Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds
The round brilliant is the most popular diamond shape and the one cut for maximum sparkle. Compare certified natural and lab grown round diamonds below, with live stock and prices in pounds. Buy a loose round brilliant diamond on its own, or have it set to order in our workshop.
ROUND 0.4 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 88 %
Colour: E - Colourless
Clarity: SI1 - Slightly Included
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9572941650
ROUND 0.4 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 86 %
Colour: E - Colourless
Clarity: SI1 - Slightly Included
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9573409390
ROUND 0.4 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 90 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: SI1 - Slightly Included
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9576286730
ROUND 0.4 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 92 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: SI1 - Slightly Included
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9578064478
ROUND 0.4 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 92 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: SI1 - Slightly Included
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9579509428
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 89 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: VS2 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9670515083
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 84 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: VS2 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Very Good
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9671552358
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 87 %
Colour: E - Colourless
Clarity: VS1 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Very Good
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9672674025
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 89 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: VS2 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9672741351
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 84 %
Colour: E - Colourless
Clarity: VS1 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Very Good
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9672741953
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 89 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: VS2 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9672940348
ROUND 0.41 cts.
Sparkle Factor: 87 %
Colour: D - Colourless
Clarity: VS2 - Very Slightly Included
Cut: Very Good
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Diamond ID: 9672941560
What is a round brilliant cut diamond?
A round brilliant has 57 or 58 facets arranged so that almost all the light entering the stone is returned through the top. No other shape matches it for brightness and fire, which is why around half of all engagement ring diamonds are round. It also suits every setting style, from a classic solitaire to a halo or a three-stone ring.
How to choose a round diamond
Cut grade comes first
Round diamonds are the only shape with a full cut grade on the certificate, and it has the biggest effect on how the stone looks. Choose Excellent (GIA) or Ideal/Excellent (IGI) where you can. A well cut H colour diamond will often look brighter than a poorly cut D.
Colour and clarity
Because a round brilliant reflects so much light, it hides colour and small inclusions well. G to H colour looks white in platinum or white gold, and VS2 or SI1 clarity is usually clean to the eye, so you can put more of your budget into size or cut.
Round vs oval diamonds
An oval of the same carat weight looks around 10% larger from above and usually costs less, because more of the rough crystal is kept when it is cut. A round gives a little more sparkle and a timeless look. If you like both, compare an oval with a length-to-width ratio of 1.30 to 1.40 against a round in the same budget.
Popular Round Brilliant diamond sizes
Most of our customers choose between 1 and 3 carats. Start with one of these sizes, or use the carat filter above for anything else:
- 1 carat round brilliant diamonds: natural or lab grown
- 1.5 carat round brilliant diamonds: natural or lab grown
- 2 carat round brilliant diamonds: natural or lab grown
- 3 carat round brilliant diamonds: natural or lab grown
- 5 carat round brilliant diamonds: natural or lab grown
Setting your round brilliant diamond
A round brilliant sits well in four or six claws, a bezel, a halo or alongside side stones. Every ring is made to order in our Bourton-on-the-Water workshop and hallmarked in the UK. Browse our round brilliant engagement rings, or design your own around the diamond you choose here.
You can also build a ring in 3D with Ring Maker, starting with a round brilliant diamond, or see the shape in round brilliant diamond earrings and round brilliant diamond pendants.
Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds: your questions answered
Why are round diamonds more expensive than other shapes?
Cutting a round brilliant loses more of the rough diamond than other shapes, and demand is high, so the price per carat is usually higher than for an oval, cushion or emerald of the same grades.
What cut grade should I choose for a round diamond?
Excellent from GIA, or Ideal or Excellent from IGI. Cut has more effect on sparkle than colour or clarity, so it is the last grade we would compromise on.
What colour and clarity look good in a round diamond?
G or H colour and VS2 or SI1 clarity usually look white and clean to the eye in a round brilliant, and give the best value. Our team can check any stone for you.
Is a lab grown round diamond a real diamond?
Yes. A lab grown diamond is made of carbon with the same hardness, sparkle and chemical make-up as a natural diamond, and is graded on the same certificate. It costs much less for the same size.
Can I buy a loose round brilliant diamond?
Yes. Every diamond on this page can be bought loose, with its grading certificate: choose Buy the Diamond on the stone you like, and it is usually delivered in 7 to 10 days. Or choose Add Jewellery to have it set in a ring, earrings or a pendant, made to order in our Bourton-on-the-Water workshop and hallmarked in the UK.
