Radiant Cut Engagement Rings: A Complete Guide to the Sparkling Stone

Radiant cut engagement rings offer exceptional brilliance due to their 70 precisely arranged facets, which reflect light like tiny mirrors. Created in the mid-1970s by Henry Grossbard, the cut combines the sparkle of a round brilliant with the clean lines of a rectangular shape. According to Mahiar Borhanjo, chief commercial officer at De Beers Group, the finest radiant cuts have a table percentage between 61% and 69%, a depth of 61% to 67%, and a slightly thicker girdle for durability. Kegan Fisher, cofounder of Frank Darling, notes that the faceting pattern produces allover sparkle with evenly distributed light and dark contrast, unlike round brilliants or cushion cuts. When evaluating the 4Cs, cut is not graded for radiant stones; color and carat size are priorities. Fisher recommends going one color grade higher than other shapes because the faceting can concentrate warmth in the corners. Clarity is forgiving due to the crushed-ice faceting, allowing lower grades without visible inclusions. Settings range from solitaires to three-stone designs with shield or trillion-cut side stones, as suggested by Borhanjoo. A visible 'bow tie' effect or an overly deep pavilion should be avoided; the length-to-width ratio ideally exceeds 1.35 for an elongated look. Lab-grown diamonds offer more options for optimal proportions. Olivia Palermo's yellow diamond radiant cut ring is cited as a notable example.