3.5 ct Princess cut . I have it for approval. Opinions please.

[Florida Phil]

Firstly, let me say that this is a CE diamond and I know full well that I can not get an un enhanced stone of this size unless I pay more money. Having said that and without saying what the asking price is, I would value some of the opinions of the more experienced members of the forum.

Princess cut

8.41 x 8.27 x 5.90mm

Depth 72%
Table 70%
Girdle Medium
Culet Small

Polish Very good
Symetry Very good

Clarity VS2
Color H-I


United Gem Laboratory / Chicago

In any light I can not see any visible inclusions and it certainly looks the part but I have several days to decide if I want this ring.

Thanks...Happy Christmas everyone.

 

[Dee*Jay]

First of all, please edit your post to remove your e-mail address. Per the forum policies that info is not permitted to be posted.

Second of all, there is not nearly enough info here to make a judgement about the stone. Do you have photos and other useful data?

Third of all, I'm a little concerned that the "United Gem Laboratory/Chicago" can't decide whether the stone is an H or an I. Isn't that the job of a grading laboratory--to make determines of this ilk?

ETA: For a stone this size I'm guessing you're plunking down a sizeable chunk of change and I personally wouldn't do that without a certificate from AGS, GIA, or at the *very least* EGL USA (and even then I'd be wary).

EETA: Why not post your budget and the parameters you're looking for and maybe the good folks here on PS can help you find a stone.

 

[kellyfish]

Would you consider posting a pic?

 

[Florida Phil]

I woud love to, but the pics I have in the recieved emails wil not for some reason let me cut and paste or save the pics? If their is some away around the "Interesting'' rule about email addresses, I wil gladly forward the pics in an email.


Now I dont know if the general Diamod buying public in this country is not to bright, but it seems to me that a lot of people are buying a lot of crap?

If I cant get what really want for the price I "HAD" Available, I will have to wait.

 

[kellyfish]

Phil,

What are your parameters? I am not an expert--but many here are & love to help people get the most bang for their buck. What you want size-wise may or may not be available for whatever your budget is, but perhaps you could get something even prettier than the stones you have seen thus far. I personally was able to maximize the size of my stone for going lower in color than many are willing to do & finding an eye-clean SI2 from a trusted vendor.

 

[Kaleigh]

I''ve tried me best to lead you towards well cut stones. If you go for this, buyer, and wearer beware. In a princess cut feel it''s risky. I know you are after size. But be careful... Wish you''d scale down in size and go for quality. JMHO and my 0.2...

 

[Dee*Jay]

Kellyfish and Kaleigh offer good adivce about considering getting a smaller, or lower color/clarity none CE stone for the same $. Would you consider that?

BTW, I have to correct my earlier post about the certificate; I wasn't thinking about the CE aspect of the stone when I said that. In retrospect that plays into the H/I color determination too.

As for the "interesting" rule about e-mail addresses, I believe that policy (which we all agreed to when we became registered users) is intended to be for the protection of the forum participants

 

[kellyfish]

I actually have a M (that''s right, M--I was willing to go there because I like size, too) colored Round brilliant that is 8.7 x 8.7 (2.55 cts in a RB). It is big and sparkly and the price was good due to the color/SI2 combo. Personally, I can live with color more easily than obvious imperfections. Have you considered a round? They "face-up" larger than fancy cuts because they are cut shallower than princesses, emerald cuts, etc.....

 

[kellyfish]

Phil,

Here is a MASSIVE K, SI1 RB that Whiteflash has given 4 stars. I think it is less than the EC you posted about a week ago. Chances are that the stone you have in your possession with a UGL cert is comparable to a GIA J or K. It has a GIA cert:

www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-403892.htm

Look at this spread: 9.07 x 9.14 x 5.37 $16027

There are others out there.....a stone like this will make a statement!!!

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 12/23/2007 11:04:21 PM
Author: kellyfish
Phil,

Here is a MASSIVE K, SI1 RB that Whiteflash has given 4 stars. I think it is less than the EC you posted about a week ago. Chances are that the stone you have in your possession with a UGL cert is comparable to a GIA J or K. It has a GIA cert:

www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-403892.htm

Look at this spread: 9.07 x 9.14 x 5.37 $16027

There are others out there.....a stone like this will make a statement!!!

Man, that is right up my alley!
Now, where''s my winning lottery ticket!

To the OP - I second/third the recommendations to go with a well cut, non ce enhanced stone even if you have to go down a bit on size. It is a "mind clean" thing with me. I''d also go with GIA or AGS certification because they are better known and respected.

 

[bee*]

Date: 12/23/2007 10:33:19 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I''ve tried me best to lead you towards well cut stones. If you go for this, buyer, and wearer beware. In a princess cut feel it''s risky. I know you are after size. But be careful... Wish you''d scale down in size and go for quality. JMHO and my 0.2...

I agree. I think that it would be better to go for a smaller well cut diamond then a larger not so great diamond.

 

[Florida Phil]

Thank you all very much for the great advice. I think I will return this stone and wait until next month when Im in a position to get a NON CE stone around the same size. We still want a Princess cut although I agree the rounds are a great deal.

The UGL certificate is the biggest thing putting me off this stone and the general distain im feeling for enhanced stones. The so called Jeweler who supplied the stone is of course blaming other Jewelers for not being able to appaise it and they of course dont know what they are talking about. I have asked for clarification and the name of the GIA graduate that has put a squiggle where the signature should be but was told the lab has many gemologists and its a Lab signature? It just does not sit right with me.

There is such a huge gap with prices. "Mayors" in our local mall want $80,000 a stone that I can buy from many vendors on the search facility on this site for $30,000. You would think they would at least be competitive?

I still cant save the pics from an email he sent me, I have tried everything. They are very well embedded somehow.

 

[Florida Phil]

This site has been incredible and I have learnt a lot. The main thing I have learnt is you get what you pay for and their are no short cuts when buying a good Diamond. Their are some deals, but no short cuts. The CE stone I bought is being Fedexed back tomorrow morning as it just does not have enough "Life'' after 3 days to examine it. What ever they use to enhace the inside of the stone seems to dull the Diamond in my opinion. I know I wont be happy so have decided to purchase a stone from a vendor here and get the coveted GIA cert etc. Still no info is forthcoming about this so called United Gem Laboratory in Chicago.


Thank you all for the advice over the last week or so and I will update you on what we decide to purchase next.

 

[chrono]

FloridaPhil,
The dullness is most likely due to the cut. A person can buy a D IF stone and it will still look dull and lifeless if it isn''t well cut. I am breathing a sigh of relief upon reading that the CE stone is being returned. Most brick and mortar places where you have been shopping at do not market their goods to people who care about sparkle, plus they have a high overhead cost to maintain, thus their pricing isn''t as competitive as what you can find online. Please let us help you search for a stone that fits your budget and size criteria. You only need to give those 2 information and all the PScopers will be jumping around like sharks at a bait to help you out. We all love a good challenge.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/25/2007 10:32:52 PM
Author: Florida Phil
This site has been incredible and I have learnt a lot. The main thing I have learnt is you get what you pay for and their are no short cuts when buying a good Diamond. Their are some deals, but no short cuts. The CE stone I bought is being Fedexed back tomorrow morning as it just does not have enough 'Life' after 3 days to examine it. What ever they use to enhace the inside of the stone seems to dull the Diamond in my opinion. I know I wont be happy so have decided to purchase a stone from a vendor here and get the coveted GIA cert etc. Still no info is forthcoming about this so called United Gem Laboratory in Chicago.


Thank you all for the advice over the last week or so and I will update you on what we decide to purchase next.

Indeed.


I'll tell you what though, with a Princess, you would actually be better off looking at stones graded by AGS with a zero in light performance.. GIA is a highly respected lab, but they are behind AGS in some respects. Light performance grading is one of them. So look for AGS0 stones, and you should end up with a pretty stone.

(with WF and GOG, it may be possible to find a nice GIA stone, but not most places)


And I too am breathing a sigh of relief.

 

[Florida Phil]

Thanks Guys.

OK, fair enough this is what I would like in an ideal world. Still want the Princess cut. Between 3 and 3.5 Ct. Recognized certification and obviously as higher quality as possible. A stone with somer real life in it. As for budget, yes I have a figure I dont want to go above but also dont want to shoot myself in the foot. So, Vendors please let me know what you have.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Phil, what you should do now is start a thread asking for help finding a stone. The vendors can''t tell you what they have because it''s against forum policies, but we (the consumer members of PS) can search and give you some suggestions. If you won''t post your budget at least give us the color and clarity that you''re thinking of. I''m thinking eye-clean G or H SI1 or SI2 to give you the most bang for your buck, but let us know!

 

[Florida Phil]

LOL.....OK. Who actually sits at home thinking up policys like this......and why? I will start a thread as you suggest.

Thanks...

 

[Ellen]

I don''t know how much good a thread will even do you. I checked 2 places, and at G-H, VS2-SI2, they had nada. You''re probably going to have to call a few vendors and get them searching. This size isn''t going to just be laying around....

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 12/26/2007 8:57:32 PM
Author: Ellen
I don''t know how much good a thread will even do you. I checked 2 places, and at G-H, VS2-SI2, they had nada. You''re probably going to have to call a few vendors and get them searching. This size isn''t going to just be laying around....

Pick a vendor and call them. They''ll be happy to work with you. WF and GOG come to mind, have bought from both. Good luck.