers a larger face-up area per carat than a round or princess cut. The meaning you attach to it is your own.

Does a pear diamond show inclusions more than other shapes?

A pear cut is a modified brilliant, so it disperses light across its facets and masks inclusions more effectively than a step-cut such as an emerald or Asscher. That said, inclusions near the tip are more exposed than those in the body of the stone, where faceting provides camouflage. For a pear, SI1 is generally the lowest clarity grade at which the stone appears eye-clean — though the specific stone matters more than the grade alone. Reviewing the GIA, HRD or IGI certificate alongside a high-resolution image or video of the actual stone is the most reliable approach.

Which direction should a pear engagement ring face?

There is no rule — both orientations are established in fine jewellery. Point-up toward the nail is the traditional wear direction; it extends the visual axis along the finger and elongates the hand. Point-down toward the palm is less common but creates a more enclosed, rounded silhouette and is sometimes preferred for settings where the stone is low-set or closely framed. The setting itself often determines the most stable orientation, as a V-claw at the tip is easier to engineer in one direction than the other. At our Hatton Garden workshop, the orientation can be confirmed during the sample stage.

Are pear engagement rings available with coloured stones?

Yes. The pear cut is well-suited to coloured stones — the elongated outline shows colour distribution across a wide face-up area, which particularly flatters deeply saturated sapphires and emeralds. The Luxe Rhiannon Three Stone Sapphire Engagement Ring and the Petite Luxe Twisted Vine Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring are two examples from this collection. Lab-grown and natural coloured stones are both available. Specific stone sourcing and certification can be discussed at the consultation stage.

How long does a pear engagement ring take to make?

Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation. Simple solitaire settings sit at the faster end of that range; three-stone arrangements, pavé shoulders and bespoke modifications sit closer to fourteen days. The process begins with a CAD design, followed by a silver or wax sample reviewed at the Hatton Garden workshop before metalwork proceeds. Hallmarking at the London Assay Office and insured UK delivery complete the order. If you are working toward a specific date — a birthday, a trip, an occasion — contact the team before ordering and they will confirm what is achievable.

What metals are available for pear engagement rings?

All rings in this collection are available in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold — in white, yellow or rose — and in 950 platinum. For colourless pear diamonds, white gold and platinum are most commonly chosen, as the white metal reflects into the stone and maintains the impression of a colourless, bright centre. Yellow and rose gold provide warmer contrast and suit warmer-toned diamonds or coloured stones well. Platinum is the most durable choice for daily wear and requires no re-plating; 18ct white gold is rhodium-plated and can be refreshed as a routine workshop service every two to three years.