Shape (Cut)

• A princess cut diamond is a square shape cut. It has clean lines and a sharp look. A radiant cut diamond will typically be square, but there are also rectangular shaped radiant cuts. One of the most distinctive differences between the princess cut and that radiant cut is the "cut corners" of a radiant cut diamond. This is the best distinguishing feature for most people.
  
  

Light Reflection

• When looking at a diamond from the top, it reflects light in different ways. For a radiant cut diamond, the light reflection creates a circular pattern. A princess cut diamond will have the appearance of an "x."
  
  

Facets

• The facets of a diamond are the flat, polished surfaces that create the diamond's shape. Generally, the princess cut will have 76 facets while the radiant cut has between 62 and 70 facets.
  
  

Crown

• The crown of the diamond describes the area between the top and the widest part of the diamond. In this instance, the crown of the princess and radiant cut diamonds are quite similar. It is one of the features they have most in common. One noticeable difference in the crown is that the radiant cut tends to be higher than the princess cut.
  
  

Table

• The table of a diamond refers to the topmost cut or facet of the diamond. This is typically the largest facet on a diamond. The princess cut diamond has a bigger table than a radiant cut diamond.
  
  

Popularity

• Princess cut diamonds are becoming one of the most popular diamond cuts in the United States. They are seen more frequently than the radiant cut. Because of the way princess cut diamonds are designed, diamond cutters can typically get two princess cuts out of a rough diamond.