Cut Quality of Radiants

[jkruer01]

What is the best way to determine the quality of the cut of a Radiant shape diamond looking online?

When I was in the market for a round diamond it was easy because I just searched for Hearts & Arrows. However, now that I am in the market for a Radiant it is not as easy. How can I make sure I get a good quality cut?

The only thing I have found so far is that on BlueNile.com you can search by the quality of the cut (Fair, Good, Very Good). However, I haven''t found anything like this on other diamond websites.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Jeremy

 

[kcoursolle]

Finding well cut radiants is a tough task and going by the "ideal" standards on bn isn''t really going to help much since those labels really don''t mean much for radiants. To start I would try looking within these depth/table parameters: 60-68% depth and 60-65% table. VG or better polish/symmetry are nice, but not as important. After finding radiants within those standards, you need good pictures and even better ideal scope or asset images to further narrow down your choices.

 

[kcoursolle]

By the way, maybe we can help you find one. What size/budget are you looking for?

 

[jkruer01]

Hi! Thanks for the reply. I don''t understand why the BN Cut Quality doesn''t matter. If you go to http://www.bluenile.com/diamond_search.asp and then choose Radiant and the Price Range you want, it brings up a search screen where you can choose Carat, Cut, Clarity, Color, etc. Under the Cut you can choose "Fair, Good, or Very Good" for Radiants. If you choose Round then "Ideal", and "Signature Ideal" are additional options for Rounds but they aren''t available for Radiants. So are you saying that a Radiant with a "Very Good" rating by BN wouldn''t necessarily be better than one with a "Good" or "Fair" cut rating by BN? I''m just trying to figure all this stuff out. I researched all this stuff 5 years ago or so when I was buying a round diamond but a lot has changed since then.

I am at least a year away from doing anything but I am trying to get my ducks in a row. I am looking for a 2ct, G or better, VS1 or better, Radiant with the best cut quality available. My budget is between $15,000 and $20,000. Any help is appreciated. It will be set in a white gold setting with sapphire side stones. Oh! And I also want it as close to square as possible.

Thanks!
Jeremy

 

[JulieN]

cut quality of radiants is not well defined by the powers that be.

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 6/22/2008 7:50:18 PM
Author: jkruer01
Hi! Thanks for the reply. I don't understand why the BN Cut Quality doesn't matter. If you go to http://www.bluenile.com/diamond_search.asp and then choose Radiant and the Price Range you want, it brings up a search screen where you can choose Carat, Cut, Clarity, Color, etc. Under the Cut you can choose 'Fair, Good, or Very Good' for Radiants. If you choose Round then 'Ideal', and 'Signature Ideal' are additional options for Rounds but they aren't available for Radiants. So are you saying that a Radiant with a 'Very Good' rating by BN wouldn't necessarily be better than one with a 'Good' or 'Fair' cut rating by BN? I'm just trying to figure all this stuff out. I researched all this stuff 5 years ago or so when I was buying a round diamond but a lot has changed since then.

I am at least a year away from doing anything but I am trying to get my ducks in a row. I am looking for a 2ct, G or better, VS1 or better, Radiant with the best cut quality available. My budget is between $15,000 and $20,000. Any help is appreciated. It will be set in a white gold setting with sapphire side stones. Oh! And I also want it as close to square as possible.

Thanks!
Jeremy

Basically BN doesn't have a reputable grading system. While it may mean *something*, it doesn't mean as much as an "AGS 0" (for round cuts) for example. Jamesallen.com, Whiteflash.com, and goodoldgold.com are better places to buy radiants than bn because they will provide you with images and more information about the stone than BN. Radiants are stones that you really need images or to be seen with real eyes to purchase. You might want to contact them with what you are looking for and see what they can dig up for you.

 

[kcoursolle]

While agree with you in staying in the high color range (radiants show more warmth than other stones), I think you should consider down to an SI1 since many are eye clean. Why pay more for what you can''t see anyways? Your budget is fine, but in general it is hard to find well cut radiants. I think you''d be best off contacting WF or GOG and asking them to find you a stone than trying to find it yourself.

However, here are a couple of stones that look pretty to me at least. It''s best to also have an ideal scope image as well for the stones in order to assess light leakage (you can ask the vendor for it):

2.19 D/SI1 $17,470 (slightly non-square): http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1132060.asp
2.09 E/SI1 $15,950 (almost square): http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1132061.asp

Since you have a year or more, you have the time to pick out a great stone. By the way, I love your setting idea! It sounds lovely!

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Jeremy!

It is best to stick to in house stones, where the vendors can supply detailed photographs of the diamond and an ASET image where possible. You can't judge a radiant by the numbers, they need to be seen, so the above is the best approach.

Here is ASET info - https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-we-prefer-aset-to-ideal-scope-with-fancy-shapes.73949/

Also you can't judge a diamond by vendor applied labels such as Idea Cut, Premium Cut etc, these don't mean you are getting a well cut diamond. Unfortunately there is no set formula with fancy cuts and radiants are no exception, that if you pick one with XXX depth, XXX table, XXX crown height etc, that you will end up with a superbly cut stone, so use any numbers as a guide only and use your eyes above all.