Since a round diamond is thought to hold the most value when compared to the other shapes, it will almost always be given a higher price than any other shape with similar clarity, color, and carat weight.
Round brilliant cut diamonds are easily the most expensive diamond shape. In part, that's because round is the most popular diamond shape. More than half of all the diamonds sold today are round diamonds. This incredible popularity means that diamond miners and retailers can charge more for such an in-demand shape.
What are the least expensive/most affordable diamond Cuts? Carat-per-carat, emerald and Asscher cuts are the least expensive. Because they are step-cut, there is less waste when these diamonds are cut off of the rough stone, which is going to cost the same no matter how it gets cut.
1. ROUND BRILLIANT DIAMOND. By far the most popular cut is the Round Brilliant, with it's fifty-seven perfectly aligned facets it's brilliance really does out-shine the others. Total internal reflection is the key here; light travels through the stone giving optimum sparkle and scintillation.
The shape is an important consideration when buying a diamond as it directly influences price. Round diamonds, the most popular diamond shape, tend to be priced higher than other shapes (referred to as fancy shapes) because of market demand, increased manufacturing costs, and their incredible brilliance.
Round Diamonds Give the Illusion of a Larger Stone
Which diamond shape looks biggest? "In terms of shape, round diamonds look larger for their carat weight than many other cuts," Kwiat says. "The circular cut is not as deep, so much of the weight is reflected in its size appearance."
Radiant are square or rectangular brilliant-cut diamonds with cut corners. They are often the most affordable diamond shapes.
A VS1 diamond has slightly fewer and smaller inclusions than a VS2 diamond. In other words, a VS1 diamond is slightly better than a VS2 diamond.
Which diamond cut has the least sparkle? Baguette is the worst diamond shape in terms of brilliance. This shape makes a diamond sparkle less, even if it has an ideal cut.
Poorly cut diamonds won't reflect as much light, giving the diamond less brilliance and fire. Some of the light will reflect out of the bottom of the stone, which is unseen when a diamond is set in a ring. Poorly cut diamonds may have light or dark patches that make the diamond look dull and lackluster.
Round Cut Diamonds Sparkle The Most
The standard round cut diamond comprises 57 facets (58 including one on the bezel). This cut heightens the diamond's sparkle and shine. Because round diamonds have the largest number of facets, they create the most sparkle.
1. Asprey Cut. At first glance, the rare diamond cut “Aspret Cut” might seem similar to the square shaped “Cushion Cut”, however – its cutting characteristics are special and are like no other. The Asprey Cut was designed by one of the world's most renowned diamond cutter, Gabi Tolkowsky.
Round, oval or cat eye glasses look best on diamond faces. Frames with rounded rims help soften your defined jawline, chin and cheekbones for a more balanced look. Rectangular and square glasses are popular too, but be sure they aren't too angular and sharp in their overall shape.
To ensure quality, you'll want to buy a GIA certified diamond. There are many institutions out there that rank diamonds, but this certification means more than any other. They have the highest standards and are looked upon very favorably by other jewelers.
If you're trying to decide on a clarity grade for your diamond, SI1 might be your best option. These diamonds usually appear flawless to the eye and sell for less than VS diamonds. Learn more about SI1 clarity diamonds and how to choose the right one for your engagement ring.
With 13% less face-up area than a round, an asscher-cut diamond shows the smallest face-up area of the fancy cuts.
In general, the deeper the cut of the stone, the duller it is. Moreover, deep cut diamonds look smaller than ideal cut diamonds of the same carat weight when set in a mounting. This effect appears because the cutter sacrifices the stone's width to achieve a greater depth.
VVS1 and VVS2 both have excellent clarity, and you won't really be able to tell the difference when you look at the two. In a VVS1 diamond, the inclusions are so tiny you can't even see them at 10x magnification. In a VVS2 the inclusions are still very tiny, but you can begin to see them at that magnification.
However, in terms of value, VS1 Diamonds are often in the best position to get the best value when it comes to buying a diamond engagement ring. VS1 diamonds are still highly-priced in the market despite their inclusions as they are generally considered eye-clean diamonds.
The F color grade is a great choice. This is the lowest of the three colorless diamond grades, which makes it the most economical way to enjoy that sparkly, icy look. F-grade stones account for 20 percent of diamonds sold at Blue Nile.
Currently, lab-made cubic zirconia (CZ) is the most popular diamond lookalike. At a fraction of the price, it can rival diamond in brilliance (the light it reflects) and dispersion or fire (the colorful flashes that seem to come from within the stone).
Brown diamonds are generally the least expensive of natural fancy colors. As with colored stones in general, color is paramount for fancy colored diamond pricing. Other quality factors like clarity and cut do not affect prices as much as with colorless diamonds.
Moissanite is an interesting gemstone, because it is both synthetic, and a diamond simulant. It is not, however, a synthetic diamond. It is a diamond simulant because it is made to look like a diamond.
The cushion-cut center diamond of Meghan's engagement ring is estimated to be roughly three carats and was sourced from Botswana — a country that is very important to Prince Harry and where the couple took their first vacation together.