Complete Guide to Round Cut Engagement Rings

Round Engagement Rings | A Timeless Classic

A round cut diamond continues to be the first choice for engagement rings, making up 75% of all engagement rings sold in the U.S.A (and in our jewlery store in Washington DC!). The beauty of a round brilliant diamond rests in the cut quality; a perfectly balanced cut results in an abundance of fire, brilliance and scintillation, with every facet working to reflect light and create the mesmerising sparkle that we know and love.

What is a Round Cut Diamond?

Although cut and shape are often used interchangeably, they are actually two different things. Shape refers to the literal shape/outline of the diamond (for example, heart or oval) whereas cut refers to the proportions, facets, dimensions and light handling properties of a diamond (for example, a round brilliant cut with a GIA 'Excellent' cut grade).

When people refer to round diamonds, or round cut diamonds, they are referring to a round brilliant diamond. The round brilliant diamond has evolved over the years and with each revision, the capacity for sparkle increased. The modern round brilliant cut that we see today features 58 facets and offers the best light return of any diamond cut.

Why We Love Round Diamond Engagement Rings

It is, of course, the sparkle that makes a round brilliant diamond so popular. However, there are some other wonderful qualities to this fantastic cut that makes it the perfect choice for an engagement ring:

• The twinkling facets make round brilliants adept at concealing the presence of color in a diamond meaning the diamond will look as bright and white as possible.

• The round brilliant is universally flattering.

• It works in contemporary and vintage styles and is perfect in almost any setting.

• Due to its popularity, the majority of engagement ring settings are created to perfectly hold a round brilliant diamond.

Loose VS Complete Engagement Rings

A diamond and its setting must work in harmony with one another and, indeed, with the wearer. Engagement ring settings can be the perfect way to express some personality and frame the central diamond in all its splendour.

There are two options when choosing an engagement ring. The first is choosing a complete ring that is already set with the central diamond. The second, is to select the diamond and setting separately and allow our masterful jewelry craftsman to set the specially selected diamond for you.

Choosing a loose diamond allows you more control over the specific diamond qualities and this works perfectly for many of our customers. They can browse our extensive inventory of loose round brilliant diamonds and find the diamond that ticks all the boxes.

However, if you fall in love with one of our complete diamond engagement rings, you can rest assured that Washington Diamond champions diamond quality. All of our pre-set rings showcase top-tier, GIA certified diamonds and for some customers, the ease and beauty of these ready to go rings

Find a Complete Engagement RingFind an Engagement Ring Setting

Choosing an Engagement Ring Setting

Choosing a setting is driven by desire and just a hint of practicality. Round brilliant diamonds are a highly versatile shape and jewelry designers relish in creating exquisite settings for this classic shape. Due to its popularity, you will find a wealth of engagement ring settings that are suitable for a round brilliant diamond – you will be spoilt for choice!

We do have a few tips for choosing a sparkling and secure setting for your diamond:

· Precious metals are a must. Platinum or gold (10k – 18k gold is the best purity for setting diamonds) will stand the test of time.

· Think about prongs/claws. For diamonds with a bigger carat weight, more prongs may be necessary to secure the diamond. For example, a 4.00ct diamond would be best set with six prongs.

· Do you plan to wear a wedding ring beneath your engagement ring? If so, wed-fit styles or engagement rings that have a matching wedding band are a great choice to ensure a seamless fit.

The setting styles listed below would work in perfect harmony with a round brilliant diamond. Your can click on the styles below to view our available settings. We would also love to show you the engagement ring settings, up close and personal, in our Washington DC private jewellers.

Learn More About The Four C's

Solitaire Three Stone Halo Antique

Pave Single Row Multi Row Bypass

Choosing a Round Diamond

At Washington Diamond, we pride ourselves on placing quality first. All of our loose diamonds carry a GIA certificate to ensure consistent and reliable grading for every stone.

Before choosing a diamond, it is important to have an understand of The Four C’s; Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight.

Why Do Grades Matter?

Each of the four C’s can dramatically impact the price and appearance of a diamond. Lower tier labs sometimes offer inflated grades – for a customer, this means paying more for a diamond which is of a lower quality that the certificate states. This is why we only use the GIA to certify our diamonds.

Without a fantastic cut, a diamond cannot exhibit their famous fire, brilliance and scintillation. Without a good clarity grade, unsightly inclusions can diminish sparkle and light return. A low color grade can create a murky, yellow hue across the stone.

Diamonds are a stunning reminder of the beauty of nature and the skill of man. It is the masterful work of a diamond cutter that unleashes the life and magic of a natural diamond – this is why a good cut and diamond grades issued by skilled gemmologists are so important.

Our Advice

Each customer is working to their own unique brief, both in terms of quality desires and budget. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing a diamond, but it our experiences the top choices are:

Color: F, G, H

Cut: GIA Excellent, GIA Very Good

Clarity: VS2, VS1, VVS2

Learn More About The Four C's

Setting a Budget

Setting a budget for your engagement ring is entirely personal and our friendly experts can advise on quality settings and diamonds for the most modest budget, right up to the top end.

A round brilliant is one of the most expensive diamond shapes. The nature of its shape and faceting means a lot of the rough is lost during the cutting process. However, as it is so popular, you will find more round brilliants available than any other shape.

Remember that settings which also feature diamonds will demand a higher price than a classic solitaire style. For a deeper understanding of diamond pricing, head to our diamond price calculator.

Diamond Price Calculator

Choosing a Carat Weight

Unlike the other Four C’s which pertain to quality, carat expresses the weight of a diamond and is an objective factor. When all other factors are equal, carat weight has the biggest impact on the price of a diamond.

Although used synonymously with size, different cut qualities and shapes of the same carat weight can appear different sizes. For example, elongated shapes such as oval diamonds will give a bigger ‘face up’ appearance than round brilliants. It is important to note that this difference is very minimal.

The most popular carat weights for engagement rings range from 1.00ct – 3.00ct but we encourage our customers to forget the trends and go for the diamond that is right for you.

Find a Diamond

Finding the Perfect Round Engagement Ring

Wondering if a round brilliant is the best choice for your engagement ring? We have helped hundreds of nervous partners and excited couples choose the perfect engagement ring. You can expect a warm welcome at Washington Diamond in Washington DC. Take the time to look at settings and diamonds with one of our friendly engagement ring experts as they walk you through everything you need to know. From engravings and custom engagement rings, to financing options, we are here to help you put the finishing touches to your engagement ring experience; all you need to do, is plan the proposal!

Make an appointment to see us, or call for some friendly advice today.

Get in Touch

Round Cut Engagement Rings

Round Engagement Rings | A Timeless Classic

What is a Round Cut Diamond?

Why We Love Round Diamond Engagement Rings

Loose VS Complete Engagement Rings

Choosing an Engagement Ring Setting

Choosing a Round Diamond

Setting a Budget

Choosing a Carat Weight

Finding the Perfect Round Engagement Ring

Washington Diamond
1245 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 536-3600

Store Hours

Round Cut Engagement Rings

Round Engagement Rings | A Timeless Classic

What is a Round Cut Diamond?

Why We Love Round Diamond Engagement Rings

Loose VS Complete Engagement Rings

Choosing an Engagement Ring Setting

Choosing a Round Diamond

Setting a Budget

Choosing a Carat Weight

Finding the Perfect Round Engagement Ring

Washington Diamond 1245 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 (703) 536-3600

Washington Diamond
1245 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 536-3600