About to buy an engagement ring...is this a good deal? Thanks for your help!!

[shaef22]

I visited Robbins Diamonds of Delaware today and worked with a guy named Randall and his service was excellent. After a couple of hours I finally figured out a diamond/setting combination that I was happy with. Of course, it will be costlier than purchasing through one of the online vendors here. I went in with a budget of somewhere around $3500. However, I am willing to spend a little bit extra for the peace of mind and the service (cleaning, etc.) that I will be able to get anytime at one of Robbins 5 stores in the area. Without much further ado, here are the specs. for the setting and the diamond. The tag prices had the diamond at something like $3300 and the setting at $1150. He said he could give me the diamond for $2915 and the setting for $1,000. Does that sound fair?

Setting: Designed by Jeff Cooper
14 diamonds in the setting/7 per side...I forget the total weight, but it's somewhere around 1/3 to 1/4 karat
18K White Gold

Diamond
.70 carat
GIA Certified
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Cut Very Good
Polish: VG
Symm: VG
FL: None
Culet: None
Girdle: Slightly Thick to Thick
Depth: 64.1
Table: 57
Crown Angle: 35
Crown Height: 15%
Pavilion Angle: 41.4
Pavilion Depth: 44%

I guess that's about it. One thing that stood out to me as not being perfect is the Depth of the stone. I was told that between 60-62 is best for depth. Otherwise it looks pretty good to me, although I will freely admit I am very, very new at this. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I do plan on trying to get the total price down to around $3600-$3700, but even then, is that a good deal? Thanks! And keep in mind that I am definitely looking to buy at a B&M store and thus understand that I will not be getting the very best possible deal as compared to Blue Nile, GOG, James Allen, etc. OK, I'll stop now. Thanks again and God bless!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Welcome!

We need to know the carat weight of the stone and the diameter measurements. I am pretty sure this stone will not be a wise buy. But let''s see the other info first.

 

[tberube]

Hey Shaef! Congrats on your future engagement! Any chance we can find out what the carat weight is on that beauty?

Other than that, I'm not the expert here, but what I know says that diamond is pretty deep, and therefore may face up a tad smaller than it could for its weight. If you are in love with it, then go for it - but I would probably look for another stone.

ETA: Also, I feel like for your budget you might be able to find a setting that costs a tad less, so you can invest more in the diamond. I know that is a matter of taste, and I don't know what the setting looks like, so I may be off the mark. Also, 14K gold costs a little less and holds up better over time. So you may want to consider that as well.

 

[shaef22]

Oops, I guess I forgot basically the most important part. It's size is .70. Unfortunately the information that I presented is everything that I took down from the certification. I guess I overlooked the diameter, etc.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Have to have the diameter measurements, too.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I don't think this stone is a good deal at any price . . . it scores 5.1 on the HCA.

BTW, I searched online for 0.70 F SI1, GIA stones, 55-59 table, 63-65 depth. Prices for the stone ranged from $1700 to $2700. You are being offered a bad deal on a lemon!

 

[JulieN]

ask to see their ideal cut stones.

the proportions on this one are terrible.

 

[shaef22]

The diameter is 5.57 and the depth is 3.58

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Can you call them and find out? This diamond likely looks much smaller than it should for it''s weight. The depth plus the slightly thick to thick girdle will make it look smaller. You want the cut to say "excellent", the depth should be 60-62, and the girdle should be thin, medium, or slightly thick.

I know you want to buy locally and that is fine, but here is an example of an ideal cut stone with the specs you should look for. This one is $3131 with the wire/pricescope discounts. It is 5.8mm in diameter at .73 cts. So the diamond you are looking at should be about 5.7 mm if it was well cut.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-283272.htm

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Sorry, I had the posting screen up when you posted the measurements. That stone faces up about like a .60. Definitely not a good stone.

 

[phoenixgirl]

For comparison:

0.70 F SI1 GIA Excellent This diamond scores a 1.2 on the HCA and costs $2519 at Mondera. I bet it is WAY larger diameter wise than your 0.70 stone (yours is probably something 5.5 or 5.6mm vs. 5.78mm for this stone . . . so your stone will look smaller AND be less sparkly). I wasn''t exactly picturing the setting you were describing, but let''s say it was something like this 0.36ctw 18k white gold setting for $900.

Total price: $3419