Radiant cut
A square or rectangular diamond with cropped corners and brilliant-style facets.
Easily confused with
How to read it
GIA describes the radiant as the cropped-corner outline of an emerald cut with the sparkle of a brilliant cut: about 70 facets, often said to give a “crushed ice” look. JCK reported that most fancy yellow diamonds are cut as radiants, because the cut can emphasize color.
Also searched as: radiant cut diamond, radiant diamond.
Grades describe a stone as a grading laboratory saw it. This page explains the grading scales; it doesn’t grade or value any stone.
Radiant or princess?
Both are brilliant-cut squares or rectangles. The radiant’s corners are cropped; the princess’s come to points.
More diamond grading
Sources
- Guide to Diamond Engagement Ring Shapes (GIA 4Cs), Gemological Institute of America
- Henry Grossbard, 79, inventor of the radiant cut (JCK), Rob Bates, 28 April 2005, JCK
- Radiant-Cut Diamonds Buying Guide (International Gem Society), International Gem Society
Last reviewed September 28, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research