Answers

  • Blanche K 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    These are very similar cuts. The biggest different is the corners. Basically, a radiant cut diamond is a princess cut diamond with slipped corners. The clipped corners allow prongs to grasp the corners in a more secure fashion.

    So, with the radiant cut (in a prong setting), the pro is the security of the diamond.

    If you put a princess cut in a prong setting, it’s likely to cover the corners a bit, anyway. This is meant to keep the diamond secure. If the corners are exposed, they are also more likely to chip.

    And here’s the con for a radiant cut: price. If you compare two similar diamonds (same carat weight, clarity grade, color grade, etc.) except one is a radiant cut and one is a princess cut, the radiant cut will be more expensive. One example (link below) estimated the radiant cut is about 12% more expensive, but they used a small sample size, so that is probably just an estimate.

    Also, radiant cut has slightly less sparkle (light bouncing through it) than princess cut. (I don’t know why–but there’s a link below to a list of all the diamonds’ sparkliness.)

    When a shape doesn’t have a cut grade (someone else answered this already is great detail), there’s not a hard and fast industry written standard. So, if you need to judge for yourself, look for sharp edges (no rolled edges), smooth surfaces (no scratches from sloppy work), and proportion (if you drew a line to divide it in half, are both sides the same or somehow off balance?).

    I hope this helps.

  • latinomale64 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    here is what your looking for

  • Erin 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    Actually, if you want to know what the best cut is, go with a round, brilliant cut diamond. The reason for this is you get more diamond. When determining the carat of the diamond, they take the amount of the rough diamond. With a brilliant cut, there’s more diamond left. There’s less when you get a radiant or princess cut (and I believe even less with a princess cut than a radiant cut). So if you buy a 1 ct ring of all three cuts, you actually have the larger diamond with the brilliant cut.

  • 4REEE 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    Both are very nice.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/jewelry/?ie=UTF8&popup=common%2Cstone_shape

    BUT on the Princess Cut, watch out! If you accidentally strike the diamond on one of the corners, you could chip it!

    I got my wife’s ring at Diamond Brokers of Florida:

    http://www.dbof.com/

    http://www.diamondring.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1054

    Or you could check out these other online sources:

    http://www.WhiteFlash.com

    http://www.GoodOldGold.com

    http://www.ExcelDiamonds.com

    http://www.BlueNile.com

    Blue Nile’s database is good, but they don’t provide you with photos or analysis reports of the diamond. I wouldn’t go with them for that reason.

    Happy hunting.

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  • Kiwi is my bird-o 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    The shape of a diamond and the cut is a matter of personal taste. A cut grade will only be listed for a round brilliant cut. A cut grade is assessing the diamond’s interaction with light, and how close it is to ideal proportions (maximum light return). While the GIA is close to finding ideal proportions for a princess cut, they haven’t yet, so you won’t see a cut grade for it, or any other fancy shape diamond (a fancy shape is any other cut besides a round). The shape of a stone should be listed. If you are looking online, don’t. Find an American Gem Society store in your area (www.americangemsociety.org), and you can have a qualified professional help you decide what cut is best for you, as well as help you decide on a mounting. An AGS can also provide you assurance your getting a diamond that was mined and brought into the country legally (is not a "blood diamond"), as well as the peace of mind that you are getting what your paying for. Online stores are not held to any standards, and you never know what your getting. Also, when you go into a jewelry store, you can preview the diamond, examine it under a microscope if you choose (most diamonds have small inclusions, which are fine, and it’s neat to see them up close), not to mention help support the local economy.

    I work in an AGS store. We have seen all kinds of things from online stores that are not what they said they were, or were just plain ugly. For instance, an I1 diamond could have one black inclusion you can see under the table, and nothing else in it (it doesn’t affect the beauty or durability of the stone), but whithin the same grade you could have a cloudy looking stone that resembles a chocolate chip cookie more than a diamond (it’s still an I1 on the cert). You really need to look at what your buying from a trustworthy source. Good luck and congratulations.

  • Lydia 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    A round brilliant diamond. Princess is just a current fad.

  • ? 9:28 pm on October 12, 2009 |

    It is very hard to say which is ‘nicer’. As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I can tell you that Princess cut diamonds are more in demand right now, and are more in style.
    Regarding cut grade, this is only given to GIA certified Round cut diamonds. All other cut grades you may see on other websites are given by the site itself.
    http://twitter.com/brilliancecorp

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