Question for the PS ladies...

[mrjonesandme]

Ok, so I''m buying an engagement ring for my girlfriend. We''ve been talking about getting engaged for years but she wanted to finish school and get her career going, which she has. Now, a few months back we were talking about engagement rings so I could get a better idea of what she wanted. After looking online she decided she liked the look of a radiant cut diamond. I believe the thing that caught her eye most is the rectangular shape of the diamond because it was different. Now, my issue is that I am currently in the process of picking out the diamond and I have a choice between a 1ct rectangular shaped diamond or a 1.2ct squarish (still not exactly square) shaped diamond. The ratios are pretty much a 1.3:1 for the smaller and 1.1:1 for the larger.

My question is, do you think she would prefer the smaller diamond in the shape that initially caught her eye, or a larger diamond in a more traditional shape? To get an understanding of the difference in ratios, I used this tool...

http://www.gemappraisers.com/shapePickerNew.asp

I would just ask her but I want it to be a surprise and she''ll obviously know it''s coming if I ask her about a diamond.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[tyty333]

I''ll chime in...you''re probably not getting many responses because its a personal opinion on which she may like
better. For me, if those were my two choices, I would go with the bigger size.

 

[Gayletmom]

Hi MrJones,

If her heart was not absolutely set on the radiant then I would go with size. Most of the time, you can''t go wrong doing so.

Happy shopping!

 

[Luckyeshe]

Is it possible for you to show her some pictures online and see if she prefers rectangular to squarish? I would go with the bigger diamond, but if she has her heart set on a rectangular shape, a traditional square might not cut it.

 

[mrjonesandme]

Date: 9/23/2009 4:43:16 PM
Author: Luckyeshe
Is it possible for you to show her some pictures online and see if she prefers rectangular to squarish? I would go with the bigger diamond, but if she has her heart set on a rectangular shape, a traditional square might not cut it.

I''m afraid that if I ask her about what shape she prefers, it''ll be a dead giveaway that I''m shopping for a ring.

 

[D&T]

here is a link that will show you how many diamond shapes there are...

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondSearch.php

maybe ask her family member or a close friend to find out what shapes she prefer, show them this link and there are actual pictures of diamonds as well to show how they could possibly look in real life.

 

[cushiondivine]

Another vote for the bigger and squarish. Do you know if the rectangular shape is what she considered the unique aspect or was it the cut? Square stones also tend to look bigger and may have better performance since they are more symmetrical, but I''m far from an expert so maybe someone else can comment.

 

[Lula]

Usually, I''d say get the bigger stone (as long as it''s well-cut) but in this case, from the information you''ve given, it''s hard for me to say if your gf is attracted not only to the shape of the radiant, but also its more "crushed ice" look. Or if she''d be happy with any square/rectangular shape -- princess, emerald, square emerald, asscher, radiant, etc. These stones are all square/rectangular shaped, but have very different personalities/looks!

I''d really recommend some more covert "research" with her friends and family.

Another option, couldn''t the proposal be the "surprise" followed by a joint shopping trip (after she says yes) to pick out the ring? You could pre-select some stones ahead of time, either in stores or online stones, and she could choose among several options.

I know some women love to be surprised, and I''ve read lots of threads here posted by guys determined that the ring be a surprise, but I''ve never understood this custom -- it seems to cause so much stress and anxiety!

 

[mrjonesandme]

Date: 9/23/2009 7:28:15 PM
Author: sarap333
Usually, I''d say get the bigger stone (as long as it''s well-cut) but in this case, from the information you''ve given, it''s hard for me to say if your gf is attracted not only to the shape of the radiant, but also its more ''crushed ice'' look. Or if she''d be happy with any square/rectangular shape -- princess, emerald, square emerald, asscher, radiant, etc. These stones are all square/rectangular shaped, but have very different personalities/looks!


I''d really recommend some more covert ''research'' with her friends and family.


Another option, couldn''t the proposal be the ''surprise'' followed by a joint shopping trip (after she says yes) to pick out the ring? You could pre-select some stones ahead of time, either in stores or online stones, and she could choose among several options.


I know some women love to be surprised, and I''ve read lots of threads here posted by guys determined that the ring be a surprise, but I''ve never understood this custom -- it seems to cause so much stress and anxiety!

Wow, I''m really torn now. The more I think about it the more I''m convinced she was infatuated with the rectangular shape as well as the shattered glass look. I''m convinced I could find a rectangular radiant with a more rectangular ratio if I relaxed on my criteria (i.e. 60%-65% table/depth, D-G color, IF-VS2 clarity) but I don''t want to sacrifice too much quality.

I want to have a ring when I propose though so picking it out after isn''t really an option for me. My girlfriend enjoys traditional things and I think she would be disappointed if I proposed without a ring.

Also, in your opinion, how important is polish/symmetry? Would a diamond with a good rating for either or both be comparable to a diamond with a very good rating for both?

 

[Lula]

Radiant cuts do have a very distinct look, so I think you''re wise to consider both shape and the individual "personality" of the cut. They are very different from traditional round brilliant diamonds! If you haven''t already done so, do a search on PS and you will see some pictures of rings with beautiful radiant cut stones.

With some careful shopping -- are you willing to buy your stone from an online vendor? -- you should be able to find a well-cut radiant in a great carat size.

I am not familiar with the specs for the fancy cuts like radiant, but there are many people on this forum who can help you find a great radiant cut stone for your future fiance. If you''d like some help finding stones, just start a new thread asking for help finding a radiant cut -- PS''ers love to help posters find the perfect stone!

Good luck to you with your search and your proposal!