Grossbard’s intent was to create a diamond cut that looked as large as possible and, by pairing a broad, shallow design with intensely brilliant faceting, he achieved that optical illusion. Radiant Cuts have a slightly smaller face-up measurement compared to round brilliants of similar weight but the Radiant Cut will still appear to be larger.

With Emerald Cuts, the top surface (table) is actually bigger compared to a similar-weight round brilliant diamond. Radiant Cut diamonds have a similar cut-corner rectangular (sometimes square) silhouette but, instead of step-cuts, they have 70 triangular or kite-shaped facets radiating from the center to maximize the inherent fiery brilliance of the stone.īoth Emerald Cut and Radiant Cut diamonds tend to look larger compared to round brilliant cut diamonds of equal weight. The parallel step-cut facets create dramatic flashes of light that have a “hall of mirrors” effect, a more subdued, sophisticated sparkle compared to a Radiant Cut. Since the Radiant Cut was patented by Grossbard, you might see it referred to as a “Rectangular Brilliant” or “Cut-Cornered Square” (if square) on a laboratory certificate (such as GIA or AGS).Įmerald Cut diamonds are rectangular with cut corners and 50 to 58 step-cut facets, depending on the dimensions of the stone. Grossbard managed to create one of the sparkliest cuts available by being the first to apply a brilliant faceting pattern to both the crown and pavilion of the stone. This hybrid cut is one of the most faceted diamond styles, designed to maximize the natural beauty of a diamond. The Radiant Cut is a much more modern cutting style, invented by Henry Grossbard in 1977. The Emerald Cut was further refined and standardized in the 1940s, thanks to the development of more sophisticated diamond-cutting tools.

Like the name suggests, this type of diamond cut was first used on emeralds (and still is) but was called a “multi-faceted table cut” until the term “Emerald Cut” was coined in the Roaring ‘20s. ILA's East West Emerald Cut Engagement Ring But this diamond shape is actually one of the oldest, tracing its stylistic origins back to the Table Cut of the 1500s.

The Emerald Cut diamond style is most often associated with the Art Deco era, when the admiration of clean lines and symmetry made this style extremely popular. Are you considering a less traditional diamond for your engagement ring, perhaps something rectangular? You might think the Emerald Cut and Radiant Cut styles look similar, however, there are some significant differences that would be helpful to know when selecting the best diamond for your special ring.

Radiant cut diamond