Diamonds: Radiant Cut vs. Cushion Cut

Radiant cut and cushion cut are both among the most popular diamond shapes. They’re also the most confusing. Where most diamond shapes are easily distinguished from each other, untrained eyes often mistake radiant cut for cushion cut and vice versa.

In the article below, we’ll break down the differences between the two so you have an easier time recognizing each:



The Designs: Radiant Cut vs. Cushion Cut

Radiant cut and cushion cut diamonds both have large tables, facet patterns that create a high degree of brilliance, and rectangle outlines. The main difference between the two is in the corners of the cut. 

Radiant cut has a more angular, geometric shape due to its corners being cut at a 45° angle. Cushion cut diamond, in comparison, has a “softer” shape, with smoother, more rounded corners. 

The length-to-width ratio can be another indicator, though it doesn’t apply to every case. Radiant cut can range from a square to a long rectangle. On the other hand, the Cushion cut ratio is typically kept in the 1.0-1.09 range, resulting in a short rectangle (closer to a square). However, while elongated cushions are rare, they do exist. Overall, corners are still your best indicators. 

The Sparkle: Which Has More Brilliance?

Multiple factors determine a diamond’s brilliance, but it can safely be said that the cut is the primary one. A diamond with poor or fair cut quality will never look as brilliant as a diamond with excellent or ideal cut quality. However, the shape becomes the deciding factor when the cuts are of similar quality.

The name’s a hint in itself, but generally, the radiant cut is known to provide a higher degree of brilliance than cushion cut, as a large table and multiple facets allow it to reflect a large amount of light, providing exceptionally bright sparkle. 

On the other hand, a cushion cut is believed to have a better ability to produce fire (colored light reflections).

Price: Which Cut Is More Affordable?

Radiant cut and cushion cut are both designed to retain a large part of the original diamond that’s been mined. Both final products, shaped after cutting and polishing, are considered some of the best value for price balance among diamond shapes. 

Due to their similarities, there’s no significant difference between the radiant and cushion cut prices with the same cut quality, color, and clarity. The best combination would be an ideal cut with J color and SI1 clarity. The prices for both cuts hover between $2000 and $2,500, though the cushion cut seems to have more options closer to the lower price range. 

Dorano Jewelry: Arcadia Jewelry Repair Shop Oriented on Customer Satisfaction

Family-Owned-and-Operated, Dorano Jewelry is dedicated to providing high-quality services to the Arcadia community for reasonable prices. Whether you’re looking into the nearest jewelry stores in Arcadia for new designs or affordable jewelry repair, you can stop googling “jewelry near me” now and head over to Dorano Jewelry's website or visit the showroom to see what they have to offer. You are likely to walk away satisfied!