Which Diamonds Sparkle the Most?

Diamonds have been prized for centuries for their beautiful and distinctive sparkle. The most sparkly diamonds are round brilliant-cut diamonds. Round-cut diamonds feature 57 facets (or 58 when a culet is included). Facets are the flat surface on a diamond. The arrangement of these facets, as well as their proportions and symmetry are what allow for optimal sparkle.   

Why Do Diamonds Sparkle?

To answer this, it’s important to understand what sparkle is in the first place. Essentially, it is just light being reflected and refracted to create that tiny pop you see that we call the sparkle. Now, why is it that diamonds have such a brilliant sparkle? When light hits the diamond, a small portion of it is immediately reflected off the surface of the stone. As the rest of the light enters the diamond, it starts changing directions because of the different angles that present on the surface of the rock. When light hits multiple surfaces of a diamond it begins bending and bouncing around inside the stone, only to shoot back out – that’s refraction. The reflection and refraction combined help create the beautiful sparkle we see. 

When you have a diamond with a round brilliant-cut, the light is presented with 57 or 58 different surfaces, all bending and the beams into different directions as it passes through. That’s what makes it so special. 

If the round-cut diamond isn’t quite your style, don’t fret – there are other diamond shapes out there that will still provide plenty of sparkle. Meet the modified brilliant cuts, which include: 

• Cushion-cut diamonds
• Princess-cut diamonds 
• Radiant-cut diamonds 
• Oval-cut diamonds 
• Pear-cut diamonds 
• Heart-cut diamonds 
• Marquise-cut diamonds

Which Diamonds Sparkle the Least?

Step-cuts diamonds, such as the emerald-cut and Asscher-cut don’t necessarily sparkle but feature flashes of light. Step-cut diamonds are different because they have long, rectangular facets that create a hall of mirrors effect. You can view HD videos of our diamonds to compare the sparkle between a step-cut diamond and brilliant (or modified brilliant) cut diamonds.  

How to Buy a Sparkling Diamond

The key to a sparkling diamond is a premium cut grade. Choosing a round-cut diamond isn’t enough. For a round-cut diamond, choose an Ideal cut grade.  

The GIA only assigns cut grades to round-cut diamonds. For fancy-shaped diamonds, choose a stone with a Very Good cut and excellent polish and symmetry. At Ritani, our gemologists determine the cut grade of fancy shaped diamonds based on the stone’s polish, symmetry, depth percentage, and table percentage.  

To add more sparkle to your engagement ring, select a halo setting or a sidestone setting.  

Avoid bezel settings, which don’t let in as much light.  

Another way to keep your diamond glistening is by keeping it clean. Dirt and oil can slowly build up on your stone over time, making it look dull. You should regularly clean your diamond with a soft toothbrush, dish soap, and warm water to keep it looking as good as new.  

Want more tips on how to take care of your engagement ring?