The most popular cut of diamond for jewelry all over the world is the round brilliant diamond. The round brilliant diamond was meticulously and mathematically created to reflect the optimum amount of light, brilliantly scintillating that light into the stone, and back out to your eye. Round diamonds are likely to remain the most popular diamond cut due to their exceptional brilliance.
History
A round brilliant diamond has 57 or 58 facets, depending on if the point or “culet” at the bottom of the stone is small and precise, or wide and flat. A man named Marcel Tolkowsky developed this sophisticated cut in 1919 and introduced the “ideal” proportions at 100% diameter, 53% table 43.1% pavilion and 16.2% crown. Since 1919 the round brilliant diamond has been perfected with more precise technology and methods of cutting diamonds. Though the modern round cut was invented in the 21st century, this classic round shape dates as far back as 6 centuries.
Pre-twentieth century a round diamond had wider, less precise facets. These diamonds are known as Antique European cuts and have recently made a comeback in the world of fine jewelry. In an Old European stone, each diamond cutter would do their best to maximize carat weight from the rough diamond they had, which means that every old euro is unique and no two cuts are the same.
Before we dive deeper into the round brilliant diamond, you need to get familiar with a diamond’s 4 C’s. They are Cut, Carat, Clarity and Color.
Cut
The round cut diamond is the only diamond shape with an official GIA cut grade. This specific cut grade was introduced to the world in 2005 and would certify each stone as either excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. Today any jeweler will tell you that cut is the most important of the 4 C’s and should be critical to you as you search for the perfect diamond.
If every elements of a round cut diamond is harmoniously synchronized, a bright crisp scintillation appears. These elements consist of a table, crown, girdle, pavilion and culet. If , for example, the girdle is too thick, the diamond will be too deep which makes a one carat diamond appear smaller at the top. If the angles on the crown or pavilion are too shallow, more shadows will appear and the diamond will be visibly less brilliant.
While an excellent cut diamond is preferred, a very good cut can also be a great choice and will still deliver an impressive brilliance. Polish and symmetry go right along with cut, and if all align perfectly, you get a diamond referred to as a “Triple Ex.”
Carat
A round brilliant diamond is the most proportionate cut of diamond to its carat weight due to its symmetrical balance and standardized proportions. A 1 carat round diamond is approximately 6.5mm in diameter. A 2 carat round is approximately 7.5-8.1mm in diameter, so while it doubles in weight, it doesn’t double in size from the table and crown perspective. Round diamonds, as well as as must cost of diamond, do not go up linearly in price either. A natural 1 carat diamond can range anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000, but a natural 2 carat diamond can range from $8,000 to $50,000 depending on its certifications.
2 carat round brilliant cut diamond engagement ring set in platinum.
Clarity
A round brilliant diamond with an excellent or very good cut, is made to hide inclusions very well. An inclusion is any imperfection in a rough or polished diamond such as a black mark, feather, or scratch inside the stone. Most feathers are white and pretty unnoticeable, but black inclusions are the ones you want to steer away from if you can see them without any magnification. You can usually go as low as SI1 and still come away with a clear diamond to the naked eye. Always work with a diamond expert who knows how to spot an eye clean diamond and can give you the best value for your budget. A diamond expert should also be able to tell which inclusions can be hidden by a prong or bezel, which means you save even more money going with a lower clarity grade diamond that looks like a million bucks.
Color
The incredible sparkle of a round brilliant diamond can hide yellow color very well. This means you can opt for a lower color grade in favor of a bigger carat weight and still walk away with a bright shining diamond that is not noticeably yellow as long as you are prioritizing cut over everything else. Colorless diamonds are certified D (completely colorless) E and F. Near colorless diamonds are graded G,H,I or J. Most untrained eyes cannot tell the difference between a colorless diamond and a near colorless diamond in an engagement ring.
When choosing an engagement ring with a white gold or platinum setting, opt for a diamond closer to the colorless side of the scale. A yellow gold engagement ring setting will blend more yellow color, making a lower color grade like H,I or J less noticeable. The complete range of diamond color grade is D to Z.
Round diamonds have a magic like no other cut of diamond has, and now you know all the facts to make the absolute best decision on a round cut diamond! Have any more questions about round cut diamonds? Schedule a consultation with a diamond expert at SHANNON, and let us help you create the perfect round diamond custom ring.