The most popular diamond shape on the market, known for its intense sparkle and a place of honor in 90% of engagement rings, the round brilliant cut showcases 58 different facets of a gemstone and is cut to maximize its brilliance, fire and dispersion. It is also popular for other transparent gemstones, accounting for over 75% of the gemstones sold today.
The brilliant cut is famous for extraordinary reflection and dispersion of light, which is caused by the light that returns through the cone shape of the stone. The most popular brilliant cut is the round brilliant, but there are other brilliant cuts such as the pear cut brilliant and the oval cut brilliant. Anything that is not a round cut is called a fancy cut, but fancy cuts can still be considered brilliant. Many people like brilliant cuts because their large open facets make it difficult to hide imperfections, which means they can offer the most facet clarity and accuracy.
The round cut was originally introduced at the end of the 17th century, but it looked quite different then. The focus was on size and color, and the stone featured a flat culet, a 58th facet. Because these diamonds were hand-cut, their brilliance was less of a goal than a side benefit. However, an old-cut diamond certainly glittered in 18th and 19th century candlelight, and due to their uniqueness and rarity, are still quite valuable and sought after by those wishing to own a piece of history. Diamond knowledge, cutting and trends evolved to emphasize brilliance and fire, and by the 1920s, the modern round brilliant cut was well-established.
Round Brilliant Diamond Engagement Ring Styles
