Help Choosing Radiant (1.5-2 carats)

[Sherie123]

Hello! I'm looking for some advice on a radiant stone for my engagement ring. I've included a few that caught my eye below (with videos), but the extent of my knowledge is limited to what I've picked up from lurking these boards for the past few weeks, so any thoughts or advice would be extremely appreciated! We are looking for a more elongated look, 1.5-2 carats, max budget $15,000. I am more than willing to go down in clarity (as long as its eye clean) these examples just happen to be higher in clarity and meet my other desired specs and budget... (so I feel like there must be a catch). Please let me know what you think & thank you!!

https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.90-ct-E-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Radiant-Diamond/D43182968

https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.80-ct-D-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Radiant-Diamond/D43165363

https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.80-ct-G-IF-Excellent-Cut-Radiant-Diamond/D43136070

ASET's for the last two are below. They were not able to provide an ASET for the first. Thanks again!!

 

[lovedogs]

Bumping bc I hope experts can chime in. I am horrible at choosing radiant cut stones

 

[Sherie123]

Bumping bc I hope experts can chime in. I am horrible at choosing radiant cut stones

Thank you!!

 

[OoohShiny]

Bumping bc I hope experts can chime in. I am horrible at choosing radiant cut stones

+1 to this lol

FWIW, and personally speaking...

I'm not keen on #1 - you see how when it rotates to 45 degrees all the 'small' facets disappear on the far side of the stone and only a few large facets are left? I think it might be really 'windowing', where it goes see-through rather than reflecting light back to the viewer, so it's a No from me on that basis.

#2 is pretty good in terms of attractiveness (to my eyes) and when it's rotated, the 'virtual facets' that create the smaller sparkles within the stone (i.e. the ones that disappear in the first) are still there, so it should perform at most angles. It does go slightly dark at extreme angles in the video, but I think that's just obstruction (i.e. the darkness of the camera lens being reflected back to the camera) which I don't think will be an issue in real life and at normal viewing distances. This stone does have Medium Blue fluorescence - it's not good or bad, it is what it is, but the market tends to penalise (unfairly and for no real reason) fluor in colourless stones, so you need to be aware of that and how it may impact price if/when you sell it on - but then you will also have paid less when you bought it, so swings and roundabouts.... lol

#3 is pretty similar to #2, as the ASETscope images attest, and it performs similarly well at all angles. It does have a very low table, though, going from the side view - I think this may reduce dispersion / coloured fire and also give it a bit of 'table glare' when the light reflects off the table and into your eyes, hiding the faceting within the stone, but that sort of look is not completely unattractive IMO. (I can't get the page for #2 to work again now but do check out table height on that video as well.)


You will be paying a premium for D and VVS/IF grades, though, but those of us afflicted with colour- and clarity-sensitivity feel your pain on that front

All of them have that classic central band that can be at risk of bow-tie when cut badly, but they seem to be working properly in that regard.

They are also all mostly 'crushed ice' faceting apart from that central band, which is also a classic look. It will mean smaller sparkles than chunkier faceting, but chunky radiants are very hard to find (even harder than good performers in the classic cutting style!).


This one is more of an antique/chunky feel - if you like this sort of thing you should check out Yoram's offerings on his www.gemconcepts.net website:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.70-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-5969941
As you can see, if offers a more balanced look across the stone in terms of contrast patterning and brightness, although this particular one is not wonderful in terms of brightness under the table.

This is a completely different look - it's like a princess cut pavilion with a radiant(?) cut crown!
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.51-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3588571
I've not seen this before, it's interesting to see a different flavour of cut

This shows a chunkier-faceting sort of style but still along the same sort of lines as the classic cut style:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.70-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-4791433


I'm not sure any of that helps??

It's also my non-expert opinion, so I would wait for some more experienced members to contribute!


What do you feel about them so far?

 

[Sherie123]

+1 to this lol

FWIW, and personally speaking...

I'm not keen on #1 - you see how when it rotates to 45 degrees all the 'small' facets disappear on the far side of the stone and only a few large facets are left? I think it might be really 'windowing', where it goes see-through rather than reflecting light back to the viewer, so it's a No from me on that basis.

#2 is pretty good in terms of attractiveness (to my eyes) and when it's rotated, the 'virtual facets' that create the smaller sparkles within the stone (i.e. the ones that disappear in the first) are still there, so it should perform at most angles. It does go slightly dark at extreme angles in the video, but I think that's just obstruction (i.e. the darkness of the camera lens being reflected back to the camera) which I don't think will be an issue in real life and at normal viewing distances. This stone does have Medium Blue fluorescence - it's not good or bad, it is what it is, but the market tends to penalise (unfairly and for no real reason) fluor in colourless stones, so you need to be aware of that and how it may impact price if/when you sell it on - but then you will also have paid less when you bought it, so swings and roundabouts.... lol

#3 is pretty similar to #2, as the ASETscope images attest, and it performs similarly well at all angles. It does have a very low table, though, going from the side view - I think this may reduce dispersion / coloured fire and also give it a bit of 'table glare' when the light reflects off the table and into your eyes, hiding the faceting within the stone, but that sort of look is not completely unattractive IMO. (I can't get the page for #2 to work again now but do check out table height on that video as well.)


You will be paying a premium for D and VVS/IF grades, though, but those of us afflicted with colour- and clarity-sensitivity feel your pain on that front

All of them have that classic central band that can be at risk of bow-tie when cut badly, but they seem to be working properly in that regard.

They are also all mostly 'crushed ice' faceting apart from that central band, which is also a classic look. It will mean smaller sparkles than chunkier faceting, but chunky radiants are very hard to find (even harder than good performers in the classic cutting style!).


This one is more of an antique/chunky feel - if you like this sort of thing you should check out Yoram's offerings on his www.gemconcepts.net website:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.70-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-5969941
As you can see, if offers a more balanced look across the stone in terms of contrast patterning and brightness, although this particular one is not wonderful in terms of brightness under the table.

This is a completely different look - it's like a princess cut pavilion with a radiant(?) cut crown!
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.51-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3588571
I've not seen this before, it's interesting to see a different flavour of cut

This shows a chunkier-faceting sort of style but still along the same sort of lines as the classic cut style:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.70-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-4791433


I'm not sure any of that helps??

It's also my non-expert opinion, so I would wait for some more experienced members to contribute!


What do you feel about them so far?

Thank you so much for your response! Now that you say it, the windowing on the first one is so obvious - goes to show I have a lot to learn. I really love the look of the the last two you suggested. I was filtering out anything with ‘good’ symmetry (being the amateur that I am) so I missed all of those in my search. I do really like a slightly more rectangular look though, so I’m wondering what your thoughts are on this: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.74-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-5932493

I wish I had had a little more patience, but I already ordered 3 James Allen diamonds to view in their showroom (3 is the max). I’ll link all 3 below and would really appreciate your thoughts. The first one (F SI1) was probably a bad choice given the inclusion but I was encouraged by the rep it would be “eye clean” ... I’m thinking maybe ask them to swap out the SI1 for the 1.74 F VS2 above? They also all have the same “crushed ice” appearance apart from the center facets... I would have to see in person to really know if it bothers me, but online the distinct faceting is much more appealing.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/2.02-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-6212235

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.70-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-7140092

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/2.02-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-6212235

Thank you so much for your feedback. Any direction at all is so helpful!

 

[tyty333]

Of your original 3, I prefer the second (D) based on video and aset image.

 

[tyty333]

On this last set of 3 from JA that you listed (2 are the same- the one with the inclusion in the middle).
I say no to the F/VS2. Too much mushy facets not returning light well.

I think the one with the inclusion in the middle is returning light fairly well but you have to be able to deal with those inclusions. Is it eye-clean

 

[OoohShiny]

I like the 'chequerboard' effect of the contrast patterning on the last one (which is also the second link, lol, as tyty spotted!) but it does seem to window at some tilt/rotation angles and that inclusion in the middle of the table could be a deal breaker. Karl K has previously said that it might just be (a lack of) lighting making stones on JA look like they window, so I'd be interested to hear your views when you've had a look

I'm not sure about the second from last - I think it could be a bit 'mushy' under the table head on, and it does seem to window quite badly when rotated.

The 1.74 F VS2 is one of those unusual princess-cut pavilions! If you like the look then it could be worth getting it into the shop, as they are quite different from classic radiants. The crown is low so it would major on white light return instead of any coloured fire, but it could be visually interesting. If you do see it, you will have to check if it's bright enough head-on

 

[lovedogs]

Like I said, I am not a radiant expert. However, I don't really like the first link (1.90) you posted bc it looks mushy to me in the video. I like the 2nd and 3rd Adiamor choices, and honestly don't see much of a difference between them in videos.

I like the JA 2.02 but I would want to know that it's eye clean. The 1.74 from JA is also interesting, but I don't personally like the pavilion. I feel like it gives a strange look to the stone in the middle.

 

[Sherie123]

Thank you so much for all the feedback! The link I meant to post (instead of the same diamond twice) was: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.75-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-sku-7244818 Seems like it might have similar mushiness to the 1.7 F VS2 though..? I'm also going to see if they will bring me a 4th JA option, and if not, maybe switch out the 1.7 F VS2 (2nd JA option).

I haven't crossed off the last 2 adiamor ones just yet, but it makes me a little nervous that I won't be able to see them in person before purchasing, given how bad I am at judging by videos. It seems like the consensus is those two are superior to the JA 1.7 F VS2, and maybe also superior to the JA 2.02 F SI1 depending on the visibility of the inclusion.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Sherie123]

On this last set of 3 from JA that you listed (2 are the same- the one with the inclusion in the middle).
I say no to the F/VS2. Too much mushy facets not returning light well.

I think the one with the inclusion in the middle is returning light fairly well but you have to be able to deal with those inclusions. Is it eye-clean

According to JA it is eye-clean, but I guess I won't know for sure until I see it in person.

 

[lovedogs]

I don't like the 1.75 JA bc it looks very mushy to me compared to some of the other choices.

 

[Sherie123]

I don't like the 1.75 JA bc it looks very mushy to me compared to some of the other choices.

Disappointing, but exciting that I was able to spot it! Finally starting to get an idea of what to look for.