Advice from the pricescope pros

[kck126]

Like many other diamond novices I have been lurking this forum for quite sometime. I would like to thank the community and experts which make this site the best diamond resources available. I have read and learned a great deal from you and have the up most respect and appreciation. Thank you.

Unfortunately, I am still capable of reading myself into confusion! I am planning proposing soon and have been through the typical diamond searching process. Because of this website and a few of the well known vendors I feel more confident purchasing a diamond online. (I have lost patience for the local dealers)

I will start by identify my budget. I am looking to spend ~ $3500 - $4000 for a round (hopefully .75 - 1ct) H&A diamond. I have read and understand the 4Cs and have focused primarily on the cut. I understand the importance of a well cut diamond, but I don’t necessarily understand the impact that the cut can have on the other three Cs. I would like some input from the experienced vets to help me narrow my selections (and provide any additional help and insight). I have been looking at the following:

Selection 1:

Shape:Round
Carat Weight:0.95ct
Color:L
Clarity:VS1
GIA Cut Grade:Excellent
Optical Symmetry:Superior
Polish:Excellent
Symmetry:Excellent
Fluorescence:None
Culet:None
Lab Report:GIALab Report #:1102019659

Width:6.35mm
Length:6.38mm
Depth:3.87mm
Table Percentage:56.90%
Depth Percentage:60.90%
Crown 34.50°
Crown Depth:14.70%
Pavilion 40.80°
Pavilion Depth:43.10%


Selection 2:

Shape:Round
Carat Weight:0.77ct
Color:GClarity:VS2
GIA Cut Grade:Excellent
Optical Symmetry:Superior
Polish:Excellent
Symmetry:Excellent
Fluorescence:Medium
Culet:None
Lab Report:GIALab Report #:1106167231
Width:5.87mm
Length:5.89mm
Depth:3.63mm
Table Percentage:56.20%
Depth Percentage:61.60%
Crown 34.60°
Crown Depth:15.00%
Pavilion 40.80°
Pavilion Depth:43.10%


Selection 3:

Shape:Round
Carat Weight:0.83ct
Color:HClarity:VS2
AGS Cut Grade:Ideal
est GIA Cut Grade:Excellent
AGS Light Performance:Ideal
Optical Symmetry:Superior
Polish:Ideal
Symmetry:Ideal
Fluorescence:Negligible
Girdle:1.65%
Culet:None
Lab Report:AGSLab Report #:9039910
Width:6.09mm
Length:6.12mm
Depth:3.68mm
Table Percentage:58.56%
Depth Percentage:60.33%
Crown 33.84°
Crown Depth:13.94%
Pavilion 41.02°
Pavilion Depth:43.24%
Upper Girdle 41.26°
Lower Girdle 42.21°



I have plugged these numbers in and feel they are all quality diamonds. My current plan is to have the stone set in a simple tiffany style setting. I really prefer having the element of surprise when I propose. If my wonderful lady later decides that she would like a different type of setting that option will be available. The goal is to surprise her, but also allow for her to have choice down the road. So I am definitely steering my emphasis and priority toward the diamond.

Based on my reading, I think I am more comfortable with the AGS ratings. Obviously that would direct me towards selection 3. I am wondering what people think about selection 1. With the exception of color everything appears to be in order. I have read that the cut and shape will ultimately affect the amount of visible color. Is "L" pushing it to far with a round cut just under 1ct?

What can I expect from high quality stone with a lower color rating? What are your thoughts about my selections? Obviously like anyone, I want to get the most for my money. I have a lot to learn and appreciate any/all input and help anyone has to offer. Thanks!

 

[Ellen]

Hi kck,

I think, without knowing if your girl prefers warmer colors, L might be pushing it.

As for the other two, either one sounds fine, and if they''re from the vendor I think they are, they will both be nice. There''s nothing wrong with a GIA stone, they can be cut just as well as AGS, and the second one is smack dab where many people like the numbers to be. The table on the AGS is a tad bigger than many of us prefer, and coupled with the slightly shallower crown angle, you "might" lose a bit of fire.

If it were me, without seeing them, I''d pick 2. You might have the vendor compare 2 and 3, and see if there''s a noticeable difference in performance.

 

[neatfreak]

An L is going to be noticeably warm. Have you ever seen a GIA/AGS L in person? I would recommend doing so before buying it. And I agree with Ellen, based just on the numbers I like 2.

 

[Kelli]

I agree that most people would say an L is pretty warm. If you don''t know your gf''s color preferences, you''d be better off sticking with J and above. You''re definitely right about the AGS lab being more reliable about cut grading. The GIA rounds numbers a lot and allows way too much into their excellent category. I like #3 the best. Good job doing your research btw!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

stone 3 has a great spread - but might have a dangerously thin girdle depnding on the setting type?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/20/2008 8:13:05 PM
Author: Ellen
Hi kck,

I think, without knowing if your girl prefers warmer colors, L might be pushing it.

As for the other two, either one sounds fine, and if they're from the vendor I think they are, they will both be nice. There's nothing wrong with a GIA stone, they can be cut just as well as AGS, and the second one is smack dab where many people like the numbers to be. The table on the AGS is a tad bigger than many of us prefer, and coupled with the slightly shallower crown angle, you 'might' lose a bit of fire.

If it were me, without seeing them, I'd pick 2. You might have the vendor compare 2 and 3, and see if there's a noticeable difference in performance.

Ditto - also I have an L colour which is sizeable which is "white" enough face up for me, but may not be "white"enough for some, so it is a call you can only make by the wearer seeing some of this ( GIA/ AGS) colour grade in person I think.

 

[honey22]

Ditto, ditch the L unless your gf has specifically asked for a very warm colour stone.

 

[kck126]

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to comment and offer assistance. I appreciate it!

To be honest my girlfriend is a very practical non-selfish individual. We did glance at some rings months ago, but she always stuck to the conservative displays and lower end items. That really made it hard to get an idea of any preference she may or may not have (apples & oranges). As mentioned before, I''m trying to keep the element of surprise but I already know she will love the final decision because it is going to be more than she has expected.

I did expect most everyone to be in agreement that the "L" colored selection wouldn''t be the best candidate for me. I was trying to squeeze some extra "partial" carats in there!

I am yet to find a local shop where I can comfortably inquire and view stones for comparison. My "in person" type experiences have not been encouraging. Unfortunately, at age 29 I am often told I look like I''m 15 which apparently means I have sucker written on my forehead (invisible to me!

). I have never fared well when dealing with salesmen in a biased or pressured environment and often times don''t feel like they are taking me seriously.

I do appreciate the points made regarding selections 2&3. I hadn''t put much thought into the table size and girdle (it gets challenging for a novice to examine and evaluate all the variables without missing something).

Over the weekend I plan to sit back down and take a look at the options and search for similar stones. I think all of your help has helped produce a baseline for me to expand on. If anyone as any additional input or suggestions I am all ears.

Thanks again!

 

[JulieN]

The H sounds ok, it''s like 6.11 mm vs stone 2 (5.88 mm).

AGS girdle is represented as a range, and 1.65% is probably the small number. I''m inclined to think the girdle is not a problem.

H may be a little bit "brighter" than the G, which might have a little bit more colored flashes.

 

[strmrdr]

H is my favorite of the bunch based on numbers.
1.65% girdle is fine with that angle combo.

 

[oldminer]

Your girl friend has not made it clear that warmer colors are acceptable, so I''d suggest you don''t creat a problem where it could be avoided. However, since she is not into diamond grading and there is going to be a surprise, you could readily consider getting more diaqmond for the money within the I to J color world rather than L. I and to some extent, J colors, look pretty much white when not closely compared to finer color grades. My wife loves her I color rock and I certainly knew that no one would find it unattractive. You are getting good results with what you have already learned about diamond shopping so I don''t think you''ll have a problem witha reasonable expansion of acceptable colors down to I or J. Plan on a long computer weekend....

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/21/2008 4:11:27 PM
Author: oldminer
Your girl friend has not made it clear that warmer colors are acceptable, so I''d suggest you don''t creat a problem where it could be avoided. However, since she is not into diamond grading and there is going to be a surprise, you could readily consider getting more diaqmond for the money within the I to J color world rather than L. I and to some extent, J colors, look pretty much white when not closely compared to finer color grades. My wife loves her I color rock and I certainly knew that no one would find it unattractive. You are getting good results with what you have already learned about diamond shopping so I don''t think you''ll have a problem witha reasonable expansion of acceptable colors down to I or J. Plan on a long computer weekend....

Great advice!

And kck, remember you have an advantage in this game now, you have us as a sounding board so if you are ever not sure of anything, report back here and we can help you

 

[kck126]

Once again thanks to everyone for taking the time to post and providing help with my decision. I am a member and participate in several online communities outside of the jewelry realm and I must say pricescope is great! So many users are willing to help and provide assistance. Many other forums are eventually taken over by the critical and rude portion of the population.

Kudos to PriceScope.com and the wonderful members!

I was in email contact with GOG for the first time today. Many of you won''t be surprised to hear that my experience thus far has be excellent. As a result I am moving forward with an e-ring and hope to place the order within the next week.

I have spent the day continuing my research and trying to learn more about the fine details and variables involved when choosing a stone. I am to the point where I have looked at the same stones at least a dozen times each. That''s when I figured it was time once again to ask the experts.

I might be splitting hairs at this point, but I have filtered my selections down to the links listed below. I am interested in getting your input/feedback (whether scientific or opinion related) on my selections. I provided the links this time around to give the most detailed information and images.

1.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5133/

2.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5119/

3.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5130/

4.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5171/

5.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5054/


Also note - As far as selection 1. The stone does have "medium" yellow fluorescence. Based on the given specs and HCA results I can''t seem to find any other reason to scratch it off my list. But I am not experienced and have no basis for comparison. In addition, I have not been able to confirm whether or not the stone has any cloudy areas as a result of the fluorescence.

At this point I am impressed with GOG and will continue working with them. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations outside of my selections I am all ears! Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/22/2008 8:39:43 PM
Author: kck126

Once again thanks to everyone for taking the time to post and providing help with my decision. I am a member and participate in several online communities outside of the jewelry realm and I must say pricescope is great! So many users are willing to help and provide assistance. Many other forums are eventually taken over by the critical and rude portion of the population.

Kudos to PriceScope.com and the wonderful members!

I was in email contact with GOG for the first time today. Many of you won't be surprised to hear that my experience thus far has be excellent. As a result I am moving forward with an e-ring and hope to place the order within the next week.

I have spent the day continuing my research and trying to learn more about the fine details and variables involved when choosing a stone. I am to the point where I have looked at the same stones at least a dozen times each. That's when I figured it was time once again to ask the experts.

I might be splitting hairs at this point, but I have filtered my selections down to the links listed below. I am interested in getting your input/feedback (whether scientific or opinion related) on my selections. I provided the links this time around to give the most detailed information and images.

1.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5133/

2.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5119/

3.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5130/

4.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5171/

5.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5054/


Also note - As far as selection 1. The stone does have 'medium' yellow fluorescence. Based on the given specs and HCA results I can't seem to find any other reason to scratch it off my list. But I am not experienced and have no basis for comparison. In addition, I have not been able to confirm whether or not the stone has any cloudy areas as a result of the fluorescence.

At this point I am impressed with GOG and will continue working with them. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations outside of my selections I am all ears! Thanks!

Glad to hear we have been of help!! Many of us have been here a long time and work well together to help and enjoy doing so, also rudeness is not tolerated.

Ok I will just fix the links....

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5133/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5119/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5130/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5171/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5054/


The first one is a lovely stone, with the yellow fluorescence you would need to check with Jon if that had a negative effect on the diamond or altered the colour in any way. There are some threads with expert opinions on this in the archives that you could read, I have read that yellow fluoro can make a diamond harder to resell however this diamond includes a lifetime upgrade policy so you are covered. Alternatively you could arrange to have the diamond sent to an independant appraiser near you for an impartial opinion.

The others look great, what I would do now is to check availability with Jon at GOG and then choose according to your colour, clarity and budget preferences.

 

[swingirl]

I am not expert but #1 speaks to me!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/23/2008 2:39:09 AM
Author: swingirl
I am not expert but #1 speaks to me!

Swing, you are doing a fantastic job in RT, I really wanted to mention that!

 

[swingirl]

Date: 11/23/2008 3:09:47 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/23/2008 2:39:09 AM

Author: swingirl

I am not expert but #1 speaks to me!

Swing, you are doing a fantastic job in RT, I really wanted to mention that!

Wow! Thank you for the compliment. I am flattered...and still learning. Now if I could just improve on my grammar!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/23/2008 3:19:26 AM
Author: swingirl

Date: 11/23/2008 3:09:47 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/23/2008 2:39:09 AM

Author: swingirl

I am not expert but #1 speaks to me!

Swing, you are doing a fantastic job in RT, I really wanted to mention that!

Wow! Thank you for the compliment. I am flattered...and still learning. Now if I could just improve on my grammar!!

You are most welcome my dear and that is the great thing that we can all keep learning here!

 

[kck126]

Thanks again for the input thus far!

Lorelei - I appreciate you taking the time to update/fix the links. I was in a hurry last night and didn''t catch formatting. Also you are on the money with yellow florescence considerations being affected by GOGs lifetime upgrade policy. That remarkable policy is one of the many reasons why I have decided to go with GOG. And why I am putting strong consideration into that particular selection.

I have read several florescence related posts and will be contacting GOG and Jon to get their professional input and see if they are willing to directly compare my selections. Since I have ruled out "resale" value as being a primary concern, I hope to determine if any cloud or color issues exist in different lighting. However, I have am not set on a particular color rating so some flexibility exists.

swingirl - that stone speaks to me too! But I assure you, you have a more "expert" input than I! Thanks for taking the time to post your input!


On another note: Many of my friends have been recently engaged and/or married. I know my girlfriend is wondering what the hold up is on my end. I started with the local mall shops and like many out there even picked a ring. Everyone I know bought their rings at Kay/Jared or the equivalent because where I am from that is where you go for jewelry. I am not criticizing their decisions because I have seen some beautiful rings (and then again some not so beautiful).

I am the type to excessively research everything and ended up here. I must admit that while evaluating my choices I still refer back to mall store websites for comparison. Obviously the numbers only reinforce my decision to be here. All of the above stones are within my current budget and I suspect all of them to look and perform better than what I have seen. To my knowledge, our circle of family and friends don''t have any "extraordinary" diamonds.

Even though it is not a competition

, I would like my girlfriend''s diamond to turn some heads in these "circles". And doing that, while spending considerably less is just an added bonus. While pricescope is an excellent resource I sometimes wonder about the "bar" being set higher than any of the critics we will run into.

I''m not sure if that made a great deal of sense, but I thought it might help others understand my perspective. Once again thanks to everyone taking the time to help!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 11/23/2008 1:04:27 PM
Author: kck126


Thanks again for the input thus far!


Lorelei - I appreciate you taking the time to update/fix the links. I was in a hurry last night and didn''t catch formatting. Also you are on the money with yellow florescence considerations being affected by GOGs lifetime upgrade policy. That remarkable policy is one of the many reasons why I have decided to go with GOG. And why I am putting strong consideration into that particular selection.


I have read several florescence related posts and will be contacting GOG and Jon to get their professional input and see if they are willing to directly compare my selections. Since I have ruled out ''resale'' value as being a primary concern, I hope to determine if any cloud or color issues exist in different lighting. However, I have am not set on a particular color rating so some flexibility exists.


swingirl - that stone speaks to me too! But I assure you, you have a more ''expert'' input than I! Thanks for taking the time to post your input!



On another note: Many of my friends have been recently engaged and/or married. I know my girlfriend is wondering what the hold up is on my end. I started with the local mall shops and like many out there even picked a ring. Everyone I know bought their rings at Kay/Jared or the equivalent because where I am from that is where you go for jewelry. I am not criticizing their decisions because I have seen some beautiful rings (and then again some not so beautiful).


I am the type to excessively research everything and ended up here. I must admit that while evaluating my choices I still refer back to mall store websites for comparison. Obviously the numbers only reinforce my decision to be here. All of the above stones are within my current budget and I suspect all of them to look and perform better than what I have seen. To my knowledge, our circle of family and friends don''t have any ''extraordinary'' diamonds.


Even though it is not a competition

, I would like my girlfriend''s diamond to turn some heads in these ''circles''. And doing that, while spending considerably less is just an added bonus. While pricescope is an excellent resource I sometimes wonder about the ''bar'' being set higher than any of the critics we will run into.


I''m not sure if that made a great deal of sense, but I thought it might help others understand my perspective. Once again thanks to everyone taking the time to help!

Your girlfriend''s ring will do more than turn heads, it will blow their rings out of the water. And make sure she knows how much time and effort you put into finding the "right" ring for her. She will appreciate it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/23/2008 1:08:22 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 11/23/2008 1:04:27 PM
Author: kck126

Your girlfriend''s ring will do more than turn heads, it will blow their rings out of the water. And make sure she knows how much time and effort you put into finding the ''right'' ring for her. She will appreciate it.

Glad to help kck! And ditto Neat, you will end up with a spectacular ring!!!

 

[swingirl]

If you do buy one of these gorgeous stones you picked (I like the biggest whitest one!) and you have it nicely set and you post photos here (a cute engagement story scores points, too, although not necessary) AND you let your gal read the comments...THAT will make it all worth it. Knowing you have made a good choice and have something lasting to show for it will be your reward. I honestly don''t care if anybody notices my stone or how it compares, I love it and know what a great find it was.

 

[AprilBaby]

#2 appealed to my eye the most...

 

[kck126]

GOG was able to help answer my questions regarding the yellow florescence of my first selection. I do believe that is a beautiful stone, but opted not to purchase. GOGs assistance and level of detail/customer satisfaction sold me on them for my purchase. Therefore...

I have finalized my decision and the order has been placed. So far working with GOG has been a very pleasant experience and I am now anxiously awaiting delivery. Here''s the diamond I purchased

Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 0.82ct
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
AGS Cut Grade: Ideal
Optical Symmetry: Premium
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None

Lab Report: AGS
Lab Report #: 10076208

Width: 6.04mm
Length: 6.05mm
Depth: 3.70mm
Table Percentage: 56.70%
Depth Percentage: 61.10%
Crown ∠: 34.50°
Crown Depth: 14.70%
Pavilion ∠: 40.80°
Pavilion Depth: 43.00%


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5119/


The diamond will be set in a simple tiffany style solitaire and I will be receiving the ring in a couple weeks. AT that time I will post pictures and a more detailed review of my GOG experience. Once again - Thanks! to everyone that has taken the time to help!

 

[honey22]

Looks like a great diamond, and a great size too. Not too big to be flashy, but big enough to look like a nice little rock

Don''t forget to come back here with handshots! They are our thankyou for helping us out - we need to have a drool over new rocks to keep us happy

 

[Lorelei]

CONGRATS!!!!

 

[Ellen]

Congrats kck, that''s going to be a lovely ring!

 

[kck126]

Update - I received the ring from GOG today and I am more than pleased! To be perfectly honest I damn near lost my composure when I opened the box. I was so overwhelmed that my eyes began watering and I started to shake (must be that''s what happens when I overload on emotion). I have been throughout the house several times looking at the ring in different lighting. Is this a symptom of stone shock?


The surprise proposal is coming up with the holidays. After the special day I plan to share an update and provide more details. It just happens my GF will be receiving a new camera this year. I''m sure ring shots will be a great way to learn and familiarize ourselves with the camera.


Once again thank you to everyone that has helped and offered input along the way! This community has been great. Another thanks to GOG - I will be starting another thread soon to detail my experience and satisfaction!

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

 

[Rhino]

Thank you kck. It has been a pleasure to serve and congrats on your upcoming engagement.

Warm regards from all of us at GOG. Please keep us posted.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/17/2008 8:55:28 PM
Author: kck126

Update - I received the ring from GOG today and I am more than pleased! To be perfectly honest I damn near lost my composure when I opened the box. I was so overwhelmed that my eyes began watering and I started to shake (must be that''s what happens when I overload on emotion). I have been throughout the house several times looking at the ring in different lighting. Is this a symptom of stone shock?


The surprise proposal is coming up with the holidays. After the special day I plan to share an update and provide more details. It just happens my GF will be receiving a new camera this year. I''m sure ring shots will be a great way to learn and familiarize ourselves with the camera.


Once again thank you to everyone that has helped and offered input along the way! This community has been great. Another thanks to GOG - I will be starting another thread soon to detail my experience and satisfaction!

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

YIPPEE!!!!