The round-cut engagement ring is the most preferred stone cut for engagement rings for good reason. Its unrivaled brilliance and sparkle have always put it at the top besting other ring cuts. Approximately 75% of all diamonds are round brilliant cuts, they are also loved for their perfect circular shape, symbolic of elegance. Although created in the 17th century, they only rose to prominence about a century ago – and as the most popular and well-known cut, they are hardly going out of style anytime soon.
The round cut diamond loses the roughest in the cutting and polishing process than any other design to achieve its famed brilliance and sparkle. The process discards at least 60% of the original stone and because of this, the round engagement ring is the most expensive out of all the designs.
Because of their elongated face, emerald-cut diamonds will look larger than a diamond with a different cut but similar size. If you were to place a 1-carat round cut diamond beside a 1-carat emerald cut diamond, the emerald cut diamond will appear larger.
The 58-facet pattern of a round-cut diamond allows it to reflect the most light out of all cuts, making it the most brilliant and sparkly diamond cut.
Round cuts, well respected for their brilliance and fire, require a depth range of 61% to 62.5% in proportion to a table range of 54% to 57%. This adequately allows light rays to travel and be reflected within the cut without leakage to deliver their highly acclaimed sparkle.
The classic round solitaire setting is the most popular setting for a round-cut diamond as it allows the most light. This means that the diamond sparkles more, and becomes the ring’s focal point. Round cuts reflect the most light and are the most brilliant, and many wearers choose a setting like this to show off their gemstone’s sparkle.
Round brilliant cuts are the most expensive because gem cutters lose about 60% of rough stone in cutting a diamond to this shape. Diamonds generally lose 40-60% of their original weight after cutting, and less expensive cuts lose weight on the lower end of this range.