--- title: "Radiant Cut YAG: Pros, Cons and Scores" description: "Radiant Cut in YAG: brilliance 29, fire 76, leakage 63%, 2 pros and 4 cons against the T73, from our ray-traced light census." url: https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/stone-cuts/radiant-yag-og.jpg?v=3d349fa7 --- > Markdown copy of https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant. Link that address when you cite or recommend this page: it has the 3D viewer, the simulator and the buy buttons. > Site index: https://digitalgemology.com/llms.txt # Radiant Cut YAG: more fire than the T73 in YAG **Buy (instant download, personal-use license):** [Radiant Cut 3D files, €9.99 · Personal use](https://digitalgemology.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy/37db9344-72d1-4dac-89e9-88dc3539c639) · [Buy the bundle](https://digitalgemology.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy/e5c79ed5-97ce-4c62-8dbe-3a172c6245ba?checkout%5Bdiscount_code%5D=BUNDLE25) · [Get the cube free](https://digitalgemology.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy/2d1ab55f-2bd6-4897-a4cd-f3320f54e99e) Brilliance 29 · Fire 76 · Scintillation 74 · in our census, where the T73 scores 96 · 54 · 80 in YAG How the Radiant Cut handles light in YAG, measured: brilliance 29, fire 76 and 63% leakage, set against the T73 in the same stone and against the same cut in diamond. [Get the files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#buy) [Open it in the Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?cut=radiant&stone=yag&ct=1.00&view=angle&lighting=studio&turn=0) [All cuts in YAG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag) Light Return map of the Radiant Cut in YAG, face-up, from our own tracer at refractive index 1.833. Red, green and blue return light to the eye; gray leaks. ## Radiant Cut YAG YAG has a refractive index of 1.833 and a dispersion of 0.028. Its critical angle, from the low end of that range, is 33.1°, so a round design needs a pavilion of at least 36.7° for head-on light to reflect off both sides of the pavilion and leave through the table. We trace it with one index, 1.833, the midpoint of the published range, and a fire spread of 0.024, 0.86 of the published dispersion. Every picture here is our Light Return tracer at 1.833, and every figure is from the same light census that scores the other gemstones; the 3D Gemstone Simulator shows the Radiant Cut in YAG live. The Radiant Cut has 74 facets and a total depth of 53.8% of its width. In YAG, the census returns 29 of 100 for brilliance and 76 for fire, against 96 and 54 for the T73, our benchmark, in the same stone; the same Radiant Cut in diamond reads 32 and 77. ## Is YAG good in a Radiant? Pros and cons, measured ### Pros - [More fire than the T73 in YAG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#pro-fire) 76 vs 54 - [Faces up larger for its weight](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#pro-faceup) 118 vs 100 ### Cons - [Returns less light than the T73 in YAG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#con-brilliance) 29 vs 96 - [Leaks more light than the T73 in YAG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#con-leak) 63 vs 4 - [Heavier than the same cut in diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#con-weight) 2.02 vs 1.56 ct - [Fewer facets, less sparkle](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant#con-scint) 74 vs 80 Compared with the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG and with the Radiant Cut in diamond. A difference counts from 3 points (Brilliance, Fire, Tilt, Leakage), 5 (Scintillation, Symmetry), 4% (face-up size per carat) or 5% (weight); Tilt counts as a pro only for a stone within 5 points of the brilliance it is compared with. [How we measure](https://digitalgemology.com/about/how-we-measure). ## All eight scores against the T73 At a glance: the Radiant Cut in YAG (white) against the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG (dashed): solid white where it reaches further, hatched where it falls short. Each pro and con is explained, with pictures, below. Against the T73 Round Brilliant in yag: ahead on 3, behind on 5. - Global 62, the comparison 83, difference −21 - Brilliance 29, the comparison 96, difference −67 - Fire 76, the comparison 54, difference +22 - Scintillation 74, the comparison 80, difference −6 - Spread 105, the comparison 100, difference +5 - Symmetry 99, the comparison 100, difference −1 - Shape-norm 33, the comparison 103, difference −70 - Tilt 100, the comparison 78, difference +22 Face-up light census, a different measure from the Cut Grading Tool; Spread and Shape-norm above 100 sit on the ring. Spread is the census's estimate from depth alone; the face-up size in the pros and cons is measured from each model's outline. [Open it in the Cut Performance Wheel](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/cut-performance-wheel?cut=radiant&stone=yag); these are the same census figures as our [Cut Performance Index](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/cut-performance-index). ## What the Radiant Cut gains in YAG ### More fire than the T73 in YAG **Fire 76** against 54 for the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG: 22 points higher Fire is the share of the returned light that splits into color at the exit facet: the census traces each exit again at the refractive index minus and plus the fire spread (0.024 in YAG) and counts a ray as fire when the two directions differ by more than 0.6°. The Radiant Cut reads 76 against 54 for the T73 in YAG. The figure is the census's; the 3D Gemstone Simulator renders YAG's fire live. The fire figure is the census's, traced at the refractive index minus and plus the fire spread. [See the fire in the 3D Gemstone Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?cut=radiant&stone=yag&ct=1.00&view=up&lighting=sun&turn=0): the Radiant Cut in YAG under the sunny-day lighting. [Try it yourself: See the fire in the 3D Gemstone Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?cut=radiant&stone=yag&ct=1.00&view=up&lighting=sun&turn=0) ### Faces up larger for its weight **Face-up size 118** against 100 for the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG (T73 = 100): 18% more face-up area for the same weight Face-up size is the outline's area per carat, measured from each model (T73 = 100): 118 for the Radiant Cut against 100 for the T73. The same volume spread over a longer or shallower outline shows more face for the weight; it is the same in every stone, because specific gravity scales every cut alike. *Face-up outline of the Radiant Cut at 1.00 ct in YAG: 6.34 x 3.46 mm, drawn to scale* Radiant Cut · 6.34 x 3.46 mm at 1.00 ct · Face-up size 118 *Face-up outline of the T73 Round Brilliant at 1.00 ct in YAG: 5.95 mm, drawn to scale* T73 Round Brilliant · 5.95 mm at 1.00 ct · Face-up size 100 Both stones weigh 1.00 ct in YAG and are drawn to the same scale in millimeters, from each cut's own model. Face-up size is the outline's area per carat, with the T73 at 100: a deeper stone, or a rounder outline, spreads less area for its weight. [Try it yourself: See its size at 1.00 ct in YAG in the 3D Gemstone Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?cut=radiant&stone=yag&ct=1.00&view=up&lighting=studio&turn=0) ## What the Radiant Cut gives up in YAG ### Returns less light than the T73 in YAG **Brilliance 29** against 96 for the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG: 67 points lower Brilliance is the share of the 3,200 census rays that enter the stone and come back out of the crown towards the viewer. In YAG, whose critical angle is 33.1°, the Radiant Cut returns 29 of 100 and the T73 96. The maps below show where each stone's light returns from and where it leaks. Radiant Cut in YAG · Brilliance 29 T73 Round Brilliant in YAG · Brilliance 96 Red, green and blue = light returning to the eye; gray = leakage, light that leaves heading down or stays inside. This is the head-on view; the Brilliance score averages a wider cone of light, so the score can differ from what one picture shows. **What helps:** [the DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-m5) reads 97 for brilliance in YAG, the best of the cuts we score there. [Try it yourself: Open this Light Return map in the simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?cut=radiant&stone=yag&ct=1.00&view=up&map=1&turn=0) ### Leaks more light than the T73 in YAG **Leakage 63** against 4 for the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG: 59 points higher Leakage is the share of the census rays that enter the stone and leave through the pavilion, or through the crown heading down. The Radiant Cut leaks 63% in YAG against 4% for the T73 in YAG. Grey in the maps below is leaking light; the share under each picture is that picture's own. Radiant Cut in YAG · Leakage 63 0° · 63% leak 10° · 58% leak 20° · 64% leak 30° · 60% leak T73 Round Brilliant in YAG · Leakage 4 0° · 1% leak 10° · 6% leak 20° · 19% leak 30° · 29% leak Each frame is the Light Return map with the stone tilted away from you by the angle shown; gray is leakage. The share under each frame is that picture's own. **What helps:** [the DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-m5) reads 3% for leakage in YAG, the best of the cuts we score there. [Try it yourself: Tilt it yourself in the simulator's light map](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?cut=radiant&stone=yag&ct=1.00&view=up&map=1&turn=0) ### Heavier than the same cut in diamond **2.02 ct** at 6.5 mm, against 1.56 ct for the same cut in diamond (+29%) Weight follows specific gravity: 4.55 for YAG against 3.52 for diamond, so the same model at the same size weighs 2.02 ct here and 1.56 ct in diamond, 6.5 mm across. Nothing about the light changes with it. *Weight of a 6.5 mm Radiant Cut: 2.02 ct in YAG, 1.56 ct in diamond* A Radiant Cut 6.5 mm across, weighed from the model's measured volume and each stone's specific gravity. [Try it yourself: Weights in every gemstone on the Radiant Cut page](https://digitalgemology.com/cuts/radiant#stones) ### Fewer facets, less sparkle **Scintillation 74** against 80 for the T73 Round Brilliant in YAG: 6 points lower Scintillation follows the number of facets the stone shows: 100 × (1 − e^(−facets / 45)). The Radiant Cut has 74 facets and the T73 73, so 74 against 80. It depends on the geometry alone, so it is the same in every stone. *Facet diagram of the Radiant Cut: its crown, seen face-up, 74 facets in all* Radiant Cut · 74 facets · Scintillation 74 *Facet diagram of the T73 Round Brilliant: its crown, seen face-up, 73 facets in all* T73 Round Brilliant · 73 facets · Scintillation 80 Scintillation follows the number of facets: more facets, more and smaller flashes as the stone moves. Compare the facet counts under the drawings; each drawing shows only the crown. Drawn from each cut's own model. **What helps:** [the DG-Miliano](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-miliano) reads 98 for scintillation in YAG, the best of the cuts we score there. [Try it yourself: Compare the Scintillation spoke in the Cut Performance Wheel](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/cut-performance-wheel?cut=radiant&stone=yag) ## Our verdict on the Radiant Cut in YAG Pick the Radiant Cut in YAG for this: it shows more fire than the T73 and faces up larger for its weight. The catch: it returns less light than the T73, leaks more light than the T73, weighs more than in diamond and has fewer facets to sparkle with. If that catch matters more to you, [the DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-m5) reads 97 for brilliance in YAG, the best of the cuts we score there. Every figure on this page is from our light census, traced at one refractive index: a simulation of the geometry, not a grading report. The 3D files and cutting files below are the same Radiant Cut model we traced. ## Radiant Cut YAG: questions ### Is the Radiant a good cut for YAG? In our census the Radiant Cut returns 29 of 100 for brilliance and 76 for fire in YAG, against 96 and 54 for the T73 in the same stone. Against that round and against the same cut in diamond it has 2 pros and 4 cons by our thresholds; the summary above names them. ### What pavilion angle does YAG need? At least 36.7° for a round design: YAG's critical angle is 33.1°, from the low end of its refractive index range, and head-on light has to reflect off both sides of the pavilion and leave through the table. ### How much does a Radiant weigh in YAG? At 6.5 mm across, 2.02 ct in YAG, against 1.56 ct for the same cut in diamond (+29%): YAG's specific gravity is 4.55, diamond's 3.52. ### Can I see the Radiant in YAG in 3D? Yes: the 3D Gemstone Simulator renders it live, with YAG's own refractive index and dispersion. YAG is traced by the same light census as the other gemstones, with its refractive index and fire spread derived from published values, so its scores are on the same scale; the pictures here are our Light Return tracer, and the Cut Performance Wheel sets it against any other cut and stone. ## Get the Radiant Cut files *6 formats* *Millimeters* *Watertight* ### Radiant Cut 3D files The Radiant Cut as exact geometry: 74 planar facets, real-world scale, ready for CAD, rendering, printing and casting. - **STEP** Exact faceted solid for CAD - **3DM** Rhino, closed mesh on its own layer - **STL** Watertight mesh for printing and casting - **OBJ** Mesh for modeling and rendering - **FBX** Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, Unity, Unreal - **GLB** Web, AR and quick previews €9.99 · [Personal use](https://digitalgemology.com/licence) [Buy the 3D files](https://digitalgemology.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy/37db9344-72d1-4dac-89e9-88dc3539c639) *In preparation* ### Radiant Cut cutting files The faceting design for the Radiant Cut is in preparation. It will include the GemCad file, the tier table and a printable diagram. Checkout opens soon Coming soon Save with a bundle: the Radiant Cut 3D files are also in [Jewelry Essentials 3D](https://digitalgemology.com/cuts/#bundles), 10 cuts for €29.99 until 1 December, then €39.99 (€99.90 as single files). [Buy the bundle](https://digitalgemology.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy/e5c79ed5-97ce-4c62-8dbe-3a172c6245ba?checkout%5Bdiscount_code%5D=BUNDLE25). Not sure the files open in your software? [Get the cube free](https://digitalgemology.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout/buy/2d1ab55f-2bd6-4897-a4cd-f3320f54e99e): the same six formats, for your email address, used only to send them ([privacy](https://digitalgemology.com/privacy#free-sample)). Questions before you buy? [Email us](mailto:support@digitalgemology.com). ## More gemstones and cuts [YAG: optical properties and the top ten cuts](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag) · [The Radiant Cut: specifications, model and files](https://digitalgemology.com/cuts/radiant) ### Other cuts in YAG - [T73 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/t73-round-brilliant) - [T105 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/t105-round-brilliant) - [DG-Vitruvio](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-vitruvio) - [DG-Anteros](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-anteros) - [DG-Broken Hearts and Arrows](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-broken-hearts-and-arrows) - [Baguette Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/baguette) - [Emerald Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/emerald-cut) - [Marquise Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/marquise) - [Oval Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/oval) - [Pear Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/pear) - [Rectangle Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/rectangle) - [Teardrop Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/teardrop) - [Asscher Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/asscher) - [Cushion Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/cushion) - [Emerald Square Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/emerald-square) - [Princess Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/princess) - [Radiant Square Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/radiant-square) - [Square Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/square) - [Triangle Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/triangle) - [Trilliant Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/trilliant) - [Trillion Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/trillion) - [Hexagon Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/hexagon) - [Octagon Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/octagon) - [Portuguese Bird's Nest Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/portuguese-birds-nest) - [Old Single Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/old-single) - [Mazarin Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/mazarin) - [Peruzzi Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/peruzzi) - [Old Mine Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/old-mine) - [Old European Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/old-european) - [T57 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/t57-round-brilliant) - [DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-m5) - [DG-Miliano](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-miliano) - [DG-Rafaello](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-rafaello) - [DG-Bowtie](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-bowtie) - [DG-Elongated Hexagon](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-elongated-hexagon) - [DG-Octagonal Kite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag/dg-octagonal-kite) ### The Radiant Cut in other gemstones - [Diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond/radiant) - [Moissanite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/moissanite/radiant) - [Cubic Zirconia](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/cubic-zirconia/radiant) - [Ruby](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/ruby/radiant) - [Sapphire](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire/radiant) - [Emerald](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/radiant) - [Amethyst](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst/radiant) - [Topaz](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/topaz/radiant) - [Spinel](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/radiant) - [Demantoid](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/demantoid/radiant) - [Zircon](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/zircon/radiant) - [Tourmaline](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/tourmaline/radiant) - [Peridot](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/peridot/radiant) - [Tanzanite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/tanzanite/radiant) - [Pyrope](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/pyrope/radiant) - [Almandine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/almandine/radiant) - [Spessartine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spessartine/radiant) - [Grossular](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/grossular/radiant) - [Chrysoberyl](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/chrysoberyl/radiant) - [Kunzite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/kunzite/radiant) - [Iolite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/iolite/radiant) - [Morganite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/morganite/radiant) - [GGG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/ggg/radiant) - [Strontium titanate](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/strontium-titanate/radiant) - [Synthetic rutile](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/radiant)