Round Brilliant Diamond
Discover why the round brilliant is the world's most popular lab-grown diamond shape. Learn about cut quality, ideal proportions, and how to choose the perfect round diamond engagement ring at Aurela Diamonds in Vancouver.
The round brilliant cut diamond is the undisputed classic of the diamond world, accounting for roughly 60% of all diamonds sold for engagement rings. Its 58 precisely angled facets are engineered through decades of optical research to return the maximum amount of light to the viewer's eye, producing unmatched brilliance, fire, and scintillation. When people picture a diamond, the round brilliant is almost always the shape that comes to mind, and for good reason: no other cut balances sparkle, versatility, and timeless appeal quite like it.
For lab-grown diamond buyers, the round brilliant offers a particularly compelling value proposition. Because advanced CVD and HPHT growth processes can produce rough crystals ideally suited to round cutting, lab-grown rounds deliver the same optical performance as their mined counterparts at a significantly lower price point. This means you can afford a larger carat weight or a higher colour and clarity grade without compromising on cut quality, which is the single most important factor in a round diamond's beauty.
At Aurela Diamonds, every round brilliant we offer is IGI certified and cut to exacting standards. We guide our Vancouver clients through the nuances of cut grading, helping them understand why an "Excellent" or "Ideal" cut grade matters more than any other specification on the certificate. Whether you are designing a solitaire, a halo, or a three-stone ring, the round brilliant is the safest and most spectacular foundation you can choose.
History of the Round Brilliant Cut
The modern round brilliant cut traces its origins to Marcel Tolkowsky's 1919 doctoral thesis, "Diamond Design," in which the young mathematician and gemologist calculated the ideal angles and proportions needed to maximise a diamond's interaction with light. Tolkowsky's work built on centuries of incremental refinement, from the rudimentary point cuts of the 14th century through the old mine and old European cuts that dominated the 18th and 19th centuries. His proportions, often called the "Tolkowsky Ideal Cut," established the template that every subsequent round brilliant has been measured against.
Since Tolkowsky's breakthrough, computer modelling and laser-cutting technology have pushed the round brilliant even closer to optical perfection. The Gemological Institute of America's 2004 cut grading system codified what master cutters had long understood: that tiny variations in table size, crown angle, and pavilion angle can dramatically affect how light travels through the stone. Today's round brilliants, particularly those grown in controlled laboratory environments where rough can be optimised for yield and symmetry, represent the pinnacle of more than a century of cutting science.
Round Brilliant Diamond Characteristics
Pros & Cons
+Advantages
- Maximum brilliance and fire of any diamond shape, hiding inclusions and slight body colour remarkably well
- Universally flattering and timeless, never goes in or out of fashion
- Compatible with virtually every ring setting style, from solitaire to elaborate vintage designs
- Most extensively studied and graded shape, making quality comparison straightforward
- Strong resale value and broad market appeal
-Considerations
- Higher price per carat than fancy shapes because more rough is lost during cutting
- Faces up smaller than elongated shapes of the same carat weight
- Can appear generic to buyers seeking a more distinctive silhouette
- Requires an Excellent or Ideal cut grade to look its best, narrowing the selection
Best For
Recommended Ring Settings
Solitaire
A solitaire lets the round brilliant's unmatched light return take centre stage with zero distraction. A four-prong or six-prong head is all you need to showcase this shape.
View Guide →Pave
A pave band complements the round's brilliance with a continuous river of micro-set diamonds, adding overall sparkle without competing with the centre stone.
View Guide →Hidden Halo
A hidden halo beneath the crown adds a subtle flash of extra brilliance when viewed from the side, enhancing the round without adding visual bulk from above.
View Guide →Buying Tips for Round Brilliant Diamonds
Prioritise cut quality above all other Cs. An Excellent/Ideal cut in a lower colour or clarity will outperform a poorly cut stone with higher grades on paper.
Lab-grown rounds in the G-H colour range face up white to the naked eye and offer significant savings over D-E-F stones.
For the best balance of size and quality, consider VS2 or SI1 clarity. Inclusions in round brilliants are well hidden by the facet pattern.
Request an idealscope or ASET image if available. These light-performance maps reveal how well the diamond returns light, which no certificate grade fully captures.
Aim for a depth between 59% and 62.5% and a table between 54% and 57% for optimal brilliance. Avoid stones outside these ranges even if they carry an Excellent cut grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
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