The cut of a Radiant diamond determines the style and quality of its sparkle. Radiants can be faceted in a traditional manner, giving off large sparkle, or in a more modern manner, giving a “crushed ice” appearance. Unfortunately, the GIA does not grade Radiants for cut. So, if you see a cut grade associated with a Radiant, it is the jeweler assigning it. While this is okay, you should always verify the cut matches your expectations.
Because how well a diamond is cut is the most crucial factor in maximizing the beauty, you want to make sure you understand the ideal cut specifications. The table below serves as a general guideline for evaluating the cut of a Radiant. These specifications will help ensure great sparkle, even brilliance, and elegant length-to-width ratio. You also want to look for a stone that does not have a dark bow-tie.
Pro Tips for your perfect Radiant Cut Diamond!
– Traditional shimmer-sparkle: Look for clean lines in the faceting on the bottom of your stone (the “pavilion”). You will often see a star or cross shape formed by the large facets on the pavilion.
– Modern “crushed ice” brilliance: So, look for extra facets on the pavilion of your stone which create additional reflections. The top and bottom of your gem will look like “crushed ice.”