Buying a loose stone

Dear All,

guess what?....I am looking for a stone for her engagement ring and would like not over pay it. 

After several hours spent on this fantastic site trying to get some clue about the shining but quite complex domain of diamonds I got a pretty clear idea about what I am looking for but still have some questions you will be probably able to answer.

The ideal stone I am looking for (in bold the preferred choice):
cut - Excellent or Very good
clarity - VVS2/VS1
color grade - D/E/F
carat - about 0.65

The questions:

-) Is it really worth to ask for an Excellent cut grade or I can leave with a "Very Good" one. Actually on Pricescope it is "said" that it is not really worthy to go for a "Excellent" cut grade and a "Very good" one will return almost as much light as an "Excellent" one...

-) Do you know the european dealer aaaadiamonds.com? Comments? And, by any chance did you know "ArtGem" one of its associates?

-) Infact ArtGem pretends that the cut grade "Excellent" does not exists in Europe and Very Good is the highest one and equivalent to the USA GIA, AGS Excellent.....is it true???? On the IGI site I found the cut grade "Excellent" but only in the english section....?!?

-) they also propose stones with quite large tables (about 61%, 62%) if comparred to the reccomended 53-58% for 1A grade....whihc is the acceptable limit for an Excellent/Very good cut?

-) Do you know any accredited Gem appraisers operating in Europe (better if in Paris)?
 
-) it is my understanding that the order of preference would be: AGS, GIA, HRD, IGI but probably they will propose to me only HRD and IGI cert stones. In the case I can  not make a decision between 2 stones similar in characteristics and prices but with differente certificates (HRD, IGI), for which one of the 2 I should go ?

-) can you give me a price range ($/carat) for above characteristics? (It seems that a fair price would be about 4700 $/carat, do you agree?)

-) how much, in percentage, a different cut ("Very good" instead of Excellent) or color grade can affect the above price (just a give or take existimation)?

Thanks in advance for your answers');" alt="Insert smilie " src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/34.gif" align=absMiddle border=0>

Ira (Ruffles have Ridges) Z.
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If you're looking for diamond shopping tips...this (along with this update) might do the trick!

however...caution: known to have been regarded as armed and dangerous…