The Best Nail Color for Every Engagement Ring Shape

Emerald

The rectangular shape of this ring naturally accentuates the cut of the stone and its clarity, explains Berkovitz. That’s why she suggests a classic and clean color like a sheer petal pink or neutral peach that leaves your nails gleaming, healthy, and natural-looking. “If you want a pop of color, try a super-saturated cabernet hue or dark midnight with a hint of blue,” she says.

Her House of Blues shade fits the bill perfectly, though she advises against nail art or accents for this cut. They can easily clash with the shape and its linear cuts.

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Round

With this traditionally shaped stone, you can go several ways. For longer nails or a larger stone, Berkovitz suggests keeping it classic with a neutral, semi-sheer mauve like her Ceremony at Sunset shade, which is romantic and refined. “It has a touch of pearlescence, which gives the shade some extra dimension; warm, rosy undertones make it sexy and flattering on everyone.” If you have a simple setting for your round-shaped stone, she suggests a bolder accent color that’s seasonal, like a deep red or pink.

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Pear

This lovely and elegant teardrop shape calls for a subtle, more subdued nail design and color, such as a soft pastel pink or barely there beige. We're thinking something along the lines of Essie's iconic Ballet Slippers shade. For the shape of the nail, Hipp recommends asking your technician to file them into an almond shape. "This style is known for slimming and elongating the fingers."

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Cushion

If your partner was wise enough to select this classic cut for you, you’ll want to choose an equally timeless style for your nails, like a neutral nude or soft pale pink. We love Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel in Little Peony. Hipp suggests splurging on top-notch cuticle care for well-nourished nails and hydrated hands instead of an elaborate design or color.

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Oval

The beauty of this elongated cut is that the diamond often appears larger than it technically is in terms of carats. Berkowitz suggests shaping your nails in a similar fashion—medium to long oval shapes—to complement the shape of your ring and elongate your fingers.

“Keeping your nails manicured and mirroring the same shape as your ring will give you a polished yet consistent look,” Berkowitz says. “Try a trendy color with some dimension, like a cream with milky undertones.” We recommend Essie's Marshmallow shade.

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Princess

The princess cut—with its angular, square lines—looks classy, rich, and timeless, and it's the exact inspiration for its complementary nail color, notes Hipp. “If your nails are long and well-manicured, you can’t beat a vibrant, classic red. [It] will pop perfectly against a white dress and a white rose bouquet (think Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly).” Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Pirate is a classic favorite.

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Radiant

Though the cut shares many qualities of a cushion, radiant stones tend to have more rectangular corners and a less oval-like appearance. “The radiant diamond mimics crushed ice, so maximize the effect with a nail that does the same thing,” says Hipp. “Chunky glitter mixed with clear can be unbelievably chic, and you can mix golds, rose golds, and silvers for extra dimension.” Try Essie's Set in Stones to achieve the look. Another easy effect she recommends is to paint nails nude and, with a soft sponge, apply silver polish or glitter to create a gradient pattern.

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Marquise

“This shape screams fun," says Berkovitz. “Be bold and daring with something exciting and out of the box that works well with your skin tone and season.” She suggests a teal or deep jewel-tone color that’s neither too light nor too dark for the fall and winter months or a taupe or rose gold for the summer, like her Dancing Shoes polish.

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