Abstract: The invention provides an improved round cut gemstone, comprising a girdle, a crown above the girdle, and a pavilion below the girdle. The crown is located between the girdle and a substantially flat surface defining a table, and has two steps including a first step from the girdle to a crown break and a second step from the crown break to the table. The crown includes eight first step top corner facets, eight second step top corner facets, eight star facets, and sixteen upper girdle facets. The gemstone has a pavilion having a plurality of bottom facets and a centrally located culet at the bottom of the pavilion, and includes eight pavilion or lower corner facets, sixteen outside lower girdle facets and sixteen lower inside girdle facets.