5ct stone - princess or emerald or Lucida? (a bit long)

[Phoenix]

I wrote recently asking you guys about this 5+ carat princess cut stone I saw at the S'pore exhibition and you all wisely wrote back saying that I must LOVE the diamond and not just the price. Ok, so today I went to the dealer's office and saw it again in day light (standing right next to the window, with very strong sunlight). My oh my, it took my breath away, literally!! I think my heart missed a beat! It was absolutely gorgeus, absolute breathtaking!! The only other time I remember being so taken by a diamond like that (though I do love practically all diamonds) was when I tried on a 5ct emerald in New Bond Street last week (pls see below). It's weird because the dealer confirmed the depth of this princess as 70% ( i forget what the table was) but it sparkled like crazy and it was the clearest whitest diamond I've seen for a long time. There was no trace at all whatsoever of any haziness/milkiness/oiliness despite the strong blue fluorescence (and I thought for this stone's F colour, this was supposed to be negative!). It made my 3 ct RB F colour look yellow! (though of course I know it isn't, it's just that the princess is so amazingly white). I LOVE LOVE LOVE this princess cut stone

. The price is also really amazing at USD55k (though I am bearing in mind all the great advice you PS'ers have given me about this).

Well, moving on to emerald-cut diamonds, I was in NBS in London last week as mentioned, tried on this 5+ carat emerald supposedly very light pink stone. It also took my breath away. I thought I was in LOVE!

Couldn't really see the pink colour but it didn't really matter. I thought it was absolutely out of this world, very elegant, very classy indeed. The only problem? It was about USD270!!

. So when I got back to S'pore, I asked around, both of the dealers here and on-line vendors and for something that size, even at G colour (which I'd be ok with), I shoudl be looking to be about USD100k. I love the clean cut of the emerald but it is a lot of money!

Now, there's also a Lucida to be sold by auction by Skinner. It's a bit below 5ct (about 4.7ct), H VVS1. It faces up a bit smaller but I've always always wanted a Lucida. My best friend bought one, a 1.7ct Lucida (which was actually the same exact ring I was going to get but she bought it first!

) and it's absolutely gorgeous. The estimate is 50-60k, though of course I don't know what it'll actually go for. I'd like to not spend more than 60k (less if possible). There is also the 17% buyers' premium. That's still a lot lower than new in Tiffany's. I am also very tempted to bid for this.

I am so confused!! What shall I do? Assuming I can come up with the money for any one of those (meaning I can come up with $100k), which one should I go for? I don't know what questions to ask myself in order to make a decision. I'd like to have a diamond that woud cure my diamond madness, ie. one that would stop me from wanting another whopper in the future. Seriously, I've GOT to stop spending money on diamonds or my husband will divorce me!! This is my very last chance to buy another diamond, so it'd have to be THE "forever" diamond. Shall I go for either the princess or the Lucida now or shall I wait for a while to make sure I really should spend that 100k on an emerald (we have the money but not sure I should go ahead and spend 100k).

(PS. I don't mind if it's not top clarity, the princess is an SI2 but it only has a slightly large-ish white feather on the side, no horrible black crystals, totally eye-clean. I am also keeping my 3 ct F VS2 RB, so this other stone does not have to be top-notch on paper as that would be very expensive, it just have to look beautiful to the eye).

Sorry to ramble.

HELP!

 

[Phoenix]

Anyone would like to offer any advice? or comments?

 

[Eva17]

Lien, what a wonderful dilema you have!!!!!

Maybe the pricess is a good choice since it is a price you want to stay within and a size you like. Plus you said you Love a princess....


Good luck!

 

[shminbabe]

really, with your budget (er, no budget) i have to say you should just get the one you love the most. it''s a personal decision at this point. it doesn''t sound like you are needing feedback on cut, quality or whatever.

or, just get them all. and then promise your husband you are done.

please share the pictures when you them

jeannie

 

[Independent Gal]

Well, when it comes to really big (like, 3+) ct stones, I'm a TOTAL sucker for EC's. So that's where my vote is going.

And I confess that if you have the money, I want to shop vicariously through you so I'm going to be an enabler.

EC! EC! EC!

 

[Ellen]

Such a quandry!!

Are any of them totally "you"?


From your post, you "seemed" to love the Princess the best....


Again, I''d take my time.

 

[lyra]

If you''re just polling for personal tastes, I like EC''s more than Princesses. Wow, what a delicious dilemma indeed.

 

[decodelighted]

I''d be torn between seeing what the Lucida is gonna go for ... and shopping for a non-pink Emerald in my desired price range.

Princesses don''t float my boat in that size range. It''s a flashy cut in a flashy size and the combo is OOT imho.

You say you''ve "always wanted a Lucida" ... and that this is your "last chance" to pick a new stone. If you put it that way it''s a no-brainer! (If the price is right, that is)

But there''s something unspeakably POSH about big ol'' Emerald Cuts ...

Toughie. Go with your gut not your fear.

 

[Gypsy]

I''d work back from the setting.

I assume the Lucida is set? Will you be keeping the setting, or changing it?

Princess is unset? What would you do with it.

EC... is it set? If it is, will you be keeping the setting, or changing it?

I guess what I''m getting at is that I''d look at it from a total peice... total ring perspective. Which RING would suit your style the best?

I know what I''d pick among those, but it''s different for each person.

 

[jaz464]

My pic would be the EC, hands down.

However, from YOUR post, you seem to love the princess the best. You go on about it the longest and it seems to have captured your heart. I don''t care for princessess, in any size, but the ring is not for me. You need to get what you love most, and the princess sounds like it. And the price is right.

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 9/6/2007 10:56:47 AM
Author: Independent Gal
Well, when it comes to really big (like, 3+) ct stones, I''m a TOTAL sucker for EC''s. So that''s where my vote is going.

And I confess that if you have the money, I want to shop vicariously through you so I''m going to be an enabler.

EC! EC! EC!

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/6/2007 12:02:24 PM
Author: jazmine
My pic would be the EC, hands down.

However, from YOUR post, you seem to love the princess the best. You go on about it the longest and it seems to have captured your heart. I don''t care for princessess, in any size, but the ring is not for me. You need to get what you love most, and the princess sounds like it. And the price is right.

That''s what I got too.

 

[bee*]

Well Im biased since we bought a lucida, but I''d go for that if you''ve always loved it.

 

[Nicrez]

Lien,

This is it no?


Sale 2375 Lot 345
Platinum and Diamond Lucida Solitaire, Tiffany & Co., prong-set with a Lucida-cut diamond weighing 4.79 cts., size 6, no. 17879715, signed, boxed. Note: Accompanied by GIA certificate no. 11810159, dated January 14, 2002, stating that the diamond is H color, VVS1 clarity, no fluorescence, Tiffany & Co. diamond certificate, and retail replacement valuation dated July 23, 2003.
Estimate $50,000-60,000

Remember increments will be at $2,500 for an item with this estimate. My guess is that they will start bid at $30K no less. Interest will be airly moderate in the trade for an H VVS1, but privates will likely bid it up. Note that RAP went up for all stones over 4ct recently (as of 8/31/07) to 1.6% over the last for an H VVS1. It''s about 192/ct meaning this stone at RAP is $91,968 for 4.79cts. Consider it''s Tiffany, but downgrade for second hand, and leave a healthy 10-20% profit margin for any buyer in case of resale. I anticipate this stone could go more than $60,000, depending on interest. Also consider for bids up to $80,000, it is a 17.5% premium. Over $82,500 it will be a 10% premium. In a Fine Jewlery sale, it is often the case that both High end and low end buyers will bid on the larger items. Trick is to find low end items neglected in Magnificent sales or hard to bid sales in remote locations. Skinner Boston is well attended...

But who knows it could be yours!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

If your dream is to own a Lucida and this is your last chance, that is what I think you should do. Second choice would be EC (b/c I love ECs)

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The Lucida or the EC, definitely. I can appreciate the beauty of all diamonds, but a 5 ct. princess would not be something I''d even have on my imaginary wish list. The Tiffany ring is very appealing, particularly if you can get it a good bit below the value of the ring new. That would be far more special to me than a generic princess cut stone. I think an EC in that size is classy and elegant and would be an outstanding choice as well. I''d have Leon set it with side baguettes!!!

Always fun to dream!!!

 

[Skippy123]

I hope you bid on the Lucida and are the winning bid!!! Can''t wait to hear what you pick!!!

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 10:17:21 AM
Author: shminbabe
really, with your budget (er, no budget) i have to say you should just get the one you love the most. it''s a personal decision at this point. it doesn''t sound like you are needing feedback on cut, quality or whatever.

or, just get them all. and then promise your husband you are done.

please share the pictures when you them

jeannie

He he, I really wish I could buy them all!!

. Wouldn''t that be fab?

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 9:54:34 AM
Author: Eva17
Lien, what a wonderful dilema you have!!!!!

Maybe the pricess is a good choice since it is a price you want to stay within and a size you like. Plus you said you Love a princess....


Good luck!

Hmmm...it''s very tempting!!

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 10:56:47 AM
Author: Independent Gal
Well, when it comes to really big (like, 3+) ct stones, I'm a TOTAL sucker for EC's. So that's where my vote is going.

And I confess that if you have the money, I want to shop vicariously through you so I'm going to be an enabler.

EC! EC! EC!

Be an enabler, please!!

.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 11:23:18 AM
Author: Ellen
Such a quandry!!

Are any of them totally ''you''?


From your post, you ''seemed'' to love the Princess the best....


Again, I''d take my time.

It IS a quandry!!

Actually, they''re ALL "me"!!

I love all of them, but at this point i think the price is a major consideration, particularly since DH is so adamant that I not return the 3 carater (so that takes my budget down by quite a lot), for sentimental reasons. Actually, I think I am going to bid for the Lucida and hope to get it for a price that''s acceptable to us. If I don''t get that, then at least that possibility is eliminated, in which case I will then either get the princess within the next couple of weeks or wait and save up for the EC in a few months'' time.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 11:26:06 AM
Author: lyra
If you''re just polling for personal tastes, I like EC''s more than Princesses. Wow, what a delicious dilemma indeed.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 11:35:57 AM
Author: decodelighted
I''d be torn between seeing what the Lucida is gonna go for ... and shopping for a non-pink Emerald in my desired price range.

Princesses don''t float my boat in that size range. It''s a flashy cut in a flashy size and the combo is OOT imho.

You say you''ve ''always wanted a Lucida'' ... and that this is your ''last chance'' to pick a new stone. If you put it that way it''s a no-brainer! (If the price is right, that is)

But there''s something unspeakably POSH about big ol'' Emerald Cuts ...

Toughie. Go with your gut not your fear.

Thanks. Pls see my reply above re the Lucida.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 11:44:24 AM
Author: Gypsy
I''d work back from the setting.

I assume the Lucida is set? Will you be keeping the setting, or changing it?

Princess is unset? What would you do with it.

EC... is it set? If it is, will you be keeping the setting, or changing it?

I guess what I''m getting at is that I''d look at it from a total peice... total ring perspective. Which RING would suit your style the best?

I know what I''d pick among those, but it''s different for each person.

Yes, the Lucida is set and I would most definitely keep the setting.

I think I know what you''re getting at, but apart from the Tiffany setting, I am not even thinking just yet about possible settings for either the princess or the EC. Wow, that''s another issue altogether and more time would need to be spent and PS''ers woudll need to be asked!!

. Thank you.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 12:02:24 PM
Author: jazmine
My pic would be the EC, hands down.

However, from YOUR post, you seem to love the princess the best. You go on about it the longest and it seems to have captured your heart. I don''t care for princessess, in any size, but the ring is not for me. You need to get what you love most, and the princess sounds like it. And the price is right.

Hmm...Pls see my reply re the Lucida above.

I must say it is an issue of whether to get the princess now or save up and get the EC later if if my bid for the Lucida (my first choice now) is not successful. The thing is though if I don''t get the princess now, such a great deal may not ever come again and I do LOVE the stone.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 12:13:45 PM
Author: Fly Girl

Date: 9/6/2007 10:56:47 AM
Author: Independent Gal
Well, when it comes to really big (like, 3+) ct stones, I'm a TOTAL sucker for EC's. So that's where my vote is going.

And I confess that if you have the money, I want to shop vicariously through you so I'm going to be an enabler.

EC! EC! EC!

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!

Thank you!

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 12:59:46 PM
Author: bee*
Well Im biased since we bought a lucida, but I''d go for that if you''ve always loved it.

Thank you. Pls see my replies above re the Lucida.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 1:08:08 PM
Author: Nicrez

Lien,

This is it no?


Sale 2375 Lot 345

Platinum and Diamond Lucida Solitaire, Tiffany & Co., prong-set with a Lucida-cut diamond weighing 4.79 cts., size 6, no. 17879715, signed, boxed. Note: Accompanied by GIA certificate no. 11810159, dated January 14, 2002, stating that the diamond is H color, VVS1 clarity, no fluorescence, Tiffany & Co. diamond certificate, and retail replacement valuation dated July 23, 2003.
Estimate $50,000-60,000

Remember increments will be at $2,500 for an item with this estimate. My guess is that they will start bid at $30K no less. Interest will be airly moderate in the trade for an H VVS1, but privates will likely bid it up. Note that RAP went up for all stones over 4ct recently (as of 8/31/07) to 1.6% over the last for an H VVS1. It''s about 192/ct meaning this stone at RAP is $91,968 for 4.79cts. Consider it''s Tiffany, but downgrade for second hand, and leave a healthy 10-20% profit margin for any buyer in case of resale. I anticipate this stone could go more than $60,000, depending on interest. Also consider for bids up to $80,000, it is a 17.5% premium. Over $82,500 it will be a 10% premium. In a Fine Jewlery sale, it is often the case that both High end and low end buyers will bid on the larger items. Trick is to find low end items neglected in Magnificent sales or hard to bid sales in remote locations. Skinner Boston is well attended...

But who knows it could be yours!

It is indeed!

It''s interesting what you said about the price. I guess I was being naive. I am going to set a higher ceiling for my bid but will stop at that. Even it is a Tiffany, our finances at this point couldn''t warrant anything more. If I don''t succeed and want to go for a Tiffany, I may have to try again in the future.

In terms of the mechanics of the bidding, I''d like to pick your brain if I may. The person at Skinner I spoke to initially suggested that I should submit a form for a single bid or multiple bids. I''d really rather call on the ''phone to do it, as I think it would give me better control over what price to bid with, given other people''s interest. She says that I could do this and monitor the bid progress on eBay. What do you suggest, Nicrez?

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 4:08:39 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
If your dream is to own a Lucida and this is your last chance, that is what I think you should do. Second choice would be EC (b/c I love ECs)

Seems like the Lucida is the winner here, but will my bid be the winning bid? I hope so.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/6/2007 5:18:50 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
The Lucida or the EC, definitely. I can appreciate the beauty of all diamonds, but a 5 ct. princess would not be something I''d even have on my imaginary wish list. The Tiffany ring is very appealing, particularly if you can get it a good bit below the value of the ring new. That would be far more special to me than a generic princess cut stone. I think an EC in that size is classy and elegant and would be an outstanding choice as well. I''d have Leon set it with side baguettes!!!

Always fun to dream!!!

The Lucida it is then, he he.

, or at least I hope it will be!! Fingers crossed!