2.00 Carat Radiant - HELP PLEASE!

[ant27fee]

So I am a young (and broke) attorney in NYC and have been monitoring this site for a while. As this is the most helpful site I''ve come across - I''m asking for HELP! I am looking to take the big step, and have enlisted a friend of a friend of a friend (the man who supposedly supplies the NYC diamond district with its diamonds - yeah right) who has shown me 2 sets of 5 diamonds.

After much hemming and hawing, I chose a 2.00 GIA rated Radiant (Cut-Cornered Rectangular Modified Brilliant) stone with the following specs:

Measurements: 7.89 x 6.63 x 4.49 mm
Weight: 2.00 carat

Depth: 67.7%
Table: 63%
Girdle: Extremely Thin to Medium

Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good

Clarity Grade: SI2
Color Grade: H

As I am very wet behind the ears with this whole process, I was wondering what y''all thought about the above-described stone? My stone budget is $9-$11k, and I''m hoping to get the stone plus setting for $12k total. I liked the rectangular cut of this particular radiant as opposed to the more square type of cut.

My gentleman quoted me $9900 for this one, and that seems to be a good deal based upon general comparisons but I guess you never know. The SI2 rating is a bit deceptive because there is only one inclusion (a "feather" line) all the way at the bottom of the stone and also an extra facet near that inclusion. To the naked eye, it is clean and I''m sure it would be the same in a setting.

So all that being said, anyone have any thoughts? input? I''m under a bit of a time-crunch because I am going overseas on holiday in a week and a half, but if this stone isnt the one I''m going to have to rethink my plans.

ALSO - anybody have any ideas of what the optimal setting would be for this type of stone? I want to stay away from a halo type setting because my lovely lady is petit and wouldnt appreciate anything toooo big on her finger. I was thinking of a simple platinum setting with 2 20-point round baguettes on either side. Is that too much?

Please help my lost soul! Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[JulieN]

where is the girdle ex thin? have you discussed your seller if it poses a durability problem?

 

[Nicrez]

Date: 7/20/2007 12:31:13 AM
Author:ant27fee
So I am a young (and broke) attorney in NYC and have been monitoring this site for a while. As this is the most helpful site I''ve come across - I''m asking for HELP! I am looking to take the big step, and have enlisted a friend of a friend of a friend (the man who supposedly supplies the NYC diamond district with its diamonds - yeah right) who has shown me 2 sets of 5 diamonds.

After much hemming and hawing (whose, yours or your fiancee''s?), I chose a 2.00 GIA rated Radiant (Cut-Cornered Rectangular Modified Brilliant) stone with the following specs: (Does she like this stone? It''s not a typical choice, so some women may prefer a classic stone or look, KNOW THY FIANCEE...)

Measurements: 7.89 x 6.63 x 4.49 mm
Weight: 2.00 carat (this will carry a premium in retail for being 2.0ct ON THE DOT. Actually in the trade a 2.0 versus a 2.02 or so will be discounted as if anything happens with time and use, the stone can not be polished out and maintained a 2.0ct, plus they are known to be a bit less well cut just to achieve the "magic number" of 2.0ct.)

Depth: 67.7%
Table: 63%
Girdle: Extremely Thin to Medium

Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good

Clarity Grade: SI2
Color Grade: H

As I am very wet behind the ears with this whole process, I was wondering what y''all thought about the above-described stone? My stone budget is $9-$11k, and I''m hoping to get the stone plus setting for $12k total. I liked the rectangular cut of this particular radiant as opposed to the more square type of cut.

My gentleman quoted me $9900 for this one, and that seems to be a good deal based upon general comparisons but I guess you never know. The SI2 rating is a bit deceptive because there is only one inclusion (a ''feather'' line) all the way at the bottom of the stone and also an extra facet near that inclusion. To the naked eye, it is clean and I''m sure it would be the same in a setting. (This makes me nervous. An SI2 feather with nothing else means that feather must be pretty big. Likely not awful, but at SI2...it could always be a durability issue. Personally, I prefer SI2 clounds or crystals...)

So all that being said, anyone have any thoughts? input? I''m under a bit of a time-crunch because I am going overseas on holiday in a week and a half, but if this stone isnt the one I''m going to have to rethink my plans.

ALSO - anybody have any ideas of what the optimal setting would be for this type of stone? I want to stay away from a halo type setting because my lovely lady is petit and wouldnt appreciate anything toooo big on her finger. I was thinking of a simple platinum setting with 2 20-point round baguettes on either side. Is that too much? (Then why get a 2ct H SI2? I would personally get a better color in radiants if she indeed would appreciate a radiant, and go up in clarity to at least an SI1 or VS2. Many people here would vouch for an SI2, but only after looking at in in person, and having an appraiser or trusted professional see it. Lay people who are "wet behind the ears" should really be careful of the 47th street area in general, and of SI2s...)

Please help my lost soul! Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Pandora II]

I would be nervous about the extremely thin girdle and with that inclusion I would want a seperate appraisal from an independent expert.

I''m also wary of friends of friends with great bargains...

 

[ant27fee]

Great input ... thanks so much everyone.

I think I am going to take away my self-imposed deadline and renew my search this week.

I was the one who settled on the diamond. She doesnt know that its coming - but I do know that she doesn''t want a round cut and just yesterday she hinted that she would like something more square. But seeing the rectangular shaped radiant and knowing her tastes, I think that seh . Ive been able to get that info through convos together with recently engaged friends. I think that based on her friends, co-workers, etc., I would like to be near the 2.00 carat mark but I''m certain that she would be fine with something a little bit smaller. I personally would rather see something with a little more quality.

Any thoughts on a setting?

If a radiant isnt a very popular cut what is?

 

[shminbabe]

Color me newbie too so feel free to ignore me; not kidding.

I think this group''s experts will want to see some pictures of said ring! There is a wealth of information here and if you provide all the info you can you will get some worthwhile feedback. What''s been said already, I agree with.

2 cts is a huge purchase (well, any size is) and I myself am currently searching for a good 2 ct emerald cut. I think.

I keep coming back to that although when speaking to an online vendor yesterday he commented about considering a radiant cut. When I started culling through the old threads on radiants here I could see how confusing it could be to find a really great stone!

Also, for you guys who have "surprised" your loves with stones, I just wonder, do they wish they''d had a hand in picking it out? For me, (a girl), I really wouldn''t want to be surprised with my engagement ring stone. You can propose without the diamond, and then go shopping together...? If you are just getting started researching and participating here, I would seriously hold off on buying that diamond, not b/c I think it''s not good, just because you have soooo many options in the online community here - many vendors, good community support and feedback; you may wish you''d looked around a bit more rather than complying with your self-imposed deadline. Don''t hurry.

Will this jeweler take stone back if it''s not what she wanted? Maybe she prefers a Princess cut, and Emerald cut, or indeed, the lovely Radiant cut you envision. When I started to look for this particular diamond I was into rounds and ovals. Then I stumbled across and Emerald cut and got smitten...I''m still vacillating b/c I know an EC doesn''t appear as large as the same carat wt. round brilliant or other stones; nor will it necessarily sparkle as much etc. But the right emerald cut can be really captivating...

I''m rambling. What I mean to say is that maybe you should look around some more or be sure she''d be happy being surprised with a Radiant cut stone. Or, that your jeweler has a solid return policy should she desire something else.

I think it''s really sweet of you to want to surprise her this way and two carats: wow.

Take your time.

Let us know what you decide!

jeannie

 

[shminbabe]

oh, p.s.!

People and jewelers have advised me to avoid girdles that are ''extremely'' thin b/c of the possiblity of chipping. Someone commented to me here, "it''s not a matter of if it will chip, it''s when." The independent jeweler who was trying to sell me this particular stone (maybe independent like your jeweler) scoffed at the notion that it could chip, but I''ve been advised against an ex. thin girdle.

FWIW.

jeannie