There are a lot of different cuts of diamonds that you can choose for your engagement ring. Radiant cut and Princess cut are two popular cuts and both these cuts can be commonly seen in various diamond jewelry including rings, pendants, and earrings. Lab-grown diamond jewelry of both these cuts is also widely used.
People with little knowledge of diamonds often get confused between these two, but both have their own features. If you want to know the differences and features of both these cuts, this article is for you.
Design Of Princess Cut Vs Radiant Cut
Both these cuts have many common features. They both have a square or rectangular shape and have large tables.
When the corners of both diamond cuts are considered, there is a significant difference. The radiant cut has beveled corners whereas the princess cut has square corners. The beveled corners of a radiant cut provide the diamond with a less geometric appearance. The sharp corners of a radiant-cut diamond are more prone to chipping than a princess-cut diamond. Also, you have to be more careful if there are inclusions near the corners.
Radiant cut diamonds are usually rectangular in shape. The longer diagonal measurement gives an illusion of a larger diamond. This effect is not observed in princess cut diamonds as they are square in shape.
Comparing Table Size
The princess cut diamond has a larger table size than a radiant cut diamond of the same carat weight and this larger table size provides it a magnificent appearance. But the problem with the larger table size is that you can spot inclusions very easily. However, a princess cut’s facet pattern can make it difficult to see the inclusions.
Comparison Of Brilliance
A princess-cut diamond is slightly inferior to a radiant-cut diamond in brilliance and sparkle even though both are equally well-cut. Keep in mind that the cut quality can also affect the brilliance. A poor-cut radiant diamond will have less sparkle than a well-cut princess diamond. The number of facets is almost equal for both these diamonds and the value ranges between 70 and 76.
Affordability
When the costs of both these diamonds are considered, a princess cut diamond is less expensive than a radiant cut diamond. The cutting process of a princess-cut diamond doesn’t waste much raw diamond material. This is what makes princess cut one of the least expensive diamond cuts.