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Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Union

Zozye

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 10, 2013
Messages
43
Hello everyone!

Sadly I lost my E-ring last month, but luckily it was insured. Currently I live in Kodiak, Alaska so I must buy my replacement on-line (not that I really mind ;-) ) The insurance made me pick a company to work with and I picked James Allen because you can see the stones, but I just got an e-mail that James Allen won't always work with insurance replacement unless you bought the first ring from them and they asked for an alternate company in case James Allen rejects working with us. My alternate company is Union Diamond because of their large on-line inventory.

My lost E-ring was a EGL RB, F, SI1, 3EX that MH bought in person in Florida. I also have a K/L .45 pear I1/I2 ring (bought at a pawn shop to make into a necklace, I only share because I have had experience with EGL and lower color and clarity diamonds and aren't bothered by them)

I'm looking for a elongated radiant cut L/W of 1.25 or more, K color or higher, not necessarily eye clean (a visible feather, or spot off to the side is just fine but not "peppery") as large as I can get with good sparkle.(7x5mm minimum I'm aiming) It will be in a yellow gold solitaire setting and I have $5,800 total to spend. All the stones have VG or EX polish and symmetry.

These are stones I've short listed on JA
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.57-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-sku-1888306
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.51-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-sku-1857535
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-i1-clarity-sku-1089118

These I'm looking at from Union Diamond
https://www.uniondiamond.com/control/showDiamondDetails?productId=AE1185975
1.83 carat H in Color and SI2 in Clarity Very Good Cut (EGL)
https://www.uniondiamond.com/Radian...ified-K-Color-VS2-Clarity-IDEAL-Cut_AE1647620
2.01 carat K in Color and VS2 in Clarity Select Ideal™ Cut (GIA Faint Brown)
https://www.uniondiamond.com/Radian...ied-I-Color-VS2-Clarity-Premium-Cut_AE1185876
2.03 carat I in Color and VS2 in Clarity Premium Cut (EGL)

I know the EGL stats may be off, and I can get a far higher color, cut, clarity if I go smaller but I really would like a 1.5 ct and over.
Anyways I'm wanting some thoughts about the replacement stones I'm looking at. I know I'll need images of the ones from Union, But looking at the JA ones I'm fine with the inclusions. Thoughts? Opinions?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

Union Diamond is a bad choice.

Ask them if they will work with ID Jewelry. That would be my choice.
 

Zozye

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 10, 2013
Messages
43
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

Gypsy|1472106546|4069846 said:
Union Diamond is a bad choice.

Ask them if they will work with ID Jewelry. That would be my choice.


I looked at ID Jewelry and put that as my next choice. What was your experience with Union Diamond that makes you say it's a bad choice? I thought because all these Jewelers pull from the (basically) same pool of suppliers they almost all have the same stones available.


And it's official JA is a no go.
 

Rockdiamond

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
9,711
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

Zozye|1472138783|4069962 said:
Gypsy|1472106546|4069846 said:
Union Diamond is a bad choice.

Ask them if they will work with ID Jewelry. That would be my choice.


I looked at ID Jewelry and put that as my next choice. What was your experience with Union Diamond that makes you say it's a bad choice? I thought because all these Jewelers pull from the (basically) same pool of suppliers they almost all have the same stones available.


And it's official JA is a no go.
Hi Zozye
A few points.
1) you're correct that the sites you've mentioned pull ther listings from the same database - but just because the stone appears on a site does not mean that they can guarantee availability. Plus there's many other sellers that carry stones exclusively - so they're not found on other sites.
This is especially true with radiant cuts- because well cut examples are rare.

2) unfortunately although there are a lot of radiant cut lovers out there, no one here advising consumers on a regular basis is a radiant lover- which means you're not going to get a balanced and broad perspective on how to assess and other important factors.

Best of luck !!
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

Those are just sample pictures on Union Diamond. It is totally impossible to buy a radiant or any fancy shape diamond without photos.

Good Old Gold would be a good choice because they can do the light performance images, too. But I have no idea which vendors work with insurance companies when the original stone was not bought through them.
 

Zozye

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 10, 2013
Messages
43
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

I know that they are just stock photos and will be requesting real photos and video if I can...


I guess my real question was if there were things to look for in radiant cut stones to weed out a good one from a bad one.
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

Yes, there are. You want to see a well defined facet pattern. I will post examples.

Most of these are excellent modern cushions:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-search then click Platinum Select Modern Cushion.
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

Zozye|1472152058|4070022 said:
I know that they are just stock photos and will be requesting real photos and video if I can...


I guess my real question was if there were things to look for in radiant cut stones to weed out a good one from a bad one.

They are virtual stones. They have to pay money to call in stones and have them shipped to their store or office. That's why it is better to look at vendors who have in-house inventory with pictures, or a vendor like JA who is a supplier and has access to videos of stones they don't have in NY.

(Good cushion link in my previous post.)
 

Zozye

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 10, 2013
Messages
43
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

diamondseeker2006|1472153905|4070032 said:
Yes, there are. You want to see a well defined facet pattern. I will post examples.

Most of these are excellent modern cushions:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-search then click Platinum Select Modern Cushion.


Thank you for your help! Once I figure out what Jeweler I am working with and pick out a few stones and have real pics I'll post and get help from PS.


Does this happen?:::::
I've read before that these "drop ship" Jewelers can contact the location of the diamond (like over seas or where ever the diamond is physically located) and the location will take pics of the stone and send them to the jeweler I'm working with to send them to me without really shipping the stone for inspection.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help looking at elonged Radiant James Allen (or maybe Un

You need an ASET image.

Most dropped shipped stones do not come with them.

What you need is a vendor that can call stones for you and take one.

That's why I recommended IDJ and DS recommended GOG.

You can also work with David. He does a good job with radiants.


You need a vendor that is not a drop shipper, with the exception of JA and a few other similar vendors drop shipped stones do not come with images and ASETs.
 
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