A round brilliant diamond (also called a round cut diamond or brilliant round diamond) is pretty much what you would expect - a beautiful diamond with a symmetrical, circular shape. As the name implies, brilliant cut diamonds are designed specifically to get the most brilliant sparkle out of any diamond. How they are cut allows them to reflect white and colored light exceptionally well, and no other shape does it better than a round diamond.
On an engagement ring, a round brilliant cut diamond is the epitome of classiness and sophistication. There is a reason why when you picture an engagement ring in your head, the center stone is always a round diamond. These two are synonymous with one another and the most common pairing for couples worldwide.
Why Are Round Diamond Engagement Rings So Popular?
There are many fancy-shaped diamonds, but the most popular diamond shape is without a doubt round-shaped diamonds. Round diamonds are loved for their stunning sparkle and timeless design. To give you an idea of how popular they are, about two-thirds of diamonds purchased for engagement rings are round-shaped.
A round diamond is also synonymous with love and commitment, making it the preferred choice for a diamond engagement ring. If you're in the market for a diamond engagement ring, a round cut diamond is perfect for the bride-to-be who wants a classic ring style.
Are all Round Diamonds Brilliant Cut?
A modern round diamond ring will exclusively use brilliant cut diamonds, but that wasn't always the case. A brilliant cut diamond is possible thanks to modern diamond technology that enables cutters to craft perfectly round diamonds.
In the past, however, a rough diamond was cut by hand, resulting in diamonds with different proportions. These diamonds are known as old European cut diamonds and were the standard in the diamond industry in the early 20th century. They are generally taller than brilliant cut diamonds and have smaller tables and heavier crowns - which directly impact a diamond's fire and brilliance.
What are diamond fire and brilliance?
A diamond's brightness is the white light that it reflects, while its fire is the flashes of color caused by the scattering of white light.
How does an old European cut compare to a brilliant cut?
For starters, the way they reflect white light is different. A brilliant cut reflects light far more than its antique counterpart, giving it that stunning brilliance and fire associated with round diamonds today. On the other hand, old European cut diamonds have a warm glow as they are better at drawing and capturing light within them. Furthermore, the old European cut emphasizes the size of the diamond at the expense of its clarity and color. Lastly, they are far more uncommon to find than brilliant cut diamonds given that their production ceased in the early to mid-1900s.
How Many Facets Does a Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Have?
Round brilliant diamonds have a large flat table (top of the stone) and at least 57 individual facets. A round diamond may have an additional facet should the cutter flatten the culet (the point at the bottom of a stone).
What is a facet?
A facet of a diamond is a flat surface arranged in a specific pattern to increase the diamond's sparkle. Facets are important to the overall shape of the diamond and give it the brilliance of a traditional diamond. A facet shape in a round diamond will vary from a kite to a triangular one.
Why are Round Cut Diamonds More Expensive?
Round cut diamonds tend to be the most expensive diamond shape. A round-shaped diamond offers exceptional white light reflection due to its cut, which allows light to enter the diamond from many different angles - giving it all that sparkle they are known for and unrivaled by any other diamond shapes. Another reason round cut diamonds are priced the way they are is that they require a large amount of raw, rough stone to shape it into a perfectly symmetrical round diamond.
An alternative diamond cut to round brilliant would be a cushion cut. This particular fancy-shaped diamond resembles a round cut diamond with its rounded corners but has larger facets, similar to those found in an emerald and princess cut diamond. Cushion cut diamonds cost less than round cut diamonds and are perfect for those who want a timeless stone that is highly customizable and a favorite among stylish individuals.
How to Choose a Round Cut Diamond?
When you shop for round cut diamonds, there are various things to keep in mind that will help you choose the perfect one for your engagement ring.
When choosing a round cut diamond, keep in mind that the higher the grade of the cut, the more brilliant the diamond sparkle will appear. It is highly recommended that you do not cut corners on your diamond's cut and get a poorly cut diamond, as it will have a noticeable impact on your diamond's beauty. A round cut diamond requires extreme precision since even the smallest inclusions are easily noticeable. That is why round is the only diamond shape that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) issues a cut grade to, as a constant width ratio and depth percentage must be maintained across the board to ensure optimal diamond quality. To maintain that eye-clean diamond look, always opt for the highest cut grade possible.
Carat size is another thing to consider. Round cut diamonds pair particularly well with a halo setting as it will make the center stone appear bigger than its carat weight indicates. The visual effect created by the many smaller diamonds that encircle the larger stone makes it more prominent to the eye.
Lastly, when it comes to diamond clarity and diamond color grades, there is more flexibility in your options. The best way to assess the clarity of a round diamond is to use your naked eye and look for any noticeable imperfections or blemishes; a Slightly Included (SI) diamond can still look just as great as another diamond with a higher clarity grade. Considering that round brilliant diamonds reflect light so well, it is also possible for even a diamond with a yellow tint to look colorless, so take your time to look at a diamond thoroughly and see if it is the right one for you
What about the setting?
The beauty of a round cut diamond is that just about any setting complements it. Be it the traditional white and yellow gold, the contemporary rose gold, or the luxurious platinum, all of these precious metals lend themselves to showcase the beauty of a round diamond. The best way to choose a setting for a brilliant round diamond is to match it with the personal preferences of the individual who will wear the diamond jewelry.
Looking for Round Diamonds?
Clean Origin provides an extensive selection of lab grown round diamonds for you to choose from. Lab diamonds are chemically identical to natural diamonds, the only difference between them is their origin, much like ice formed in a freezer compared to ice from the wild.
Whether your significant other would prefer their diamond to shine alone in a solitaire ring setting or stand out with an intricate vintage band, a round brilliant diamond looks beautiful in any Clean Origin setting. With that kind of versatility, it’s no wonder our lab grown round diamonds are best-sellers.
When you shop for lab grown diamonds at Clean Origin you can be sure that they will make for gorgeous engagement rings and diamond jewelry - all at a fraction of the cost of traditional diamonds and with substantially less environmental impact than mined diamonds. Contact our customer service team through a virtual consultation or at a showroom near you today!
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