Diamonds 101: Radiant Cut

The world of diamonds is utterly fascinating and whether you are a newcomer or you have already begun a collection of your own, there is no doubt that there is always something more to learn about diamond jewelry and everything to do with it!

When shopping, there is a huge variety of different carat weights, colors, and diamond shapes to choose from, some of which you will already be familiar with and some of which might be new to you. You might have heard of the emerald cut, cushion cut diamonds, princess cut diamonds, and baguette diamonds, but have you ever heard of the radiant cut?

If you have not come across radiant cut diamonds before, we are going to take you on a journey to discover everything that you could need to know about this particular cut, so that next time you are shopping at your local jeweler, you will know exactly what to look for and exactly what makes the difference between very good and not so good!

Without further ado, here is a 101-style guide to the radiant cut diamond.

What Is A Radiant Cut Diamond?

The radiant cut diamond is widely regarded by jewelers as one of the most brilliant and beautiful shapes of the diamond. It features a total of 70 intricate facet cuts that give it amazing amounts of light reflection. And as we know, it is the amount of light reflection that creates the look of a sparkling, dazzling stone that truly catches the eye.

Radiant cut diamonds are known in particular for being some of the most brilliant in the world, but that isn’t where their appealing characteristics begin and end. Diamonds that are radiant cut tend to have a square shape edging which can be reminiscent of a classic emerald cut but (in our opinion) with a slightly more modern style. This kind of shape paired with brilliant faceting makes the radiant cut diamond an absolute showstopper of a stone to the naked eye.

What Is The History Of The Radiant Cut Diamond?

The origins of the radiant cut diamond aren’t as old as you might imagine them to be. It was a jeweler by the name of Henry Grossbard who first unveiled the radiant cut to the world, and he did so as recently as1981.

Grossbard had been a revered master diamond cutter for more than three decades before this momentous occasion, famous in jewelry circles for creating stunning diamonds for the wealthy of the world to own and admire up close.

Taking inspiration from his many previous projects, he invented a shape inspired by emerald cut diamonds that incorporated the signature sparkle of a classic round cut brilliant, and thus the radiant cut was born!

Ever since its introduction to the world, radiant cut diamond engagement rings have been one of the most popular choices for future brides, and they are overall a popular diamond shape in all areas of fashion from New York to Paris and everywhere in between.

One of the biggest reasons for this is that a radiant cut diamond can work perfectly for white diamonds and any other diamond color and bands of all the different precious metals including yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum.

Radiant Cut vs Cushion Cut

Among all the different diamond shapes, the radiant and cushion cuts are very often compared. Both shapes can look similar because they both have a large table, rectangular-ish outlines, and a high degree of brilliance thanks to their facet pattern.

Their main area of design difference is in the corners. Where a cushion cut has rounded corners, the corners of a radiant cut diamond are beveled and at a 45° angle making this cut more geometric and angular. The shape is often described as having cropped corners, clipped-off, or cut corners.

When it comes to brilliance, the radiant cut outshines the cushion cut, also rivaling brilliant-cut diamonds in the sparkle stakes. The large table and numerous facets enable superior reflection from a large amount of light for a beautifully bright sparkle. although the cushion cut has an impressive bright brilliance, it is more known for its fire than its brilliance.

What Are The Most Important Things To Consider When Buying A Radiant Cut Diamond?

When buying something as precious and special as your wedding band or engagement ring, you cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in your search for the perfect diamond that is high quality and flawless. Of course, the final choice is always going to be a matter of personal preference. Take a look through our mini-guide to what you should be looking for when buying a radiant cut diamond.

It is really important to do your homework when it comes to things like color grade, width ratio, facet pattern, cut grade, and diamond clarity. We are here to do some of that homework for you right now.

Cut

It is worth saying that in the real world, there is no such thing as the ‘perfect’ radiant cut diamond, but you want it to be as perfect as it can be.

The lower quality the cut, the duller the diamond will appear, making it look more watery or icy than crystal clear and glittery.

Sometimes, poor quality radiant cut diamonds can have something of a ‘lumpy’ appearance and this generally happens when they have been cut excessively to conserve carat weight.

Ideally, you want a radiant cut diamond that is 70 percent of the total carat weight. In terms of budget, it can be worth it to pay that little bit extra for a better cut.

Ratio

To get the ratio, you need to divide the diamond’s length by its width in millimeters. The ratios of radiant cut diamonds range from 1:1 to 1:45:1 due to the variation from a square shape to more elongated shapes.

The sweet spot for this cut is anything in-between 1:3 and 1:35:1, but if your budget is a concern then there is nothing wrong with opting for a slightly more rectangular shape.

Something else you can do to get the perfect shape for a slightly lower cost is to sacrifice some of the colors. Anything in the I to J color range is a great area of compromise.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is defined by how many ‘inclusions’ there are in the stone. Inclusions are microscopic imperfections such as fractures and minerals that are part of the natural process of formation. as the rough diamond crystallizes. When you look at inclusions with a microscope, they will look like clouds, pinpoints, crystals and feathers.

If a stone is completely flawless, it will be the most valuable. Because radiant cut diamonds feature so much facet complexity, there is a little bit more flexibility in the grading.

The best thing to do is consult with an expert jeweler to check that the diamond is eye clean and does not look milky or icy at all.

Remember too, that all diamonds should have a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) that confirms each of its 4Cs.

Final Thoughts

Now that you are more educated on the radiant cut diamond and know what to look for and what to ask for when out browsing, there is nothing to stop you from finding the ring of your dreams.

If radiant cut diamonds were not on your wishlist before, they certainly will be now. What could be better than a stunning solitaire colorless diamond crafted into a beautiful radiant cut? If you are looking for an engagement ring, a wedding ring, or simply want to treat yourself to a piece of jewelry that is going to stay stunning and valuable forever, then choosing a radiant cut diamond is one of the best decisions that you can make.

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