What do you all think of these Radiants?

[sharonyanddave]

Thanks! The first link leads me to a search page, the 2nd is actually one I was considering!

Sorry the first should have been this one.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.54-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-610194

 

[ooeemusic]

What about this one?
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-571040

Big Bowtie.

That's kind of what I thought too...what about this?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-622430

 

[sharonyanddave]

What about this one?
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-571040

Big Bowtie.

That's kind of what I thought too...what about this?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-622430

(This stone does not have a lot of life nor is it large for its carat weight)

What I would be doing:

1) Looking at the images and looking for more larger sized flashes not smaller ones.
2) Looking for lots of on/off flashes across the stone from edge to edge not just in one region.
3) Looking at the length and width and trying to get as much faceup surface area as possible. Multiply Length by Width. I wouldn't want to be below 20mm squared.

In that priority.

How are you going to be setting the stone?

 

[ooeemusic]

That's kind of what I thought too...what about this?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-622430

(This stone does not have a lot of life nor is it large for its carat weight)

What I would be doing:

1) Looking at the images and looking for more larger sized flashes not smaller ones.
2) Looking for lots of on/off flashes across the stone from edge to edge not just in one region.
3) Looking at the length and width and trying to get as much faceup surface area as possible. Multiply Length by Width. I wouldn't want to be below 20mm squared.

In that priority.

How are you going to be setting the stone?

In a setting similar to this, but, I'm going to have it made with some modifications by David Klass

http://www.brilliantearth.com/Celtic-Claddagh-Ring-White-Gold-BE193-1152790/?utm_expid=1332916-89.B5b2C2_YSNuxw-0TgDsU6w.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brilliantearth.com%2Fsearch%2F%3Fq%3Dceltic

 

[sharonyanddave]

In a setting similar to this, but, I'm going to have it made with some modifications by David Klass

http://www.brilliantearth.com/Celtic-Claddagh-Ring-White-Gold-BE193-1152790/?utm_expid=1332916-89.B5b2C2_YSNuxw-0TgDsU6w.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brilliantearth.com%2Fsearch%2F%3Fq%3Dceltic

So you will be spending more on the setting than on the diamond?
I also should say Radiants with straight edges and cut corners look more modern that Celtic ring is better suited with rounder shapes, cushions, rounds, hearts etc.

 

[PattyCo]

Wow Ooeemusic, your choice is really beautiful. I am not an expert, but that diamond is so sparkly. I also seen this one http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.54-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-618060 . Again, I am not an expert, but it looked real nice, too.

 

[ooeemusic]

In a setting similar to this, but, I'm going to have it made with some modifications by David Klass

http://www.brilliantearth.com/Celtic-Claddagh-Ring-White-Gold-BE193-1152790/?utm_expid=1332916-89.B5b2C2_YSNuxw-0TgDsU6w.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brilliantearth.com%2Fsearch%2F%3Fq%3Dceltic

So you will be spending more on the setting than on the diamond?
I also should say Radiants with straight edges and cut corners look more modern that Celtic ring is better suited with rounder shapes, cushions, rounds, hearts etc.

No, I'll be having it made in 14k as opposed to 18k which brings the price down, plus, I don't know if you have every worked with David Klass, but he is extremely reasonable.

And, as I said, I'm going to be making some modifications, for one, taking off the crown, since I already have a couple of actual claddagh rings. The changes I envision will make it look a bit more modern so I think a radiant will work just fine.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[ooeemusic]

Wow Ooeemusic, your choice is really beautiful. I am not an expert, but that diamond is so sparkly. I also seen this one http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.54-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-618060 . Again, I am not an expert, but it looked real nice, too.

Thanks, Patty!

 

[sharonyanddave]

1) Looking at the images and looking for more larger sized flashes not smaller ones.
2) Looking for lots of on/off flashes across the stone from edge to edge not just in one region.

To give you a clearer picture of what I would be looking for in a small diamond ~0.5ct, here is a comparison of the one I suggest http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.54-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-610194 versus the one you posted later on in this thread http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-62243.



I prefer to see more clearly defined virtual facets(outlined in red) and less dead regions(circled in blue) under the table.

It is easier to see the larger flashes switch from on to off in the videos rather than a still image. In the video you can see that the regions that look dark actually light up and vice versa, there will be less black regions in actual viewing(they will light up) when a dark camera lense isn't dominating what the diamond is reflecting.

 

[ooeemusic]

1) Looking at the images and looking for more larger sized flashes not smaller ones.
2) Looking for lots of on/off flashes across the stone from edge to edge not just in one region.

To give you a clearer picture of what I would be looking for in a small diamond ~0.5ct, here is a comparison of the one I suggest http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.54-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-610194 versus the one you posted later on in this thread http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-62243.



I prefer to see more clearly defined virtual facets(outlined in red) and less dead regions(circled in blue) under the table.

It is easier to see the larger flashes switch from on to off in the videos rather than a still image. In the video you can see that the regions that look dark actually light up and vice versa, there will be less black regions in actual viewing(they will light up) when a dark camera lense isn't dominating what the diamond is reflecting.

That's really interesting! That's for the comparison. I'm really leaning towards this one if I can get Hubby on board.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.51-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-609031

 

[sharonyanddave]

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.51-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-609031

Sounds good, spreads up about 15% larger than the one I suggested above and is also quite lively. It is long and thin being quite rectangular so you have to be okay with that look. You could set it East West instead of North South too if you wanted to take advantage of the long side.

You might want to have a JA gemologist call them both in and provide some subjective commentary to see which one they prefer.

 

[ooeemusic]

Any opinion on this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.55-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-507365

 

[sharonyanddave]

Any opinion on this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.55-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-507365

What happened to the others?, this one doesn't look very lively.

 

[ooeemusic]

Any opinion on this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.55-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-507365

What happened to the others?, this one doesn't look very lively.

I'm still leaning towards the other one, I just hadn't seen this one before I was wondering about it

 

[sharonyanddave]

Any opinion on this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.55-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-507365

What happened to the others?, this one doesn't look very lively.

I'm still leaning towards the other one, I just hadn't seen this one before I was wondering about it

Do you think this 0.55 has optics more like the right or the left in the outlined diagram I posted in your thread here?
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-radiants.217421/page-2#post-3952157#p3952157

 

[ooeemusic]

Any opinion on this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.55-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-507365

What happened to the others?, this one doesn't look very lively.

I'm still leaning towards the other one, I just hadn't seen this one before I was wondering about it

Do you think this 0.55 has optics more like the right or the left in the outlined diagram I posted in your thread here?
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-radiants.217421/page-2#post-3952157#p3952157

I see what you mean, but doesn't the one I'm learning towards have a lot of what would be circled in blue, too? Or maybe I'm just not that good at "reading" them

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.51-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-609031

 

[sharonyanddave]

Any opinion on this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.55-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-507365

What happened to the others?, this one doesn't look very lively.

I'm still leaning towards the other one, I just hadn't seen this one before I was wondering about it

Do you think this 0.55 has optics more like the right or the left in the outlined diagram I posted in your thread here?
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-radiants.217421/page-2#post-3952157#p3952157

I see what you mean, but doesn't the one I'm learning towards have a lot of what would be circled in blue, too? Or maybe I'm just not that good at "reading" them

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.51-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-609031[/quote

Radiant cuts in general are not known for their big bold contrasty flashes. Within your budget I'd say its a decent one, yes there are a few areas on the corners of the table that look a little less lively but to get the size, color, and clarity that you wanted I think this balance in cut is as good as you are going to be able to get within your budget.

I'd just pick your top 2 choices and have the JamesAllen gemologist call them in and help you decide. For $1100 I think you won't be presented with many better alternatives.

 

[ooeemusic]

Well I contacted JA and asked to have the two radiant viewed. They basically told me I could "chat" with someone of I had concerns. I want able to do that until today and someone bought the h vvs2 I was really hoping for...I guess I'm open to suggestions again

 

[ooeemusic]

What about this one? I don't remember seeing it before
http://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-736288

 

[sharonyanddave]

Well I contacted JA and asked to have the two radiant viewed. They basically told me I could "chat" with someone of I had concerns. I want able to do that until today and someone bought the h vvs2 I was really hoping for...I guess I'm open to suggestions again

I don't know what "chat" means but is the one I suggested still available? It is far superior to the one you posted below.

 

[ooeemusic]

Well I contacted JA and asked to have the two radiant viewed. They basically told me I could "chat" with someone of I had concerns. I want able to do that until today and someone bought the h vvs2 I was really hoping for...I guess I'm open to suggestions again

I don't know what "chat" means but is the one I suggested still available? It is far superior to the one you posted below.

They have a "chat" function on the website where you can talk to an "expert". Seems they are trying to do things more "virtually" instead of having someone physically look at the stones. Yes thr square one is still available last I looked

 

[sharonyanddave]

Well I contacted JA and asked to have the two radiant viewed. They basically told me I could "chat" with someone of I had concerns. I want able to do that until today and someone bought the h vvs2 I was really hoping for...I guess I'm open to suggestions again

I don't know what "chat" means but is the one I suggested still available? It is far superior to the one you posted below.

They have a "chat" function on the website where you can talk to an "expert". Seems they are trying to do things more "virtually" instead of having someone physically look at the stones. Yes thr square one is still available last I looked

Well can you blame them? If it costs $30 to call in a stone do they really want to do that on $1100 purchases where they might be making about $150 margin.

 

[ooeemusic]

I guess that's true, but, if they had pulled the two stones I asked them to I likely would have purchased the one I was leaning towards and it irks me that because they wouldn't do it I'm now staring my search over.

 

[ooeemusic]

What about this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.47-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-213501

 

[ooeemusic]

Anyone have an opinion about this one?
...or the one above this??
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/0.50-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-803969

 

[Gypsy]

Is there a reason you aren't putting the stones you are interested in on hold while you evaluate them?

 

[ooeemusic]

Is there a reason you aren't putting the stones you are interested in on hold while you evaluate them?

Well for one, I wasn't aware you can do that. Previously I was told to buy the two I think look the best and send them back if I don't like them, which I can't afford to do, or asked to have them reviewed by a gemologist at JA, which I tried to have done and they told me they won't do.
Also, the vast majority of the ones I've asked about here I've been told are no good. I'm sure by now I would be driving JA up the wall if I asked for every one that I've asked about here to be placed on hold (which again, I had no idea you could do!) Clearly if I had known that could be done I would have asked for the very first one I was really interested in to be place on hold.


To me the last two I posted look like good candidates, but, they both only have "good" polish and "very good" symmetry. I was previously told JA's radiants are to deeply cut, and both of these are not nearly as deep as the previous ones, one 61.6 the other 58.1. The girdle on one is "thin - slightly think" which I'm not sure if would be ok or not.

I was hoping to get someones opinion on them, since I don't seem to have a knack for seeing how they would perform, but I guess maybe I should seek help somewhere else since no one really seems to really like radiants here.