Radiant cut diamond versus crushed-ice diamond.

[Chelsea Palmer]

Hello and thank you for reading my post. Is a radiant-cut diamond the same thing as a crushed-ice diamond? If not, can you explain the differences? I’m specifically referring to rectangle-shaped diamonds. I appreciate it.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

escape road​

Hello!
A crushed-ice diamond isn’t an official cut—it describes the appearance of very small facets that look like tiny ice chips all reflecting light. So for a rectangle-shaped stone, a radiant-cut might give you that crushed-ice sparkle, but the terms aren’t interchangeable.

Thank you. So a rectangular-shaped radiant-cut diamond isn’t necessarily also going to have the facet cut that gives it that crushed ice look, correct? But it COULD have that facet cut? And is it ONLY a matter of preference? Or is a radiant cut diamond with the crushed ice facets more desirable than one without?

 

[MMtwo]

From my way of understanding it, a radiant can have facets, but the "crushed ice" effect is common. Personally, I would not enjoy the crushed ice look at all. I like chunky facets. The top would be my pick. Bottom picture is a typical crushed ice radiant.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

From my way of understanding it, a radiant can have facets, but the "crushed ice" effect is common. Personally, I would not enjoy the crushed ice look at all. I like chunky facets. The top would be my pick. Bottom picture is a typical crushed ice radiant.

I guess this is why they say a picture is worth a thousand words. I agree with your choice. Now, is that a bowtie in the top picture? If so, are radiant-cut rectangular diamonds susceptible to the bowtie effect? Thank you.

 

[MMtwo]

It is a bow tie. Longer stones can have that effect, but not always. Also seen on ovals and pears. Are you interested in buying a radiant? For clarity, the top stone would be my pick between the two stones, but not my pick of cuts in general. I would probably pick a chunky cushion cut instead.

 

[tyty333]

I guess this is why they say a picture is worth a thousand words. I agree with your choice. Now, is that a bowtie in the top picture? If so, are radiant-cut rectangular diamonds susceptible to the bowtie effect? Thank you.

Technically, its not considered a bow-tie by professional diamond folks (like Garry). That part that is dark will light up with slight movement. A "real" bow-tie will have facets that remain dark or stay dark for an extended period (subjective?)

However, the general population would consider that a bow-tie (like @MMtwo 's understanding).

It gets very complicated. Garry wants us to use the professional understanding on PS, but I keep slipping into the general population
version.

Edit...I would also choose the first stone over the second!

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Technically, its not considered a bow-tie by professional diamond folks (like Garry). That part that is dark will light up with slight movement. A "real" bow-tie will have facets that remain dark or stay dark for an extended period (subjective?)

However, the general population would consider that a bow-tie (like @MMtwo 's understanding).

It gets very complicated. Garry wants us to use the professional understanding on PS, but I keep slipping into the general population
version.

Edit...I would also choose the first stone over the second!

Thank you, tyty333.

 

[MMtwo]

I learn every day! Thank you @tyty333

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Radiant cuts have a wide variety of facet arrangements and modifications and they vary widely in appearance. Even stones that have the same facet diagram on a laboratory report and look equivalent in terms of proportions, can have altogether different appearance. The complex interaction of facet design, length to width ratio, proportions, and specific facet angles can produce an wide array of virtual facet patterns.

This is the challenge for cut quality grading of fancy shape diamonds.

 

[Rockdiamond]

From my way of understanding it, a radiant can have facets, but the "crushed ice" effect is common. Personally, I would not enjoy the crushed ice look at all. I like chunky facets. The top would be my pick. Bottom picture is a typical crushed ice radiant.

This is:
A great photo.
A totally misleading photo.
Both are true

The “Original “ Radiant would be described as “crushed ice”
A static photo doesn’t capture the effect.
In “PS” history, crushed ice has been flogged. Many times.
Unfairly IMO
Each style has its own charm

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Radiant cuts have a wide variety of facet arrangements and modifications and they vary widely in appearance. Even stones that have the same facet diagram on a laboratory report and look equivalent in terms of proportions, can have altogether different appearance. The complex interaction of facet design, length to width ratio, proportions, and specific facet angles can produce an wide array of virtual facet patterns.

This is the challenge for cut quality grading of fancy shape diamonds.

Thank you, Texas Leaguer. Very helpful.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

This is:
A great photo.
A totally misleading photo.
Both are true

The “Original “ Radiant would be described as “crushed ice”
A static photo doesn’t capture the effect.
In “PS” history, crushed ice has been flogged. Many times.
Unfairly IMO
Each style has its own charm

Interesting. I really wasn’t sure what crushed ice is so I appreciate everybody’s input.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

My personal preference is for crushed ice by the way, so you probably will need to evaluate with your eyes! A good crushed ice stone is sparkly and twinkly and mesmerising. Not big bold flashes but lots of tiny slivers. I prefer it, personally.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I really wasn’t sure what crushed ice

I think the original quote was that the diamond looks like a
"Bottomless bucket of crushed ice"
I don't know how that turned into a negative......

 

[Demon]

My personal preference is for crushed ice by the way, so you probably will need to evaluate with your eyes! A good crushed ice stone is sparkly and twinkly and mesmerising. Not big bold flashes but lots of tiny slivers. I prefer it, personally.

Same. I love 'glitter'.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I think the original quote was that the diamond looks like a
"Bottomless bucket of crushed ice"
I don't know how that turned into a negative......

Me neither. Certainly sounds nice.

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

I think it's like ****, difficult to define but you know it when you see it.
Did I just date myself?

 

[foxinsox]

Me neither. Certainly sounds nice.

I LOVE chunky facets - OEC, OMB, asschers but will freely admit to having been utterly stopped in my tracks by a fancy yellow crushed ice radiant in a shop window in New York a few years ago. I couldn’t stop staring and throughly enjoyed the way it looked like bottomless glitter. Utterly stunning when it’s done well.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I LOVE chunky facets - OEC, OMB, asschers but will freely admit to having been utterly stopped in my tracks by a fancy yellow crushed ice radiant in a shop window in New York a few years ago. I couldn’t stop staring and throughly enjoyed the way it looked like bottomless glitter. Utterly stunning when it’s done well.

I’m sure it was stunning. I’m not making any purchase anytime soon, but I really like rectangular-shaped diamonds. I like the emerald cut, but I also like the radiant cut, and I think I like the crushed-ice cut. Or crushed-ice facets. Please feel free to post any photos of any rectangular diamonds. Thank you.

 

[Rockcollector]

The bottom diamond is an Elara cut (formerly Flanders brilliant cut) that I found in JA under radiant cut. It is 1.32 F SI1. The stone on top is my daughter’s square radiant cut, 1.31 G VS2. A lot of different square and rectangular cuts fall under the radiant search on some websites.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

The bottom diamond is an Elara cut (formerly Flanders brilliant cut) that I found in JA under radiant cut. It is 1.32 F SI1. The stone on top is my daughter’s square radiant cut, 1.31 G VS2. A lot of different square and rectangular cuts fall under the radiant search on some websites.

These are both lovely. I never heard of a brilliant cut. I can’t see the picture now that I’m writing a response but I know one of them look like it had more faceting. I’m going to assume it’s your daughter’s?

 

[Rockcollector]

These are both lovely. I never heard of a brilliant cut. I can’t see the picture now that I’m writing a response but I know one of them look like it had more faceting. I’m going to assume it’s your daughter’s?

Thank you! The bottom one is mine. Flanders brilliant cut (later known as Elara) was sold in early 2000s. I have a smaller stone (.53) that I bought at Finks Jewelers in Richmond, VA.

 

[Rockcollector]

Here is a ply of an Elara diamond that is available on Bluenile.

 

[Rockcollector]

Here is a plot of an Elara diamond that is available on Bluenile.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Thank you.

 

[Rockcollector]

Radiant cut, crushed ice. .75 H VVS1, Ex/Ex., 1.07 l/w ratio. I had forgotten I had this one.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Radiant cut, crushed ice. .75 H VVS1, Ex/Ex., 1.07 l/w ratio. I had forgotten I had this one.

That is a beautiful diamond.

 

[Rockcollector]

Thank you!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I doubt that radiant has a bow tie.
I expect that dark zone will flash bright with the slightest movement.
A bow tie can remain dark for up to 20 degrees of left right (E-W) rotation.
If the dark flashes on off it is exactly the same as the 4 bow ties in a well cut round brilliant.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I doubt that radiant has a bow tie.
I expect that dark zone will flash bright with the slightest movement.
A bow tie can remain dark for up to 20 degrees of left right (E-W) rotation.
If the dark flashes on off it is exactly the same as the 4 bow ties in a well cut round brilliant.

Such a beautiful diamond. Thank you, Garry H.