radiant cut diamond ring

What Is a Radiant Cut Diamond and How Do We Pick One?

If you want the ultimate sparkle out of your diamond purchase, consider the radiant cut diamond. This diamond was invented to marry together the best of square and rectangle cuts with the beauty of round cuts. The result is a diamond which focuses on glorious sparkle and shine and catches all eyes as it shimmers in the light. Each turn of the hand catches another facet with fabulous glitter and light. This article will explain what the radiant cut is, its history, and how to buy one to get the best deal for your money.

ring with a radiant cut diamond

What is a Radiant Cut Diamond?

A radiant cut diamond is cut in a way which combines the best of various older styles to create a spectacular eye-catching gem. The radiant cut is a square or rectangle cut. Before its invention, the stone would have been cut with long straight cuts called ‘step cuts’. This could leave the diamond with a glassy glare. To get the ultimate sparkle, buyers had to go with a round cut which used triangular facets. The radiant cut put these two cutting techniques together, creating a square/rectangular stone with the glimmer of a round diamond.

History of the Radiant Cut Diamond

The radiant cut boasts 70 facets on the stone. Twenty-five facets are on the crown or top, eight are placed in the girdle, and a whopping thirty-seven facets are cut into the bottom to enhance the light-catching qualities. While most cuts focus on the maximum weight, the radiant cut concentrates on maximum beauty. This leads to smaller diamonds cut with the radiant cut outshining larger diamonds with different cuts. A radiant cut diamond will often appear bigger than a larger diamond with another cut. The radiant cut shows quality is in the artistry, not the actual size.

The radiant cut was invented in 1977 by Henry Grossbard, a true master jeweler. Grossbard believed, “A well cut radiant is one that spreads its carat weight and has the right life.” Mister Grossbard worked with creating a combination of angled cuts to boost the scintillation effect. Scintillation is the sparkle of the diamond. His creation focused on beauty and not carat weight, inventing a glamorous cut for the modern bride. It earned the name radiant because the circular pattern of cuts radiates out,` unlike the basic X-pattern on other cuts such as the princess. The radiant cut is finished off by truncated corners, rather than sharp edges which can catch on clothes and hair. Grossbard perfected his cut in 1981 and took out the first patent on a diamond cut. The patent has run out, allowing other jewelers to create radiant cut diamonds.

radiant cut diamond ring

Buying Guide

When buying any diamond, the 4 C’s are the key rules. The four C’s are cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. When choosing the radiant cut diamond, these four factors create a unique interplay. The radiant cut focuses on bringing out the beauty of the diamond and the excellent cut can hide flaws other cuts can not. This can give you more diamond options. The radiant cut allows diamonds which are of lesser weight and color purity to create a spectacular ring.

However, that doesn’t mean the radiant cut can hide all blemishes. For this cut, the diamond should be I or higher on the GIA Color and a 3.00 or higher on the AGS Color Grade scale. For clarity, the diamond should rank SI2 and higher on the GIA Clarity Grade scale or be a 5 or higher on the AGS Clarity Grade scale. Anything lower than these rankings and the cut may not be able to hide imperfections and color tints.

Speaking of color, the radiant cut is perfect for colored diamonds because the shape of the diamond and the unique arrangement of facets enhance the color. While other shapes tend to not show the color evenly throughout the diamond, the radiant cut provides an even glow of color.

radiant shaped diamond

Popular Settings for the Radiant Cut Diamond

So, if the radiant cut is the perfect cut for you, what is the perfect setting for the cut? Since the radiant cut diamond is quadrilateral, or four-sided, it must have at least a four-pronged setting to stabilize the stone. The four prong setting not only secures the stone but also gives it the best setting to shimmer and shine. This setting allows the maximum of light to hit the stone and the radiant cut diamond needs lots of light to be at its best. This cut is sometimes found in the bezel setting, but it can be problematic because closed setting blocks some of the light. This takes away the stones ability to show off its best.

Now, once the diamond is placed in a setting with plenty of light-catching chances, the sky is the limit on styling. This beauty of this cut is dazzling enough to stand on its own in a ring or necklace but is also enhanced by side diamonds or other gems which play up the beauty of the center stone.

The radiant cut diamond is a perfect way to create a piece of jewelry which is totally glamorous and amazing but doesn’t require a large stone or one which is the best quality. Mr. Grossbard believed in a cut which enhanced the beauty of any stone and he achieved just that. By combining two types of cuts for two totally different shaped stones, Grossbard created a type of cut which celebrates the potential beauty of the diamond.

What do you think? Do you believe the radiant cut is an innovation which brings the bling or is a cover for inferior diamonds? Do you have a radiant cut and do you love it or hate it?

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