2 DIAMONDS TOUGH DECISION

[Jimmy]

I have a very tough decision to make between 2 diamonds.

The first one:

.85 Princess Cut SI 1 D
5.29 x 5.30 x 3.50
DEPTH 66%
TABLE 66.5%
GIRDLE: 4.0%
CULET .5 % POINTED
POLISH VG
SYMM VG

The jeweller grades them himself. It doesn''t come with a GIA. He has a IGI and a CDI certificate but the only written proportions are his grading certificate.

2ND ONE

PRINCESS CUT SI1 F
.90
5.30 X 5.17 X 3.86 MM

DEPTH 74.7%
TABLE 72%
GIRDLE THICK
CULET NONE

POLISH AND SYMM VERY GOOD

My comments on the .85 Si1 D

I looked at the .85 and it sparkled nicely and it''s a perfect square. The inclusions were off to the side and not visible to the eye. The table is 66.5 and the depth is 66 %. Is that O.k?

My comments on the .90 Si 1 F

I haven''t seen this one yet but the thick girdle concerns me a little.

What do you guys think? The D colour .85 is about $500 more than F colour .90.

What do you guys like better?

 

[quaeritur]

DAN-

I think it's been mentioned before, it's pretty much impossible to give you an opinion without crown and pavilion angles, or AT LEAST a crown %. If you want useful input, try to get those #s. Also, I'm very wary of buying without certification, and would only do so if the sale were made contingent on a satisfactory independent appraisal with a full money back guarantee (not "store credit"). I hope you will exercise caution and take a moment to learn more about princess cuts before taking a plunge you may regret. Two vendors I'd really trust to pick out princess cut winners, if you're willing to make an internet purchase, are www.goodoldgold.com and www.superbcert.com.

Here are links to a couple that looked interesting to me (I don't know what your budget is)

0.85 F VS1
0.97 F SI2 (have them check the inclusions on this, it might not be eye-clean)

I'd just hate to see you regret such an expensive decision later...

 

[Jimmy]

I think the girdle is 8 %.

 

[Jimmy]

Sorry! I mean the crown height is 8 %. I've ran into aa lot of jewellers who grade themself. Is it worth making them send it to GIA in the US for $200 plus all the other costs?

 

[quaeritur]

Well, I'm NOT an expert on princess cuts -I defer in all matters princess to researcher and moremoremore- BUT, what I've seen them both say over and over is that the best performers have crown heights of at least 10%.

You don't necessarily have to have them send it to GIA or AGS. I hear PGS is a very respectable lab (might have shorter turn-around and be slightly less expensive). Also, if you don't care about not having a cert, you can simply go to an independent appraiser for confirmation on the color, clarity, and dimensions. With only the jeweler 'certifying' his own stones, what's to say you're not actually buying something like an H instead of an F, or an SI2 rather than a VS??? I don't know, it's just that for me, when we're talking about this kind of money, I want to KNOW what I'm paying for. I guess that might not be important to everyone?