Radiant versus cushion cut and online diamonds

[princesshnp]

Hello, everyone! I am new to this site but have found it so very helpful already! I am curious about two things. I am looking for another stone (I have a three stone ring brilliant cut currently) but am undecided between cushion cut and radiant cut. In your professional opinion(s) which one has more "sparkle" and brilliance? In addition, for those of you who have experience on online purchasing of diamonds, I am very weary of what sites are legitimate and which ones are not. I read the "knowledge" section of pricescope but it still doesn't give me some comforting information on which places I should avoid.
Any advice on specific sites?

Thank you!

 

[reena]

i'm sure the experts will chime in but i've heard people here say that neither cut is really great for brilliance (as compared to an RB and such)--so i'd really say just go with the shape you like best!!! i have a cushion and, although it will probably never out-sparkle an RB, i could not love it more!

there are PLENTY of reliable internet vendors; just to name a few that are well-known on this forum, you have good old gold, whiteflash, dirt cheap diamonds, engagementringsdirect ... i'm sure i'm forgetting some so help me out here everyone!

good luck!

 

[Nicrez]

Reena's right, nothing sparkles like a round brillaint, except maybe a Jubillee....

From what I have known, a cushion cut is an older cut, basically created with chunkier facets that have a lot of Fire and depth, due to usually greater depths and perform best in candlelight, and such lighting with lower frequency. It was a cross between the Old Mine cut and the oval. This of course excludes and modern brilliant cut cushions out there, and those may have more facets or greater brilliancy than the traditional older cut cushions.

Radiants where created to have a emerald top (squared feel), with out the sharp corners of a princess, but were cut in a modified brilliant cut on the pavillion. Meaning that is would be the closer of the shaped stones to a round brilliant, eespecially if it had a 1.0 shape ratio of being perfectly square. Of course Radiants are traditionally rectangular, like emeralds.

Each cut has it's own personality, and each STONE has it's own personality. That said, I can probably find more badly cut Radiants out there that will barely sparkle or release fire, but some older cushions that just go nuts in light. But traditionally, the Radiants should have more brilliancy than the older cushion cuts.

 

[moremoremore]

WRONG!!! LOL

re: nothing beats a round...(I'm joking) but not really...I would have said the same thing up until wednesday, which is when I viewed my cushion...

I originally stayed away from the cushion b/c it was allegedly lacking in brilliance and fire...yeah, I don't think so.

Maybe you can say that about the older style cuts, but you can't say that about the modern cuts. I just purchased one and I tell you, it is ON PAR if with rounds. ON PAR. You'll see when I post pix, trust me!!!

 

[moremoremore]

Here is an example. But dare I say that my new stone (and reena's- if only the girl would get us a decent pic LOLOLOL

)
is even more beautiful than these cushions!!!

 

[reena]

MMM i am DYING to see your stone. are you sure we have to wait till saturday? do you have a camera phone so that you can beam me a pic the second you pick it up?

honestly, im about 2 seconds away from marching over mark's office and demanding that he give me a peek. i work right around the corner you know . . . verrrrry tempting . . ..

 

[moremoremore]

It's not just my stone, it's your stone too that is beautiful!!! You should talk about pix missy, your pix suck LOLOLOL...I can clearly see the fire and scintillation, but it would be nice if the pix weren't BLUE and FUZZY!!!! LOLOLOL...I can't promise that mine will be any better..

Seriously, if you want to go give it a looksie at Mark's, go for it..I totally don't mind...I welcome it...just don't tell me if you see the inclusion reflecting a lot

It's something that I'm willing to live with...and you never know, maybe a nice pave ring one day with that crown work will hide it

 

[reena]

i know, my pics do suck. i had like 2 seconds to take them, and in the office too. i promise some better ones whenever i get the darn thing.




i will be a good girl and wait patiently for those pics MMM.

 

[princesshnp]

Thank you for your advice and replies. I need to go to a few places and see them in person, I guess and compare which ones look prettier. I love diamonds, though and can't imagine "hating" any of them! Thanks again.

 

[princesshnp]

Wow, thank you for the detailed information! That really helps. Will keep everyone posted on what I end up choosing. . .

 

[researcher]

To add to Reena's list, nice ice and winfield's (Wink) are also great!