A Look at a Beloved Cut
Round brilliant cut diamonds get their name from their shape and the way they reflect light. They’re the culmination of years of research how to unlock the most brilliance from the jewel. The stone has been a favorite ever since, and is the top choice for diamond engagement rings.
A round brilliant is made of fifty-eight to fifty-nine facets. The upper half is made of a table, where light comes in and out, star, kite and upper girdle facets. The lower portion has lower girdle and pavilion main facets, sometimes with an optional culet. In between the two parts is the girdle, the widest perimeter of the diamond.
Since its debut, jewelers have sought to improve upon the cut. For some this means ever stricter standards for ratios and proportions. Others may step away from convention and add more facets to create a new look. There is no one way to create an ideal diamond. What matters is whether the wearer enjoys their diamond rings.
There is no one right way for diamond bands to be beautiful. For those who may have trouble deciding, a few guidelines may help. One is to gently rock the diamond under neutral lighting, if possible. The stone should have a pleasing balance of white and prismatic light, as well as shadows. The face up outline should be symmetrical, and the overall stone neither too deep nor too shallow.
Popular styles for round brilliant cut diamond engagement rings include a solitaire with either four or six prongs. Other rings add embellishments like halos or side stones. Of the latter, matching yet smaller round brilliants create a three-stone design favored for engagement rings. Round brilliants look good with many band types, such as infinity, crisscross or split shanks.
