The first Original Radiant Cut was created by Henry Grossbard in 1977, giving the people an option for a gorgeous square or rectangular shape without compromising on brilliance.It was the first diamond cut to combine the elegance of the emerald shape and the brilliance and fire of a round diamond. Upon the expiration of the patent, the Radiant Cut became a fully accepted diamond shape and was widely distributed by many manufacturers and wholesalers. In 2002, RCDC launched the Original Radiant Cut diamond brand. The Original Radiant Cut is the only radiant cut that is guaranteed to meet the ideal proportions established by its inventor. The Original Radiant Cut is marketed through participating fine jewelry stores throughout the United States . Original Radiant Cut diamonds are more expensive than generic radiant cuts due to their cut quality, although they are still less expensive than round stones. Radiant cut diamonds look beautiful as center stones in rings. They are also used to make earrings and pendants.
The radiant cut diamond is the first square cut (the second being the
princess) to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both
the crown and pavilion, creating a vibrant and lively square diamond. First
popular in the 1980's, the cropped corner square shape of the radiant is a nice
bridge between a cushion and a princess cut, and for that reason looks beautiful
set with both rounded or square cornered diamonds.
In longer (more rectangular) radiant cut diamonds, a bow-tie effect is more likely (although not as
common as in oval, marquise, and pear cuts), varying from near invisible to
severe. The visibility of a bow-tie effect cannot be ascertained by reviewing
the diamond certificate or dimensions, but only upon visual inspection.
If you are interested in purchasing a radiant cut diamond, but would like to
have it inspected first, please contact a diamond consultant, who can review
diamonds on your behalf.
The chart below serves as a general guideline for evaluating the cut of a
radiant cut diamond.
RADIANT CUT DIAMOND - CUT
GUIDE
|
EXCELLENT |
VERY GOOD |
GOOD |
FAIR |
POOR |
Table % |
61 - 69 |
57 - 60
or
70 - 72
|
54 - 56
or
73 - 74
|
51 - 53
or
75 - 79
|
< 51
or
> 79
|
Depth % |
61 - 67 |
59 - 60.9
or
67.1 - 70
|
57 - 58.9
or
70.1 - 74
|
54 - 56.9
or
74.1 - 79
|
< 54
or
> 79
|
Girdle |
Very Thin - Slightly Thick |
Very Thin
to
Thick
|
Very Thin
to
Very Thick
|
Ex. Thin
to
Ex. Thick
|
Culet |
None |
Very Small |
Small |
Medium |
> Medium |
There are diverse preferences when it comes to shape in radiant cut diamonds,
from a perfectly square 1.00 length to width ratio (any ratio of
1.05 or less will appear square to the naked eye), to a more traditional
rectangle. The rectangular radiant cut is an excellent option for buyers who
like the emerald cut
shape, but want something with the brilliance of a round. The square radiant looks
very similar to a princess cut, but with cropped corners. Once set, a square
radiant and a princess look virtually identical, since the prongs cover the
corners. Every Sndgems Diamond includes precise measurements, as well as the length to width
ratio, so you know the exact shape of the radiant cut diamond you are
considering.
RADIANT CUT DIAMOND - LENGTH TO WIDTH GUIDE
|
EXCELLENT |
VERY GOOD |
GOOD |
FAIR |
POOR |
Square |
1.00 - 1.03 |
1.04 - 1.05 |
1.06 - 1.08 |
> 1.08 |
Rectangle |
1.20 - 1.30 |
1.15 - 1.19
or
1.31 - 1.35
|
1.10 - 1.14
or
1.36 - 1.40
|
1.08 - 1.09
or
1.41 - 1.50
|
< 1.08
or
> 1.50
|
Evaluating color in radiant cut diamonds is subjective. Keep in mind that
many buyers may actually prefer the ever so slightly warmer colors of a G-H
diamond over the cool colorlessness of a D-F diamond. In fact, most of the
premium in price associated with radiant cut diamonds at the higher end of the
color scale is driven by supply and demand; customers want the D-F color grades,
and are willing to pay a premium to get them. In a world without diamond color
grading, the price premium for higher grades would be much lower, as the actual
differences in color are difficult to perceive.
The color chart below provides a general guide for evaluating color in
radiant cut diamonds.
RADIANT CUT DIAMOND - COLOR
GUIDE
|
EXCELLENT |
VERY GOOD |
GOOD |
FAIR |
POOR |
< .50 ct. |
D - G |
H - I |
J - K |
L - M |
> M |
.51-1.0 ct. |
D - F |
G |
H - I |
J - K |
> K |
1.0-2.0 ct. |
D - F |
G - H |
I - J |
> J |
> 2.0 ct. |
D - F |
G |
H - I |
> I |
Fluoro |
None |
Faint - Med. |
Strong |
Very Strong |
Like color, evaluating clarity in radiant cut diamonds is subjective. GIA
provides excellent help with their clarity grades. Still, it is important to
understand that each customer will have a unique standard for clarity. Some may
be perfectly comfortable with an inclusion as long as they cannot easily see it.
Others may insist on a more technically flawless appearance. Because of its
brilliance, a radiant cut is more forgiving of inclusions than other square cuts
(like asscher and emerald), especially when viewed with the naked eye. The
clarity chart below provides a general guide for evaluating clarity in radiant
cut diamonds.
RADIANT CUT DIAMOND - CLARITY GUIDE
|
EXCELLENT |
VERY GOOD |
GOOD |
FAIR |
POOR |
< .50 ct. |
FL - VS2 |
SI1 - SI2 |
I1 |
I2 |
> I2 |
.51-1.0 ct. |
FL - VS1 |
VS2 - SI1 |
SI2 |
I1 - I2 |
> I2 |
1.0-2.0 ct. |
FL - VVS2 |
VS1 - VS2 |
SI1 - SI2 |
I1 |
> I1 |
> 2.0 ct. |
FL - VVS2 |
VS1 - VS2 |
SI1 |
SI2 |
> SI2 |
Questions about shape or other aspects of a diamond? Ask a diamond consultant for answers. A
consultant will answer any questions you have, and if you like, search for
diamonds on your behalf that match your criteria.
In essence, a radiant cut diamond is a square or rectangular gemstone with slightly cropped corners that give it a characteristic eye-catching sparkle. The radiant cut diamond rings
are excellent choice for those who want a sophisticated combination of the brilliant and emerald cuts. It presents the same fire and shine as a round brilliant, except that it is rectangular or square. This cut has rounded corners and the facets are assembled into a pattern that resembles cracked ice. A radiant cut diamond ring can be solitaire or set with side stones. When choosing your ring, you should take the number of facets into consideration. The most popular pattern consists of 62 facets, although some radiant cut patterns have 70 or more facets. A pattern with 62 includes 25 facets on the crown, 29 on the pavilion, and 8 on the girdle. Make sure you choose a radiant cut diamond ring that doesn’t have a facet misalignment, as this will increase the bowtie effect.
If you are considering a fancy color diamond, then this the radiant cut is the best choice. The proportioning, shape, and pattern enhance the color. Whether you want fancy yellow, pink, or blue, a radiant cut diamond ring will show the color evenly throughout the diamond. In addition to the cut and color, other factors you need to think about when buying a radiant cut diamond rings are the carat and the clarity. Keep in mind that bigger stones aren’t always the best, since some of them have rather noticeable inclusions. Sometimes the smaller diamonds offer the best clarity, depending on how well they are cut. You must choose quality over size when buying a radiant cut diamond ring. If you really do want a large ring, you could always choose a radiant cut with side stones. There are so many styles to choose from, be sure to take your time in picking the perfect ring from our selection.
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