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A Complete Guide to Radiant Cut Diamonds

A Complete Guide to Radiant Cut Diamonds

6th May 2022

Whether you’re choosing a lab-grown diamond ring for yourself or for someone else, if you want something that sparkles like no other, then a Radiant cut diamond will be a perfect style. As one of the sparkliest cut diamonds on the market, Radiant cuts are extremely popular. And, they’re also the most modern diamond shape, meaning they won’t be going out of fashion anytime soon.

If you want to learn more about the stunning Radiant cut diamond, keep reading to find out how and when it was first created and which settings are best.

What is a Radiant Cut Diamond?

A Radiant cut diamond has an octagonal shape with cropped, straight corners, which makes it look fairly similar to an Emerald cut diamond. You may have also heard this shape being described as a ‘cut-cornered rectangular’ or ‘square modified brilliant’ by experts in the diamond industry.

However, unlike the Emerald cut, a Radiant cut diamond features a mixture of both horizontal and vertical facets, giving it a completely different visual appearance. With 70 facets in total, a Radiant cut diamond offers incredible fire and sparkle that’s similar to a round brilliant cut.

Because of the bevelled corners, you’ll also find that Radiant cut diamonds are amongst the most durable shapes with strong edges able to protect against chips and breakages easier than other styles. This makes it an ideal cut to give to someone with an active lifestyle, or to someone who might be a little accident-prone.


The History of Radiant Cut Diamonds

Having only been created in the 1970s, the Radiant cut diamond is one of the newest styles around. The design was an instant hit and soared in popularity over the next few decades with no sign of it slowing down. Nowadays, it’s still a highly sought-after shape for engagement rings due to its intense sparkle and elegant shape.

After working for 30 years as a master diamond cutter, Henry Grossbard decided he wanted to shake up the diamond industry and create a diamond cut that would showcase the full potential of a diamond’s brilliance. So, in the late 1970s, he created a new cutting technique that could combine the best of both worlds between the Emerald and Round diamond shapes.

This technique creates the long, sophisticated shape of the Emerald cut, but features many dazzling facets similar to the Round cut, which allows the Radiant cut to really shine in a unique and beautiful way.

Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Drew Barrymore and Khloe Kardashian have all been seen wearing beautiful, statement-making Radiant cut diamond rings, stunning both fans and photographers alike.

Best Setting for a Radiant Cut Diamond

When it comes to choosing a setting for your Radiant cut diamond, you’ll likely want something that will allow for superior light reflection. So, a classic solitaire or a 4-prong setting will be best for this as not only will it hold the stone securely in place, but it will maximise the light access too, ensuring the stone is as dazzling as possible.

If you want something with a bit more pizazz, a diamond halo setting will certainly be eye-catching and emphasise the larger Radiant cut diamond. Or, this type of shape also works well in a side stone ring setting for extra added sparkle.

Why Choose a Radiant Cut Diamond?

Radiant cut diamond rings are perfect for those who enjoy a bit of glitz and glamour in their life. As they’re so durable too, they’re also ideal for people with a busy lifestyle with less risk of it catching on clothes, hair or being damaged in general.

This cut is known for looking larger than other types of cut diamonds with the same carat weight, thanks to its sleek and long design. You’ll find it’s also a very forgiving cut that won’t highlight any inclusions or colour tints. Because of its many facets, it can actually hide small flaws. This means you’ll have more choice when choosing Radiant cut rings.

If you want something a little different than a standard diamond, Radiant cut stones are the best cuts for coloured diamonds or gems, again, because of their faceting structure. With so many facets that are both horizontal and vertical, it allows for a deeper, more vibrant colour tone.

View our beautiful range of Radiant cut lab-grown diamond rings that have been handcrafted with expert precision.

If you need more information on different diamond cuts, read our guide on Asscher cut diamonds, floating diamond rings and princess cut diamonds too.


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