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1st Time Diamond Buyer (Need Advice) is ONLINE Safe?

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ph19

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Messages
29
I need some help please. I''ve read a lot and looked all over and I think I''m ready to make my decision. I am looking at 2 Diamonds at Union Diamond online and 1 at Shaneco (local store). They are similar but the one at Shanco is only .90 ct while Union Diamond is 1.00 and 1.02. How is this possible? I would feel more comfortable purchasing from Shance cause it's local, but I can''t seem to justify the price difference and size difference. Here are the 3 diamonds I''ve been looking at.

Please keep in mind that this will go on an engagement ring


Diamond 1 from Shaneco
$4800
Round 0.90
EGL
SI1
Color G
thin to medium girdle
excellent polish



Diamond 2 Union Diamond
$4600
Round 1.02
EGL
SI1
Color F
Depth 60%
Table 58%
Crown 14%
Pavilion 42%
thin to medium girdle
Very Good polish



Diamond 3 Union Diamond
$4750
Round 1.00
EGL-USA
SI1
Color G
Depth 64.9%
Table 56%
Crown 18.3%
Pavilion 41.3%
thin to medium girdle
Very Good polish

Please give me input and thoughts.

Thank you in advance for your HELP
 
Online is cheaper because they do greater volume, sometimes have less overhead, so sell the diamonds at a lower price. Once I found pricescope, I never bought locally again because I could get better quality at lower prices.

I urge you to start over, however, because EGL is not a reliable lab. Look at GIA Excellent cut stones only. Union Diamond is fine, but start over and tell them you want GIA Excellent cut. EGL USA can be about two grades lower than comparable GIA stones and that is why they appear to be cheaper (and EGL International can be much lower than that). But in actuality, you are likely to overpay since you have no idea what you are really getting. If you think you like EGL G color, then you need to look at GIA I color or maybe even J color.

I personally prefer vendors who post the stones online and idealscope images that will show any leakage in the stone. I usually look at Good Old Gold, WhiteFlash, and James Allen since they provide images. Union Diamond may provide these, but you'd have to ask.
 
FWIW, Union is a local store as well, they're just in someone elses neighborhood (Atlanda). That said, I agree that it's good to support your neighbors and Shane is a fine outfit. Show them what you've found and have them explain why you should be buying form THEM instead of the competition. You then get to decide if their 'value add' is worth more than those other guys.
 
Hello Diamond Seeker 2006,

Thank you so much for your input. I want to spend only $4500 to $5000 for a diamond. Do you believe I will be able to find a good GIA diamond for that price. I'll look around at the site you recommend. Do you know someone who work well with you in the past and hasn't cheated you, because I would like to work with them too.

Thank you again
 
ph19 said:
Hello Diamond Seeker 2006,

Thank you so much for your input. I want to spend only $4500 to $5000 for a diamond. Do you believe I will be able to find a good GIA diamond for that price. I'll look around at the site you recommend. Do you know someone who work well with you in the past and hasn't cheated you, because I would like to work with them too.

Thank you again
Click to expand...

Buying from a PS vendor, you can most definitely find a great diamond for that price, around .90.
 
Hello Wbarnwell,

Thank you for your suggestion, the diamond looks Awesome. The only reason I consider buying from Shaneco is because of the warrenty and upgrade offer for the future.

Shaneco told me that if for some reason the Diamond happens to fall off, or lost they will replace it. Also if I wanted to upgrade later in the future they will give me the value of the diamond, but i am guessing that's how upgrade always work, correct?

Below are the diamonds I found one online.

Union Diamond help me find and below is a GIA I found on James Allen.

Please feel free to get me your opinion on the diamond or if you recommend for any others :D


$4634 EGL
http://www.uniondiamond.com/control/showDiamondDetails?productId=AE0409781


$4970 GIA
http://www.jamesallen.com/?gclid=CL2g0OrG_LUCFelaMgodHHYADw#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-good-cut-sku-88274
 
Does Union have an upgrade policy? I looked for one but could not find it.

You will not get a true F SI1 with great cut, 1 ct for 5000. EGL graded diamonds are cheaper because the grades do not match GIA grades.
 
ph19|1363289593|3404895 said:
Hello Wbarnwell,

Thank you for your suggestion, the diamond looks Awesome. The only reason I consider buying from Shaneco is because of the warrenty and upgrade offer for the future.

Shaneco told me that if for some reason the Diamond happens to fall off, or lost they will replace it. Also if I wanted to upgrade later in the future they will give me the value of the diamond, but i am guessing that's how upgrade always work, correct?

Below are the diamonds I found one online.

Union Diamond help me find and below is a GIA I found on James Allen.

Please feel free to get me your opinion on the diamond or if you recommend for any others :D


$4634 EGL
http://www.uniondiamond.com/control/showDiamondDetails?productId=AE0409781


$4970 GIA
http://www.jamesallen.com/?gclid=CL2g0OrG_LUCFelaMgodHHYADw#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-good-cut-sku-88274
Click to expand...

I wouldn't suggest either of these stones. Good cut just isn't good enough when it comes to diamonds. It looks as though you are trying to find a stone right at or over the 1 ct mark. I would encourage you to look at the dimensions of the stone instead of the ct weight. A well cut 1ct should face up around 6.4-6.5mm, otherwise the stone is hiding weight either in it's depth or girdle for example. Therefore a well cut .9 can look larger than a poorly cut 1.0ct.

The cut of a stone more than anything else is what gives it it's beauty. It's also the hardest of the C's to understand so often times BM stores will explain why color and clarity are so important but say nothing about the cut and how it determines the sparkle and brilliance of the diamond. Well cut diamonds look whiter and brighter and they tend to hide small inclusions better because of the optimal light performance.

DS has already explained the importance of a GIA or AGS graded stone, for that reason alone I wouldn't consider the EGL.
 
Hi JulieN,

Oh I am Sorry Shaneco has an upgrade Policy
 
James Allen will provide ideal scope images for three stone for free and also perform a gemological evaluation on them for you. You will also receive a discount for being a PS member and a discount if you use a wire transfer. They have upgrade, and buy back policies as well as free shipping and a 60 day return period.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-200841

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.06-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-200866
 
It is poorly cut for a round. It is deep, so it looks more like a .9ct. A well cut modern round brilliant will have black arrows. When the arrows go white like in the F SI1, it is a sign of poor cut. Less light will be returned to the viewer.

Some people like to have stand-alone jewelry policies, often times with companies that will write a check for the loss instead of doing a like-kind replacement.
 
Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash have upgrade policies with 100% of your purchase price going towards the new stone of any value more than the first stone. James Allen requires that the new stone cost double the price of the original stone to upgrade.

I would look for the .90 range with your budget (if you want a good upgrade policy), and get a well cut H-I SI1 or SI2 or thereabouts. I would not consider an I1 clarity diamond for an engagement ring or any fine jewelry, personally.

Here are some great options under $5k:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10437/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9812/

You get jewelry insurance on a ring that covers it for any kind of damage or loss to the stone. The store warranties usually require you to come in to check the ring with is a sales ploy, and they do not necessarily cover the stone for all types of loss or damage. Definitely not adequate.
 
JulieN|1363291865|3404931 said:
It is poorly cut for a round. It is deep, so it looks more like a .9ct. A well cut modern round brilliant will have black arrows. When the arrows go white like in the F SI1, it is a sign of poor cut. Less light will be returned to the viewer.

Some people like to have stand-alone jewelry policies, often times with companies that will write a check for the loss instead of doing a like-kind replacement.
Click to expand...



JulieN,

I look back at the Diamonds and I do notice the black arrows. Thank you learning so much from everyone....... I am surprise I didn't notice it before :roll:

When I ask for an Idealscope image what do I want to see, more red pink the better? White lines is no good right?
 
JulieN|1363297154|3405044 said:
Needs pics, it is not a BGD Blue or Signature so the Lifetime Upgrade policy does not apply. Also BGD requires you upgrade at least 2 of these: {size, color, clarity}

You can upgrade this one: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.854-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104061069089
Click to expand...





Julie,

It looks great, but I would like to find something in the 1.00 CT range or very close to it. I know it might be asking too much with my budget. =(

Would something like this be ok, since I the heart shape?

10437.gif
 
No, it won't be affected unless it is hazy, I doubt this one has that problem.

The one in the picture looks nice -what is the table size? Is it the same one with the simulated ASET? I always want to see a real Ideal scope instead of simulated.
 
Thank you for your inputs everyone

After looking at all the post I am guessing I should only go for a GIA or ASG even though the color may be as low as H. For clarity the lowest I should go is SI1 correct?

My budget is about $5000 and lower

Please feel free to send me your suggestion on Diamond

Thank you
 
I think you are on the right track. But what weight is the stone you posted the picture and ASET of? I hope it isn't 1 ct. since it is only 6.2mm.
 
diamondseeker2006|1363319294|3405331 said:
I think you are on the right track. But what weight is the stone you posted the picture and ASET of? I hope it isn't 1 ct. since it is only 6.2mm.
Click to expand...


It was a 1.02 ct
 
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