Radiant Diamond

The radiant cut was created by Henry Grossbard in 1977, designed specifically to combine the clean rectangular or square outline of a step cut with the light performance of a brilliant cut. The result is a shape that looks architectural from a distance but explodes with fire and scintillation when the light catches it, a combination no previous shape had achieved. What distinguishes the radiant from the emerald cut is its faceting pattern. While the emerald cut uses long, parallel step facets that create a hall-of-mirrors effect, the radiant uses a complex brilliant-style facet arrangement beneath its table. This pattern breaks light into many small, intense flashes rather than broad, slow flashes. The practical benefit is that radiant cuts hide inclusions and body color far better than emerald cuts, allowing buyers to go lower on clarity and color grades without sacrificing visual quality. The radiant's trimmed corners also offer a functional advantage: they make the stone more durable than sharp-cornered shapes like the princess cut, while still maintaining a geometric appearance. In the trade, radiants are priced 25-35% below round brilliants and represent one of the strongest value propositions in fancy shapes. They're available in both square (L/W ratio near 1.0) and rectangular (L/W ratio 1.20-1.40) proportions, and they work exceptionally well flanked by baguette or trapezoid side stones in three-stone settings.