What are Radiant Cut Diamonds?

The radiant cut combines the brilliance of a round with the unique geometry of an emerald shape. With crisp corners and elegant facets, the radiant cut delivers a lively interplay of light and contemporary appeal. This guide covers everything you need to know about radiant diamonds.

Brief History of Radiant Cut Diamonds

The radiant cut was conceptualized in the 1970s as one of the first special diamond cuts engineered specifically for brilliance rather than carat weight retention.

Goldsmith Henry Grossbard and master gem cutter M.F. Shannon pioneered the radiant cut, using advanced mathematics and optics to arrange facets for optimized light return. Their calculations resulted in the radiant's signature brilliant step cuts.

The Radiant Cut Diamond Association was later founded in 1997 to establish standards for evaluating radiant diamonds based on the patent. Radiant diamonds quickly rose to popularity, especially for engagement rings.

Radiant Cut Facets and Shape

The radiant brilliant elegantly fuses emerald and round diamond faceting:

• Square/rectangular outline with cut corners
• Step-cut crown, brilliant-cut pavilion
• 70 total facets
• Beveled corners
• Table variance on square/rectangular outline
• Depth percentage of 61% - 69%

The facet arrangement enables a radiant to deliver both emerald cut linearity with brilliant cut light return. Well-made radiant diamonds exhibit an entrancing balance of sophisticated sparkle.

Radiant Diamond Cut Quality

Like other shapes, radiant diamonds are graded using the 4Cs:

• Cut – Look for Excellent or Very Good cut grade for optimal fire and brilliance.
• Clarity – VS2 to SI1 clarity grades offer the best sparkle and value.
• Color – Near colorless G-J colors face up bright and maximize affordability.
• Carat – 0.50 to 2.0 carats optimizes spread while avoiding inclusions.

Radiant facets retain substantial weight compared to other shapes. A 1 carat radiant often faces up close to a princess cut of the same weight.

Ideal Radiant Diamond Settings

The radiant cut looks stunning when accented by clean lines or delicate shapes:

• Solitaire – Four-prong or bezel settings highlight the center.
• Side stones – Works well with trapezoid or trillion shaped accent diamonds.
• Three stone – Beautiful as center with two tapered baguette sides.
• Pavé bands – Radiant complements modern pavé and channel set bands.

Keep settings streamlined to spotlight the center radiant diamond. Fancy shapes like pears and marquises also pair attractively with radiant accents.

Radiant Cut Diamond Prices

Price averages for a 1 carat radiant diamond:

• D color, IF clarity, Excellent cut - $7,600
• G color, VS2 clarity, Very Good cut- $4,100
• J color, SI1 clarity, Good cut - $2,500

The radiant shape offers consumers reasonable value compared to other brilliant cuts like princess or cushion shapes.

Radiant Cut FAQs

How does radiant cut brilliance and fire compare to other shapes?

Well-cut radiant diamonds exhibit exceptional light return similar to rounds. The facet arrangement optimizes both sparkle and elegance.

Should I choose square or rectangular radiant outlines?

Square radiants better highlight the shape. Rectangular can appear like narrow emeralds. Pick square for drama or rectangular for understated elegance.

Do radiant diamonds show more color than round brilliant cuts?

Radiants minimize color well like princess cuts. Near colorless G-J grade radiants face up bright white like rounds. Stay in this color range.

Does a radiant diamond ever exhibit a bow-tie effect?

Rarely, poor cutting with skewed pavilion angles may result in an unattractive darker bow tie. Avoid radiants with strong bow ties.

Can radiant shapes hide inclusions?

Yes, radiant step cuts disguise most inclusions well. An eye-clean SI1 - VS2 clarity grade optimizes sparkle while lowering cost.

With its captivating blend of brilliance and elegant linear facets, the radiant cut is a distinctive square diamond shape that shines brightly. When crafted with expertise, the radiant diamond delivers a perfect marriage of sophistication and fire.