Radiant vs Oval Diamonds: Which is Better?

When you choose an engagement ring, there are so many things to consider, such as whether you prefer a radiant or oval cut for your diamond. All this can make choosing the right engagement ring seem like a really daunting task, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. There are a few things you need to take into consideration that will help guide your ultimate decision. You do, of course, still have tons of options, but being able to narrow down the proverbial field a little bit can really be beneficial.

The thing is, this should be a really exciting time in your life. You are melding two lives together into one and this is often the biggest decision outside of children we make in our lives. It is a happy time that is meant to express the joy and love you and your significant other share. The last thing you need is stress choosing the right ring. The process is already stressful enough! Here, we look at the things you should consider when choosing an engagement ring, as well as talk about the differences between two of the most popular cuts: the radiant and oval. 

Choosing An Engagement Ring

People have many different concerns and questions when it comes to choosing an engagement ring. What is an oval cut diamond? How do we know what a radiant cut is? What do all these different styles mean? You might be surprised at how many different kinds of rings there really are in the world and this can make choosing one you will wear every day for the rest of your life a little bit daunting. We will try to simplify the process as much as we can. But the basic thing is that what kind of ring will work best for you will depend on two main factors: your taste and your lifestyle.

A lot of people like to choose a ring that has a timeless style as these styles stand the test of time. The last thing you want is to choose a trendy ring that will fall out of fashion in a few years’ time. It is for these reasons that a lot of people stick with classic styles. They are visually appealing and will never go out of style. For a ring that is meant to be worn for the rest of your life, this is a really good quality to have. 

Considerations

Though the way it looks is definitely an important part of choosing an engagement ring, it is not the only thing you need to take into consideration. What do you do for a living? Are you active in your daily life? Do you work with your hands a lot? The answers to these questions can really help guide your search in the right direction. It can help you choose between radiant or oval cuts and it can also help you determine how large of a stone or stones you want in your ring. 

If you do lead an active lifestyle, you will want to keep this in mind when choosing a ring. The last thing you want is an engagement ring that gets in the way of your daily activities. If you lead a more active lifestyle, you might consider a smaller ring or one that doesn’t have a ton of stones that stick out from the band of the ring. If you don’t lead a particularly active lifestyle, you can pretty much choose whatever you want. Additionally, if you like eye-catching and large pieces, you can even go that route. 

Different Styles

There are more decisions to make besides just choosing between radiant and oval cuts. Not to mention, while these are the cuts we focus on here, there are actually tons of different cuts available to choose from. These are just two of the most popular and elegant cuts for engagement rings. There are as many styles of ring as there are personalities, so we are only going to quickly gloss over some of the most popular styles.

The solitaire is a classic that is hard to beat. This style has a single stone, often large, and a plain metal band. It is a classic and timeless style. There are multi-stone rings that have the main stone that has accents around it. The halo is a really popular style that features a large center stone that has small accent stones that encircle the main stone. Due to the nature of this ring, it is most often seen with round or oval cuts. These three styles we touch on here are, of course, not the only styles you have to choose from, but they are among the most classic and popular styles that people will choose for their engagement ring. 

Radiant Cuts

The radiant cut is a popular diamond cut that is actually fairly recent in its development. The cut saw its introduction in 1977 and has been a favorite ever since. This cut is often seen in either a square or rectangular cut. This gives you some options in choosing which radiant cut will work best for you.

There are many reasons to love the radiant cut, but the sparkle is, perhaps, the most important reason. The radiant cut is a combination of a brilliant cut and an emerald cut. This is a combination of different step cuts. These are facets that are cut into the face of the diamond. The rule of thumb is that the more cuts and facets, the more sparkle the stone will ultimately give off.

The step cuts maximize the amount of brilliance and fire that stone gives off. A lot of people find this cut to be a great value for the money, as you get all the elegance of the brilliant cuts, but without the price tag. Since you get more value for the money, it makes sense that this is a popular cut for engagement rings. 

Oval Cuts

The oval cut is an old, but still incredibly popular cut of a diamond. It has many of the features that people love about round diamonds, but with a more elongated shape. Many love that this cut flatters their fingers and gives them a length and slenderness that they might not otherwise have. 

There are many proportional standards in diamond cuts, but not with the oval cut. This means you can choose the shape and overall length of the stone to meet your personal aesthetic tastes. Since there is so much room for personalization, this is a great cut for those who want a really one-of-a-kind ring.

There are tons of facets in this diamond cut, which gives it an amazing amount of sparkle. Another thing that people love about this cut is how timeless and elegant it is. It looks great with a wide range of styles but works particularly well with vintage styles. Typically, this cut will have 57 facets. This is similar to that of a brilliant cut stone but is often a bit less piecewise. So you get the sparkle and shine, as well as the slenderizing effect, and it costs less than a comparable round cut. 

Which is Better?

There is no easy answer to this question. The thing is, it is actually a pretty subjective decision. Which you will prefer will depend on a variety of things. First and foremost will be your personal aesthetic style. Basically, which do you find more visually appealing? Since we have to look at our engagement ring every day, we should be happy with how it looks. So visual preference really is the first thing you should consider when choosing between these two cuts. 

The second thing you should take into consideration is what you like most about the diamond. The radiant cut, as the name implies, is more, well, radiant. Since it has more facets, it will refract more light. What this means is more sparkle. However, the cut also has many of the aspects that people like about rectangular diamonds – you can see the depth and flawlessness of the stone. With oval diamonds, you still get a ton of sparkle and shine, but you also get the elegance of the elongated stone. You often end up with more carat weight with an oval cut than you do with a round cut, which is also a benefit. 

The Eternity Band

Both of the rings we use for examples of radiant and oval cuts in this piece share another feature: the eternity band. This is a popular feature of engagement rings as it adds more sparkle and shine and gives the ring an elegant refinement it wouldn’t otherwise have. There is also a beautiful symbolism in the eternity band. It implies two becoming one and the union being for eternity. And though these are symbolic, the real popularity comes from how beautiful they are.

In essence, an eternity band is a band that features diamonds, inset into the band, around some portion of the band. There are full eternity bands that have stones that go around the entire band. There are also half and three-quarters eternity bands as well. A lot of people like the half or three-quarters bands as they find them to be more comfortable than a full eternity band. The full eternity band, while beautiful, can be a bit abrasive on the fingers. Whatever you choose, you get some extra sparkle from these additional diamonds. It makes the ring a bit more refined and sophisticated than it would be with a plain band. It also adds to the classic look and feel of the piece. 

Elegant and Timeless

Whether you choose a radiant or an oval cut, we know that you will love the beauty and elegance that each of these stones offers. There are good reasons that these are two of the most popular cuts for an engagement ring. They are beautiful to behold and they are timeless in their design. Even though the radiant cut is a fairly recent invention, it has quickly become a classic. It has the sparkle and shine we have come to expect from a brilliant cut diamond, but you get these features in a round or rectangular cut. This gives you the best of both worlds. 

The oval cut is also a classic and really popular for its unique shape and elegant brightness. Either of these cuts is classic and timeless. This gives you the peace of mind that the ring will stand the test of time.  Styles and trends come and go, but the classics stick around forever. You don’t have to worry about this ring falling out of fashion in a few years’ time. Since these are rings we are supposed to wear for the rest of our lives, the last thing we want is a ring that is of a style that is no longer in vogue. 

In Closing

When shopping for an engagement ring, there are a lot of things to consider. The main consideration will be your personal style and preferences, these will ultimately guide the styles you will choose from. However, it is also important to know the differences between certain popular cuts. Here we discuss the differences between the radiant and the oval cut. Both are beautiful and elegant but offer different features that may or may not make them more attractive to a potential buyer. Both are great values for the money. You get a ton of sparkle and shine and get this for less than other popular cuts. 

Once you have chosen a cut, you will need to determine what style will fit best with your fashion sense and lifestyle. There are tons of styles to choose from, but many swear by classic and timeless styles. This is because these never fall out of fashion and since we wear these rings every day for many years, it makes sense to choose something that will continue to look great for many years to come. Finding the perfect engagement ring might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t really have to be. If you know the basics of the different cuts and styles, and you take into consideration your personal lifestyle, you will have an easier time choosing the right ring for your needs.