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Second round of radiant ASETs are in! Comments?

Serendipity99

Serendipity99

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
58
So I submitted a request for three more radiants to JA (chosen from the previous thread on the first round of ASETs: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/asets-of-the-radiant-cuts-are-in-thoughts.201480/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/asets-of-the-radiant-cuts-are-in-thoughts.201480/[/URL]) and they have been nice enough to accommodate me. I have included the ASETs and links to the diamonds below.

Here is the thing - as I have been waiting for these to come back I have been looking for settings and there are not many that I really love that are made for radiant cuts. I know, I am yet again showing my newbie-ness as we are so far into this whole radiant focus. I had thought this was the best way to go as people seem to choose the stone first and then do setting.. maybe not?

So... the settings that I am feeling pulled to are more vintage looking. I have been looking on GOG and found BeverleyK and WhitehouseBrothers through them and love several settings. They usually show a round in the setting but they do tend to say they could be any shape... maybe radiant still works? Maybe I need to go for a more square cushion or radiant to accommodate this? (example of the look I am loving - http://www.beverleyk.com/engagement-rings/vintage/rtj013-a-d-d-cz.html).

I am so lost at this point. But, maybe if any of these are great ASETs that would help sway how this is supposed to work out.

Thank you for any and all feedback (on the stones or guidance on how to sort out my scattered brain.. or anything else!).

1. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.01-carat-f-color-if-clarity-sku-23477
23477.jpg

2. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.00-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-295129
295129.jpg

3. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.02-carat-f-color-if-clarity-sku-23472
23472.jpg
 
The cushion is actually the nicest. But that first F IF is lovely as well. Very lovely.

I don't know about a that cushion or the radiant in one of those settings. Hmm. I'd have to see CADs of that to see if I liked it.

How about this setting: http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/index.php


That's a very deco setting style. Hmm. Let me look around.
 
If you like this one it would look good for the cushion.
http://www.beverleyk.com/engagement-rings/r9937-a-d-d-s.html

Yes, you should find the stone before PURCHASING the setting.

But you should know what the RING you want looks like, and visualize it before any of that.

So... I would say, maybe you need to decide the LOOK you want. Then you decide the stone and setting. Then we find you a stone. And then you buy the setting.
 
Thank you for the continued guidance Gypsy! I didn't get the full link for the first ring setting idea, do you mind reposting?

I had been thinking that if I go for something that already has a square or rectangle middle area I may be safe, like http://www.beverleyk.com/engagement-rings/vintage/r105-a-d-d-cz.html or if I do the more solitaire approach http://www.beverleyk.com/engagement-rings/vintage/r112-a-d-d-cz.html ?

In any event.. are you loving one of the first two stones? Should I go to GOG? At this point my fiance is happy with anything I choose so I could go OEC, august vintage round or cushion (the higher price makes me a little sad though)... whatever. The wide open field is making my head spin. I wanted to go see some stones in person to compare them side by side but Phoenix doesn't seem to have many jewelers I can go to for that (Google searches are fruitless so far..).

What I know for sure is that I love the vintage look. That at least has been one constant over the years. I just stayed away from it as for true antique stones the warmer colors weren't as appealing to me. It is likely that we will still do the basic solitaire at first and then move to the setting after the ceremony, but it seems a bit silly to even get to the solitaire if I have no idea where it will end up living.
 
I really like stones 1 and 3. Even though the cushion has the most red, when I look at the video it doesnt seem all that exciting.
The faceting pattern on the 1st and 3rd stones are really nice. The first stone is actually my favorite.

I think either of those stones would look pretty in this...
http://www.beverleyk.com/engagement-rings/vintage/r112-a-d-d-cz.html
 
Thank you for the feedback tyty! I'm starting to really like that type of vintage setting, which I hope will really show off the center.

Does anyone think the #1 would look like too modern of a cut to go in that style of setting?

If it wouldn't look out of place, and before we go forward and get #1, could I please get some feedback on whether I should or not? I'm happy to write to GOG next to find the perfect stone if the feedback is that these are nice but I could do better. I would rather wait and find a stone I can really fall in love with and I'm not sure how confident I should be in #23477. So what is everyone's confidence level on a scale of 1-5? 5 being "the stone is amazing, you'll love it forever so quit obsessing..."
 
Any chance of having the stone sent to you before having it set? That might help you clear up any indecisiveness one way or the
other.

I think it is a beautiful stone...love the faceting pattern. Although it may not be the typical what you would see in an
antique type setting, I think because it has such a nice symmetrical faceting pattern it would be really lovely. It reminds me of
a beautiful shaped emerald with a little extra something-something in the middle to gaze at. If it were crushed ice radiant
I would be against setting it this way.

Have you asked the gemologist about the stone and what they think?

I could fall in love with this stone but I'm not sure how to tell whether you could or not. Look at the faceting pattern as it
spins. Picture having it in your hand and watching the play of light. What do you think? Having it sent to you would be your
best bet but if thats not an option, compare it's video with the videos of the the other stones you like and try to put in words
what you like/dislike about each stone. Eliminate stones until you are down to your top choice.

What do I like about this stone...
1) The beautiful faceting pattern in the middle. Looks like a star with rays of light coming off in a symmetric pattern. Look at
the diagram on the GIA cert.
2) The length/width ratio of the stone (perfect IMO).
3) The beautiful cut corners of the stone.
4) The similar sized crowns on the top of the stone that lead to...
5) A beautiful cut-cornered table that show-cases the star in the middle.
6) A nice amount of contrast that lies under the star in the middle (really accentuates the star pattern).
7) And...all major facets seem to be clearly defined.

Ok...so, as you can see, I think its a really lovely stone. If you want to look at some other lovely cushions, GOG makes their
AVC which would also be perfect in a setting like that. They also have a beautiful faceting pattern and are graded to have ideal
light return.
 
It is really nice. You defintely have to see it first before you can be certain
 
Quick question on 23477 - is anyone thinking I should be mindful/concerned about the depth being 73.9? I know that in fancy cuts it isn't about the numbers, but that does seem to be a bigger number than any general guidelines I am reading out there. Perhaps it is because the facet structure on this one is different than the normal radiant? Not sure..
 
The depth is higher because it has a nice, tall crown. Nothing to worry about!
 
I love the first diamond- one of the prettiest radiants I've seen. I used to have a radiant set in an antique style pave setting and the stone didn't look too modern at all. In fact, I love how the symmetrical cut corners look with the softness of milgrain and pave. I like the first Beverly K you picked out because it's more deco style and that's what I prefer, but it's totally up to what your future wife prefers. Regardless, it is a beautiful stone!
 
Thank you all again for your help. We are buying 23477 tomorrow!
 
YAY!!! I cant wait to see what you think of it in person. :wavey:
 
I popped in to have a nose :wink2: and I see you have been beautifully assisted by the lovely ladies above, I would have picked that stone too, it will be totally gorge!
 
Serendipity99|1400045510|3672369 said:
Thank you all again for your help. We are buying 23477 tomorrow!
Click to expand...


Yay!!! Are you having it sent to you first to have a look or just setting it? I hope it turns out to be everything you were looking
for in stone!
 
We are going to take a close look at the stone first then do the setting. I'm excited!!
 
I feel like that lady in that old commercial who is waiting at the store door and tapping her fingers.. "open, open, open, open.." Except it's to FedEx and saying "get here, get here, get here.."

I am so excited to see the stone in person tomorrow! I will need to remind myself not to fall in love too fast and to keep a clear head to have an objective opinion (clearly not doing this burned me in the past). It is truly helpful though to know so many well versed PSers think it is a solid choice though! Thank you also to Lorelei for the added support!!

Argh.. I don't know that overnight delivery ever seemed so slow before. :?
 
I am hoping it is okay to post here instead of doing a new thread entirely. We got the diamond yesterday and so I wanted to try to post some pics to get your much better informed opinions.

One thing I noticed is that sometimes there is a bit of a dark spot.. of course in the pics it is in the make-do JA diamond holder, not an actual setting. Also, a youtube link of the stone "in action" is below.. my silly family moved their cell phone lights over it so... excuse our silliness I guess!

photo_1_8.jpg

photo_2_10.jpg

photo_3_3.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQr7uIuGbB4
 
Certainly, compared to your old stone which was a typical crushed ice radiant with minimal obstruction contrast, this one is going to look different. Looks like you are under spotlighting in the Youtube video, which does makes stones look darker (leaky stones don't turn as dark.)

How do you feel about the stone?
 
I'm pretty sure I like it, and it does seem to sparkle and I can catch lots of flashes of color from it. I really don't like the crushed ice appearance so I am really happy it doesn't have that. I think it is a keeper but thought it was worth verifying with you guys!
 
It's not sounding like you are in love.

These dark spots. Do they flash on and off ?
And do they look like contrast zones (even on a RB, when you look at it directly the arrows and such are dark, those are contrast zones), or do they look like facets that should be dark, but are instead not dark.
 
I would be super analytical about it no matter what, really. I'll fall in love once I get the comfort that I am making a good choice - really. :)

The dark is not always there. I think more often than not it looks like the third picture. It is pretty deep though so maybe that is part of why there is a bit of a dark area in the middle now and then?
 
No. I doubt it's the depth. Radiants and princesses and some cushion facets just need a lot of depth to get performance. And your is in an acceptable range for that.

I suspect if it was shallow you'd have more darkness.

It's just the faceting.

You have a great return policy. Live with it for a week or so. See what you think. There's no hurry.
 
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