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I''m looking for advice

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brigade

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 9, 2008
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I''m buying an engagement ring next month and have been trying to do a little research, but I''m not going to become an expert after a couple weeks of web searching. So, I''m hoping I can get some good input here.

My girlfriend wants a princess cut ring. I found what I thought was a nice radiant cut diamond. To the untrained eye both cuts looked about the same except for the corners.

I''m hoping someone can give me some good input on the real difference between the radiant and princess cut. Which will sparkle more? Which is going to look more pronounced when set in a ring?

The one I found is at Jared''s and is:

Radiant cut
0.75 carat
SI1 clarity
Polish - good
symmetry - good
dimensions - 5.23 x 5.12 x 3.47

price of the diamond $2600


Is this about the right price for the criteria? Could I find a better quality diamond for the same price at a different store? My max for a diamond is $3000, what is a reasonable expectation for a radiant or princess cut? Any input would be awesome.

Thanks

Matt
 
Welcome!

To make this really easy, just look for AGS0 (ideal) princess cuts at WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold. Both of those vendors also carry some cut cornered square stones that are not radiants. I''ll check and see if I see any.
 
If she wants a princess, why not get her a princess?

Many on pricescope recommend AGS0 cut princesses. Makes it easier to weed through the princesses and get a good sparkly one.

This one from GOG is in your price range.
 
Date: 5/9/2008 10:58:17 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Welcome!

To make this really easy, just look for AGS0 (ideal) princess cuts at WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold. Both of those vendors also carry some cut cornered square stones that are not radiants. I''ll check and see if I see any.
Click to expand...
Ditto, even though to you they look alike, they are different. hehe WF and GOG have a great selection of princess.

We can help you look if you like. Cara posted a nice one!
 
I was looking at the radiant because after comparing their stock of princess cuts the one radiant I was shown looked better.

As far as buying online I''m very skeptical. Call me old fashioned but I like to see before I buy.

Thank you both for the responses, but I''m really just looking for answers to the questions I had.
 
If she wants a princess cut, I''d get her one. Radiants are a different look. www.whiteflash.com and www.goodolgold.com search for AGS0 princess cuts. Not a fan of Jareds, but that''s just me. Good luck.
 
Ah, but you can see before you buy! At least you can see the pictures and simulations taken under controlled conditions, as opposed to viewing under the sparkly lights at Jared's.

But if you want to buy at a B&M, have them bring in an AGS0 princess for you in your price range. Compare it to your radiant and to a regular princess in a variety of lighting conditions.

You can get ripped off online and you can get ripped of in a B&M store. Both Good Old Gold and Whiteflash do have actual storefronts in Long Island and in Houston, if you are worried about them existing only in the ether of the web. And they have generous return policies in case you don't like it when you see it. I *wish* I could have convinced my husband to by a superideal diamond online (and the setting local), but I wasn't successful. Stick around here and maybe your confidence in certain online vendors will improve and your future wife will benefit.
 
Date: 5/9/2008 11:05:52 PM
Author: brigade
I was looking at the radiant because after comparing their stock of princess cuts the one radiant I was shown looked better.

As far as buying online I'm very skeptical. Call me old fashioned but I like to see before I buy.

Thank you both for the responses, but I'm really just looking for answers to the questions I had.
Click to expand...
I'm not at all a radiant expert, but we need more info to answer your questions. Radiants can be very deep (so can princesses), so getting a depth % would be good. Also, a talbe % would be nice. I'd also make sure that the SI1 is eyeclean. And what is the color? Is this a GIA graded radiant?

Personally, I feel this stone is overpriced and wouldn't consider any stone with good/good ratings.

I would double check with your girlfriend to see what she likes about a princess shape. If it's the "sparkle", then I do think you can the same effect from a radiant. If she LIKES the perfect square shape (with corners), however, then I don't think a radiant is a good choice. Also, aesthetically those corners make the stone look larger than a cut-cornered stone. Just something to consider.



You might want to do a search for Jared's on the upper right hand of this page to read about other peoples' experiences.
 
Date: 5/9/2008 11:14:13 PM
Author: cara
Ah, but you can see before you buy! At least you can see the pictures and simulations taken under controlled conditions, as opposed to viewing under the sparkly lights at Jared''s.


But if you want to buy at a B&M, have them bring in an AGS0 princess for you in your price range. Compare it to your radiant and to a regular princess in a variety of lighting conditions.


You can get ripped off online and you can get ripped of in a B&M store. Both Good Old Gold and Whiteflash do have actual storefronts in Long Island and in Houston, if you are worried about them existing only in the ether of the web. And they have generous return policies in case you don''t like it when you see it. I *wish* I could have convinced my husband to by a superideal diamond online (and the setting local), but I wasn''t successful. Stick around here and maybe your confidence in certain online vendors will improve and your future wife will benefit.
Click to expand...

I totally agree I can be ripped off anywhere, especially when I''m a naive consumer. I have another month before I actually buy, which is why I''m trying to get all the info I can from sites dedicated to diamonds. Maybe I will buy online, probably won''t, but maybe.
 
Date: 5/9/2008 11:17:06 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
Date: 5/9/2008 11:05:52 PM

Author: brigade

I was looking at the radiant because after comparing their stock of princess cuts the one radiant I was shown looked better.


As far as buying online I''m very skeptical. Call me old fashioned but I like to see before I buy.


Thank you both for the responses, but I''m really just looking for answers to the questions I had.
Click to expand...

I''m not at all a radiant expert, but we need more info to answer your questions. Radiants can be very deep (so can princesses), so getting a depth % would be good. Also, a talbe % would be nice. I''d also make sure that the SI1 is eyeclean. And what is the color? Is this a GIA graded radiant?


Personally, I feel this stone is overpriced and wouldn''t consider any stone with good/good ratings.


I would double check with your girlfriend to see what she likes about a princess shape. If it''s the ''sparkle'', then I do think you can the same effect from a radiant. If she LIKES the perfect square shape (with corners), however, then I don''t think a radiant is a good choice. Also, aesthetically those corners make the stone look larger than a cut-cornered stone. Just something to consider.




You might want to do a search for Jared''s on the upper right hand of this page to read about other peoples'' experiences.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for answering some of my questions. I forgot to mention the color is E, and I thought the dimensions I gave included table and depth. If not, I''ll have to get that info tomorrow. Like I said, I''m very naive on this subject.

If you know a bit about princess, what are the realistic specifications I should aim for at my price?
 
Buying online is scary, was to me at first. But the vendors give you all the info you need on the stone, and a money back guarantee. I really don''t care where you buy, just as long as you are getting the best cut stone for your money.
Being an informed consumer is key, so am glad you found ps!! Stick around, you''ll learn a lot, and it''s free!!!
 
Date: 5/9/2008 11:26:55 PM
Author: brigade


Thank you very much for answering some of my questions. I forgot to mention the color is E, and I thought the dimensions I gave included table and depth. If not, I''ll have to get that info tomorrow. Like I said, I''m very naive on this subject.

If you know a bit about princess, what are the realistic specifications I should aim for at my price?
Click to expand...
Diamondseeker posted some stones that are in your price range. These are what you can realistically expect to pay for princess stones with a top cut. You defiantely don''t want to scrimp on cut, it is what makes a diamond sparkle. Sure, you will be able to find some stones at Jared''s that are possibly a higher colour or clarity, but the cut will not be anywhere near an AGS000 stone and just won''t sparkle as much. If you want a truly beautiful stone, you need to put cut at the top of your priority list, and then the colour and clarity will just fall into the price range so to speak.

I would certainly take a look at what diamondseeker has suggested, she certainly knows her sparklies
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Also, it is very hard to judge fancy cuts by their numbers, you really need an IS image or AEST image, if you could get those too, that would be awesome. But to reiterate, I would certainly stick to the safe option of buying an AGS000 stone, and then you don''t need to worry, it will be a killer diamond.
 
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