The Ultimate, Easy Guide to Buying Radiant Cut Engagement Rings

Finding a diamond engagement ring that truly fits your needs and will last forever is a critical decision. For those looking for a timeless diamond design with a fashion-forward flair, the radiant cut engagement rings is your answer!

This guide will outline everything you need to know about choosing the right radiant cut diamond engagement ring, so you're confident that it will be everything you envisioned, as well as within your budget.

What Is Unique About the Radiant Cut Diamond?

One unique feature of the radiant cut diamond is that it is a contemporary addition to the diamond world. The radiant cut was developed in the 1970s with the intention of combining the best of both worlds: a refined shape and an exceptional amount of sparkle. The radiant cut actually combines the rectangular shape of the emerald-cut diamond (which has a classic design) with the brilliant cut (a round diamond), to form the new rectangular shape, which has the same "sparkle" qualities of a round cut diamond. Essentially, it is a dream come true.

Five Reasons to Consider a Diamond Ring Radiant Cut

1. Superior Sparkle (Brilliance): The multitude of facets in a radiant-cut diamond provides tremendous brilliance and sparkle, and these diamonds can also be referred to as "crushed ice" due to their exceptional visual appeal.

2. Size Comparison vs. Price Point: The longer and narrower style of a radiant diamond means that it takes up more space on your finger than a similar weight round diamond, thus allowing you to buy a less expensive but equally amazing radiant cut engagement rings.

3. Durable: Because of the clipped corners of radiant cut diamonds, they are less likely to chip compared to round or square-cut diamonds; therefore, they will hold up better if worn daily.

4. Great Way to Hide Imperfections: Raindrop-shaped diamonds tend to "absorb" small blemishes (or inclusions) that would appear on other shape diamonds; therefore, you can buy a lower clarity-grade but have a beautiful-looking diamond ring.

5. Versatile Shape: Radiant diamonds work well for both squared-off and long & rectangular shapes. Regardless of the shape of ring you choose, radiant diamonds will look beautiful in either form.

The 4Cs: Your Simple Guide to Buying a Diamond

When you purchase a diamond from a jeweler, they will refer to the 4Cs, which stands for Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat Weight. The following is a breakdown of the four C's in relation to radiant cut diamond engagement rings.

1. Cut (Sparkle)

The Cut is the first and most important step because it will affect how much sparkle your radiant cut diamond has! Two primary factors to consider when selecting a radiant cut diamond are:

• Shape (Length to Width Ratio): This number measures how long and/or square the shape of the diamond is.

o For a Square Radiant: you should look for a length to width ratio of ~1.00 to 1.05.

o For a Rectangular Radiant: you want a ratio of ~1.15 to 1.35 (rectangular shaped diamonds often elongate your fingers)

• Sparkle Proportions:

In addition to the above, look at the specific numbers on the diamond's grading report to find the best chance of getting a diamond that captures light well! Depth Percentage = 61% to 67% and Table Percentage = 61% to 69%.

2. Color (The Appearance of Whiteness)– A Simplified Method of Saving Money

Due to the brilliance associated with a radiant cut diamond, they can hide yellow-tinted diamonds to a greater degree than other types of cuts. Therefore, it is possible to buy a lower grade of colour than you would buy for practically every other cut of diamond and end up with a diamond that appears brilliant white in the ring.

• The Best Choice: An H or I Color Grade. H and I color grades are slightly warmer than the very best color grades (D, E, and F), and yet they will still appear brilliantly white when placed in a ring, especially if it is set in yellow or rose gold. The yellow or rose gold will help minimise the appearance of any colour that may be evident in your diamond!

• For Pure White Diamonds: Stick with G Color or better, particularly if you're using white gold or platinum settings.

3. Clarity (How Clean It Is) – Save Money, No Need to Overspend

The "crushed ice" pattern of the diamond ring radiant cut is a camouflage expert! It naturally hides small flaws (inclusions) very well.

• The goal is to find an eye-clean diamond that has no visible flaws when viewed with the naked eye. The best grade for clarity would be a VS2 or an SI1 that is included.

• You will save a significant amount of money with these grades versus grades that are flawless and the brilliant cut of the radiant cut diamond will continue to shine perfectly.

4. Carat Weight - Size is Less

Important As You Will Get More Coverage on Your Finger Because of the Elongated Shape of the Radiant Cut Engagement Rings, you will not get a single carat weight that you should target; rather, you should be focusing on the Cut of the diamond and the Length-to-Width ratio. A well-cut 1.5-carat rectangular radiant will appear bigger and more beautiful than a poorly cut 2-carat diamond.

Which Type of Setting for Radiant Cuts?

There are many types of settings available for the radiant cut, with the flexibility of the cuts being able to suit a multitude of designs. Here is a short list of the most popular settings for radiant cuts.

• The Solitaire Setting: This is considered one of the classic settings for all types of diamonds, including radiant cuts. This style utilizes either 4 or 6 prongs to hold the radiant diamond and keeps it simple. It places the focus on the diamond itself, providing a clean, timeless look.

• The Hidden Halo Setting: This is an incredibly popular choice among bridal customers today. In this style of setting, a band of small diamonds are set underneath the large diamond that is featured on top of the wedding band. This style adds sparkle to the ring, which can be seen from the side view of the radiant cut engagement rings.

• A Pavé Style Setting: a band covered in a continuous line of small diamonds (known as pavé). This type of setting increases the amount of shine produced by reflections off the stones and gives the entire ring maximum beauty and appeal.

• A Three-Stone Style Setting: a center diamond ring radiant cut, is flanked by two smaller stones (classically half-moons, trapezoid-shaped). This style is symbolic of your past, present, and future together and also adds dimension to the look of the ring.

• A Bezel Style Setting: a modern, highly secure style of mount. The metal band encircling the diamond completely encases the radiant cut securely within the bezels providing complete protection to the diamond's edges from impacts, and is an ideal choice for those who work in active environments.