As we’ve seen, a perfectly cut round brilliant diamond brings out the best qualities already inherent in the stone, distributing light and color in a stunning firework display. The reason diamonds have been so prized for so long is because they are the perfect vessel for this; their internal structure interacts with light in the best way possible. Other gemstones — including diamond simulants such as cubic zirconia, white topaz, and white sapphire — do not share this same quality.  When looking at other faceted gemstones, the stone should look well-balanced and polished with even, consistent facets and a centered table that is not too small and not too overwhelming. The exact angles and percentages of the cut are not as important when shopping for other gemstones as they are when looking at diamonds.