2.5 to 3.0+ Emerald Ct advice

[Jsu2]

New to this site, stumbled onto it and it looks like a wealth of information. I'm hoping for some input about purchasing an EC that will be mounted solitaire on a wide band; 2-3mm, in white gold.

My wife is looking for an EC in the 9-10mm x 7-8mm range which seems to translate into a 2.5 -3ct stone. She has tried on different sized diamonds to come up with that size. She has really small hands and didn't want the diamond to look funny on her hand.

Anyway, we met with a jeweler and he thinks he will be able to purchase a diamond on a planned trip to Belgium this coming week in that size range in an SI1, J in the $15 to 20K range. Searching this site and others, the price seems reasonable, but after more research it also looks like we might want to go no less than VS2, I. The dealer is planning on calling us from Belgium with some choices this Tuesday or Wednesday.

Haven't used this jeweler before, but there are no bad reviews or comments on the store that I can find which is family owned for decades an located in Bozeman, MT. Can I get some advise or recommendations on our concern with SI1, J vs VS2, I as minimums. We see a lot of SI1's on the internet with obvious occlusions, so would be concerned unless the jeweler tells us he has an SI1 that he can't see any occlusions eye free.

Thanks, Matt

 

[bgray]

Dear Matt:

BIG mistake handling your purchase this way. I did EXACTLY what you are doing 18 years ago and sold my extremely mediocre stone several years later at a huge loss (after finding this site) and now have a spectacular stone. You should look for a stone based on cut quality not dimension. You should look at a several stones so you can visually compare them and see what she likes. Does she like the classic ratio of 1.5 or a more square 1.2 etc. Every stone is different and having someone pick out a stone for you is really a recipe for disaster. They may be very reputable but that is not enough. There are plenty of emerald cuts in the US. You want GIA certs, you want photographs and ASETs and a 100% return policy. Having your jeweler decide if something is eye clean is not sufficient. I am not sure what else to tell you.............

 

[bgray]

I did a search on Pricescope just so you can get an idea ....


We have 8 Emerald diamonds between 2.5-2.99 carat, $0-$1000000, I color, VS2-Sl1 clarity, labs: GIA;
Advanced: depth 57.0-69.5, table 56.0-68.0, symmetry Ideal-Good, polish Ideal-Good, fluorescence Strong-n/a.
Carat Clr Clarity Depth Table Lab Cut Sym Pol Flr HnA HCA $/Carat Price Source
2.50 I VS2 68.5% 66.0% GIA G VG N N n/a $7414 $18536 Solomon Brothers
2.50 I VS2 68.5% 66.0% GIA VG G VG N N n/a $7508 $18771 B2C Jewels
2.50 I VS2 68.5% 66.0% GIA G VG N N n/a $7534 $18836 USA Certed Diamonds
2.52 I VS2 68.9% 63.0% GIA VG X N N n/a $8117 $20456 USA Certed Diamonds
2.53 I VS2 68.9% 63.0% GIA VG VG X N N n/a $8640 $21860 Blue Nile
2.53 I SI1 68.5% 61.0% GIA VG VG N N n/a $7267 $18387 UnionDiamond
2.75 I VS2 68.5% 63.0% GIA VG X N N n/a $8961 $24643 USA Certed Diamonds
2.75 I VS2 68.5% 63.0% GIA VG VG X N N n/a $9358 $25736 Blue Nile

 

[Jsu2]

Thanks for the quick response bgray, good food for thought. They will only be GIA per the jeweler, and she likes the rectangular look best. Good point about looking at multiple diamonds, I'll talk with her about that. Do you think pictures from the jeweler could be sufficient? Any thoughts on the VS2, G being the minimum instead of SI1, J. As far as prices, any thought on if they are in the right range of what's described?

Your right about the possibility for a disaster if we go this route too and we'll talk about that. If we slowed up the search, it could become a nice memory behind the purchasing of the ring, depending on how far the search would take us.

Thanks

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

You have been given good advice so far but just wanted to add this link for you to have a chance to see many emerald and "asscher" stones set. Most of the reposts do not include the original specs of the rings so you cannot know color and clarity from simply viewing the post/ring, but you can always search the OP's thread and get the details from there.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/emerald-cuts-asschers-a-collection.113993/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/emerald-cuts-asschers-a-collection.113993/[/URL]

cheers--Sharon

 

[bgray]

Thanks for the quick response bgray, good food for thought. They will only be GIA per the jeweler, and she likes the rectangular look best. Good point about looking at multiple diamonds, I'll talk with her about that. Do you think pictures from the jeweler could be sufficient? Any thoughts on the VS2, G being the minimum instead of SI1, J. As far as prices, any thought on if they are in the right range of what's described?

Your right about the possibility for a disaster if we go this route too and we'll talk about that. If we slowed up the search, it could become a nice memory behind the purchasing of the ring, depending on how far the search would take us.

Thanks

I read your post and laughed (at myself mostly). When I bought my EC we used a trusted local small town jeweler who was travelling to Belgium. Called me with specs, said it was a thing of beauty , was an E VVS2 and had both a GIA and HRD cert. It came and being a novice and not having anything to compare it to we took it. Immediately it just seemed flat and dead. Never really thought it was bad but for the money I was (privately) disappointed. Then I moved and when I saw good stones and found this site I understood. So a GIA cert is meaningless except that it is at least the most accurate you will get for a fancy. The numbers are what matter. Depth, table percentage, the angles and the crown height. The color is irrelevant: a fabulously cut K wlill be fabulous. Seriously, I would however stick with a vs2. Thats what I have now. si is tough with step cuts as you can see everything in them especially in larger stones. And no pictures from the jeweler will not suffice. As for prices, do a diamond search on here or even blue nile with strict parameters and you will see the price ranges. (look at the stones i posted--18k to 25K)

 

[0-0-0]

With emerald cuts I would argue that even having the numbers on the reports are pointless. Short of seeing and comparing stones in person, ASET images and videos are necessary.

 

[Jsu2]

Thanks for the Comparisons bgrey and for the link canuk-gal.

I did search and found many with the specs I listed but was looking for clarification from more knowledgeable people. After looking at many different pictures from canuk-gal's link too, it becomes more obvious of the merits at looking at many diamonds in person.

I have purchased vehicles and boats over the internet with pictures, but I could alter those if I wasn't completely satisfied with my purchase, but my wife can't alter the diamond if she isn't 100% happy with it. Her last diamond was a 1.03 ct SI1, G that I purchased, and she was very happy with it but then our daughter saw a small occlusion in it that neither of us had seen. Thinkingggg.

 

[JulieN]

First off, stop showing diamonds to your daughter. She has greater visual acuity at close range than you or your wife will.

Second, a good picture and trusted vendor is a starting point, but buy from a place with a return policy or buy back policy if your wife is not satisfied. The advantage with working with someone local is that you get to see the stones before committing. If your vendor expects you to fully commit to a stone with no return policy just from a picture, I would explore working with one of the NY jewelers popular on this board, they will at least have pictures and a return policy.

 

[dk168]

When I went to Antwerp to purchase my EC back in 2004, I was shown 3 stones based on my budget, all different shape, E/F colour, VVS/VS clarity.

I was given the 10x loupe so that I could look for the inclusion myself (with great difficulties and had to be told where to look) and was able to go outside to view them in daylight, accompanied, of course.

They were all lively and sparkly with big corners, and I chose the one based on the shape I liked most (I prefer mine to be longer than squarer due to my fat chunky fingers). It was also cheaper than the squarer ones as it would have been a "Tiffany reject" due to its longer shape.

Love it to this day, and I loved the whole buying process, being able to select my stone in person.

Good luck with your purchase OP.

DK

 

[dk168]

Some cuts can hide inclusions better than others, and ECs do not hide inclusions well, hence it is often advised for ECs to be VS clarity or better.

However, I have seen a number of SI clarity stones on Diamonds by Lauren where the inclusions are very difficult to detect even when magnified, usually near the corners.

Therefore, I would go and view the SI stones with an open mind, good luck!

DK