Radiant Cut

[ks1990]

My boyfriend and I have looked at diamonds for a while and I decided I liked the radiant cut. We came across this diamond and a few "diamond experts" as well as people on the James Allen website said it was a great cut, lots of brilliance/fire etc. Now I have been reading a lot about how numbers can mean very little with radiants and they need to but seen in person..but that the depth on mine may be a little high so that could make it appear smaller and mess with the brilliance. I have no idea when he is going to propose or if it'll be within the 30 day return policy if this ends up being a dud, and I doubt he would be able to tell much of anything by looking at it because he doesn't pay a lot of attention to detail. So just looking for some outside opinions. Thanks

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.22-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-4349753

 

[rockysalamander]

My boyfriend and I have looked at diamonds for a while and I decided I liked the radiant cut. We came across this diamond and a few "diamond experts" as well as people on the James Allen website said it was a great cut, lots of brilliance/fire etc. Now I have been reading a lot about how numbers can mean very little with radiants and they need to but seen in person..but that the depth on mine may be a little high so that could make it appear smaller and mess with the brilliance. I have no idea when he is going to propose or if it'll be within the 30 day return policy if this ends up being a dud, and I doubt he would be able to tell much of anything by looking at it because he doesn't pay a lot of attention to detail. So just looking for some outside opinions. Thanks

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.22-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-4349753

Fancies are hard, but what I look for are crisp, large facets with little grey/mush where you don't get great light return (unless you like crushed ice where its lots of tiny flashes of light). I don't see the tips of the cross ever really flashing on this stone and there is not as much light movement as I'd like to see (but, wait until other chime in too). You didn't mention a budget, but here are a few with similar specs but with better facets/light movement.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3596620
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3824351
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3824294 {this leans toward crushed ice}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.21-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3605029

But, if this is in budget, the light return look lovely. This vendor is very well known for their love of radiants and we often send folks in their direction. It would be worth reaching out to them if this is not quite what you want and see what they can find for you.
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/124ct-i-vvs2-radiant-diamond-r7222

Edited to add. Hubba Hubba...maybe a wee bit expensive.
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/1xa4ad-2.00-g-vs2-radiant#cmp=lptp&p_key=2.00G-VS2-Rad

 

[ks1990]

Fancies are hard, but what I look for are crisp, large facets with little grey/mush where you don't get great light return (unless you like crushed ice where its lots of tiny flashes of light). I don't see the tips of the cross ever really flashing on this stone and there is not as much light movement as I'd like to see (but, wait until other chime in too). You didn't mention a budget, but here are a few with similar specs but with better facets/light movement.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3596620
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3824351
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3824294 {this leans toward crushed ice}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.21-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3605029

But, if this is in budget, the light return look lovely. This vendor is very well known for their love of radiants and we often send folks in their direction. It would be worth reaching out to them if this is not quite what you want and see what they can find for you.
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/124ct-i-vvs2-radiant-diamond-r7222

Edited to add. Hubba Hubba...maybe a wee bit expensive.
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/1xa4ad-2.00-g-vs2-radiant#cmp=lptp&p_key=2.00G-VS2-Rad

Thanks for your feedback! I believe the one he purchased was in the $3500-3800 price range, so those are probably a little out of his budget. BUT VERY PRETTY!! I also forgot to mention that I do like more of a square shape vs rectangle.

 

[rockysalamander]

Thanks for your feedback! I believe the one he purchased was in the $3500-3800 price range, so those are probably a little out of his budget. BUT VERY PRETTY!!

I think that he spent more than that, but even if it was $3800, its not the best option. The thick girdle is also making it faceup smaller than it should. Nothing at that price is popping at JA. Could he maybe return it and wait until after V-day to allow them to restock?

Bumping the budget to look for options, this is the hand's down winner on performance, but the central inclusion is not ideal.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.20-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-3439782

 

[ks1990]

I think that he spent more than that, but even if it was $3800, its not the best option. The thick girdle is also making it faceup smaller than it should. Nothing at that price is popping at JA. Could he maybe return it and wait until after V-day to allow them to restock?

Bumping the budget to look for options, this is the hand's down winner on performance, but the central inclusion is not ideal.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.20-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-3439782

I went back and looked at my emails and it looks like it was priced at $3830. Right now I feel like my hands are tied because I know he already has the proposal planned out (just not sure when or if it'll be before or after the 30 day return period) and I know it has taken a while for this one to ship...I'm not even sure if he has received it yet. I wish I had found this forum before he ordered. I just took what the "experts" said and ran with it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You have a 30 day return policy. Better to deal with it now than to have regrets later. Tell him you have found out the stone has a thick girdle and faces up really small. Always look at diameter measurements on any stone, but especially on radiants and other deep cut stones.

I am going to give you an example of a better stone. The cut is a little different than the one you chose, but it is a far better cut and will have much better light return. Even though it is 1.12 and also has a thick girdle, it's diameter is 5.8mm square, while the one you linked is only 5.7x5.5mm. Seriously, I'd switch this out now while you can.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.12-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-2100615

 

[rockysalamander]

@diamondseeker2006
That's a beauty!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

@diamondseeker2006
That's a beauty!!

A very lucky find considering that well cut radiants are like needles in the haystack! I was going to stay out of it if I couldn't find one close in price once the price was known, but this stone is sooo much nicer.

 

[ks1990]

You have a 30 day return policy. Better to deal with it now than to have regrets later. Tell him you have found out the stone has a thick girdle and faces up really small. Always look at diameter measurements on any stone, but especially on radiants and other deep cut stones.

I am going to give you an example of a better stone. The cut is a little different than the one you chose, but it is a far better cut and will have much better light return. Even though it is 1.12 and also has a thick girdle, it's diameter is 5.8mm square, while the one you linked is only 5.7x5.5mm. Seriously, I'd switch this out now while you can.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.12-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-2100615

This might seem like a stupid question but where does the weight in the one purchased disappear to?! At first I was thinking girdle/depth but the one you linked has more depth and a bigger girdle. Clearly I am new to all of this so it's all so confusing to me.

I just tried casually mentioning that the one I picked faces up really small and he said "I'm sorry, but it is the one you picked" So I'm thinking I may be stuck with it. I hope it isn't completely awful in person. I really screwed this up, I probably should have just stayed out of it and let him pick it out. Now I just feel bad that I encouraged him to go a little over his budget for something that wasn't worth it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

This might seem like a stupid question but where does the weight in the one purchased disappear to?! At first I was thinking girdle/depth but the one you linked has more depth and a bigger girdle. Clearly I am new to all of this so it's all so confusing to me.

I just tried casually mentioning that the one I picked faces up really small and he said "I'm sorry, but it is the one you picked" So I'm thinking I may be stuck with it. I hope it isn't completely awful in person. I really screwed this up, I probably should have just stayed out of it and let him pick it out. Now I just feel bad that I encouraged him to go a little over his budget for something that wasn't worth it.

It's not a stupid question, but it's hard to say. The stones are just cut differently. The one I posted may have more slightly thick girdle while the one you posted might be more very thick. The extra thickness adds weight but does not increase the face up size. But the girdle is just an indicator that we need to look at diameter. And the smaller weight stone in this case is larger face up. It is also going to sparkle more because it is better cut.

Listen, we get people coming here all the time who ask AFTER they are engaged and it is way too late. You still have the chance to say that you made a mistake and want to exchange while you can. Otherwise you're stuck until you can pay double the price of this stone to upgrade, and he might not like that idea. I am just encouraging you to have the talk now while something can be done about it.

 

[ks1990]

It's not a stupid question, but it's hard to say. The stones are just cut differently. The one I posted may have more slightly thick girdle while the one you posted might be more very thick. The extra thickness adds weight but does not increase the face up size. But the girdle is just an indicator that we need to look at diameter. And the smaller weight stone in this case is larger face up. It is also going to sparkle more because it is better cut.

Listen, we get people coming here all the time who ask AFTER they are engaged and it is way too late. You still have the chance to say that you made a mistake and want to exchange while you can. Otherwise you're stuck until you can pay double the price of this stone to upgrade, and he might not like that idea. I am just encouraging you to have the talk now while something can be done about it.

Thank you! I appreciate your advice, and I will try really hard to encourage him to go with the other diamond because I definitely want him to get the best he can for the money. I never realized diamond shopping would be so complicated, I knew about the 4c's but clearly it goes way beyond that and I don't have the eye for it!

If I'm not able to convince him, I will DEFINITELY be here before we purchase the upgrade in a few years

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Trust me, I didn't know much when I came here, either! But after 12 years, I kind of know a lot!

Good luck to you! Honestly, life brings lots of difficult situations. This one may be inconvenient, but in the end, I think it will be a good decision. I am sure he wants to be proud of the ring, too! Much better to openly communicate and work it out now!

 

[rockysalamander]

I'm with DS. Granted I've been married for 16 years, but no problem was ever solved with poor communication. The fact that he had you choose the first diamond should be is totally fine for the second...its not like he was hung up on being the one to pick the stone. The stones are close in size in mm and JA likely can just swap the stones. Maybe he is stressing thinking it will take a all new setting? maybe you can offer to pay for any change fees? Anyway, I'd put that beauty on hold and get your boyfriend on board with a swap. Just acknowledge how grateful you are that he involved you in the ring as you will wear it for a long time, but you want him to continue to respect your opinion as you learned more. It won't take away from the "moment" rather, it will make you love him all the more for the deep respect he showed in this process.