Princess vs. Radiant

[rocksolid2004]

A question: If you like princess cut would you like a square radiant cut as well?

I started my search looking for a princess cut (my G/F''s favorite) but my trusted jeweler said that I should also consider radiant because princess chips more than any other stone. My g/f likes princess, but is not very familier with other style cuts. Thanks.

 

[rocksolid2004]

P.S. I am looking at the 1.5-2.0 carat range.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Princess and Radiant cuts look fairly different to me so I can't say for sure what your GF would like. . .lol I love radiants, but not princess cuts and would never buy one, but would purchase a radiant, so my answer is possibly, but not absolutely.

Michelle

 

[sumi]

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On 4/24/2004 4:52:36 PM rocksolid2004 wrote:

A question: My g/f likes princess, but is not very familier with other style cuts. Thanks.----------------

If your GF is not familiar with many styles of cuts, then she just might not aware of the radiant cut. Perhaps what she likes about the princess is that it's square and not round. If she likes the square look of the princess, then she might really love the radiant. I personally prefer radiant over princess any day. I'm not the biggest fan of princess cuts, but I do know people who are crazy for them.

Is there a way for you to find out what exactly she likes about the princess on the sly? Perhaps a few of her friends can ask for you?

 

[katbadness]

Welcome to Pricescope!

I hope others who know this better than I do will chime in here. And I have to assume you're going to be looking for a square stone (instead of rectangular).

But to give you a preliminary answer, a princess cut is not the same as a radiant cut, and it's not just because of the cut corners vs. lack thereof.

Face up a radiant has more of a cracked glass look from face up, whereas a princess has more of a smaller sharp facets (my language ability escapes me at the moment, please pardon me).

Take a look at the Eye candy thread on the Show Me the Ring forum. There are a few examples of princesses as well as a few radiants posted so you can see the difference for yourself.

I hope that helps you a little bit.

 

[katbadness]

So I'm taking the liberty in showing the difference betw. a pricess cut and a radiant.

All these rings are owned by PS posters. The pics are all taken from Show me the Ring forum.

Radiant:

And here's a link to another radiant example.

Princess:

And here's a link to another princess example.

 

[rocksolid2004]

Thanks for the help so far.

It is giving me a good idea of the different look of the two stones. She likes the square look of the princess, so I think she would love either. What are the benefits and tradeoffs of the two styles, or is it purely aesthetic?

 

[katbadness]

Ya know...

... not all squares are created equal.

The latest addition to the square stones is the Jubilee..

It has the square shape of a princess/radiant (cut corners, though), with the optics matching that of an RB.

Side by side comparison of a princess and a Jubilee:

This stone definitely whets the appetites of us cut geeks.

Worth checking out!

 

[eyesoftexas]

I have compared many ideal cut princess cuts and radiants and I thought the radiants just sparkled so much more. It seems that this cracked glass or crushed ice cube look really produces a lively stone that just seemed to have so many more flashes of light. Cut is important on both stones but I was looking at the best cuts from both style of stones. If you have not guessed I bought the radiant.

 

[Antique Radiant]

out of the two pictures above, the top one is the ring i proposed with last night!

when my financee (sounds strange saying that) was showing her girlfriends her ring earlier today they were all slightly confused becaused none of them had seen a radiant before... but to quote 'oh my god thats the most pretty diamond i've seen - give me the ring again i want to try it on...' (and that girls sister has a HUGE rock from her old-money husband)

eyesoftexas hit the nail on the head - the radiant cut can be so firey and lively

we got a rectangular one, but you can easily find a square - same fire and sparkle, just different dimensions

 

[alexah]

I have to chime in... i looove princess cut stones. They're my absolute fav, hands down. If my BF had asked what I wanted & I requested a princess & he gave me a radiant, I honestly would have been v disappointed.
I'm not crazy about the cracked glass look nor the cut corners nor the oft more rectangular shape.

I believe it's 50/50. Maybe she will like it, maybe she won't. Why take the chance?

As far as chipping goes, just look for a respected jeweler & a medium or sl thick girdle & you should have no issues with chipping.

Good luck to you! You're already off to a good start by reading PS

 

[moremoremore]

alexah- i think i love you! It's sooooo nice to see some other princess lovers here like me. it's all about princess-bashing usually!

There is just SOMETHING about them....and while I think the above radiant is soooooo beautiful, I, personally, do not care for the crushed ice look. There is a HUGE diff b/w the princess and radiant, so I wouldn't be too sure she'd like either just bc she likes square stones!

 

[moremoremore]

And I wanted to add that if you get a princess with a good girdle and some nice V prongs, then I don't think you have to worry about chipping....

 

[eyesoftexas]

No princess bashing here just based on what I noticed in terms of sparkle. I also had to go through a ton of princess stones to find a few good ones where it was much easier to get a great radiant. You can also get a squarish radiant. While Jonathon at Good old gold has weeded out much of the poor performers look at the scope images of the princess vs. radiant.

 

[moremoremore]

..... Actually, if someone wants to give me a diamond...I'll take it...no matter what shape! LOL.... I just that radiants look "confusing" ...... does that make any sense at all? I don't know how else to put it...

 

[sparklyandsquare]

I started out looking for Princess cuts because I knew I liked square stones and didn't know any other cuts were square (I thought ALL radiants were rectangular). After seeing the radiant, the princess looked a little "metallic" to me. (no princess bashing here, just offering more info since you can't readily see these other stones at the mall!)

Then I started liking radiants, but after even MORE research decided I didn't really like the look of those either.

NOW I like the Jubilee, Flanders, and somewhat the Queen of Hearts. All are "modified square" cuts with mitered corners (aka "cut" corners). You can find good photos of all of them at www.goodoldgold.com. (There are photos of several other squares too, like Lucere and Regents)

I'd advise doing some research on all of these. If you don't think your g.f. will care, maybe go for the princess because it's more difficult to see these stones.

As for me, I have to slip NEW info. to my b.f. so he doesn't get me a princess...I really dig these other cuts a lot more.