Who doesn't love a circle? The iconic shape has been catching eyes ever since the invention of the wheel. Ok, so engagement rings might not be that ancient, but the round brilliant has been a classic since man first put diamonds into gold.

But just what makes this circular stone so dang popular? It might be the sparkle, it might be the shine, or it could be the timeless design. They’re 58 facets of purely perfect, or just about as close as a shiny rock can be. Check it out.

Designed To Shine

There’s a reason round brilliant diamonds are the shiniest stones around. They were designed for it. That classic round shape with long facets resembles Old Mine Cut diamonds.

Modern-day round brilliant diamonds max out the sparkle thanks to science making extreme precision possible. These stones feature facets designed to have the most possible light reflection. A well-cut round brilliant diamond can reflect almost 100% of light, making them the most sparkly diamond shape.

Learn about Round Diamonds

Sparkles That Werk

Sparkles aren’t just for show. Brilliant diamonds are also great at hiding imperfections which can help you snag an ideal round shape rock for that engagement ring for less. All those facets and sparkles hide blemishes, inclusions, and even color.

Round-shaped diamonds are definitely a primo pick for engagement rings, which is part of the reason they’re so pricy. All that sparkle means you can save big on color and clarity, so you can snag your dream ring and still save big on shine.

Bonus move: Saving cash on color and clarity means more to spend on carat.

Prom Queen

So, why are round brilliant diamonds so popular anyway? Besides their majorly classic look, they’re the most sparkly, which is a big W. They also look fab in any setting and never go out of style. Versatility like that is hard to beat.

Around 75% of engagement rings are made with round diamonds. That stunning circular shape met with all that fire and brilliance is hard to top, and it has been for some time. Just another reason the little gems have a totally timeless look. All those factors–with a dash of fairytale princess vibes–add up to the stone's massive popularity.

Because they can hide imperfections under all that sparkle, it’s easier to find a nice-looking round diamond. But that doesn’t mean all-round shape diamonds are peak perfection.

Trouble In Paradise

When can a round brilliant diamond go bad?

A poorly cut diamond can appear dark and dull, making all the good parts of a round shape diamond obsolete. The good news is all round brilliant diamonds are graded for cut. In fact, they are the only diamond shape graded for cut.

Use this information to your advantage, and always snag an excellent or ideal cut if possible. It’s the most important factor since it’s responsible for the shine and sparkle, no matter the diamond shape.

Set In Circles

One of the best things about round shaped diamonds is you can set them however you want. The classic shape looks amazing in just about anything you can throw its way, from solitaire to super shiny. The sky’s the limit.

Circle On Circle

A classic solitaire with a traditional stone? Name a more iconic engagement ring. We’ll wait. The Nelly set with a round-shaped diamond is giving literal fairytale vibes. It’s the perfect princess ring. Simple, timeless, absolutely stunning.

Seriously Smooth Circles

The Charlotte is the queen of clean lines. The beveled edge brilliantly plays off a round diamond’s timeless shape. It’s a simple vibe that’s seriously stunning. The hidden halo gives the band sparkle from every angle. Meanwhile, a peekaboo bridge lets in extra light, creating more shine and showing off the center stone from all new angles. It’s a sleek, contemporary take on the classic round shape diamond engagement ring.

Little Sparkle, Big Shine

Love a little endless sparkle action? The Pavé Kamellie has all the stunning sparkle you could hope for, plus a hidden halo for good measure. The super delicate band highlights your center stone, giving it a glittery ethereal vibe that almost makes the diamond look like it’s floating. It’s Twilight-style magical sparkle in an oh-so-attainable real-life package. To top it off, The Kamellie is stunning in a set, so you can double up the delicate sparkle with a pavé wedding band. Or add some chonkage by stacking it up with several others down the line.

Slightly Twisted & Super Stunning

The Pave Skyler is a super fresh take on the round shape, literally. The slightly twisted pavé band adds endless sparkle while giving the engagement ring an entirely new silhouette. The taper of the band as it wraps around to hold the center stone almost gives it the illusion that it’s floating. As an added bonus, the micro pavé diamonds surrounding the center stone make it look a bit larger. It’s similar to a halo but in a more low-key and modern package.

Angel of the “Oh” Ring

Crazy about the classics? The Michelle is a diamond-studded-stunning in a more tradish halo setting. All those tiny diamonds add up to a whole lot of sparkle while maintaining a timeless elegance and seriously striking appeal. Halos really crush the size game, making that center stone appear up to a full carat larger. A lower profile means The Michelle is easier to wear too. Effortless in all that sparkle? Absolutely.

Anything But Subtle Split

The Jade with its split shank pavé creates an extremely interesting silhouette when paired with a round shape diamond. Larger pavé diamonds along the shank split into smaller stones, spreading the brilliant sparkle and creating a marquise look to the center stone. The setting makes your round diamond take on a slightly different shape while preserving everything you love about the brilliant look.

Glittery Goodness

The Kristen features round and marquise shape diamonds giving the setting an almost floral feel. All that glittery brilliance adds tons of sparkle while putting the focus right where you want it, on your center stone. The shiny side stones also stretch the silhouette, giving the engagement ring an even more unique feel. To top it off, you can always double up on sparkle and movement by matching it up with The Kristen wedding band. The sparkle all adds up to make the center stone look ginormous while giving the whole piece a soft and modern appeal.

How to Pick Perfection

So, how do you pick yourself a stunning round brilliant diamond? You’re going to need to know a little about the 4Cs. Ok, so there’s a lot to learn, but we’ll just boil it down to the basics.

Easy A, B, Cs

The cut is the most important factor in buying any diamond. All those tiny little facets are responsible for the big shine and sparkle we expect from a stone. Poorly cut stones will be dark and lack that signature sparkle.

Fun fact, round brilliant diamonds are the only shape with a certified cut grade. That will make your life much easier if you’re shopping for one of these glittery gems. Always go for an excellent or ideal cut. This will help ensure you get the most bright, shiny diamond you can snag. The difference between cut grades on a round shape diamond has everything to do with its sparkle.

Clutch Clarity

Clarity refers to the imperfections visible in a diamond. No matter the shape, you should always buy an eye-clean diamond. Fortunately, round brilliants make that easy too. All those facets help to hide blemishes and imperfections behind the brilliant sparkle.

Finding an eye-clean diamond doesn’t mean spending a ton of cash. You can save yourself a grip by seeking an eye-clean round diamond in the SI1 realm. However, snag a VS diamond if you don’t feel like searching. They’re always eye-clean.

Paint By Letter

Diamond color is graded on a scale of D through Z, with D being completely colorless and Z bringing up the backside with stones that show a light brown or yellow color.

You always want to snag a stone that appears colorless. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend the big bucks. A G-H diamond will appear colorless and save you money. Who doesn’t love that? Yet another bonus of the round brilliant diamond is it’s really good at hiding color. Sometimes you can even snag an I stone that looks crystal clear thanks to all that sparkle. Especially if you’re setting it in a warm yellow or rose gold.

Ready To Get Circular & Stunning?

Round brilliant diamonds are the tea. They have the absolute most brilliance and fire. No wonder the sparkly gem is number one on our fingers and in our hearts. Okay, maybe that's a little cheesy, but they're the center stone in 75% of engagement rings for a reason.

Whether you're going for a simple solitaire or full sparkle stunning, you can’t go wrong with that classic round-shaped diamond engagement ring. And we are totally here for it.

Don’t Mess With Perfection - Why Round Diamond Rings Are #1

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