Need help choosing online vendor!

[mrasg1]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I have been together for a long time as bf and gf. My Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in May and passed away in mid -July. She had always teased that she would never live to see us get married. So, on the spur of the moment before she passed away we got married in front of her. But, we still don't have the rings !

She wants a full diamond eternity band.

Looking for something between .75 - 1ct total.
Platinum.
Round stones
Prong/shared prong setting

Something simple classic and pretty with
a profile that doesn't divert attention from the
diamonds.

I've narrowed vendors from researching on
the web to Brian Gavin and Whiteflash.

Any suggestions or recommendations?!

Anybody have positive experience or not with
these vendors?

Or, is there another vendor I'm missing?

Here's an example of ring style.

Thanks in advance!!

Adam

 

[Niel]

if james allen's 25% off applies to eternities. id look at those!

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-rings/womens-eternity/ladies-1.00ctw-contoured-common-prong-diamond-eternity-ring-item-1444

 

[lknvrb4]

Another option is idjewelry, just let them know you want PS quality. Many members on here have gotten wonderful rings from them.

 

[tmot14]

Lots of us have experience with Brian Gavin and Whiteflash--you can't go wrong between them! That said, the James Allen sale may give you the best price.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think the diamond quality will be superior at WhiteFlash and Brian Gavin. I have had a few things from WF and their diamonds are top notch.

I am so sorry about your mother. I am sure that gave her such joy to be able to see you two married!

 

[Gypsy]

I'm sorry about your mother.

It really depends on your goals and budget. What are your priorities and what is your budget?

If you want 1ctw you aren't talking large stones. I had two of JA's bands that were shared prong and the diamond quality was fantastic. I personally would look between them and JA and WF and BGD and go with whoever is more affordable. Here is what you need to know:
The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want? Well first you want to stick to stones that have a crown angle of 34 (33.5 okay for 60/60 style stones) and over, a pavilion angle of 41 and under, and no deeper than 62.5
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.

 

[julesxxxooo]

I'm sorry about your mother.

It really depends on your goals and budget. What are your priorities and what is your budget?

If you want 1ctw you aren't talking large stones. I had two of JA's bands that were shared prong and the diamond quality was fantastic. I personally would look between them and JA and WF and BGD and go with whoever is more affordable. Here is what you need to know:
The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want? Well first you want to stick to stones that have a crown angle of 34 (33.5 okay for 60/60 style stones) and over, a pavilion angle of 41 and under, and no deeper than 62.5
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.

Gypsy, your post should be pinned. So much helpful information for newbies! I wish I had found this forum at the start of my search!

 

[CRYSTAL24K]

Excellent post, Gypsy!

 

[heididdl]

Another option is idjewelry, just let them know you want PS quality. Many members on here have gotten wonderful rings from them.

I Agree IDJ

 

[TammyLynn]

Mrasj what did you end up going with? I'm on the hunt for a similar look and would love to hear back on what you decided!

 

[emeraldluvr]

Take a look at these breathtaking eternity wedding bands! http://www.firenzejewels.com/search.cfm