Moissanite 101 ยท Shape vs Shape
Moissanite Princess vs Radiant Cut: The Corners Decide It
Two square brilliants. One has sharp corners, the other cropped ones โ and that detail shapes durability, setting and look.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat ยท Updated 26 September 2026
Short answer
A princess cut has four sharp corners; a radiant has the same square-ish outline with the corners cropped. That makes the radiant the more forgiving stone for everyday wear and gives it slightly more sparkle in moissanite. Choose princess for a crisp, pointed modern square โ with a V- or L-prong over every corner.
Princess and radiant are both brilliant-cut squares (radiants also come rectangular). From a distance they can look similar. Up close, the corners give them away: a princess meets at four sharp points, while a radiant has a small flat facet cut across each corner. That small change affects more than looks. It decides how exposed the stone is, which prongs it needs, and how it sparkles.
For all ten moissanite shapes compared, see our moissanite shape comparison.
Princess vs radiant moissanite at a glance
| Princess | Radiant | |
|---|---|---|
| Corners | Four sharp points | Four cropped corners |
| Face-up at 1 ct DEW | about 5.5 ร 5.5 mm | about 5.5โ5.8 mm square, or 6.5 ร 5.0 mm elongated |
| Fire | High | High, slightly more |
| Chip risk | At the four points | Much lower |
| Prongs | V- or L-prong on every corner | A prong on every cropped corner |
| Shapes available | Square | Square or rectangle |
| Style | Sharp, modern | Bold, softened geometry |
DEW = diamond equivalent weight. See the moissanite size chart.
Durability: why the corners matter
Moissanite is Mohs 9.25 and, unlike diamond, has no cleavage planes โ a tough stone. But every stone, whatever its hardness, is most vulnerable at a sharp point or thin edge, because that is where a knock concentrates its force. A princess has four of those points. A radiant has cropped them off, leaving four small flat facets that are far less exposed.
That does not make a princess fragile; it makes it a stone that must be set correctly. Each corner needs a prong that covers the point โ a V-prong or L-shaped prong cupping the tip โ or a bezel around the whole stone. A radiant still needs a prong on each corner, but it is more tolerant of an ordinary claw.
From the workshop: the radiant is the princess for busy hands.
When someone tells us they love the look of a princess but work with their hands, garden, climb or lift, we usually suggest a square radiant. It gives almost the same square silhouette, a touch more sparkle, and no sharp points to guard. A princess is a beautiful choice for someone who wants that crisp, pointed geometry and is happy to have its V-prongs checked every couple of years.
One setting to avoid on either shape: prongs placed on the flat sides with the corners left bare. On a princess especially, that is the one build we would always change before it is made. More in V-prongs: the part that is meant to wear out.
Sparkle and size
Both are brilliant cuts, and with moissanite's dispersion of 0.104 (against diamond's 0.044) both show plenty of colourful fire. The radiant's extra corner facets help it return a little more light, so it sits one step above the princess in the fire ranking. Neither reaches the round's level of rainbow, which some buyers prefer.
At the same weight, square versions of both face up at similar sizes, around 5.5 mm at 1 ct DEW. The radiant has an extra option: an elongated rectangle around 6.5 ร 5.0 mm, which looks larger along the finger. Princess cuts come square only.
How to decide
- Want crisp, pointed corners? Princess.
- Want the more forgiving stone for daily wear? Radiant.
- Want a little more sparkle? Radiant.
- Want a rectangle, not a square? Radiant.
- Choosing princess? V- or L-prongs on every corner, or a bezel.
- Either way: ask for a straight-down video to check the corners are even.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between princess and radiant cut moissanite?
Both are brilliant-cut squares. A princess has four sharp corners; a radiant has its corners cropped off. Radiants also come as rectangles, while princess cuts are square.
Is a radiant more durable than a princess cut?
In practice, yes. The stone is equally hard, but a princess's sharp corners are its weak points, while a radiant's cropped corners are far less exposed. A princess is still durable when every corner is covered by a V- or L-prong.
Which sparkles more, princess or radiant moissanite?
The radiant, slightly. Its extra corner facets return a little more light, placing it one step above the princess in moissanite's fire ranking. Both sparkle strongly.
What prongs does a princess cut moissanite need?
V-shaped or L-shaped prongs that cup each of the four corners, or a bezel around the stone. Avoid settings that hold a princess by its flat sides and leave the corners bare.
Does a princess or radiant moissanite look bigger?
Square versions look similar, around 5.5 mm at 1 ct diamond equivalent weight. An elongated radiant, around 6.5 ร 5.0 mm, looks larger along the finger.
Sharp corners or cropped?
Every ring is made to order in our Surat workshop, with every corner protected by design.
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