Radiants - what''s the deal?

[LadyAmythyst69]

I hope this isn''t a stupid question but I''ll ask it anyway...

I''ve noticed that some diamonds labeled as radiants have a crushed ice appearance. It''s difficult to discern any individual facets when you look into the stone. It just looks like a little sparkle bomb went off.

I''ve also noticed some diamonds labeled as radiants have distinct facets - almost like a princess cut but elongated into a rectangle. In fact I always thought of the radiant cut as being a rectangular princess cut (sort of the same loose relationship as baguette to emerald cut to asscher/square emerald).

The "princess type" used to be the main type of radiant I would see. But nowadays almost everything seems to be the "crushed ice type" radiant.

What gives?

 

[jfo]

I don''t think it''s a silly question at all. I''m no expert by any means--just a radiant owner myself--and I have to say I wonder the same thing sometimes. When I started looking into radiants (pre-PS), I liked them because they had the cut corners and more of a crushed ice appearance rather than the more angular facets of a princess. I had not come across any "princess"-type radiants in my search. I also took a peak at the Original Radiant Cut website and saw how their radiants appeared (crushed ice). Since then I''ve come to realize that radiants are one of those fancies that really has a wide variance as far as how they''re cut, so I think there''s a wide variety of stones out there that are labeled radiants.

For example, I LOVE SuzyQZ''s three stone radiant ring... to me, her stones embody radiant cuts:

 

[jfo]

But then, there''s also Canuk-gal''s STUNNING radiant ring which has some facets that may be attributed to a more Princess type cut (due to the distinct x faceting in the center of the stone).
Either way... I LOVE her ring too!

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

I used to always see radiants like Canuk-Gal''s now it seems like they are more rare and the crushed ice look is all the rage.

I think Catmom''s yellow radiant is a crushed ice type.

Anyone else have any theories about these types of cuts?

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

JFo: how kind of you to say such nice thing about my ring!

LadyAm: here are some threads that you may find helpful:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-ruby-is-a-and-a-radiant-is-a.56326/

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/radiant-facet-pattern-can-anyone-explain.71782/

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/measurement-question.53663/

cheers--Sharon

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Thanks for the links Canuk - that explains why so so so many yellow diamonds I see are radiant cut. I suspected it was a color enhancing cut but it was nice to actually read that info!

I wonder if anyone has or knows of a picture of the faceting that will produce the crushed ice type look. I think the ones in the links were for radiants that end up looking more like yours. I''m always curious to see these things so I know what I''m looking at and what to look for when I see actual stones.

 

[jfo]

You''re welcome, Canuk-gal!

Lady Amythyst69, I just wanted to share the image on my GIA report for my square radiant. It matches the facet diagram for a square radiant in the first link that Canuk-gal provided. However, I''ll attach a picture of my stone and I do think it has more of a crushed ice appearance... however, in certain light, i can see more of a x-pattern in the middle...

 

[jfo]

My ring

 

[LadyAmythyst69]

Wow! That''s cool. It is kind of inbetween-y isn''t it. Sort of combines the princess-y with the crushed ice.

I guess radiants are really really really stones that you need to see in person to get an accurate idea of what they look like. I also think you could probably have a hard time finding just exactly the right one too! I''m sure someday one will just jump out and grab me.