When it comes to diamonds, there exists a list of different styles and cuts, each having its own distinctive charm. But if there is one kind that has the best and truly lives up to the level it would be the Radiant cut diamond.
Radiant cuts, true to their name, are absolutely radiant. They are one of the most intense and dazzling cuts. They also radiate a strong fierceness but with blunt and delicate corners, making them the beautifully uniform, versatile, and unconventional option.
A Radiant cut also happens to a newbie in the mainstream diamond market, the fact that highlights its modern appearance and popularity among people who wish to have a chic, modern with a hint of antique vibe.
Radiant diamonds have a beautiful and unparalleled ‘crushed ice’ appearance which only increases their brilliance and intensity. This effect is achieved due to the 70 facets, straight sides, and beveled corners.
History AND POPULARITY OF RADIANT CUT STONE
Radiant cut’s appearance along with its affordability makes it one of the most popular diamonds out there.
This design was originally invented by Henry Grossbard, an Austrian diamond cutter who settled in New York during World War II, in 1977. This makes this particular style not even 50 years old. Grossbard actively tried to make a diamond cut that would embody the elegance of emerald cut diamond and the brilliance of a round cut diamond, hence the radiant cut diamond.
Since the late 1980s, radiant diamond has become one of the most popular styles. Celebrities like Hillary Duff, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Drew Barrymore are some of the many who have been seen sporting a radiant cut diamond.
Also Read: Full Cut vs Single Cut Diamonds
WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT RADIANT CUT STONE?
Buying a diamond is not an easy job. It is not just about what falls under your budget or what people around you suggest you should buy. It is about everything the particular diamond represents about itself and what seems to please your eyes.
When it comes to radiant cut diamonds, the rubrics are more or less the same-Color, Carat, Cut, and Clarity; the 4C’s of diamonds.
CUT: A lot about the diamond depends on the cut, making it the most important factor. Be it the diamond’s brilliance or its appeal to the eyes, it has to do with its cut.
The cut is a highly personalized factor. A particular cut that one might not like might be the one preferred by another. So you have to be the judge yourself about what you like. Radiant diamonds have their signature trimmed corners with their edges straight, so the cut has to be perfect.
An imperfect and faulty cut will not only ruin the whole look of the diamond but will also emphasize the bowtie effect. When there’s incomplete refraction of light within the diamond due to the faulty cut, notable dark figures appear at the center of the diamond that resembles the bow of the ribbon, hence the name.
A well-cut radiant diamond will not only sparkle with fire and brilliance but also emphasizes its depth and dimension.
CLARITY: Due to the high number of facets the radiant cut has and the crushed icy appearance it gives, it is hard to spot any inclusions with the naked eye. That makes diamonds with even a lower clarity grade on the spectrum make suitable gemstones for your jewelry.
That being said, a radiant cut can appear bigger than its actual size. Considering that, it is best if diamonds lying on the lower levels of the clarity spectrum are chosen if bigger and heavier diamonds are to be chosen.
COLOR: Owing to its cut and ability to spectacularly refract light within, it shows color quite well. Diamonds of the grade D-F would appear colorless while those on the opposite of the scale, of grade S-Z, would show various degrees of yellow or brown tinges.
Another popularity among radiant cuts is colored diamonds. These diamonds look gorgeous and quite intense with this cut and more, depending on their setting.
CARAT: Radiant cuts are usually lighter than what they look. Since they can appear larger than their actual size, they are normally lighter.
Another important thing to keep in mind and check when thinking of diamond shopping is the ratio between its length to width. Radiant diamonds can be square or rectangle.
If you want a rectangular radiant cut, it is best to go for a diamond whose length-width ratio is from 1.15 to 1.35. Diamonds of a ratio of 1.05 are best for a square shape.
Despite all these factors, you have the ultimate say in what you like and what pleases your eyes and piques your interest.
METALLIC SETTING FOR RADIANT CUT STONES
Each metal has its own aura and vibe. Gold is a classic metal that has one option for everyone.
If you want a cold-hued metal that compliments radiant cut’s icy feeling, white gold is there for you. If you want a look with vintage and elegant feel, then rose gold is the answer. If you prefer to go for something timeless, classic, and traditional, then it is yellow gold for you.
If you have a bit higher budget, then you should opt for platinum. It has the same cold vibe as white gold but with high durability and shine. Platinum is also hypoallergenic, so if you have sensitive skin, a platinum ring won’t cause any problem. Also, it won’t chip off easily so it will retain its fresh look for a long time, without the need to professionally polishing or re-plating it.
If you want to risk it and mix things up, opt for a two-toned ring with combinations like rose gold and white gold or yellow gold and white gold or rose gold and platinum or whatever suits your taste.
Diamonds of lower color grades would look fabulous on yellow gold and rose gold. Diamonds of grades H-K appear more or less colorless, no matter what metal they are set on.
It is also important to keep in mind that no matter what metal you choose with your radiant cut, it will be reflected within the diamond and alter its color and appearance.
WHY RADIANT CUT STONES ARE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE?
- Radiant cut diamonds are excellent at hiding the inclusions and blemishes within them, making them appear flawless to anyone who sees them.
- They are one of the sparkliest diamond cuts and can be incredibly eye-catching.
- Due to their cut, shallow design, and broad fronts and angle of facets, they appear bigger to the naked eye. So even a small diamond would not only be eye-catching but also look bigger than its size.
- The radiant cut is made in a way that it creates an illusion that the fingers of the person also appear longer. It is a great point if you have small dainty hands.
- They are quite affordable. They are not as expensive as they look. Since they are made from whole diamonds and the amount of wastage is quite low, radiant cut diamonds are cheaper than the other cuts of diamonds.
- Radiant cuts have trimmed corners and shallow design, which readily reduces the odds of it getting chipped and breakage. Which is important if the person has an active lifestyle.
RADIANT CUT V/S PRINCESS CUT V/S CUSHION CUT
Radiant cut, princess cut, and cushion cut all look quite similar to each other, and at times it can be hard to tell the difference between them if you don’t know about them. Most of the characteristics like color, cut, clarity, and shape are something they have the same, more or less.
Aesthetically speaking, princess cut, radiant cut, and cushion cut share a lot of commonalities. So unless you are quite aware of what exactly you are looking for, it would be hard to tell the difference between the three.
PRINCESS CUT & RADIANT CUT
Princess cut diamonds have an elegant brilliant to them. They can be a square, rectangle, or tapered in shape and cut. Radiant cut, compared to Princess cut, doesn’t have as sharp edges, rather soft and trimmed corners. It gives radiant cuts a less rigid look.
Also due to their pointy corners, Princess cut diamonds are quite vulnerable to damages and chipping. Due to the fewer facets in princess cuts, it tends to be less brilliant and sparkly compared to radiant diamond. This also increases the visibility of inclusions and blemishes, should there be any inside the diamond.
Also Read: How to determine the value of a Black diamond?
CUSHION CUT & RADIANT CUT
Cushion-cut diamonds have softer edges and rounded corners. Cushion cut diamonds are mostly a square or squarish shape compared to Radiant cut which is available in a wide range of shapes.
Cushion cut also has less brilliance and sparkle to it, compared to radiant cut diamond. However, the cushion cut has stronger and fiercer fire in it. The cushion cut is also a lot more readily available compared to the Radiant cut, which makes it a little more popular than radiant cut diamonds.
The only downside of cushion cut diamond is the presence of the girdle. It reduces the resilience and toughness of the diamond, making it invulnerable to chips and damages.
BEST RADIANT CUT ENGAGEMENT RING SETTING
Radiant cuts are excellent standalone stone and would do great in a simple solitaire setting, making it classy, timeless, and a versatile engagement ring.
But if you prefer extra sparkle, you can opt for three-diamond-setting. Here, two stones are added on either side of the center diamond and this setting often enhances almost everything about the centerpiece.
When it comes to picking side stones, there is no fixed answer. You can go for trillions, triangles, baguettes, half-moons, or even radiant cut diamonds.
Then there’s always the classic halo setting with a small pave of accent diamonds surrounding the center stone. Halo setting also works great with radiant cut diamonds since it boosts up its default brilliance and makes it much more attention-grabbing.
If you want to experiment, you can have colored diamonds as accent stones with the center radiant cut diamond. This will create a contrast that will make your radiant cut diamond ring superbly gorgeous.
Other than stone settings, another important factor to keep in mind is how the stone will be joined to the ring-band. This is either done by prong setting or bezel setting.
Between the two, the prong setting is the best and most effective. It has strips of metal that are adjusted to hold the diamond in its place by holding it at its corners and/ or edges. This type of setting maximizes the amount of light entering the diamond, which makes it shine more brilliantly. Whether there would be 4 prongs to hold the diamond or 6, that would highly depend on the size and carat of the diamond.
The Bezel setting has a strip of metal on the perimeter of the diamond to hold it down. This type of setting is usually not preferred since it restricts the amount of light that is supposed to diamond and therefore makes the diamond a little duller. But some people prefer the subtlety and elegance bezel settings provide and opt for it.
The type of metal also plays a part when it comes to your diamond ring. The metal, no matter how versatile, should suit the skin tone, fashion choices, budget, and the level of activeness in the wearer’s life.
CONCLUSION THOUGHTS
Coming to an end, radiant cut diamonds are one of the most show-stopping diamond cuts. They are gorgeous with a flash of outstanding brilliance. They are highly durable, making them perfect for a person with an active lifestyle. They are also immune to chips, scratches, and damages due to the way they are cut. They are also about one-fourth the price of other equally brilliant diamond cuts like round cut, oval cut, pear cut, etc, making them highly affordable.
So if you want a diamond that will burst with radiance and luster, sparkle the entire room, and still not burn a hole through your wallet, then radiant cut diamonds are the perfect choice for you.
