Radiant

Radiant cuts gained notoriety in the 1980s because of their next-level razzle-dazzle. We’ve heard people say that this throwback cut looks like “a party on your hands” and when you see one in person, we think you’ll understand why. Radiants are interesting because they are a step cut (like an emerald), but mixed with a brilliant cut. Think of a radiant diamond as an emerald-like stone with the sparkliness of a cushion cut.

(See Radiant Rings on JamesAllen.com)

We love this cut for many reasons. One being that because it reflects so much light, it can make a colored stone look more colorless and can help hide inclusions. You can even go as low as SI1 depending on where the inclusions lie (saving you some serious $$$). In terms of color, G is pretty safe for larger radiants, and you can go to H to J if your stone is smaller, or if you don’t mind a little warmth. Since radiants are simply graded as “fancy stones”, make sure to find a stone with a GIA/AGL rating so you are more confident in what you are getting.

A couple things to watch out for when it comes to radiants: First, the type of sparkle can vary from stone to stone. Some have chunkier flashes of white, while others have that crushed ice effect. It all comes down to the eyes of the beholder (YOU), but make sure you know what you are getting before you take the plunge.

Last, radiants do not “face up” as well as other stones (even emeralds, which radiants are similar to). This means that a 1 carat emerald will appear larger than a 1 carat radiant. It’s not a huge deal, but you want your 1.8ct stone to look more like a 2ct stone, it will be tough to find a beautiful radiant that does this.

If you keep seeing beautiful radiant diamonds and want to get one for yourself…go for it! It’s a super unique cut that has amazing sparkle potential, and the brilliant properties means you will never get bored with it.

(See Radiant Rings on JamesAllen.com)

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