Radiant Diamond comparison

[kmick]

I don''t know much aside from the 4 C''s and wondered if anyone had thoughts on these diamonds.


Shape Weight Clarity Color Table Depth Polish Symmetry Report Price
Radiant 1.68 ct SI2 G 72.0% 69.0% Good Good EGL
Radiant 1.28 ct VS2 D 65.0% 71.1% VG Good EGL $7,750
Asscher 1.20 ct VS2 D 67.0% 65.5% Ex Ex EGL $6,750
Princess 2.02 ct SI1 J 75.0% 73.5% Good Good EGL $7,950


I was wondering how big of an impact a G color and SI2 have and if anything noticeable. I''d rather get my girlfriend the bigger carat honestly unless the difference is highly noticeable.

I''m leaning toward the 1.68 radiant I think....any thoughts???? any other metrics I should focus on that are as important?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[chrono]

Are these EGL USA, Israel, Belgium, other? I ask because all EGL certs other than EGL USA do not grade as stringently as GIA and AGS. So, the G SI2 might be a I I3, so something similar. Please post the girdle information as well because you don't want a stone with very (or extremely) thin or very thick girdles. One will be prone to chipping while the other is hiding unnecessary weight. Having at least VG polish and symmetry is also important to the finish of the diamond.

All these 4 stones are considered fancy cuts. These cannot be evaluated by the numbers; at the very least, magnified pictures are needed. ASET will help greatly. Also, please verify that the SI1 and SI2 stones do not have visible inclusions from the top view (table).

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome Kmick!

Have you actually seen these diamonds? Usually to many, a reliably graded G colour can look very white still even in a fancy shape, but if you could post which EGL lab graded these diamonds, such as EGL USA, Antwerp, Europe, Israel etc, then we can go from there.

Also we can't say much without detailed photographs and an ASET image, so see if you can get those if possible please.

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:00:30 PM
Author: Chrono
Are these EGL USA, Israel, Belgium, other? I ask because all EGL certs other than EGL USA do not grade as stringently as GIA and AGS. So, the G SI2 might be a I I3, so something similar. Please post the girdle information as well because you don''t want a stone with very (or extremely) thin or very thick girdles. One will be prone to chipping while the other is hiding unnecessary weight. Having at least VG polish and symmetry is also important to the finish of the diamond.

All these 4 stones are considered fancy cuts. These cannot be evaluated by the numbers; at the very least, magnified pictures are needed. ASET will help greatly. Also, please verify that the SI1 and SI2 stones do not have visible inclusions from the top view (table).

Man I have quite a bit to learn. Thanks for the info!

They are all EGLs. I''m getting the additional info from teh jeweler.

Thanks so much!

 

[chrono]

Another thought just occured to me: all these diamonds have very different looks.

Radiant = crushed ice (very random)
Asscher = step cut with clean lines and "windmills"
Princess = pin fire sparkle

The outline might be similiar but all three are very different in cut and sparkle. VERY different. Which one do you like? If you are the guy, which one does SHE like?

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:11:49 PM
Author: Chrono
Another thought just occured to me: all these diamonds have very different looks.

Radiant = crushed ice (very random)
Asscher = step cut with clean lines and ''windmills''
Princess = pin fire sparkle

The outline might be similiar but all three are very different in cut and sparkle. VERY different. Which one do you like? If you are the guy, which one does SHE like?

I''m the guy, I think she likes the radiant cut the most. She won''t tell me specifically and just says whatever you get me I will love. I thought she liked the princess and asscher before but I think I might focus on the radiants. I''m going to shoot a note over to my jewel contact guy I''m working with. I''d like to get a bigger carat if possible and go down in color and/or clarity, especially if it''s something that is only noticeable under a microscope.


How does this sound for the email to him, anything I am missing? Any advice? I really, really appreciate you guys helping me out as I''m clueless to this stuff.

"I''m interested in hearing about whatever Radiants you have in the 5 - 9K price range. Do you know which EGL lab graded the diamonds, such as EGL USA, Antwerp, Europe, Israel etc? Can you provide detailed magnified photographs and an ASET image? Can you provide the girdle information? Lastly what you can you say about the polish and symmetry."

 

[kmick]

Also, Have you heard of Diamond District USA?

I''ve been looking there and Blue Nile due to the low prices and no taxes.

Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:23:50 PM
Author: kmick

Date: 5/12/2008 1:11:49 PM
Author: Chrono
Another thought just occured to me: all these diamonds have very different looks.

Radiant = crushed ice (very random)
Asscher = step cut with clean lines and 'windmills'
Princess = pin fire sparkle

The outline might be similiar but all three are very different in cut and sparkle. VERY different. Which one do you like? If you are the guy, which one does SHE like?

I'm the guy, I think she likes the radiant cut the most. She won't tell me specifically and just says whatever you get me I will love. I thought she liked the princess and asscher before but I think I might focus on the radiants. I'm going to shoot a note over to my jewel contact guy I'm working with. I'd like to get a bigger carat if possible and go down in color and/or clarity, especially if it's something that is only noticeable under a microscope.


How does this sound for the email to him, anything I am missing? Any advice? I really, really appreciate you guys helping me out as I'm clueless to this stuff.

'I'm interested in hearing about whatever Radiants you have in the 5 - 9K price range. Do you know which EGL lab graded the diamonds, such as EGL USA, Antwerp, Europe, Israel etc? Can you provide detailed magnified photographs and an ASET image? Can you provide the girdle information? Lastly what you can you say about the polish and symmetry.'

That sounds fine, regarding the polish and symmetry, many radiants have good - but to me that needn't be a deal breaker as it is said that good and above look the same to the naked untrained eye. So don't disregard a stone with good for polish and symmetry if everything else looks ok, as you could miss out on a nice diamond.

Have you considered any diamonds with a GIA lab report, or are you preferring EGL to get a bigger diamond for the budget?

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:29:51 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 5/12/2008 1:23:50 PM
Author: kmick

Date: 5/12/2008 1:11:49 PM
Author: Chrono
Another thought just occured to me: all these diamonds have very different looks.

Radiant = crushed ice (very random)
Asscher = step cut with clean lines and ''windmills''
Princess = pin fire sparkle

The outline might be similiar but all three are very different in cut and sparkle. VERY different. Which one do you like? If you are the guy, which one does SHE like?

I''m the guy, I think she likes the radiant cut the most. She won''t tell me specifically and just says whatever you get me I will love. I thought she liked the princess and asscher before but I think I might focus on the radiants. I''m going to shoot a note over to my jewel contact guy I''m working with. I''d like to get a bigger carat if possible and go down in color and/or clarity, especially if it''s something that is only noticeable under a microscope.


How does this sound for the email to him, anything I am missing? Any advice? I really, really appreciate you guys helping me out as I''m clueless to this stuff.

''I''m interested in hearing about whatever Radiants you have in the 5 - 9K price range. Do you know which EGL lab graded the diamonds, such as EGL USA, Antwerp, Europe, Israel etc? Can you provide detailed magnified photographs and an ASET image? Can you provide the girdle information? Lastly what you can you say about the polish and symmetry.''

That sounds fine, regarding the polish and symmetry, many radiants have good - but to me that needn''t be a deal breaker as it is said that good and above look the same to the naked untrained eye. So don''t disregard a stone with good for polish and symmetry if everything else looks ok, as you could miss out on a nice diamond.

Have you considered any diamonds with a GIA lab report, or are you preferring EGL to get a bigger diamond for the budget?

I didn''t know the difference, is GIA more reputable? Looks like Blue Nile has more radiants with GIA certs. Is it possible to get ASET and magnified images from Blue Nile?

What do you recommend? I''m open to any advice or suggestions.

 

[purrfectpear]

$5K to $9K is pretty big range. You might try to narrow it a bit by saying the minimum size you hope to purchase, and then specify your max budget.

 

[coda72]

Well, my knowledge or lack thereof may not be useful, but I personally wouldn''t buy a radiant with a depth in the seventies. Since radiants tend to face up smaller for their carat weight, depths of low to mid sixties is what I prefer. Also, to me, radiants start to show color at H and beyond, so I would not buy a lower colored radiant. SI2 is fine as long as it''s eyeclean. A GIA report is preferable for these stones.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:34:49 PM
Author: kmick


I didn't know the difference, is GIA more reputable? Looks like Blue Nile has more radiants with GIA certs. Is it possible to get ASET and magnified images from Blue Nile?

What do you recommend? I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

GIA and AGS are considered to be the 2 top tier labs, but they can sometimes carry a heftier pricetag than EGL or IGI, so you might have to consider getting a smaller diamond for the budget. Here is some info in the advanced tutorial which explain how the labs compare to each other.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

To the best of my knowledge, Blue Nile do not offer ASET images or photographs of their diamonds, they don't always have the diamonds in house. I would recommend that you look at these websites;

www.goodoldgold.com

www.whiteflash.com

www.engagementringsdirect.com

www.winkjones.com

www.jamesallen.com

The above vendors very often have some diamonds in house, which they own as part of their inventory. That way they can advise you with the diamond in their hand, as to it's cut quality, ' eyecleanliness' etc and answer any other questions you may have. Also in some cases, the cut analysis has been done, so you can make an informed choice. The vendors also have good inspection and return policies, and in some cases a lifetime upgrade program. So my advice is to check these guys out, decide which one you would like to work with, then see what they have to offer.

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:38:05 PM
Author: purrfectpear
$5K to $9K is pretty big range. You might try to narrow it a bit by saying the minimum size you hope to purchase, and then specify your max budget.

Alright I''ve requested the info and am awaiting there response. I took your advice and changed the price range to 5.5 to 7.5K.

I''ll post as soon as I receive word on the radiants.

Thanks!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/12/2008 2:05:16 PM
Author: kmick

Date: 5/12/2008 1:38:05 PM
Author: purrfectpear
$5K to $9K is pretty big range. You might try to narrow it a bit by saying the minimum size you hope to purchase, and then specify your max budget.

Alright I''ve requested the info and am awaiting there response. I took your advice and changed the price range to 5.5 to 7.5K.

I''ll post as soon as I receive word on the radiants.

Thanks!!

I would personally tell them your max budget, otherwise you could miss out on some suitable diamonds, unless of course you have decided you don''t want to go up to 9k?

 

[kmick]

alright i found out she likes square radiants. i found one on blue nile thats in my price range and decent size carat. ive been looking around 1.25 or so. just saw those ones that were inexpensive that i posted above. this has a lower depth as mentioned above and is almost a perfect square. the symmetry is listed as good so im not sure if that is a negative sign. any input would be appreciated!

thanks!


http://www.bluenile.com/radiant-cut-diamond-1-carat-very-good-cut-f-color-vvs2-clarity_LD01314293?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

 

[coda72]

Well, that diamond is stilll a bit on the deep side. Just for comparison sake, here''s a radiant with a depth in the mid sixties that''s the same carat weight as the one you posted. The dimensions of it are bigger however.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Premium-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1173925.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

And here''s another one that could be a good possibility:

http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1012/v.cgi?stock=7749406&_s=1012&_p=sdf348gd743&_c=&_fs=1&prestock=&_ln=ps

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/12/2008 5:17:54 PM
Author: coda72
Well, that diamond is stilll a bit on the deep side. Just for comparison sake, here''s a radiant with a depth in the mid sixties that''s the same carat weight as the one you posted. The dimensions of it are bigger however.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Premium-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1173925.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

And here''s another one that could be a good possibility:

http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1012/v.cgi?stock=7749406&_s=1012&_p=sdf348gd743&_c=&_fs=1&prestock=&_ln=ps

I think that James Allen one looks good! Few questions...Do you know what the Girdle means, it says thick to very thick...just wondered if that was something to worry about....Also, is premium cut equivalent to Blue Niles'' "Very Good" cut?

Thanks so much! could have a winner!

 

[coda72]

A thick girdle isn''t anything concerned about other than it can hide some of the weight of the diamond. But since this diamond is bigger dimension wise than the one you posted, I don''t think it''s a huge deal. You most likely won''t have to worry about a thick girdle chipping at all. If you are interested in this diamond, you should have James Allen call it in for you and take a look at it since I don''t think they have this diamond in house.

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/12/2008 5:39:05 PM
Author: coda72
A thick girdle isn''t anything concerned about other than it can hide some of the weight of the diamond. But since this diamond is bigger dimension wise than the one you posted, I don''t think it''s a huge deal. You most likely won''t have to worry about a thick girdle chipping at all. If you are interested in this diamond, you should have James Allen call it in for you and take a look at it since I don''t think they have this diamond in house.

Cool, thanks. I called James Allen and they are going to have a gemologist call me tomorrow afternoon. What kind of questions might be good to ask? Or is it more getting their personal opinion on the diamond?

 

[meffaman]

Date: 5/12/2008 1:23:50 PM
Author: kmick

Date: 5/12/2008 1:11:49 PM
Author: Chrono
Another thought just occured to me: all these diamonds have very different looks.

Radiant = crushed ice (very random)
Asscher = step cut with clean lines and 'windmills'
Princess = pin fire sparkle

The outline might be similiar but all three are very different in cut and sparkle. VERY different. Which one do you like? If you are the guy, which one does SHE like?

I'm the guy, I think she likes the radiant cut the most. She won't tell me specifically and just says whatever you get me I will love. I thought she liked the princess and asscher before but I think I might focus on the radiants. I'm going to shoot a note over to my jewel contact guy I'm working with. I'd like to get a bigger carat if possible and go down in color and/or clarity, especially if it's something that is only noticeable under a microscope.


How does this sound for the email to him, anything I am missing? Any advice? I really, really appreciate you guys helping me out as I'm clueless to this stuff.

'I'm interested in hearing about whatever Radiants you have in the 5 - 9K price range. Do you know which EGL lab graded the diamonds, such as EGL USA, Antwerp, Europe, Israel etc? Can you provide detailed magnified photographs and an ASET image? Can you provide the girdle information? Lastly what you can you say about the polish and symmetry.'

I'm not in sales, but an old saying goes something like the first to name a price loses the battle. I never divulge what I'm willing to spend on anything when it comes to stuff like this, or when buying cars and there really isn't a "fixed" price. In this instance I'd rather get online prices and use them to compare what I'm looking for. So if you find a particular stone you like for a particular price, then ask to see similar stones and see what the prices come in at.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/12/2008 6:21:01 PM
Author: meffaman

Date: 5/12/2008 1:23:50 PM
Author: kmick

Date: 5/12/2008 1:11:49 PM
Author: Chrono
Another thought just occured to me: all these diamonds have very different looks.

Radiant = crushed ice (very random)
Asscher = step cut with clean lines and 'windmills'
Princess = pin fire sparkle

The outline might be similiar but all three are very different in cut and sparkle. VERY different. Which one do you like? If you are the guy, which one does SHE like?

I'm the guy, I think she likes the radiant cut the most. She won't tell me specifically and just says whatever you get me I will love. I thought she liked the princess and asscher before but I think I might focus on the radiants. I'm going to shoot a note over to my jewel contact guy I'm working with. I'd like to get a bigger carat if possible and go down in color and/or clarity, especially if it's something that is only noticeable under a microscope.


How does this sound for the email to him, anything I am missing? Any advice? I really, really appreciate you guys helping me out as I'm clueless to this stuff.

'I'm interested in hearing about whatever Radiants you have in the 5 - 9K price range. Do you know which EGL lab graded the diamonds, such as EGL USA, Antwerp, Europe, Israel etc? Can you provide detailed magnified photographs and an ASET image? Can you provide the girdle information? Lastly what you can you say about the polish and symmetry.'

I'm not in sales, but an old saying goes something like the first to name a price loses the battle. I never divulge what I'm willing to spend on anything when it comes to stuff like this, or when buying cars and there really isn't a 'fixed' price. In this instance I'd rather get online prices and use them to compare what I'm looking for. So if you find a particular stone you like for a particular price, then ask to see similar stones and see what the prices come in at.

When buying diamonds online, there isn't much room for negotiating on the price in some instances unfortunately, as many of the vendors are operating on slim margins anyway.

If I was buying a car or some other things, I wouldn't advertise my top price though, I agree!

I have made some excellent deals in my day as I can drive a hard bargain!

 

[coda72]

When you talk to James Allen ask them if you can see a picture of the diamond. It''s not the same as seeing it in person, but it''s better than nothing. As far as anything else you need to ask them, well it''s not likely to have any visible inclusions at the clarity it is, and you can''t go any higher than D color, so no concerns in those areas. You could ask their opinion on how well cut the stone is because even with the depth and table numbers being fine, that''s no guarantee of a well-cut radiant.

 

[kmick]

Date: 5/13/2008 4:52:40 AM
Author: coda72
When you talk to James Allen ask them if you can see a picture of the diamond. It''s not the same as seeing it in person, but it''s better than nothing. As far as anything else you need to ask them, well it''s not likely to have any visible inclusions at the clarity it is, and you can''t go any higher than D color, so no concerns in those areas. You could ask their opinion on how well cut the stone is because even with the depth and table numbers being fine, that''s no guarantee of a well-cut radiant.

Thanks Coda, I''ll do that. What do you know about James Allen? Are they a pretty reputable dealer?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/13/2008 9:37:21 AM
Author: kmick

Date: 5/13/2008 4:52:40 AM
Author: coda72
When you talk to James Allen ask them if you can see a picture of the diamond. It''s not the same as seeing it in person, but it''s better than nothing. As far as anything else you need to ask them, well it''s not likely to have any visible inclusions at the clarity it is, and you can''t go any higher than D color, so no concerns in those areas. You could ask their opinion on how well cut the stone is because even with the depth and table numbers being fine, that''s no guarantee of a well-cut radiant.

Thanks Coda, I''ll do that. What do you know about James Allen? Are they a pretty reputable dealer?

Thanks!
Kevin

Yes, James Allen have a good reputation on these boards, you can use the search tool to pull up others'' experiences with them.

 

[kmick]

hey thanks lorelei, what do you think of that diamond coda ptu a link to?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/13/2008 11:34:14 AM
Author: kmick
hey thanks lorelei, what do you think of that diamond coda ptu a link to?

You are welcome! It is so hard to judge these diamonds without photos at least, but Coda has a special interest in Radiants, so if she thinks a particular diamond might be worth considering, then I would definitely ask for more info and pics! Have you bought it or put it on hold?