RADIANT VS ROUND

[YMA]

I am in the process of upgrading my center stone and I am looking at 2c round and radiant cuts, I would like more bang for my buck. Which stone looks bigger when mounted? They are both similar in color and clarity. I love the radiant cuts, but was told round always look bigger is this true.

 

[diagem]

yes,.....

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Hi,
In general rounds of the same size will have more surface area- yet there are cases of rounds that are too deep, so a blanket stament could be incorrect in certain circumstances.

ALSO- A well cut 2.00 round is going to cost more than a well cut 2 carat Radiant.

 

[BrightSpot]

It will cost A LOT more, as I am now discovering!

 

[oldminer]

A long rectangular Radiant cut might look larger than a round, but generally radiant cuts are overly deep and generally rounds end up looking larger for a given weight. However, you can afford a heavier radiant cut than a round. Rounds sell for more money per carat for a given color/clarity, in general. This makes it a horse race as to which stones you might find and how they might compare. Do some shopping and consider the varaibles....

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/20/2005 1:49:36 PM
Author:YMA

I love the radiant cuts, but was told round always look bigger is this true.

Well, for the same cost you might be able to get a round or a radint of the same "size' (= surface face up) but they'd have different weights. The radiant will need to be havier than the round for the stones to have the same size.

Since radiants are cheaper per carat, the difference is compensated... and over. At least on average. You might want to set the budget and color & clarity and shop for the largest round and largest radiant (by size or area, not weight that is). See how they compare.

This is not different than what "Oldminer" says.


For example...

One GIA graded round, G/VS2 2 cts ideal cut runs about $25k (link). This stone is 8.15mm diameter. In theory, a square of the same size (area) would be at least 7.15mm diameter.
To get that size, a radiant with depth and table between 60% and 70% would weight about 2.3cts - like this one. Give that rounds are the most expensive shape (per carat), this stone is allot less expensive ($19k) than the matching round.

And... I'd so the same math looking to match any other rounds and squares for size.

 

[oldminer]

With ImaGem we are capable of generating a report on how much area is contained inside the girdle outline of a diamond. I suppose would could then compare EXACTLY which diamond of a group has the largest ACTUAL, measured surface area. This is not something generally requested, but it is now possible to do for someone who is splitting hairs on apparent size issues.

 

[valeria101]

This is what I was talking about... saying "surface" is "size"

just my idea... this is not "official" so you do not have to agree. A bit ago I made a comparison between the princess cuts and the rounds in the database her: the princess cuts were (on average) larger for the same cost (not weight, $$$). Didn't check for radiants... and it could have been a fluke (statistical illusion) as well. The "average" counts little when you consider just a couple of diamonds.

 

[RADIANTMAN]

A well cut radiant will spread approximately the same size as a round - that is a 1 carat radiant should spread the equivalent of a round stone with a diameter of 6.3 - 6.5 mm. As David Atlas points out, the correct measurement of spread is the area of the girdle plane, which for a radiant cut is length x width minus the area lost due to the cut corners (normally 4-8 %).

Unfortunately, most radiants on the market are not well cut, and often appear much smaller than round diamonds of the same carat weight. This is not, however, an inherent characteristic of the shape - it is a function of cut quality.

Also, once mounted, a rectangular stone will appear larger than a square. This is not a function of geometric size. It is simply that the the eye picks up the length more readily since it extends out from the shank.

 

[Ann]

Stan, glad to see you here on PS. This may not be your first post, but it is the first I have seen. I am trying to decide between a radiant and a cushion, so your input here is very welcome to me.

 

[rosy]

Wow, Ana that rectangular shaped stone on the far left looks huge! I love it!

 

[YMA]

Thank you for the visual it helps put the size of the stones in perspective when you can see them side by side like that, I will get the radiant I had my eye on.

This site is the most helpful I have ever been on.