Radiant cut questions

[jls944]

Regarding radiant cuts, does the Sarin and ideal scope work well in deciphering a well cut diamond from a fair cut diamond? I think I have heard some mixed feelings on this subject.

If I find a diamond I like at a local jeweler, should I ask to have these two tests done or would an appraisal from another jeweler suffice? How much do appraisals usually cost?

Do you know of any reputable appraisers around the Boston area (preferably north of boston)?

Thank you.

 

[RADIANTMAN]

Date: 5/10/2005 9:56:12 PM
Author:jls944
Regarding radiant cuts, does the Sarin and ideal scope work well in deciphering a well cut diamond from a fair cut diamond? I think I have heard some mixed feelings on this subject.

If I find a diamond I like at a local jeweler, should I ask to have these two tests done or would an appraisal from another jeweler suffice? How much do appraisals usually cost?

Do you know of any reputable appraisers around the Boston area (preferably north of boston)?

Thank you.

If you do not have the opportunity to see the stone in person, sarin measurements and ideal scope images (if you know how to interpret them correctly and most people don't), can help you to make educated guesses about what a radiant may look like. They do not, however, provide a guaranty (or, in my opinion, even a probability). Radiants are very complicated, and there's no sustitute for seeing the stone.

Once you've seen the stone, those tools add little to the equation. Check the length and width measurements to make sure that the stone spreads its carat weight, and use your own eyes to judge the life. One of the nice things about radiants is that the better makes actually look nicer, even to relatively uneducated eyes. In round stones, differences in cut often result in only minor differences in appearance. Not so with radiants. You'll know a nice one when you see it, particularly if you see it side by side with one that is not as nice.

Trust your eyes. There's no better tool available.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

My opinion is oly a little different.

Your eyes may not have seen many stones - and you may see them in different stores and different lighting - so comparison and relying on your own eyes to make expert judgements can be very difficult.

The ideal-scope will certainly let you cull bad stones from on-line photo''s.
And it helps you make real life easily remebered comparisons in a variety of lighting in real life shopping.

Best of all is a Sarin 3D scan which many of us can convert to a Gem Adviser file - this is all free.

 

[jls944]

I''m sorry for the dumb question, but what is the computation for carat weight from the diamond''s measurements? Thank you.

 

[LuvsPricescope]

this doesn''t exactly answer your question, but i found the chart very helpful...

http://www.engagement-ring-mountings.com/millimeter_equivalent_chart.php

 

[icemyster]

I could not agree with Garry more....I have had a small flood of requests for Radiants recently and finding good ones is driving me closer to a straight jacket and padded room. In one sense, it is very much about the look and know what someone wants from their description is hard. I rely very much on sarin and gemadvisor informaiton prior to shipping in stones. The lightscope is critical also to my selection process.

With all of that said, however, I have brought in radiants that I was positive would sell because they had great light performance, however the look of the ohter stone is more pleasing to the customer. Both are important, and I think to go with data against you eyes is a mistake, but to go just on what you see is not making an informed decision.