DREAM TEAM - Q#3 - LOCKED IN/B&M

Thanks, "Team" for help with Q#1-Q2 so far!. (see conclusions listed below) >>

Well, I’ve got myself locked in to when I need to make this all happen.  Thanks to a new hub coming to Charlotte, I was able to get roundtrip air to Italy (Venice/Florence) in April for $305, including taxes. (Hope I can do as great a deal with the stone…lol).  SO, on April 9, 2004, on a gondola with serenade, the question is going to be popped (and the ring produced).  So, now I need to get busy!

QUESTION # 3- Brick & Morter reviews.  I’ve researched a lot through PS forum.  Now I want to gain a visual appreciation for differences in stones, based on many of your suggestions.  I plan to purchase the stone in the Jan/Feb time frame, setting made in March and “presto” in ApriL!  Please help me by reviewing my strategy to be applied over the next 2 weeks .My plans continue to be that I will consider online and B&M prior to any purchase.

OK – now I feel ready to go do some due diligence at the b&m stores.  My strategy is to call a few stores a week in advance asking to set up some appts to look at loose stones.  I’d like to see a couple stones with differing colors (d, E, F) to see the differences to my sight.  Should all the stones be comparable in size or does this not matter for this exercise?>>

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I also want to see the difference between vvs, vs, SI.  I was planning to ask another store to show me 3 – 1ct stones to help me see the differences in clarity.  Should I request all the same color??  Will the size matter?>>

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Next, I planned to view two comparably sized princess stones, one having a larger table then depth, the other the converse to gain some site perception on stone physical shapes>>

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What tools should I plan on using/requesting to show me light return/scintillation?>>

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I plan to ask each of the stores what they would sale the stones for compared to RAP values.  Is this reasonable?>>

Is there any other thing that I should plan to do or, for that matter rethink???

LASTLY, PLEASE NOTE MY NEW TARGET LISTED BELOW!>>

"Thanks" Team!
"Appreciative-of-expertise"   referrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">ath o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f">ath>>>

Other Posts:
Q#2 – Princess Cuts/Dimensions
http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=10096&forumID=3&catID=&search=1&searchstring=&sessionID={7CBE91AF-4EB4-4F23-A25E-A9FEC2798675}>>

NEW TARGET:  3-3.33ct, square princess, depth < 70, table < 65 (5%), height > 9%, E-F, VS, cut=1A-B – 2, thin-med – med/slightly thick girdle, “Great light return”, Light return will take priority over specs.  Budget remains at $34k, incl setting.>>

Conclusions:
1. Scintilation is important-how others will visually see the stone. Graining, though important, can most likely be addressed by concentrating on light leakage instead.  Read posts within. >>

2. Princess cuts are more complex then rounds; Critical components, technically speaking, are crown and pavilian angles and their ratio to each.  Can’t go by specs alone; optically could be a dud; see Rhino’s posts within>>

3.       Imperative to visually review stones due to #1.  Work with a vendor who has the tools to help you assess the quality of the stone.; ie, Ideal Scope for light leakage, Sarin for proportions, Bscope for different types of lighting impacts.  Most B&M shops will not have these tools.  Purchase the Ideal Scope from this site to take with you when conducting store visits/reviews of stones.  Work with vendors who have some of these tools.
4. With respect to symmetry and polish, both should be ranked at least “good”, perhaps priority to lean more to symmetry score then polish
4. Be open-minded to look at stones outside of your technical specs that you start with.  Again, rely also on visual review of stones>>

Q#1 - Color/Clarity http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=10029&sessionID=C5ABA04E74E548F08D6B8D7A94935889
Conclusions:
1. Target F-VS2/E-VS1, Faint – Neg. Florescent. 
2. Body color is more apparent in Fancy cuts.  Rely on “human visual capabilities”; review/compare stones for color & clarity differences in B&M shops in December
3. A VS stone will not have any face up visible inclusions if it was graded correctly.
4. Budget is still in line with my expectations.>>

Orig. Post:  (90 DAY PLAN) – 3 Ct Princess + setting
http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=9966&pageNo=1&num=&sessionID=2D47E37E9C66417192B05B4896F21841%20%20$34k%20budget
$34k budget

Thanks Giangi - the Italy trip is going to also be a surprise (this one at xmas!)  Thanks for your pointers and I do understand the challenge of find comparative stones in my market size.  Hence, my question as to the value of looking at smaller sizes.  I will be doing most of my research in Pittsburgh and plan to go to Biddle Banks, and a number of so called wholesalers in an area called the Clark Building.  Also resident there are Diamond Importers and Goldstock.  I was hoping to divide and conquer amongst them as I don't expect them to incur expense when I am not confident