Radiant Cut Diamond Rings
A radiant cut diamond ring is just as its name implies: a radiant blend of the best qualities of both the emerald cut and the wildly popular and standard round brilliant cut, with a hint of the princess cut to boot. As such, it is either square or rectangle in shape and has blocked, step-cut corners, courtesy of the emerald cut, while it also features the more triangular faceting of the round brilliant cut. As such, it has gentler, more elegant curves than both the blocky emerald and triangular round brilliant cuts.
It has many facets, about 70 in total, and a steeper crown angle, both features that give it a lot more fire and sparkle than a princess cut, though some claim that it cannot yet rival the fire and sparkle present in Asscher cut diamond rings.
In a way it can be said that a radiant cut diamond ring gives you the best of both worlds. Here are some pros and cons of such a style:
Pros:
- Great as a solitaire, or as a main stone of a ring.
- Trimmed and truncated corners.
- No width-height ratio regulations.
- Versatile.
This hybrid cut is perfect as a standalone stone on a ring. It exudes the clarity of the emerald cut while taming its edges and ramping up its sparkle appeal with techniques borrowed from the round brilliant cut. At the same time, if you wish for an extra sparkle for this very significant diamond ring, its brilliance can be enhanced by using it as a main stone surrounded by smaller stones styled in the baguette, trillion or princess cuts. It is up to you as the buyer to decide whether your partner is more suited to a solitaire ring, where a single stone sits proudly, or a multiple-diamond ring, with the radiant cut diamond as a dominant stone. Will having multiple diamonds make her hand look cluttered, or will it make it more beautiful? Will one big diamond be too much for her petite hand, or would several, smaller diamonds be better?
Radiant cut diamonds are known for their cut corners, which is an emerald-round brilliant cut hybrid, as mentioned earlier. The angles of the steps are gentle and are thus tame. The risk of chipping or even breaking the stone is greatly reduced when it is radiant cut, as opposed to the fragile ends of the marquise cut. The provision of a gentler and broader slope is really beneficial in this respect. Besides, the lack of jutting tips makes it less likely for the wearer to snag her ring on any articles of clothing or fabric – or many other accidentally-catchable items, for that matter. You can save your partner the embarrassment of an untimely accident or perhaps even a ruined, possible expensive dress (think silk, for starters) by presenting her a radiant cut diamond ring, so keep this style in mind.
Do you remember that radiant cut diamonds can come in either square or rectangular shapes? That is no coincidence: radiant cut stones are unique because they are not tied down by any width-height ratio regulations, unlike some other styles. The marquise cut, for instance, is generally supposed to be fashioned in a one-to-two ratio in favour of length. However, radiant cut diamond rings can be cut in almost any ratio: 1:1.2, 1:2 and even a more accurate 1:1.05!
Radiant cut diamonds can be paired with many types of metal, but the best would be platinum or white gold bands. These shiny metals are good reflectors of light in their own right, so they can enhance the play of light in the diamond(s) set in the ring. Their many facets will forgive minute errors in cutting, so even if there are some mistakes (provided they aren’t glaringly obvious) they can be ignored – if you are willing to tolerate this, you stand to get cheaper radiant cut diamond rings.
Cons:
- Hard to find.
- Needs many prongs to hold the stone in place.
Radiant cut diamonds, especially when done properly, are quality diamonds and thus are not easily available. You might be able to find slightly nuanced ones on demand in a few jewellery shops, but if high quality ones are what you are looking for, chances are you’re out of luck. If you still insist on getting this style for your ring, you should pre-order if you know a jeweler who stocks radiant cut diamond rings. If you don’t know for sure which shops stock them, you can always make a few calls to find out. Hey, asking won’t hurt anybody, and if you’re lucky you’ll get what you’re looking for, right? The rarity of this style is no reason to be slack about its authenticity, though: make sure you procure a certificate from a reputable laboratory to prove its authenticity. You never know when it will be important.
The main item on display on any engagement ring is the stone, and the prongs that hold them, while necessary, can be detrimental to the aesthetic value of the ring. Unfortunately, radiant cut diamond rings need a minimum of four prongs which means they might require more to hold the stone securely in place due to the way the corners of the stone are cut. This is a trade-off in return for stability and reliability..
Conclusion
Radiant cut diamond rings fell out of favor for a while, but are now experiencing a revival, especially as engagement rings. These sophisticated, sleek and relatively safe rings look good on almost any hand, though you should still consider your partner’s hands and her build when choosing a ring for her.