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Advice for a newbie

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icelazer

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 3, 2009
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Hey guys, I know there''s a lot of posts/experts/etc and I''d like some opinions on my current train of thought. My soon-to-be and I picked out a setting/band that we both like and I''ve been researching diamonds. I''d like to think I''m somewhat in the know, but more advice would be appreciated...currently we''re looking at the following

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-white-gold_7959?filter_id=1&collection_id=239

I was looking for the following
.75-.85 carat
emerald cut
FL-IF
D-F
Ratio ~1.61
medium-stk girdle
very good-ideal cut
very good polish/symmetry
60-68% table

At this point I''ve only been able to see the SI1 quality stuff they sell in the store down here that''s clearly yellow as well. The mathematician in me say it''s all a numbers game, but any ideas in input would be appreciated. I''d like to keep the diamond around $3500. Thanks!
 
Date: 5/4/2009 1:33:27 AM
Author:icelazer
Hey guys, I know there's a lot of posts/experts/etc and I'd like some opinions on my current train of thought. My soon-to-be and I picked out a setting/band that we both like and I've been researching diamonds. I'd like to think I'm somewhat in the know, but more advice would be appreciated...currently we're looking at the following

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-white-gold_7959?filter_id=1&collection_id=239

I was looking for the following
.75-.85 carat
emerald cut
FL-IF
D-F
Ratio ~1.61
medium-stk girdle
very good-ideal cut
very good polish/symmetry
60-68% table

At this point I've only been able to see the SI1 quality stuff they sell in the store down here that's clearly yellow as well. The mathematician in me say it's all a numbers game, but any ideas in input would be appreciated. I'd like to keep the diamond around $3500. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Welcome!

It is really essential to have images such as photographs and ASET of these shapes in order to choose a well cut stone, regrettably BN do not offer such services so to me it is really buying blind. Also concerning clarity, that won't make a diamond look ' yellow', that is down to colour.

This page explains about ASET - http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

I would take a look at some of the vendors who sell in house diamonds -

www.goodoldgold.com

www.whiteflash.com


Also for colour and clarity you could consider D to G colour if you are agreeable, and VS clarity and up should be eyeclean. I don't know if having F or IF is incredibly important to you, just so you know these grades are made under 10x mag, they may not be completely clean at a higher magnification. I would definitely suggest adding VVS to these grades unless you are absolutely set on them to broaden the options.
 
I''ve heard some things about bluenile around here, are there major issues with this vendor? I''ve either been looking at it or whiteflash
 
highperformance diamonds, whiteflash, goodoldgold, jamesallen and briangavindiamonds are vendors recommended because they provide you with information that is helpful in finding the right diamond online.

For emerald cuts, I would suggest Goodoldgold though. Hands down. James Allen has had some lovely ones as well however.

I would advise droping down to F color and VS1 clarity in your requirements because you will be able to go up in size without seeing any appreciable difference.

Oh and your specs are off. You do not want a 68% table.

You want a table in the fifties or low sixties. Depth should be in the 60's generally. Crown height above 11%. But specs will not tell you anything with an emerald cut. You need to see pics.
 
I like the VVS I linked you to better. The one you posted looks dark in the center. Get an IS of both and compare them. The one I linked you to is smaller in carat size, but in spread very similar (mm measurements) in fact, almost identical. So they will look the same on the hand in terms of size.
 
I know some of these acronyms but an IS is what exactly?
 
Idealscope. It''s a tool that images light performance.
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If you do a search on here, you can find out about what it is, and what it does. An ASET is another tool, a better one admittedly for fancy (non round) shapes, though James Allen doensn''t have ASET abilities so an IS is the best they can do.
 
Could any of you experts give me tips on what to look for? I look at some of these diamonds marked IF and VVS1-2 but yet I see a good few imperfections...I realize this is usually under 18-22x magnification, but should I be concerned with those (especially over darker parts of the diamond) or should I be concerned with how little dark area the images appear to have and its symmetry..Just some general hits on what makes good vs bad would be nice. I''m guessing I should be less focused on polish/symmetry/cut/clarity ratings and instead look more at the actual diamond image?
 
Date: 5/8/2009 5:25:52 PM
Author: icelazer
Could any of you experts give me tips on what to look for? I look at some of these diamonds marked IF and VVS1-2 but yet I see a good few imperfections...I realize this is usually under 18-22x magnification, but should I be concerned with those (especially over darker parts of the diamond) or should I be concerned with how little dark area the images appear to have and its symmetry..Just some general hits on what makes good vs bad would be nice. I''m guessing I should be less focused on polish/symmetry/cut/clarity ratings and instead look more at the actual diamond image?
Click to expand...

VVS and IF are thus graded under 10X magnification so it is entirely possible you might see inclusions under higher power. However IF, VVS and even most VS will be eyeclean to the naked eye. It is cut which gives a diamond its beauty, here are some numbers you can use as a guide to find a well cut round diamond.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!


As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

From expert John Pollard.

With that said, here''s a "Cliff''s Notes" for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.


GIA "EX" in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).


 
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