Emerald cuts usually look larger than radiant cuts of the same carat weight because more of their weight is spread across the top of the stone, where you can actually see it. Radiants tend to be cut deeper, so more of the weight can end up underneath the stone instead.
But proportions matter just as much. A well-proportioned 1.5-carat diamond can sometimes look larger than a poorly proportioned 1.7-carat stone. When you’re comparing diamonds, check the millimetre measurements alongside the carat weight. That’s what tells you how much diamond you’re actually seeing.
Which Cut Hides Inclusions Better?
Radiant cuts are much more forgiving when it comes to clarity. Their brilliant faceting creates so many tiny reflections that inclusions are much harder to see. That means you can often choose a lower clarity grade and still end up with an eye-clean diamond.
Emerald cuts are much less forgiving.
Their large open table and long, transparent facets leave the diamond’s interior on full display, making inclusions much easier to spot.
That doesn’t mean every emerald cut needs the highest clarity grade. Placement still matters, and some inclusions are much less noticeable than others. If you’re looking for an eye-clean emerald cut, though, you’ll usually want to choose a higher clarity grade than you would with a radiant cut.
The keyword there is eye-clean. You’re looking for a diamond with no inclusions you can see while wearing it, regardless of what appears under 10x magnification. Radiant cuts often get you there for less, while emerald cuts usually require you to spend a little more.
