The round cut diamond offers fantastic brilliance, and when under natural light sparkles as if it were on fire. All in all, it is one of the top cuts for a diamond. referred to as an "ideal cut", it is one of the most popular diamond cuts in the world. 

         For many people in long term relationships looking to become engaged or get married, the round diamond is a perfect choice for the stone in the girl's engagement ring. The cut provides a certain old world elegance, while still not appearing stuffy or out of date. 

         When a diamond buyer is examining a stone, there are many specific aspects that he or she looks at. On major aspect of a round cut diamond is that the diamond cutter, when shaping the stone, should have used the Tolkowsky ideal cut method. The Tolkowsky method is a method that sets the stone to a set of rather ridged and technical specifications, thereby ensuring its brilliance.

                Diamond companies usually indicate whether their diamonds are of ideal cut in their measurements and specifications, so be sure to make sure that their diamonds are up to par before buying a stone.

                One interesting variation of cut that can occur in a round cut diamond is the “hearts and arrows” effect. This is a precise variation first surfaced in the 1980’s, an important decade in gemological innovations. First, diamonds were cut the very ideal proportions, exactly following the proportions set down by Marcel Tolkowsky in his book Diamond Design. Secondly, they were cut to superior standards of optical symmetry so that they would get a minimum grade of “excellent” in any Japanese diamond laboratory. Finally, and most importantly, they were cut to a very specific brillianteering pattern to produce the beautiful “hearts and arrows” pattern.