Radiant ASET interpretation/information

[radiantnewbie]

Hi guys,

Still very new here, so thanks for all the help! Was hoping for some insight into what these mean and which you think would look best. Would you pick Diamond 1 (top image), Diamond 2 (bottom image), or neither of them?
ANY help/information is appreciated!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Neither. It would be desirable to have more red than that. Neither of those stones looks particularly symmetrically cut to me, either. Do you have regular photos of the diamonds? Do you want a rectangular radiant only?

Of those two, I like the shape, table size, etc. better on the first stone, but neither of these will be a really brilliant diamond. It is hard to find a really great radiant.

 

[radiantnewbie]

Thank you, Diamondseeker!! Sadly, I do not have any regular photos, as I was only sent ASET images. I'm happy to post the specs, but I have been lurking here for a few weeks and saw a few people get their stones taken. However, since these don't look that great, I probably won't have that problem haha! The symmetry on diamond 1 is GIA very good and the second is good. This is probably a very stupid question, but is the GIA symmetry not what you mean by the symmetrical cut?

A second stupid question (hopefully there isn't a limit on here because I'd run out rather quickly haha), how can you tell the table size from the ASET image?

I am pretty set on a rectangular radiant, just because my fingers are thin-ish (size 3.5) and I find rectangular stones look really weird once I get over 2 carats as they are almost wider than my finger.

Looks like my hunt will continue!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There are several components to the symmetry grade, and yes, those things can affect the optical symmetry that we see. Here is a really good explanation and a great video.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamonds_101_polish_symmetry_proportions.html

Well, on a radiant I can't look at the image and tell you the table percent, but I can see that the overall cut of the first stone is more pleasing and I can see the table in the image. I don't like huge tables that result in a small crown. I do think it will help you to limit your search to radiants with very good to excellent symmetry.

Unfortunately, I don't have a great rectangular radiant to show you. This is an example of a nicely cut square specialty cut radiant, though. You can see that polish and symmetry are excellent and the ASET is nice.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-53ct-g-vs2-lucere-square-mixed-cut-diamond.html

I would ask whoever the vendor is that you are working with to send you a regular magnified image of the diamond in addition to the ASET image. You definitely need both. I would not rule out #1 yet depending on what else you can find.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi DS
Why is red desirable?
DS- just curious because you do post on here a lot – aren't you aware that there are branded radiant cut diamonds?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thank you, Diamondseeker!! Sadly, I do not have any regular photos, as I was only sent ASET images. I'm happy to post the specs, but I have been lurking here for a few weeks and saw a few people get their stones taken. However, since these don't look that great, I probably won't have that problem haha! The symmetry on diamond 1 is GIA very good and the second is good. This is probably a very stupid question, but is the GIA symmetry not what you mean by the symmetrical cut?

A second stupid question (hopefully there isn't a limit on here because I'd run out rather quickly haha), how can you tell the table size from the ASET image?

I am pretty set on a rectangular radiant, just because my fingers are thin-ish (size 3.5) and I find rectangular stones look really weird once I get over 2 carats as they are almost wider than my finger.

Looks like my hunt will continue!

Hi Newbie
Thankfully there are no limits to how many questions you can ask – and there really are no stupid questions.
When GIA grades symmetry of a diamond it is generally talking about the facet pattern.
To determine table size all you need to do is look at the GIA report. However, this is not the way to select a radiant cut diamond.
I agree that photos would be very helpful to you.

 

[RADIANTMAN]

Perhaps I am not expert enough at interpreting ASET images, but without seeing even a photo of the diamond I personally can't intelligently judge whether these diamonds are beautiful or which is nicer.

There is no substitute for actually seeing a radiant live and judging it with your own eyes in realistic real world lighting conditions, but without even a photo you are truly buying blind. Even a good picture can be deceptive and the ASET can be useful in corroborating what you see in the photo but for me, at least, the ASET without a corresponding photo isn't enough to help me form any kind of meaningful opinion. I'd way rather have a picture without an ASET than an ASET without a picture, but perhaps for others more expert in ASET than I am the opposite is true.

For what it's worth, it has not been my experience that I have preferred the look of Radiants that have more red in their ASET's to those that have less red - it seems far more complex to me than that which is why I often find pictures more useful.

Either way, you definitely should get pictures - I don't know of many vendors with the ability to supply ASETs but who can't supply pictures and a video would be even better.