St. George & Southern Utah
Round engagement rings, and what a round buys that nothing else does
A round is the smallest stone for its weight of anything we make and still the most popular ring in the world. Those two facts are not in spite of each other — the round is popular because of both. It is the cut built to throw light, and the one that forgives everything.
What a round actually measures, and costs
| Round, in 14K gold | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8 ct | 6 mm | $1,310 |
| 1 ct | 6.5 mm | $1,380 |
| 1.25 ct | 7 mm | $1,450 |
| 1.5 ct | 7.4 mm | $1,530 |
| 2 ct | 8 mm | $1,700 |
| 3 ct | 9.4 mm | $2,020 |
It is the smallest for its weight, and that is the trade
A one-carat round is 6.5 mm across. The same carat in an oval is 8 by 6 mm, which is visibly more stone on the finger for the same money. On size alone, the round finishes last.
What you get instead is light. A round brilliant has 57 facets arranged so that the light that goes in comes back out through the top, which is why it out-sparkles every other cut in a room. Fancy shapes are cut for size and elegance; the round is cut for brilliance, and it still wins that.
The most forgiving stone you can buy
- It hides inclusions best. Dozens of small facets break up whatever is inside, so a round at a given clarity looks cleaner than any other shape at the same grade. That means a round is the shape that lets a tighter budget go further in stone quality.
- There is no point and no corner. Nothing on a round catches, nothing chips, and there is no prong sitting on a thin end. It is the shape we would choose for someone who works with her hands.
- It never dates. Fashions move through ovals, cushions and pears and always come back to the round. Nobody has ever had to explain why they chose one.
Where your money does more good
Because a round costs the same as any other shape here and needs a lower clarity to look right, the round is where a fixed budget buys the most stone quality. If you have a figure in mind and want the best ring rather than the biggest one, a round at a better grade beats a fancy shape at a bigger one — and it will look better in ten years.
Ask us either way. We will tell you honestly which way your money goes furthest for what you want, including when the answer is cheaper than you expected.
What happens when you ask
Build a round on this site and watch the price move, or send us a photo of something you have seen. A CAD drawing of your ring and an exact price come back within 48 hours, free and with nothing to pay until you approve it.
Questions people actually ask
Why is a round diamond more expensive than a fancy shape?
In the trade, a round costs more per carat to buy because more rough is cut away to make one. Not from us — a round and an oval of the same carat and metal are the same price here.
Is a round diamond the best choice?
For brilliance, forgiveness and never dating, yes. For size on the finger for your money, no — an oval at a carat measures 8 by 6 mm against 6.5 mm. If you want the most visible stone, take the fancy shape; if you want the safest and brightest ring, take the round.
How much is a 1 carat round engagement ring?
From us, $1,380 in 14K gold with a real IGI-certified lab-grown stone, all-in. Silver starts at $480 and 18K gold is $1,620, and a heavier band moves the price more than the shape does.
Does a round diamond hide flaws?
It hides them better than any other shape. Its many small facets scatter light and break up anything the eye would otherwise see, which is why a round at a given clarity looks cleaner than an emerald cut at the same grade.
Can I go and see a round stone before it is set?
Yes. Come to the bench in St. George and we will show you the certified stone before it goes into your ring. Ask when you send your idea and we will set it aside.
Free to ask. A drawing and an exact price in 48 hours.