Round-Cut Diamond Guide

The?round cut diamond?is the most popular diamond shape, 3 out of 4 diamonds sold is a round cut. The cut is a classic and is superior to all other diamond shapes due to its details. The round brilliant cut has 58 facets (including the culet) and offers great light reflection, thus, having the most sparkle compared to all other shapes. The diamond gets its tag of ‘brilliant’ because it is designed to maximise brilliance or reflection.

1.??????Diamond Cut

A diamond’s cut is how the stone is polished or how the angles align. The cut of a diamond confirms the passage of light through the crown. Getting the right cut, one that is not too shallow or deep, creates the ultimate reflection-refraction balance.

The GIA assigns Rounds with the following cut grades: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. The excellent cut is the highest grade, and the best cut you can buy for any shaped diamonds. In round diamonds, the cut plays an important role and lower grades can poorly impact the diamond's sparkle.

2.??????Specifications

A depiction of a Brilliant Cut’s facets can be seen in the image. The facets in brilliant cut are constructed carefully so they can reflect maximum light. These are the ideal specifications for a round cut diamond:

• Facets: 58
• Length-width ratio: 1-1.03
• Table %: 55-59
• Depth %: 60.1-62.6
• Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
• Culet: None

3.??????Color grade

Diamond color grades vary from range D – Z. The diamonds at color grade D, E and F are considered ‘colorless’. The color gets slightly warmer with color G which goes all the way to color Z which has a strong yellow tint. Many customers prefer their round-cut a bit warmer in the range from G – H. This is because of the diamond’s brilliance, that a slightly tainted color works as well as flawless D, E and F. However, with a larger diamond, color grade is more apparent, and colors G and H, may not be able to compensate for the higher grades.

4.??????Setting style

Almost all rings are designed for round diamonds, so naturally, round diamonds go in every setting.?However, some designs showcase and balance the round shape better than others.

• Solitaire setting: The classic round-cut solitaire diamond is a proof that less is more. It is a classic and an elegant style to choose.
• Pave setting: Round cuts are also popular in a pave setting.?Pave setting perfectly brings out the brilliance and charm of a round cut diamond. It adds a glittering sparkle to the ring.
• Halo setting: The halo creates an enhanced look for an engagement ring. Round cuts are widely used for both the centre stone and the smaller ones.
• Three-stone setting: This is a sophisticated style for all vintage lovers. While not widely famous, it can still make a decent ring which gives a fuller coverage around your finger making the ring look bigger.

?If you already have your heart set on a round diamond, great choice!