What Is a Hybrid Radiant Diamond?

In this guide

    By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio, Toronto · Updated September 28, 2026

    Short answer: A hybrid radiant is a radiant faceted as a mix of crushed ice and brilliant cut. The crushed ice look in the centre means you do not see a bowtie, and the brilliant facets give it a lot of sparkle. If you are getting a radiant, it is the version we recommend.

    If you are getting a radiant diamond, look at a hybrid radiant first. Here are two we set.

    A 4.51 and a 3.63 carat hybrid radiant. Watch on Instagram
    Read the video transcript

    If you're getting a radiant diamond, I highly recommend getting a hybrid radiant. A radiant is basically a mixture between a crushed ice and a brilliant cut diamond. For two examples, the top ring is a 4.51 F colour, VS1 and the bottom ring is a 3.63 D colour, VS1. You really can't see any bowtie in the stone because it has that crushed ice look in the centre. The sparkle you get back from this diamond is absolutely unmatched.

    What makes it a hybrid?

    The faceting. A regular radiant has one pattern. A hybrid radiant mixes a crushed ice pattern with brilliant cut facets. You get the busy, glittering centre of crushed ice and the bigger flashes of a brilliant.

    Does a hybrid radiant have a bowtie?

    You really cannot see one. A bowtie is the dark band that can show across the middle of elongated brilliant stones. The crushed ice centre of a hybrid radiant breaks it up, so the stone stays bright end to end.

    The two stones in the video

    • Top ring: 4.51 carat hybrid radiant, F colour, VS1 clarity.
    • Bottom ring: 3.63 carat hybrid radiant, D colour, VS1 clarity.

    Both are well within the range where you cannot see anything with the naked eye. Colour and clarity past that point is where people overspend.

    How do you set a hybrid radiant?

    The same as any radiant. Four claw prongs on the corners protect them. It works in a tulip basket, a hidden halo or a cathedral.

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    Questions we get about this

    Is a hybrid radiant a real diamond?

    Yes. Hybrid describes the faceting, not the material. It is graded like any other diamond.

    Hybrid radiant or regular radiant?

    If you want to avoid a bowtie and get the most sparkle, the hybrid. It is the one we recommend.

    Does a hybrid radiant hide colour?

    Crushed ice faceting is forgiving with colour, so near colourless stones look whiter than they would in a step cut.

    How much does a hybrid radiant engagement ring cost?

    A fully custom ring from us starts at about $4,000 USD, and most of the rings we build land between $4,000 and $5,000. Our Ready To Order settings start at $1,299 CAD, plus the diamond. The centre stone moves the price most: in September 2026 a 2 carat lab grown diamond ran about $2,500 CAD and a 3 carat about $2,700 CAD. Real numbers are in our cost guide.

    What is the difference between a crushed ice and a brilliant radiant?

    Crushed ice has many small facets that glitter like broken ice. Brilliant faceting gives larger, defined flashes. A hybrid radiant mixes the two.

    Are hybrid radiants lab grown?

    Hybrid describes the faceting, so a hybrid radiant can be lab grown or natural. We tell you plainly which a stone is and what its certificate says.

    Keep reading

    Written by Clint Casmiro, co-founder of Smiro Studio in Toronto with Karina. We are a second generation, family run jeweller with over 40 years in the trade, and we have built over a thousand tulip basket rings. Every ring is designed in CAD and you approve 3D renderings before production. We ship free and insured across Canada and the US.

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