Diamond Shapes: Radiant Cut

The radiant cut has a beautifully symmetrical and non-traditional cut which combines the brilliance of a round cut diamond and the purity of an emerald cut. The radiant cut’s facets create a fiery look that can be compared to a princess cut but at the same time, you can still see soft cut corners. Its trimmed corners help this loose diamond achieve the shape’s versatility that shines in all kinds of jewelry, especially in engagement rings. That is why it is safe to say that the radiant cut gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to diamond shapes because it has almost all the beloved traits of other popular diamond shapes. 

History

The modern radiant diamond is more or less 40 years old. The first radiant cut diamond was created by Henry Grossbard in the late 1970s. Grossbard was a part of the Radiant Cut Diamond Company that first released the cut in 1977. The creation of the radiant cut diamond changed the way rectangular diamonds were seen and developed. The radiant cut diamond quickly drew attention in the market because it was the first rectangular diamond to have a complex pattern on the pavilion and the crown of the stone. Before the radiant cut was introduced, every rectangular-shaped diamond had fewer facets, didn’t pay so much attention to little details, and it did not shine that brilliantly compared to Grossbard’s version. And in 2012, the Radiant Cut Diamond Company released their specific brand which they called the “original radiant cut.”

Characteristics

Often called as the rectangular modified brilliant diamond, radiant cut diamonds are simply the squarer version of the common round brilliant diamonds. They belong to a cut group called the “hybrids” because their characteristics seem to be a combination of some other popular stone shapes. The radiant cut diamond is the perfect option if you want to have an emerald-cut shape but a brilliance of a round diamond. The radiant cut diamond is also the popular choice when it comes to fancy colored diamonds because they get more rough diamond color compared to other cuts. 

Radiant Cut Vs. Emerald-Cut

When it comes to shape, the radiant cut is much more similar with the emerald cut. This is because the emerald cut diamonds have the same straight sides as the radiant cut. However, the emerald cut has sharp and bold corners just like what you see on the princess cut while the radiant cut sports cropped corners. The biggest difference that we can see between the two is their faceting, radiant cuts are brilliant diamonds which means they give a crushed ice look and they are cut to give out the maximum sparkle. On the other hand, emerald cuts have step cuts which has fewer and larger facets that don’t give out that much sparkle compared to brilliant cuts. 

How Much Does it Cost?

The radiant cut diamond typically comes at a lower price compared to other diamond shapes. This is because compared to round diamonds that have greater diamond wastage, the radiant cut diamond uses the maximum amount of diamond rough which is why they are also very efficient if you will look at it from a diamond cutter’s perspective. However, radiant cut diamonds tend to be a little bit deeper compared to other diamonds which means that they appear to be smaller even if they have the same carat weight than other diamond shapes. The price of a diamond differs from one carat to another and when it comes to radiant cut diamonds, once a stone reaches 2 carats, you can expect the price to reach about 20,000 dollars.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Radiant Cut Diamond

  •   Make sure you familiarize yourself first with both square and rectangular cut diamonds.
  •   It is best to choose a radiant cut diamond with a 1 to 1.05 ratio for square and 1.16 to 1.3 ratio for rectangular. But it still depends on how elongate you want your diamond to look. 
  •   The recommended cut for a radiant cut diamond has a total table of 57 to 69 percent with a depth of 58 to 70 percent.
  •   Always look for a radiant cut diamond that is graded by AGS or GIA. 
  •   Always check the evenness of the radiant cut diamond. If the diamond appears to be crooked in its setting or if the ring is a bit off-center from your finger, then the diamond might not be parallel.