5.5 ish carat princess cut

[Phoenix]

Date: 8/24/2007 1:14:44 PM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

Lein, I looked at dozens of stones/for several months for my anniversary upgrade--and they were always rounds as I was convinced that is what I ''really'' wanted (another RB). After 6 months of looking I was afflicted with diamond fatigue, and stopped looking for stones. After a lengthy convelesence (

), on a lark, I returned to my vendor two days before we were to leave for Hawaii. I was shown a ring--a radiant (I thought it was a princess at first), and I fell in love with it. This was ''it''--and yet how could this be? Perhaps it was b/c I had only looked at/considered rounds before.

A year later, I do not regret my choice. Oh sure, in an ideal world my 5.01 center stone would be a D color, but when I saw this ring, and felt a huge rush of excitement (breathless, stunned feeling) that I had not felt with other stones I had previously seen. D colored stones included. I almost immediately knew this was the ''one'', and I did not even know it''s cost. To be sure, my ring is not ''perfect'', but it is perfect for me. It was only later, after I decided on the ring, that I realized that my choice fit many other cirteria/parameters I had set in my head. Timing it seems, was everything.

But I digress. Among other variables, certainly the attractive price for this Princess is a factor. But ask yourself, did you feel this excitment b/c of the size and correlating price, or for the ring on it''s own merit? If this ring was considerably more $$, would you be thinking about it at all?? It is great that this Princess is a great value, but by the same token, there will be other stones that will come along of the same calibre--and perhaps in a different fancy shape that you may prefer. Have you tried other than rounds?

Good luck in your continued search.

cheers--Sharon

Thanks for your reply, Sharon and it''s so great that you love your radiand!

Pls see my replies above.

Certainly if it were considerably more $$$$, I wouldn''t consider it, but there are lots of variables i am considering in addition to the price. I have looked at lots of other stones of different shapes and sizes and i must say that i love all diamonds (well, maybe not so much a marquise and apologies if anyone here is a marquise owner - it''s just not so much my taste). I am sure i''d love this one too.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 8/24/2007 2:16:00 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis
Hi Lien-- I agree with so many of the other posters that the look of a princess is a little tired when paired on the ubiquitous Zales bulky solitaire setting, but when you mention a 5.5 carat princess it made me immediately think of the ring that changed my opinion of the cut. I''ll see if I can find some links, but Ritz Fine Jewellers (located on the ground floor of the Ritz hotel in London, if memory serves) advertised a terribly fun and stunning cocktail ring (in the July 2004 British Vogue?) which was just so different that I contacted them about this bespoke piece. Anyhow, the center stone was a 5.32 carat princess. (The price at time was 130K pounds, if memory serves, so I can see the appeal of jumping on the stone you found.) Qs that come to mind:

-- How much would you miss your current stone if you were to trade it in for an upgrade?
-- Would you prefer to have two lovely rings with two very different looks for different occasions, or one monster stone you wear at all times/occasions?
-- Would the deal be gone forever after tomorrow, or just more of a pain-in-the-butt to get home?

Anyhow, let me see if I can attach a (poor-quality) image of the piece from a while back. It''s certainly not everyone''s taste, but it does illustrate the ''this princess would allow me to have two VERY different rings'' theory well... okay, that, and it''s eye candy for anyone looking at this thread, too.

Fleur-de-lis, thank you for your detailed reply and questions as well as attached image (that IS a lovely piece btw).

To answer your Q'' (which I know you''ve posted for my benefit, before I take the plunge - so to speak):

- I would certainly miss my current stone a lot, but not if I have a bigger RB with similar (or better) specs in its place (btw, i posted a 4carater from the JA website a little while ago and I think it''s really lovely - it''s just the manner of the SA whom i dealt with that really put me off, but Mr James Allen himself contacted me afterwarðs and promised to give me the 5% discount, which I am thinking abt).
- Don''t really know the answer to this question. I think currently I am leaning against having the 2 different stones for different occasions, but would it really be worth it spending $55k and then leaving it in the safety deposit box most of the time (I do and would tend to wear my 3 ct RB practically all the time). I warned you, I am really fickle! LOL.
- Hard to say really. Sometimes a stone can sit around forever and the minute you decide you want to get it, someone else jumps in and takes it off your hands.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 8/24/2007 2:58:43 PM
Author: surfgirl
Hi lien, nice to see you back here...I haven''t really ever commented on your upgrade threads but I feel like I want to now. The reason I haven''t commented to date is because I personally feel that stones over a certain size start to look very cartoonish and almost fake, if you will. I can certainly appreciate the beauty of a real 5+ carat diamond! Dont get me wrong...But honestly? On the hand I just assume they''re fake. I''ve seen a lot of rocks in my day but they just do nothing for me because they seem so over the top and show-offy.

OTOH, your current ering is gorgeous. And I think, if I''ve read your posts correctly, you''re probably quite petite, yes? And in that case, your current ering is probably huge on your petite little finger! I think if you go any bigger, it will look cartoonish on your finger. That''s just my personal opinion though, and I know many here will always support ''going bigger'', but I just cannot. You have a gorgeous ring now. Enjoy it! Invest that $55K in a high yield fund and take an annual trip to Paris with your husband, or something else wonderful. Just my two cents, which probably isn''t very popular...

Hi Surfgirl, Thanks! Nice to"see" you too.

I kind of know what you''re saying. But, what can I say, I am diamond-mad!! and a bit (oh ok, a lot) of a size- "w..."!LOL.

Oh, we do have sustantial assets and have taken and are already planning quite a few trips for the next 6-8 months. I know what you''re saying though.

Thanks for looking out for me!

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 8/24/2007 3:50:14 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis

Date: 8/24/2007 9:03:46 AM
Author: lienTN


Anyway, the specs on this monstrous rock are:

Measurements: 9.92 x 9.87 x 6.97 ( I think, can''t see very clearly on the fax) but it looks soooo much bigger.

Carat weight: 5.66

Colour: F

Clarity: SI2 (the diagram shows: Feather, crystal, needle, natural, extra facet). As said, only large-ish feather is loupe-visible. Totally eye-clean.

Polish: VG

Symmetry: VG

Fluor: Strong Blue

Depth: 70% (I think, again, very hard to see on fax) or it might be 76% (i can sms the dealer tomorrrow and get confirmation on this).

Table: 75%

Girdle: Slightly thick to thick.

Culet: None.

Hi Lien-- To answer your Q about the cut of this princess, three points come to mind, and two of those have already been stated:

1. There''s not enough information to tell you definitively; angles are part of the story.
2. Even then, fancies need to be judged by the eyes.

... but since you''re looking for more specific feedback...

3. Seeing a table of 75 paired with a depth of 70 gives pause from a cut perspective; if I had to generalize (which I hate doing, because someone could find the exception to the rule, and there ARE exceptions to this rule of thumb) based solely on the numbers, typically the highest rated princesses in these post-AGS days have depths around 71-75 and tables slightly smaller (rather than larger) at 69-70. If the depth is indeed 70 rather than 76, my guess is that this would peak out as a ''very good'' cut grade... but it''s only a guess. Hope this has helped!

Fleur-de-lis, I am not sure I can get angles on this stone. I have a faxed copy of the cert and it''s an older cert so there is no more infor than what i''ve already posted.

That''s interesting what you''ve said abt the depth and table. This is the exactly the kind of infor I was looking for. I''m keeping my fingers crossed and hope the dealer will come back and say depth of 76% rather than 70%.

Will keep you all posted. Thank you all for your helpful input. Certainly given me some perspective. I think I need to reign in my desire for a larger stone for a little while and really take my time looking more at this stone as well as continue to look around some more.