How Do I Choose a Nice Radiant?

[noobie]

Hello,

I have very little experience with Radiant diamonds, other than viewing them here and would appreciate some assistance.Any comments on the two I have listed here?Both are GIA certs

.70 Carat.62 carat

VS1 GVS2F

5.91 x 4.63 x 3.105.23 x 4.69 x 3.09

67% depth65.9% depth

64% table (67.5% sarin)64% table (67% sarin)

thickmed to thick

ex/goodgood/vgood

11.1% crown 38.4’10.8% crown 30.7’

50.8% pavil 58.3’52.4 % pavil

culet 0%culet 0.5%

I noted that the sarins for both stones listed larger tables than the GIA certs did.Is this common?Is it true that radiant’s have to be viewed in person and are difficult to buy on-line?Any other comments or recommendations on places to look for radiants are most welcome.It seems to be much more difficult than finding a nice round.

Thanks

P.S.I’m so lost when it comes to shaped stones that any vendor help is welcome and I won’t construe it as self promotion

… thanks

 

[limey]

I posted a long winded summary of my diamond search. I found radiants the most frustrating. Of the radiants I saw the ones that looked best to the eye and the Ideal-Scope had numbers that fit into the AGA cut charts, specifically crown heights above 12% and depth and table between 60-65% - but those stones were all cut too rectangular. The other stones did not have the presence.

I ended up saying screw it and purchased a square Jubilee to get myself an ideal cut square with great light return.

 

[moremoremore]

ohhhh Nicrez....

 

[noobie]

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On 5/6/2004 11:01:55 PM limey wrote:





I ended up saying screw it and purchased a square Jubilee to get myself an ideal cut square with great light return.
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Yeah, I know what you mean. However as I patiently wait for the next batch of Jubilees to arrive, I'm looking for alternatives should there not be one that fits my needs. As much as I like the look of the Jubilee, the pickings are very slim.

 

[verticalhorizon]

Too true... the next immediate batch of Jubilees are all on the larger side... over 1.5cts. You can see a 1.7+ on the site now.


And there's a new .76ct on the site!

 

[Nicrez]

Yes Limey, Radiants are probably the most frustrating of the searches. Also a square well cut radiant is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but I hope it's possible!!! (I have a pendant coming my way soon enough)

I have to say that I am leaning toward the .70ct, because the table to depth is in a better proportion, it has a higher crown height, which will do nicely, and seems to have a smaller culet (even if by so little). What makes me nervous are the Sarin numbers.

Fully aware that Sarins are best on round stones, squarish stones are always a bit off, but still curious why such a difference in the tables from GIA to Sarin? Anyone who uses a Sarin, can you help explain why this happens?

I can only assume so far that it could be because perhaps it is measured during rotation or as an average of where the stone is RECTANGULAR, and not round, as most tables are easier when similar lengths and widths are there? Any explanations?

So, I am leaning towards the first stone, even with it's thicker gridle, because it could be adding weight, but still is a safer bet than a THIN girdle due to chipping. I also prefer the crown and pav angles a bit more as the pav angle is a bit tighter and crown is wider to allow for the higher crown.

To conclusively state, if you can view these stones under a BrilliantScope for light leakage, that may also help you determine which could perform better...But they eyes always DO have it!

Good luck Newbie and I KNOW you'll find a great stone!!!

 

[noobie]

Thanks, Nicrez




I'll see if the vendor can tell me their opinion of performance or get some more information.




Are there any vendors that specialize in radiant? I think I recall reading here that NiceIce sources many fancy stones that don't appear on the inventory. Any other radiant specialists or vendors that people have had good purchase experiences with?

 

[Nicrez]

I remember readind Nice Ice does have access to many shaped stones, so try them as well! Although they referred to princess stones in that post, they could probably find some radiants in their coffers...

Also, I found some radiants at DCD, GOG was helpful in locating a few, Diamonds By Lauren also have fancy colored and colorless radiants, and USACerted, BuyDiamondsDirect, AffinityDiamonds, Blue Nile, Whiteflash, Abazias, SuperbCert, DiamondPerfection, Shenoa (which isn't very popular here), but those are the main ones, at least on-line.

I eventually went to The Radiant Cut (RCDC), but I noticed some nice one CAN be found generically, depending on their cutting source and their attention to quality. Even some small jewelers carry them, but the search is killer...I suggest a spreadsheet with each place you find them, and all the details to keep it all straight!

Good luck Noobie, let us know what you decide...