Table of Contents
As we all know, diamonds are aspirational and coveted gemstones that don’t come cheap. Every diamond is valuable and costs a pretty penny. It’s one of those big-ticket purchases that you make to reward yourself or to mark a milestone in your life like an engagement or anniversary. They are rare, radiant, and regal.
If you’re wondering what’s the most expensive cut of diamond, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we reveal what is the most expensive diamond shape and why.
Before we proceed, let’s define some common terms you’ll come across.
What Is a Diamond Cut?
Technically speaking, a diamond cut refers to its craftsmanship in terms of how a jewel maker carves a rough diamond into a faceted gem. The trusted authority of determining the cut grade is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It uses a 5-point scale ranging from excellent to poor.
The grade is based on a cut’s brightness, fire and scintillation when viewed face-up, its durability, and its craftsmanship that covers symmetry and polish.
Diamond cuts and diamond shapes like round, oval, marquise, cushion, and others are often used interchangeably. In this article, we talk about the diamond cut in the context of shape and what diamond shape is the most expensive.
The Priciest of the Lot
So what’s the most expensive diamond cut? Let’s cut to the chase and reveal at this point that the honor goes to the round-cut diamond. This particular shape is also the most popular and most resplendent of all.
The round-cut diamond has the most intense fire, sparkle, and brilliance because of its shape and multiple facets. It has enjoyed a cult following for centuries especially as engagement rings because of its intense light or sparkle as well as its timeless appeal.
Factors Affecting a Diamond’s Price
What diamond shape is most expensive and what makes one superior over others? Typically, this is determined by the 4C’s of diamond quality — the cut, carat, color, and clarity. We’ve already defined cut so let’s move on to the other C’s.
Carat
Carat measures the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 0.200 grams divided by 100 points. It is also equivalent to a third of a gram. A diamond may have the same carat as another diamond but can be bigger depending on its cut and shape. There are of course a few tricks to make your diamond look bigger, no matter what is the carat.
A marquise diamond and a round diamond may have the same carat but the marquise, because of its elongated shape, can appear larger.
Color
Color refers to the degree of colorlessness of the diamond. A pure and perfectly structured diamond has no hue and so the color grading system of the GIA is based on the absence of color. A diamond that is close to being colorless has a high grade and price.
The truth of the matter, however, is that it’s extremely rare to find an absolutely colorless diamond. Most of the ones sold in the market have tinges of colors that range from a D to Z — from colorless to near-colorless to faint colors of usually white, gray, yellow, or pink.
These colors are caused by chemical traces or structural issues. The more colorless, the more rare or expensive, depending of course on the other C factors that we named.
Clarity
Clarity is the measure of a diamond’s purity in terms of inclusions and blemishes when viewed and magnified ten times. Inclusions are internal flaws while blemishes are external, visible imperfections.
Clarity affects a diamond’s brilliance and transparency and is a factor in determining its value. The GIA clarity grade is a 6-point grading system that classifies diamonds into the following categories from least to most expensive:
- Included (I1, I2, I3)
- Slightly Included (S1, S2)
- Very Slightly Included (VS1, VS2)
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1, VVS2)
- Internally Flawless (IF)
- Flawless (FL)
What Makes the Round Diamond the Most Expensive Cut?
The price of a diamond not only relies on these 4C’s. Other factors include the materials and process it took to cut and shape the diamond, the amount of diamond loss during manipulation, and the market demand for it.
Let’s take a deeper dive on the cost drivers of this true classic.
Its Popularity
The round diamond is the most coveted and purchased cut in the market. While the popularity of other cut diamonds surges and plummets, the round diamond has maintained its value with its consistently high demand and rarity.
Its Brilliance
Because of its shape, a round diamond can capture light from all sides and channel it to the top, giving it a face-up view that dazzles more than any other diamond cut. Its fire, sparkle, and brilliance also give it the ability to better hide imperfections better than other cuts.
Its Process
Carving a rough diamond to create a multifaceted round cut requires chipping away at it in a way that loses more rough diamond compared to other diamond cuts. It also takes a lot more time and skill to create its perfectly round shape.
All these drivers on top of the 4C criteria contribute to the round-cut diamond’s high value, making it a worthy purchase and investment.
The Best Round Diamond Ring for You
Othergems has three decades of global experience in crafting and selling the highest quality of diamonds in the market from lab-grown diamonds to natural earth-mined, clarity-enhanced diamonds.
We also specialize in custom-designed diamond jewelry pieces like diamond bands and engagement rings.
Othergems offers a wide range of jewelry designs from classic to trendy that caters to a spectrum of style, tastes, and budget. Our round-cut diamonds and settings are some of the most sought-after in the market, delighting generations of diamond jewelry lovers, collectors, and connoisseurs.
If you want GIA-certified diamond pieces for you or your loved one, visit Othergems and find the perfect piece that matches your flair for elegance and sophistication.
Othergems is where luxury, expert craftsmanship, and value for money come together, making it a brilliant choice for your next diamond jewelry!