$5500 budget - finding a RBC diamond

[turtledazzle]

Since you all seem to be master searchers and find diamonds with lots of info (like idealscopes, etc. which I have had little luck finding), I''ve decided to post and see what you all think of the search criteria that we''ve finally decided on.

The budget is up to $5500 for the diamond (I''ve been assuming $4500 to $5500, but a quality diamond for lower price would be great, of course). We''re definitely going with an on-line vendor (to save the sales tax).

Round brilliant, between 0.90 and 1.1 carats. I very have small hands (size 3.5 finger). Size really is not the most important thing to me (my mother''s 0.75 ct diamond looks pretty big to me on my finger), so I think I''ll be happy with anything within the 0.90 to 1.05 carat range (but my fiance really wants to approach that 1.00 mark).

Color: E-H
Clarity: SI1, VS2, or VS1 -- I want it to be "eye-clean", with few table inclusions if possible.
Fluorescence: either none/negligible or faint
Ideal/Excellent Cut only
Symmetry/Polish: Ex/Ex (would probably be ok with vg/vg, but started looking at ex/ex just to narrow my choices down. Would polish or
symmetry be more important if going to vg?)
Girdle: anywhere from thin to slightly thick, faceted preferred (very thin and thick are not considered)
HCA < 2.0 (should I exclude diamonds with HCA < 1.0?). So many diamonds do not have the pavilion and crown angles listed ... so how can one know without requesting a report?

I have been looking almost continually for a few days now, and am getting overwhelmed (and exhausted) with the number of options I have come up with (I''ve got a spreadsheet with over 30 diamonds now), but only a couple have idealscopes and magnified images of the diamonds. Yep, I have become obsessed.

What do you all think? Is there a "perfect" diamond out there for me? What do you all see?

When I''ve narrowed down the search, how many diamonds should it be? How many idealscope, brilliancescope, etc. images is it "polite" to ask a vendor for? What types of reports should I absolutely ask for before "taking the plunge" and deciding on "the one"?

Thank you,
A Newbie

 

[belle]

i like your search parameters very much. think that is a great size range.
i would expand the search to at least ''i'' and maybe even ''j'' color stones too. i think you would be surprised how white these well cut stones face up.
use the ''cut quality search'' button. you can expand your search at the bottom after your first search.
i wouldn''t rule out all stones under 1.0. there are some very fine diamonds that score under 1.0.

have fun!

 

[JulieN]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=633127
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1335347.htm

This would be my go if it's eye-clean:
http://www.diamondexpert.com/diamonds/dbs.cgi?sf=detd.setup.cgi&active=active&stock=RB30106001&submit_search=1
extra info on same stone here:
http://www.elmyrservices.com/stone.asp?id=20CF7C7EC1B18AB56CFFD742DDFC8421

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I just found a diamond about a week ago, and I discovered some diamonds listed at Dimend Scassi that I had not see listed on the other vendors sites. My stone had an April GIA certification, so it was brand new. They list some stones that do not have the certs online yet, so you''d have to call to get that in order to see all the numbers. I ran my numbers through the HCA and looked at magnified images of the diamond before deciding. I did not have every analysis known to man done! The numbers on the cert were great and the picture looked great, so ultimately the ony other thing to do is order the diamond to look at. Most of the vendors have from 10 to 30 days return policy. I just thought I''d mention looking at Dimend Scassi, because so many people go to just two or three vendors and they may miss some great stones at some of the others. I looked at those other vendors, too, but their stock was simply low when I was looking. (I did help my brother-in-law pick out a 1 ct. diamond from WhiteFlash 2 weeks ago, but they had few 1 ct. H''s to look at in Expert Selection at that time so he had to take an H VVS2).

For what it''s worth, to stay in your budget and get a carat, I''d look at H VS2 (or SI1 if very eye clean and inclusions don''t bother you). I was originally looking at G color but found H to be very white in a well cut stone. I can''t see paying for D-F unless you just have a large budget for the size stone you want. But you should be able to get a 1 ct. Ideal cut H VS2 for under or around $5500 or an H SI1 for less than that.

http://www.dscaasi.com/diamonds/default.asp

 

[Small]

Date: 5/1/2006 10:19:34 PM
Author: JulieN
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=633127
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1335347.htm

This would be my go if it''s eye-clean:
http://www.diamondexpert.com/diamonds/dbs.cgi?sf=detd.setup.cgi&active=active&stock=RB30106001&submit_search=1
extra info on same stone here:
http://www.elmyrservices.com/stone.asp?id=20CF7C7EC1B18AB56CFFD742DDFC8421

I really like the diamondexpert.com diamond above. I can attest to the beauty of an infinity diamond...I''ve had mine for a little while now and it''s stunning

Paul cuts beautiful stones. I don''t think you''d be disappointed if eye clean.
Mine is almost the exact same except a bit smaller .92 but same color and si2. Face up there is nothing to be seen...I couldn''t be happier

Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for!