Diamonds 101: The Radiant Cut

Diamond shape preferences are deeply personal. The “perfect” diamond shape is often found at the intersection between aesthetic inclination and that gut feeling. If you find yourself drawn to brilliant, shiny diamonds in square or elongated shapes, the radiant cut is a breathtaking choice for your engagement ring or wedding band diamonds.

We take a deep dive into the radiant cut in the latest installment of our Diamond 101 Series: All About Radiant Cuts. You can watch the video, below, and read on for an easily digestible synopsis (plus a few more details on this brilliant diamond-cut!).

What is a Radiant Cut Diamond?

The radiant cut is considered one of the most brilliant diamond shapes available for purchase. 70 intricate facet cuts create ample opportunity for light reflection creating a dazzling, sparkly effect that perpetually catches the eye. 

While brilliance is a key feature of the radiant cut diamond, this shape is multi-faceted (pun intended). The structured, square edging on the face of the diamond creates a similar outline to the emerald cut paying homage to the Art Deco movement; when paired with the brilliance of the facet cuts, the radiant cut diamond is a show stopper. 

A Brief History

Henry Grossbard revealed the perfect radiant cut diamond in 1981. 

Grossbard worked as a master diamond cutter for over 30 years, creating stunning diamonds for the world to enjoy. He strongly desired to create a diamond shape that embraced the structured elegance of the emerald cut with the fiery sparkle of the round brilliant cut, and he did just that. 

2.02 ct Radiant Cut Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring

For 40 years, brides have enjoyed the bold and brilliant aesthetic of the radiant cut diamond.

What to Look for When Choosing a Radiant Cut Diamond

An engagement ring or wedding band is an emotional and financial investment. With any investment, you must do your due diligence to ensure that your money is well-spent. 

When choosing a radiant cut diamond, there are four features to keep top-of-mind: cut, ratio, color, and clarity.  

The Cut

All radiant cut diamonds are not created equal. Cut can have a noticeable impact on the appearance of your radiant cut diamond dulling sparkle and creating a watery or icy appearance. 

Sometimes radiant cut diamonds are cut to preserve weight, which creates a “lumpy” appearance that noticeably dulls brilliance and makes the diamond appear smaller in size. A carefully cut radiant diamond enhances fire and elongates the diamond face. 

The ideal table and depth of your radiant cut diamond are between 65% and 70%. Though a higher-quality cut increases the price of your diamond, the result is a stunning radiant cut diamond that maintains noticeable brilliance to the wearer and the observer.

The Ratio

Ratio is calculated by dividing the diamond length by diamond width (in millimeters). Since radiant cut diamonds can be square or elongated, the ratios range from 1:1 to 1:45:1. 

4.02 ct Radiant Cut Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring, a Square Shaped Radiant Diamond

Elongated radiant diamonds generally range from 1.25:1 to 1.45:1 with a sweet spot ranging between 1.3:1 to 1.35:1. 

These ratio recommendations are meant to serve as a guide to finding your perfect diamond; if you prefer a square-shaped radiant diamond or a dramatic, elongated radiant diamond, your desired ratio may fall outside of our recommended range.

The Color

Cut and ratio are particularly important features when choosing a radiant cut diamond. Color, on the other hand, is more forgiving with this diamond shape meaning that you can choose a color lower on the GIA color scale while maintaining diamond brilliance. 

At Lauren B, we offer radiant cut diamond engagement rings in the color range D-J. The perfect diamond color for you is based solely on your personal preference. The D-F color range offers a virtually colorless diamond while the I-J range has very slight color, barely noticeable unless paired next to a D-F colored diamond. 

2.60 ct Radiant Cut Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring, G Color

The I-J color range is a viable option for someone who wants to invest in a larger stone while sacrificing slightly on color.

The Clarity

Diamond clarity speaks to the presence of inclusion in the diamond face. Inclusions are small, microscopic particles like minerals or fractures, that appear during the diamond formation process. Inclusions can look like pinpoints, cloudiness, feathers or crystals when observing the diamond up-close. 

Clarity measurements range from IF (internally flawless) to I1 or I2 (inclusions). The facet complexity on the radiant cut diamond allows for some flexibility with clarity. You can generally get away with a S1 or S2 (small inclusions) rating with a radiant cut diamond, however, this can vary dramatically from stone to stone. 

2.62 carat Radiant Cut Diamond Halo Three Row Engagement Ring, SI1 Clarity 

When choosing a radiant cut diamond, have an expert inspect the diamond to be sure that the stone is eye clean and does not have a milky or icey appearance.

How Does the Radiant Cut Compare to Other Elongated Diamond Shapes?

What makes the radiant cut diamond different from other elongated diamond shapes? How does it measure up to the popular oval diamond and cushion cut diamond? Let’s explore. 

Radiant Cut Diamond vs. Emerald Cut Diamond

Both the radiant cut diamond and the emerald cut diamond have parallel sides and cut corners with largely similar length to width ratios; these similarities create a nearly identical outline. 

1.92 ct Emerald Cut Diamond Platinum Swoop Engagement Ring

The key difference between the radiant and emerald-cut diamonds is the facet patterns. The radiant cut diamond is a brilliant-cut that enhances sparkle and brilliance while the emerald cut diamond is a step cut, which creates a hall of mirrors effect highlighting diamond clarity.

Radiant Cut Diamond vs. Elongated Cushion Diamond

Cushion-cut diamonds have a soft, pillow-like appearance that sits delicately on the finger. The facets and outline of the radiant cut diamond, on the other hand, are more geometric in shape. 

3.28 ct Antique Cushion Diamond Three-Stone Halo Ring

Elongated cushion diamond ratios range from 1.1:1 to 1.2:1, which is slightly lower than our recommended radiant cut diamond range of 1.3:1 to 1.35:1. If you prefer a more striking elongated shape, the radiant diamond is the best choice (radiant cuts also provide more finger coverage than the cushion cut).

Radiant Cut Diamond vs. Oval Diamond

The oval diamond is the most popular diamond shape with a slightly more elongated appearance than the radiant cut boasting length-to-width ratios of 1.4:1 and higher.

3.24 ct Oval Diamond Pave-Prong Engagement Ring

Oval diamonds appear larger on the finger since they take up more vertical space, while the radiant diamond appears fuller. Both shapes enhance diamond brilliance for unforgettable sparkle.

Is Radiant Your Dream Diamond Shape? 

Do you dream of radiant diamonds? Is your Pinterest board cluttered with images of radiant cut diamonds in all their brilliance and elegant outlines? Does your heart flutter at the thought of a stunning radiant cut diamond nestled on your ring finger? 

At Lauren B, we offer a wide variety of the highest quality radiant cut diamonds in a bevy of dazzling designs and settings. If you have a clear vision of your ideal diamond and you need just a little bit of assistance to make your vision a reality, we offer robust customization with expert design consultants to guide you through every step. 

We can’t wait to see that stunning, radiant-cut diamond engagement ring on your beautiful finger. Follow us on social media @laurenbjewelry and tag us in your pictures with #laurenblove.