1 carat round $5k-$6k price range

[struggling]

Where to begin?

I tried to do ''research'' on my own, but the more research I do, the more tools/advice I find.

I have friends that suggest their diamond guys, but reviews from other friends that go to anyone of them I get mixed feedback about how pushy those guys can be (Friends want quality, Diamond guy pushes size, etc).

I have gone to another form I visit frequency and there is a "diamond" guy on there that suggested some diamonds and was just trying to get even more help.

My sister recently got engaged and everyone that see''s her ring raves about it, so I asked my brother in law what he got. From his description (he said he tired to wipe all that info from his head because it was such a beating) that he got a 1.05 ct, H color, VS1 for around 4,500 which is far and away less than what I have been told some of my other friends have paid and their wives love looking at my sisters (most went to the size over quality guy). My brother in law say they all got screwed.

He has a guy, but its way out of town for me, so I''m doing the BlueNile thing using the Diamond Cut Analysis tool for some added help and have now developed a severe headache.

So I am at the point to where I am stuck trying to figure out where to sacrifice Cut vs Clarity vs Color and use the Diamond Cut Analysis tool while not getting screwed in price. I was surprised to see this forum and how active it is, so I have come to seek even more advice before I totally lose it.

I have been looking at G-H color, VS1-VS2, Very Good to Ideal cuts in a round diamond while trying to stay in the excellent TIC range (I only found this today).

I have been given advice to up the color and reduce the clarity by some people, so I''m just lost now.

Any help would be appreciated at this point.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gorri8]

Did you look at whiteflash, James Allen, and GOG. They might have something around that range, or maybe less carat with great clarity. Good luck!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/19/2008 4:18:00 PM
Author:struggling
Where to begin?

I tried to do 'research' on my own, but the more research I do, the more tools/advice I find.

I have friends that suggest their diamond guys, but reviews from other friends that go to anyone of them I get mixed feedback about how pushy those guys can be (Friends want quality, Diamond guy pushes size, etc).

I have gone to another form I visit frequency and there is a 'diamond' guy on there that suggested some diamonds and was just trying to get even more help.

My sister recently got engaged and everyone that see's her ring raves about it, so I asked my brother in law what he got. From his description (he said he tired to wipe all that info from his head because it was such a beating) that he got a 1.05 ct, H color, VS1 for around 4,500 which is far and away less than what I have been told some of my other friends have paid and their wives love looking at my sisters (most went to the size over quality guy). My brother in law say they all got screwed.

He has a guy, but its way out of town for me, so I'm doing the BlueNile thing using the Diamond Cut Analysis tool for some added help and have now developed a severe headache.

So I am at the point to where I am stuck trying to figure out where to sacrifice Cut vs Clarity vs Color and use the Diamond Cut Analysis tool while not getting screwed in price. I was surprised to see this forum and how active it is, so I have come to seek even more advice before I totally lose it.

I have been looking at G-H color, VS1-VS2, Very Good to Ideal cuts in a round diamond while trying to stay in the excellent TIC range (I only found this today).

I have been given advice to up the color and reduce the clarity by some people, so I'm just lost now.

Any help would be appreciated at this point.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome!

Sorry to hear you are struggling, but not to worry - we will help you!

It is cut quality which gives a diamond its beauty so it is important to concentrate on that. Depending on your budget, you could consider GIA or AGS graded G or H colour and VS2 to a verified eyeclean SI1 clarity in order to have a quality diamond and maximum size for the budget.

If shopping on Blue Nile, to make it easier look at their AGS0 cut grade round diamonds as these should be well cut stones and it will make it a bit easier for you. There are also well cut GIA graded diamonds but as this grade is wide, less desirable proportion combos can earn the Excellent cut grade and may not be the best performers. The drawback with Blue Nile is that they do not offer Idealscope images which many buyers of round diamonds like to have in order to help them judge a diamond, but it depends on your comfort level if that is ok with you or you want more info on the diamonds you are considering.

You can certainly use the HCA to help you but remember it is an elimination tool and not used to select diamonds. The aim is to score 2 or below in most cases then evaluate from there, also a lower score is not better than a higher one, more score 2 or below is a pass, above 2 in the majority of cases a ' fail'.

Also don't go by vendor applied labels such as Ideal Cut, the only meaningful use of the term Ideal Cut is when it is applied to AGS labs and their AGS0 cut grade. It is best to evaluate each diamond on its individual proportions rather than rely on a vendor saying such and such a diamond is ideal cut etc.

If you could give us an idea of budget and the size diamond you want, we could maybe find some contenders for you?

 

[Regular Guy]

Maybe this?

 

[honey22]

He probably did pay that amount for a poorly cut stone. Now who''s getting screwed?!

 

[Mrs W]

Here is a few more:

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-906696.htm

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1203122.asp

 

[Ivoil]

Mr struggling,

There are some good prices that you are suppose to pay for stone:

1 carat VS1 color G - 5800 USD
VS1 color H - 4800 USD
VS2 color G - 5100 USD
VS2 color H - 4480 USD

You can do something smart - buy 0.97 - 0.98 carat stone and leave the other friends to talk. For 0.98 carat stone VS1 color G price must be not more than 4100 USD. See, the price of the diamonds jump a lot from 1 carat and over.

 

[Lorelei]

Nice selections Ira, Breann and Honey!!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/19/2008 4:57:33 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Maybe this?

This would be my first pick.