Radiant Cut Variations?

[Oski]

I was at Tiffany''s with my girlfriend today and she fell in love with the Lucida cut. I was told before the visit from a jeweler that the Lucida is basically a radiant. However when the Tiffany sales person showed us both the Lucida and the Radiant, they didn''t look alike. The lucida has larger cuts and around 50 facets (which invites you into the stone and shows off the architecture and depth) while the Radiant has more than 70 facets (which while looking more glittery, made the stone very busy and impenetrable which I didn''t like).

Discouraged thinking I''m going to have to shell out the premium for the Tiffany''s patented cut instead, we nontheless went into a Jeweler on 5th Avenue in NYC to double check and were shown two Radiant cut stones. One of which looked like the Lucida and one was the more complex faceted version. We were told that the complex cut was the newer version and the simple cut was the old version which is not available anymore.

Looking on the web, I see these variants:

Tiffany''s Lucida:

Radiant at Whiteflash (which is looks like the simpler cut Lucida):

Radiant Cut (from the Original Radiant Cut site -- note the complex faceting style)

What is the story behind the simpler Radiant cuts and would they be easy to find in the marketplace? I really appreciate any information and advise, as the alternative is the Lucida at Tiffany''s and their prices are going up next weekend. Thanks!

 

[valeria101]

I think the WF stones are not radiants... Unless I am getting blind from all this computer work, those crown facest are step cut - and that's not what a traditional radiant has.

The Lucida has a step cut crown and star style (I think) pavilion. There is another branded cut that has virtually the same facet pattern - just different enough to keep pattent infringement from happening, but not enough to trully make a difference. It is called "Lucere". It may be that those stones are usually cut to slightly different proportions than the steep & deep Lucida... but that is something to be judged for each stone separately. Neither Lucere not Lucidas are cut all alike.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[valeria101]

You may find several older threads about Lucida vs Lucere, including this one

 

[Oski]

Thanks Ana! I''m such a neophyte and thought that there are only a handful of cuts, but this was very helpful. Fortunately I hope to only have to go through the engagement ring buying process once.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/16/2005 11:30:24 PM
Author: Oski

I hope to only have to go through the engagement ring buying process once.

Yeah... but diamond buying might reapeat !

You are right to say that there are just a few cuts... because a few are very popular and many almost unheard of. There is basically an unlimited range of cut variation (shapes, proportions, styles and what not) without name and several dozen barnd names. Most of the brands are gathered in a table by GIA (probably updated yearly, and found somewhere on GIA.edu as a PDF). However, new branded cuts seem to pop up ever faster with some new shapes and facet styles and than allot that leave you wondering what difference does the brand make

I have no reason to believe that this sort of diversity makes shopping simple. Actually, you may find that cuts that do not make diamonds look large (either for the weight or for the money) or particularly brilliant are still branded and marketed with some degree of success. To each his own, as they say. To me, brilliance matters and cost, and, to some extent, spread (aparent size for weight). This is about all I know to use to compare different cut styles.

Lucida is not particularly brilliant (at leats not all are, and there is allot of variation) and I have yet to figure out what is the logic behind this cut. The "antique" looking stones seem nice to me - as long as the particular Lucida has a fine make (not overly deep and brilliant).

There are several square cuts designed to be very brilliant in a modern way, and they seem to fit just fine in Lucida-style settings (which I really love). Some such "Lucida setting + other square cut" are listed HERE. IceStore makes and lists some attractive versions of the Lucida... For the setting, a very popular version (some say identical to Tiffany's) is made by DVatche (a popular designer). Here it is ( LINK ) shown with a princess cut diamond - the settings are sold without diamonds and any square stones fit. As far as I know, rectangular stones and larger ones are provided with custom settings fir to the stone by this maker - which is one important point, IMO.

Hope some of this helps

There are not many original Lucida rings available from private sales and most are small. But if the one exception happens to be just right, why not. Here's one from Signedpieces:

2 carat H/VS1 priced like a round... more than generic fancies go for, but most likely comparable with the cost of other branded cuts, as far as I know.

 

[Oski]

Wow, that's really great information Ana! That post should really be a primer for any newbie like myself stumbling into Pricescope looking for a Lucida-like ring. I'm definitely interested in the D. Vatche setting and have warmed up to the Radiant much more. Thank you very much for taking the time to help out.

 

[valeria101]

Glad to be of help.

Are you planning to shop online ? There were quite a few "radiant hunts" around here; you might want to follow some of the stories. "Nicrez" ended up with a stupendous radiant... and there surely are others just as well "documented"