I've been in diamond forums for two years. The consensus in most of these spaces is: round brilliant is objectively the best cut, everything else is a compromise, and buying anything else means you either couldn't afford round or you "settled."
I have a 1.4ct princess cut F-VS1 GIA stone. I chose it because I think the geometric, architectural sparkle pattern is more interesting than round's pattern. I like the square face-up outline. My fiancée specifically asked for princess. We love this ring.
But every time I mention princess cut in these forums I get three responses:
- "Did you consider that round retains value better?"
- "The corners will chip if you're not careful"
- "Princess sparkle is flat compared to round"
Every shape has tradeoffs. Round is not objectively superior. It has better light return metrics on paper. It also looks identical to every other round brilliant. Princess cuts have a distinct look that some people actively prefer. Preference is not deficiency.
The round supremacy crowd has made this hobby feel unwelcoming to anyone who buys outside the one approved shape.
The round supremacy thing is real and it's driven by two groups: people who spent premium money on round and need to believe they made the right call, and online communities where the most vocal members tend to be data-driven buyers who naturally gravitate to the "optimal" measurable choice. Light return metrics favor round. Preference metrics don't exist.