Radiant cut, brilliant and bold.

How does a radiant look next to an emerald or cushion?

Radiants combine emerald-shape geometry with brilliant-cut sparkle. See how they compare at every carat weight.

What it actually looks like

A radiant is an emerald-cut outline with brilliant-cut facets. You get the architectural shape and the fireworks — the best of both worlds if that's what you want.

Elongated radiants are having a real moment. They stretch the finger, throw a ton of light, and hold their sparkle even in low light where emerald cuts can go flat.

Radiants hide inclusions and color better than emerald cuts because the brilliant facet pattern scatters flaws. VS2 and G color are safe.

In this guide

  • Radiant carat-to-mm at true scale

  • Square vs elongated radiant

  • Best settings: solitaire, three-stone, halo

  • Radiant vs emerald vs cushion

Radiant size and ratio

A 1ct square radiant is about 5.75 × 5.75mm. A 1ct elongated radiant (1.2 ratio) is roughly 6.3 × 5.3mm. Elongated radiants read larger on the finger than their carat weight suggests.

FAQ

Common questions

Radiant vs emerald — what's the difference?
Same outline, different facet pattern. Emerald has long step facets (flash); radiant has brilliant facets (sparkle).
Square or elongated radiant?
Elongated (1.2–1.35 ratio) is the current favorite. Square reads more traditional and vintage.
Best setting for a radiant?
Solitaire, three-stone with trapezoid or half-moon sides, and hidden halo all work beautifully.
What clarity should I look for?
VS2 is safe — the brilliant facet pattern hides small inclusions well.