Princess Cut vs Round Brilliant: A Side-by-Side Comparison
The princess cut and the round brilliant are two very different diamond personalities. The round is classic, symmetrical and optimised for light return. The princess is modern, geometric and architectural. If you're choosing between them, this guide will help.
Princess cut vs round brilliant at a glance
If you only remember one thing: the round brilliant maximises sparkle and looks slightly bigger for its weight, while the princess cut offers a bold, modern square look for roughly 10 to 20% less. Round is the safe classic. Princess is the distinctive, better-value alternative for anyone who likes a geometric shape.
What is a princess cut?
The princess cut is a square brilliant-cut diamond with pointed corners and a facet pattern designed to produce high brilliance. It was developed in the 1980s and became one of the world's most popular shapes through the 1990s and 2000s. Its popularity has softened slightly in recent years, in favour of oval and elongated shapes, but it remains a distinctive choice.
Sparkle and brilliance
Both are brilliant cuts, designed to maximise light return. The round performs marginally better on raw sparkle and fire, thanks to decades of optimisation in its facet arrangement. The princess produces a slightly different light pattern: bright and lively, with a cross-like pattern visible in the centre when viewed from above.
Size appearance
At the same carat weight, princess cut diamonds appear slightly smaller face-up than round brilliants, because a significant portion of the weight sits in the depth. The square shape does create a bold visual presence that many find more striking than a round of similar size.
Price comparison
Princess cut diamonds are generally priced 10 to 20% less than round brilliants of comparable quality, partly because the square cut retains more of the original rough, reducing waste during cutting.
Setting considerations
The pointed corners of a princess cut require prong protection. A standard four-prong setting leaves the corners exposed and vulnerable to chipping. Look for a setting designed for princess cuts, with prongs placed at each corner.
Durability and everyday wear
Both stones are diamonds, so both rate 10 on the Mohs hardness scale and resist scratching. The practical difference is those princess corners. They're the most vulnerable point on the stone and can chip if knocked hard. A round brilliant has no sharp points, so it's marginally more forgiving for very active hands, though a well-designed corner-protecting setting largely closes that gap.
Which to choose?
Choose round if you want maximum brilliance, a classic look, and easy quality comparison, which is what our solitaire rings are built around. Choose princess if you prefer a modern geometric aesthetic and want a slightly bigger-looking stone for your budget.
Explore the full range of diamond shapes available at Una Diamond, all handcrafted to order.
Explore Una Diamond Engagement Rings
Every Una Diamond ring is handcrafted to order in solid 18K gold or platinum and delivered in around six weeks. Centre stones of one carat and up are IGI certified:
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