Round Engagement Rings: The Ultimate Buying Guide

If the words “timeless” and “sparkly” speak to you, you’ll love a round-cut diamond engagement ring. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to choose the right round-cut diamond and setting for an unforgettable engagement ring.  

 IN THIS GUIDE YOU'LL LEARN:

• What is a round-cut diamond? 

• Why you should choose a round diamond ring 

• How to choose the right round-cut diamond 

• Different setting styles for your round-cut diamond 

• Precious metal options for your round engagement ring 

​What is a round-cut diamond? ​

​Round diamonds, also called the round brilliant cut, feature 57 facets (or 58 if it has a culet). 

Its overall cone-like shape is perfectly engineered to produce maximum sparkle.  

Round-cut diamonds are the most popular diamond shape of all time and are the #1 choice for engagement rings, earrings, pendants, wedding rings, eternity rings, and more. However, their popularity, as well as the fact that cutting them from a rough diamond produces a lot of diamond waste, makes them the most expensive shape.  

4 Reasons to Choose a Round-Cut Diamond 

1. They're the most sparkly diamond shape.

Round-cut diamonds provide greater scintillation than any other diamond shape. Your round-cut engagement ring will truly turn heads!  

2. They're timeless.

Round-cut diamonds have been around for centuries, and they will never go out of style. You can pass down your round-cut engagement ring to future generations, or they can reset the diamond into a pendant. 

3. They conceal color and inclusions.

Shopping for the perfect round-cut diamond can be a little easier than other shapes as their multitude of facets and brilliance will hide inclusions (imperfections inside the diamond) and color (many diamonds have a yellow tint -we’ll go into more detail on this later).

4. They look great in any setting.

​There are many different setting styles, and your round-cut diamond will look beautiful in any of them.

Choosing the Right Round-Cut Diamond 

In order to choose the right round-cut diamond, you’ll need to get acquainted with the 4 Cs. The 4 Cs are the standard way of determining the quality and value of a diamond. The 4 Cs are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat.   

Cut   

Cut can refer to a diamond’s overall shape, but in this case, it refers to how well the diamond was cut. Cut is generally considered the most important of the 4 Cs – a well-cut diamond will sparkle more. Poorly cut diamonds are asymmetrical, less sparkly, and can look smaller. Choose an Ideal cut grade for your round-cut diamond.  

Learn More About Cut 

Color   

Colorless diamonds (those with a D-F color grade) are the rarest and most expensive. We recommend near-colorless diamonds in the G through J range since they will appear white and cost far less than a colorless diamond. Round-cut diamonds are great at concealing any color.

Learn More About Color 

Clarity 

Clarity refers to how many (or how few) inclusions a diamond has. Inclusions are naturally occurring flaws on the inside of a diamond.  

Since round-cut diamonds are good at hiding inclusions, SI1 or SI2 diamonds can sometimes be eye-clean (meaning flaws are not detectable to the naked eye). You should view HD imagery and/or videos of your diamond before making a purchase. Rule out any diamonds with inclusions at the center of the diamond – diamonds with inclusions on the edge of the stone can be hidden with prongs.  

To be 100% certain your stone is eye-clean, choose a clarity grade of VS2 or better.  

Learn More About Clarity 

Carat 

Carat is the measure of how much a diamond weighs. Not all diamonds of the same carat weight will have the same visual size (how large the diamond looks).  

Carat is the largest factor in determining the price of a diamond – the larger the carat, the more expensive the diamond will be.  

On average, 1-carat diamonds are the most popular choice for engagement rings in the U.S. In Europe, engagement rings tend to be about a half-carat.  

The carat weight you choose for your engagement ring is largely about preference, as well as your budget. To save on your engagement ring, we recommend buying shy – so for example, if you are considering a 1-carat diamond, look for diamonds in the 0.9-0.99 carat range. This can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and these diamonds will appear the same size as a 1-carat diamond.  

Learn More About Carat 

Lab-Grown Diamonds  

Round-cut diamonds can cost 30% more than fancy shapes. To save on your round-cut diamond, you may want to consider a lab-grown diamond instead. Lab-grown diamonds can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than their mined counterparts, and are completely identical physically, chemically, and optically to earth-grown diamonds. The only difference between earth-grown and lab-grown diamonds is their origin.  

Learn More About Lab-Grown Diamonds 

Choosing the Right Setting 

The setting is the piece of metal that holds your diamond. Each setting style offers different looks and benefits.  

Solitaire Engagement Rings 

Solitaire settings are a classic choice, making them the perfect fit for your equally timeless round-cut diamond. A solitaire engagement ring features a plain band and a single diamond. This style is the most favored for engagement rings. Solitaire settings are ideal for those with active lifestyles as they lack tiny accent diamonds that can be knocked out. They are also usually the least expensive since they are minimalistic.  

More prongs, no matter the engagement ring style, provide greater protection (shown above is a 6-prong engagement ring), but you can still choose a 4-prong ring and be okay. Consider a bezel setting for maximum protection.  

Read More: 9 Things You Should Be Doing to Take Care of Your Ring 

Halo Engagement Rings 

Halo engagement rings are another sought-after style. They feature tiny diamonds surrounding the center stone. The band of the ring is often diamond-studded, but it doesn’t have to be – for example, this halo engagement ring has a plain band.  

The benefit of halo engagement rings is that they create the illusion of a larger stone while also adding more sparkle and brilliance to your ring.  

Sidestone Engagement Rings  

​A classic and scintillating setting, sidestone settings feature tiny diamonds set in the band. Perfect for someone who wants a little extra sparkle without looking too over-the-top. 

Three-Stone Engagement Rings 

​As you may have guessed, three-stone settings feature three stones set in the band. The two stones sit on each side of the center stone. Three-stone engagement rings can feature many different diamond cuts for the side stones, such as pear-cut diamonds, baguette-cut diamonds, and more. 

Vintage-Inspired Engagement Rings 

Vintage-inspired rings are perfect for someone who seeks an ornate, unique ring. However, vintage-inspired rings tend to be a little pricier than other setting styles since they are more opulent.  

Read More: How to Find a Vintage-Style Engagement Ring 

Choosing the Right Metal 

There are a variety of precious metals to choose from that will look beautiful with your round-cut diamond.  

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold has been used to craft jewelry for centuries. This warm-toned metal is a classic choice for your engagement ring. Ritani offers 18kt yellow gold for engagement rings. Choosing yellow gold for your ring means you can select a diamond in the J through L range since the metal will mask its warmth. Diamonds within this color range are much less expensive. 

Read More: Choosing a Diamond for Yellow and Rose Gold 

White Gold

White gold is the top metal selected for engagement rings at Ritani. At Ritani, we offer 14kt white gold and 18kt white gold. 14kt white is a little less costly - it features less gold content and more alloys than 18kt white gold but is slightly harder than it. 

However, white gold does require some upkeep. This metal features rhodium plating that will wear off over time. Rhodium plating adds extra shine and strength to the metal. At Ritani, our lifetime warranty includes precious metal preservation, so you can get your ring replated for free.  

Platinum

Rose Gold

This romantic metal has exploded in popularity in recent years. It gets its color from copper alloys, which also helps make it slightly more durable than white gold or yellow gold.  

By now, you’re all set to begin shopping for your round engagement ring. Should you need additional help along the way, reach out to our diamond experts, who are ready to assist you.