What is a Round Cut Diamond?
The Beautiful Round Cut
Round diamonds are by far the most popular cut, estimated to account for around 75% of total diamond sales.
What makes the round diamond cut so sought after? It may have to do with its sparkle, since this shape exhibits fire, scintillation, and brilliance that other cuts cannot match. But this was not always the case.
Where did the round diamond cut come from and how has it evolved?
A Little History
Society’s love for round cut diamonds is nothing new—in fact, round diamonds with various faceting patterns have been seen from the earliest days of human’s fascination with the stone. One notable example being the famed Orloff Diamond of the Diamond Treasury of Russia. The shape began increasing in popularity around 1919. It was in this year that Marcel Tolkowsky published a thesis entitled “Diamond Design: A Study of the Reflection and Refraction of Light in Diamond.” In this work, Tolkowsy discussed how to cut a diamond using specific angles and proportions to maximize its brilliance. The result was a round diamond, and his computations are used to this day, with modest adjustments to account for new cutting technology.
Face The Facets!
Today, round cut diamonds are even more brilliant and beautiful than Tolkowsky was able to achieve.
Most round diamonds use his brilliant-cut faceting design with 58 triangular or kite shaped facets that radiate outwards from the center.
However, round cut diamonds with no culet, when the bottom of the diamond forms a small pointed area, only have 57 facets.
Color, Carat, and Clarity
Because the majority of the rough diamond is lost during the cutting process, round diamonds tend to be a bit pricier than other shapes of the same size and quality. However, because of their cut, round diamonds also look the biggest of diamonds with the same carat. The exact price difference will vary depending on the color, carat and clarity, however, they can often be about 25-35% more expensive than other diamond shapes of the same size and quality.
If you plan on shopping for a round cut diamond, it’s important to understand the different settings that are available and how each of them compliments your beautiful stone.
A Solid Choice is Solitaire
The round cut diamond is versatile, so it complements many different settings, and because of its popularity, many settings are designed with a round diamond in mind. Because of its brilliance, the round shape is often featured as a solitaire diamond in a simple setting. This allows the focus to be on the main diamond, and is a classic, chic choice.
If you want to add a little sparkle to a solitaire style without going overboard, then consider adding a few smaller diamonds to the band. Diamonds that are inset into the band will add a bit more twinkle without distracting from the beauty of the center stone.
I Can See Your Halo!
Ladies who want a flashier style of ring often choose a round diamond with a halo setting. Because the round diamond will be surrounded by other diamonds, the sparkle and shine will be noticeable from well across the room.
The halo option can be adjusted to add even more diamonds. Choose a setting with a thicker band so there is more room for additional rows of diamonds to complement the center stone. It will be hard to find another setting with the same impact, so if you want to dazzle everyone around you, choose this more extravagant look.
So Many More Options!
If you want to bring the past and present together, choose a setting with an antique feel. Look for bands with intricate designs and detailing, which is a signature of all vintage jewelry.
As you can see, the options are endless for a round diamond cut ring. All that matters is you choose the style that best fits your personality, and it will be sure to shine brilliantly on your finger!
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