3ct Round..... What do you all think?

[jimbean]

Greetings People,

I think I have found a diamond I like. I''d love all of your help, so let me know what you think. Below are the specs and attached is the plot. He''s letting it go for under 20K. I''ll still negociating the price. It looks great in person. The color is lower than I was looking for, but it''s very pretty. Next to a GIA I, I didn''t see a difference. And it is 100% eye clean. The inclusion is hard to find even with a loop. What do you all think about it? Can I set it in a Halo with matching diamonds and have it still look nice? My GF is not very color sensitive. What do you all think about the specs and price? Please help, I''m scared

GIA:
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 9.47 - 9.54 x 5.79 mm

Carat Weight: 3.12 carat
Color Grade: K
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 60.9%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 33.0°
Crown Height: 14.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.4°
Pavilion Depth: 44.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (2.5%)
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.Surface graining is not shown.

 

[stone-cold11]

Could be good even with the numbers. Have you look at it under all possible lighting conditions?

Get it independently appraised if you are still worried. Find one near you using this link. https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

The price looks good.

 

[Lorelei]

Shows potential, one thing though that the steep pavilion angle can lead to colour entrapment in some cases, so be aware that this diamond might show a bit more warmth as a result. See if you can view the diamond away from any bright store lights to see how the colour looks, it is a big rock too so you might see more warmth anyway.

Yes you could set it in a halo if you wish ( it would look enormous

) but make sure the halo diamonds complement the centre stone.

I would also suggest comparing some other large diamonds of higher colour too so you are sure this one is the right one. I love K's but they are not for everyone. Are you sure your GF wants such a large diamond and wouldn't prefer a smaller one of higher colour?

 

[jimbean]

thanks for the tips and comments. i''m pretty nervous about all this stuff because i''ve never spent so much money on something so small. i''m going to have it appraised before purchase.

also, does anyone know of places to get idealscope images, sarin reports, light performance tests, etc done in illinois? do need to have all these tests done, or can i just trust an independent appraiser?

thanks everyone.

 

[stone-cold11]

Call the appraiser up and ask what equipments do they have and pick your appraisers accordingly.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/14/2009 2:17:22 PM
Author: jimbean
thanks for the tips and comments. i''m pretty nervous about all this stuff because i''ve never spent so much money on something so small. i''m going to have it appraised before purchase.

also, does anyone know of places to get idealscope images, sarin reports, light performance tests, etc done in illinois? do need to have all these tests done, or can i just trust an independent appraiser?

thanks everyone.

If you can find a good appraiser whom is skilled at evaluating cut quality then they might have IS, a Sarin machine etc and very importantly they can use their experience and expertise to give you an impartial opinion on the stone.

 

[jimbean]

looks like i found a place that can do all the tests and give me an appraisal. i''ll post the pics and results when i get them. thanks to all for you feedback.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/14/2009 11:26:23 AM
Author:jimbean

Greetings People,

I think I have found a diamond I like. I''d love all of your help, so let me know what you think. Below are the specs and attached is the plot. He''s letting it go for under 20K. I''ll still negociating the price. It looks great in person. The color is lower than I was looking for, but it''s very pretty. Next to a GIA I, I didn''t see a difference. And it is 100% eye clean. The inclusion is hard to find even with a loop. What do you all think about it? Can I set it in a Halo with matching diamonds and have it still look nice? My GF is not very color sensitive. What do you all think about the specs and price? Please help, I''m scared

GIA:
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 9.47 - 9.54 x 5.79 mm

Carat Weight: 3.12 carat
Color Grade: K
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent


Proportions:
Depth: 60.9%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 33.0°
Crown Height: 14.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.4°
Pavilion Depth: 44.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (2.5%)
Culet: None


Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.Surface graining is not shown.

I''ll be honest, one would not have to be color sensitive to notice some warmth in a K this size. Being color sensitive, and minding/not minding the color/warmth are two different things. So I''d ask yourself where she would fall, seeing it and minding, or seeing it and not minding, because I guarantee she''ll see some warmth/color.


btw, what became of this one? It looked very promising.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-03-carat-round-what-do-you-think.121441/

 

[ct-appr]

The fluorescence may help it look better than a K in natural light. The price seems reasonable.

 

[FancyDiamond]

I am curious, too. Like Ellen asked, whatever happened to the 3.03 ct diamond?
It costs money and efforts to ship the stone back and forth and get independent appraisals. Thus for me, before taking the next move, I want to be at least 99% sure that the diamond is the one. I do not know what reasons you passed over the 3.03-ct for this one. To me, cut is much more important than size. The 3.03-ct has a lower HCA score that predicts excellent performance. This diamond you are considering has a higher HCA score that predicts only very good light performance. $20K is a lot of money. Are you sure you want this diamond?

 

[jimbean]

hi all,

thanks to all for bringing up my previous choice, the 3.03 J SI2. although I did like the stone, i was somewhat turned off by the inclusions. for an si2, they were visually ''eye clean'' meaning that i could not really see them from 12 inches away on the hand, but under the loop, it looked pretty scary. they were mainly twinning wisps and feathers, mainly on the sides and some at the girdle. visually, i thought they performed similarly. in your experience, is there are huge or at least a noticeable difference between a HCA score of very good and excellent? also, would the inclusions in the 3.03 (plot attached) concern you in terms of visual performance and long term durability? thanks in advance!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/17/2009 4:46:56 PM
Author: jimbean
hi all,

thanks to all for bringing up my previous choice, the 3.03 J SI2. although I did like the stone, i was somewhat turned off by the inclusions. for an si2, they were visually ''eye clean'' meaning that i could not really see them from 12 inches away on the hand, but under the loop, it looked pretty scary. they were mainly twinning wisps and feathers, mainly on the sides and some at the girdle. visually, i thought they performed similarly. in your experience, is there are huge or at least a noticeable difference between a HCA score of very good and excellent? also, would the inclusions in the 3.03 (plot attached) concern you in terms of visual performance and long term durability? thanks in advance!

There could definitely be a difference, or not so much. Without having them both examined by a professional, no way to really tell. I prefer the numbers on the J a bit better, and it definitely scores better.

As for the inclusions, again, I would want an independant appraiser to have a look at it, they can say best.

 

[FancyDiamond]

My original ering has a center stone that has an HCA score of 2.0 (predicts very good light return and fire, good scintillation, and excellent spread). It looks acceptable but not crisp/clear (not great contrast?). My recently upgraded ering has an ACA center stone of triple ideal 0 cut and perfect performance (HCA 1.0, excellent light return, fire, scintillation, and sperad). In real life, it looks exceptionally crisp and sparkles like mad under all lighting conditions. The difference in appearance is very noticeable, even though my old stone is still an above average performer.

I posted a thread here recently about my old stone. All reponses voted for no recut as I am planning to reset the old stone in a pendant. Guess what? I am having it recut, even if it means a significant loss in carat weight and diameter. The reason? After I have seen and owned a perfectly cut diamond, I cannot accept anything less. The only exception is an inexpensive stone which I wear in lieu of costume jewelry for cruises, sightseeing in foreign countries, and other potentially unsafe environments.

I understand why you chose not to consider the 3.03-ct diamond. Like you, the inclusions will bug me a lot. Perhaps, consider something a little smaller (between 2.5 and 3.0)?

 

[John P]

Date: 8/17/2009 5:11:09 PM
Author: FancyDiamond

I posted a thread here recently about my old stone. All reponses voted for no recut as I am planning to reset the old stone in a pendant. Guess what? I am having it recut, even if it means a significant loss in carat weight and diameter. The reason? After I have seen and owned a perfectly cut diamond, I cannot accept anything less. The only exception is an inexpensive stone which I wear in lieu of costume jewelry for cruises, sightseeing in foreign countries, and other potentially unsafe environments.

FD if you don''t mind, can you keep us informed about your progress - in your other thread if it remains accessible? Our dealer-clients have been increasingly interested in having us do this for "dead" inventory, even if weight will be notably reduced. Your diamond is at not-often considered parameters for a near-Tolk recut so it could be an interesting case study.

Jimbean - Sorry for the threadjack.

 

[FancyDiamond]

Date: 8/17/2009 5:22:46 PM
Author: John Pollard

Date: 8/17/2009 5:11:09 PM
Author: FancyDiamond

I posted a thread here recently about my old stone. All reponses voted for no recut as I am planning to reset the old stone in a pendant. Guess what? I am having it recut, even if it means a significant loss in carat weight and diameter. The reason? After I have seen and owned a perfectly cut diamond, I cannot accept anything less. The only exception is an inexpensive stone which I wear in lieu of costume jewelry for cruises, sightseeing in foreign countries, and other potentially unsafe environments.

FD if you don''t mind, can you keep us informed about your progress - in your other thread if it remains accessible? Our dealer-clients have been increasingly interested in having us do this for ''dead'' inventory, even if weight will be notably reduced. Your diamond is at not-often considered parameters for a near-Tolk recut so it could be an interesting case study.

Jimbean - Sorry for the threadjack.

Will do.

 

[jimbean]

thanks everyone for your help. so i took the stone to the independent appraiser who examined it for me. he said it was an excelent stonre and he agreed with most of the gia cert, except that the stone was more of a J in color than a K . he took out his master set of diamonds and i''d have to agree with him, yippee. so that made me happy. he also said all the inclusion were very small and of no concern in terms of structual integrity, definitely eye clean and really clean under the loop for an si1. he also said that the price i''m getting it at was very fair.

i must say in person, this thing is a real beauty and i''m thinking of getting it.

is there anything else i should be aware of before pulling the trigger?

thanks!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/19/2009 10:14:30 AM
Author: jimbean

thanks everyone for your help. so i took the stone to the independent appraiser who examined it for me. he said it was an excelent stonre and he agreed with most of the gia cert, except that the stone was more of a J in color than a K . he took out his master set of diamonds and i''d have to agree with him, yippee. so that made me happy. he also said all the inclusion were very small and of no concern in terms of structual integrity, definitely eye clean and really clean under the loop for an si1. he also said that the price i''m getting it at was very fair.

i must say in person, this thing is a real beauty and i''m thinking of getting it.

is there anything else i should be aware of before pulling the trigger?

thanks!

The only thing I can think of at this point, is making sure there is a very good return policy, just in case. That means a full money return, not store credit. And a decent amount of time.

Great news on the color!

 

[glitterata]

If you love it and can afford it and it checks out with your appraiser, I say go for it.

 

[AGBF]

It may seem bizarre to bring this up so late in the game, but I have never bought a diamond with the idea that someday I might want to "trade up". Since you asked if there was anything else you should consider before you pulled the trigger, I am going to suggest that you consider this. It may be meaningless to you. (As I said, it never occurred to me, because I always bought stones I loved.) However, over time, I have come to wish that I could get a bigger solitaire and I now wish that I could trade up some of the diamonds I have set in pieces of jewelry I am not wearing (like large diamond studs) in order to get such a stone. I am sorry that I didn't think about which vendors allow one to trade up when I started to buy diamonds!

AGBF