Why Is Everyone Talking About Round Diamonds?
Everyone’s talking about round diamonds. But what’s the reason for all this excitement? When buying diamonds, you may have many questions. And if you’re interested in round diamonds, there are many factors you should know.
Why are round diamonds so popular? How are they different from other diamond shapes? And why is everyone opting for round lab grown diamonds? This blog is your comprehensive guide on round diamonds.
What Are Round Diamonds?
As the name suggest, round diamonds are round in shape. Among the many GIA diamond shapes, round diamonds have a higher preference among consumers. However, there’s more to round brillant diamonds than meets the eye. Round cut diamonds are among the most popular because they display the best sparkle because they can have the perfect proportions and symmetry. Round diamonds have 57 or 58 facets that are mostly kite and triangular shaped. You can also find lab grown diamonds in round cuts.
Take a look at the different facets of round diamonds:
Types of Round Diamonds
There are two primary types of round diamonds:
1. Old European Cut (OEC)
2. Round Brilliant Cut
So, what are the differences between these two types of round diamonds? The main difference is the quality. Diamond cutters in the olden times in the 19th century could not achieve perfect roundness or symmetry. These OEC diamonds lack brightness and fire.
The modern round brilliant cut diamonds display superior cut quality because they are cut better, thanks to the modern diamond cutting equipment.
The quality of round diamonds depends on how well it sparkles. And that’s where the 4Cs come in.
Characteristics of Round Diamonds: The 4Cs
To understand the various characteristics of round diamonds, we will look at the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) cut grade.
Cut
The GIA cut grade assesses round brilliant diamonds based on seven factors brightness, durability, fire, polish, scintillation, symmetry, and weight ratio.
The GIA cut grade ranges from Excellent to Poor. The final grade is determined by the lowest assessment received across five of these seven components.
Put simply, if a diamond is rated Poor in brightness, its overall cut grade cannot exceed Poor. However, there are exceptions for polish and symmetry. These exceptions follow the standard GIA grading methodology. For instance, a diamond with Very Good polish and/or symmetry may still achieve an Excellent cut grade.
Color
The GIA’ diamond grading system uses an alphabetical structure to assess the colored diamonds as well as colorless diamonds. It starts with “D”, which denotes absolute colorlessness. This is associated with the highest value. The grades progress from D to Z. The diamond prices keep declining with each subsequent grade on the scale. This decline is based solely on color.
Clarity
The GIA assesses a diamond’s clarity using a scale comprising five categories:
1. Flawless (F)
2. Internally Flawless (IF)
3. Very Very Slightly Included (VVS 1 – 2)
4. Very Slightly Included (VS 1 – 2)
5. Slightly Included (SI 1 – 2), and Included (I 1, 2, and 3)
Similar to the Color scale, the value of the stone decreases as the clarity grade descends.
Carat
Diamonds are measured in metric carats. One carat equals 0.2 grams. A carat divides into 100 points. For instance, a 50-point diamond equates to 0.50 carats. However, two diamonds of equal weight can exhibit distinct values based on other factors of the Four C’s: clarity, color, and cut. The majority of diamonds utilized in fine jewelry weigh one carat or less.
Why Choose Round Cut Lab-Grown Diamonds?
The preference for lab diamonds is increasing amongst consumers. Buying round lab grown diamonds can be a good choice for many reasons. For starters, round cut lab grown diamonds are cheaper than mined round diamonds. You can own a high quality round diamond with excellent sparkle and brilliance in less than half the price you would pay for a mined alternative of the same diamond.
There are a few factors that you must consider when buying a round cut lab grown diamond. For instance, first, look for a reliable lab grown diamond manufacturer or retailer. Next, you must check the certification available with the round cut lab diamond to ensure its transparency and quality.
