When you picture a diamond, more often than not, you think of a perfectly round shape that glitters each time it catches the light. And if you happened to picture it the same way once again, you’re thinking about the round cut diamond!
A timeless classic, round cut diamonds continue to be one of the most popular shapes in the market. Several versions of this shape have been used with time, but the classic round cut is considered to be the last word in excellence when it comes to diamonds. This is the cut that everybody from gemologists and sellers to everyday buyers tend to look out for.
In case you didn’t know this already, a round cut diamond happens to lose a lot of its original diamond carat weight while it’s being cut and processed. More so than other diamond shapes. That is also why these round cut diamonds are priced higher than the others. Moreover, the brilliance of a round cut diamond is accentuated by its cut. This cut, in turn, is derived from the use of various scientific calculations carried out by professional diamond cutters. Without these calculations, you wouldn’t have that signature cut, polish or symmetry.
Better still, these diamonds reflect light and scatter colour in a better manner, which helps them maintain their aesthetic appeal, in spite of a lower colour or clarity rating.
A Brief History
For a very long time, people have been besotted with the simple beauty of round cut diamonds. In fact, our love for this particular shape actually goes back a long way. It’s said that round cut diamonds having multiple faceting patterns have been around ever since humankind discovered and fell in love with this gem. The popular Orloff Diamond of the Diamond Treasury of Russia is a great example.
But how did it all begin? In 1919, the round cut diamond began to grow increasingly popular, owing to a thesis titled ‘Diamond Design: A Study of the Reflection and Refraction of Light in Diamond’, published by Marcel Tolkowsky. It explored the method in which you could cut a diamond based on various proportions and angles that would highlight its brilliance. The result of these experiments and calculations was the brilliant round cut diamond.
Evaluating a round cut diamond
When you’re evaluating a round cut diamond, there are of course, three primary factors to consider – Cut, Colour and Clarity.
CUT
Of the three Cs, the Cut of your diamond is especially important. It tells you how well-proportioned your diamond is. It is after all, your diamond’s proportions that impact its ability to reflect light and offer brilliance.
When you’re evaluating this factor, make sure that the cut quality isn’t too deep or too shallow. If your diamond reflects both coloured and white light with no flaws, be rest assured that it is a well-proportioned diamond.
CLARITY
Diamond clarity, too is an important factor. Make sure to check for blemishes, inclusions or dark spots with the naked eye. You could definitely read the Clarity grade on a report, but it’s always better to look at them with the naked eye first. Make sure to also keep an eye out for the locations of these blemishes or inclusions, as some inclusions tend to get masked by the jewellery prongs after the diamond is set.
The GIA is the most trusted name when it comes to grading your diamonds on any of the three factors.
COLOUR
The round cut diamond tends to reflect a lot more light than your other diamond shapes. And so, naturally, it’s a little tough to tell the colour clearly or distinguish it from another. There are also several factors that may conceal the true colour of the diamond, one of them being its point of brilliance.
While reading a GIA report on the Colour of your diamond, keep in mind that D equals a clear diamond that’s also colourless, while Z indicates shades of brown or a diamond with a yellow hue. Trust the experts and those who have a wealth of experience in the business, when it comes to assessing your round cut diamonds on Cut, Clarity and Colour.
From sparkling engagement rings to gorgeous pendant necklaces, round cut diamonds are a popular choice across all age groups. Their simple shape, sparkling charm and sheer magnificence seem to be enough to hold onto each of our hearts.
Uniglo Diamonds offers you a sparkling array of diamonds in beautifully different shapes.