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advice needed on loose diamond

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cecily

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
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HI Everyone,
We have been shopping for an engagement ring for myself for the past few weeks as we were too broke when we got married to even consider getting one. We just bought simple wedding bands.
10 years later, 3 kids and a hard working husband and it looks like I am close to getting my e-ring at last. We found the following diamond on bluenile with GIA cert. 2.01 carats, J color, ideal cut, medium blue fluorescence and the following: depth 60.1, table 58 crown 34.5 pavilion 40.8. SI1 clarity. Price is $13,015 which is really as high as we can go. What do you think ? I am trying to go as big as I can, with nice sparkle and fire. I do not want the diamond to look yellow under any circumstances, it will most likely be mounted in platinum head with yellow gold. Also, on the GIA report, they show the inclusions, and it look like they are a lot of them on left side (small cluster of inclusions) when you look at table from up. Will it influence light return and sparkle ? Should I call Bnile and ask for ideal sope or something else ? Help please !!!! We will be renewing our vows late summer so I need the ring by then. Also, I have big square hands and was wondering if round was the best choice ? I like the round brilliant as the ones I saw in person really outshine the other shapes. Thanks for the advice.
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Hi cecily,

How exciting! The diamond definitely sounds like it has potential. BN won't give you any more info. However, they do have a great return policy. So I would bring it home and take it straight to an independant appraiser (one who does not sell jewelry), and see what they say. If it checks out, you got yourself a diamond!

One caution though. IF you think you might ever want to go bigger, BN does not have an upgrade policy. Just something to think about.

HTH!

p.s. Rounds give good coverage, and if well cut, can appear slightly larger than ct. weight.
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Thanks Ellen. Otherwise any other vendor I should look at ? Will J SI1 be a good option mounted in yellow gold ?
 
Hi Cecily,
two vendors that are extremely popular around here are GOG (Good Old Gold) and WF (Whiteflash). Both of these vendors will give you as much info as you want on their stones, and also have a lifetime upgrade policy, which can come in handy in the future
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But seriously, BN is also popular, but if you want exemplary service and an education on diamonds at the same time, GOG or WF are a great place to start.
Personally I think if you''re working to a budget and want to maximize size than J SI1 is a great spot! Best thing would be to ask Jon from GOG to film a video for you with an ideal cut J Si1 alongside some other colour/clarity options, and see what your colour sensitivity is like.
You can check out some of his videos made for previous clients at www.goodoldgold.com. If you are purchasing from afar, like myself, these can be invaluable!
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That performed really well on the Cut Advisor. It scored 4 excellents on the HCA and that is which is great! But it wouldn''t hurt to hunt around and look at comparable stones on websites from PS recommended internet vendors. BN doesn''t offer any photos and many of the other vendors can show you photos, enlargements, etc.

I know this is a little over budget but check this one.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3154/
 
Cecily, I missed this before, but you refer to this stone as ideal. GIA doesn''t have an ideal cut, only AGS. So what are the cut, polish and symmetry grades on this stone?

As the others have pointed out, you''ll get more info first, if you want it, from a couple other vendors. My only real concern for you about buying from BN is the upgrade part. You don''t want to have to start all over if you decide to move up.


There just isn''t much in that range in house. This is a harder to find size, they won''t ever be in abundance. Swingirl found that one, but if it''s too much, or whatever, contact one of the vendors and just tell them your budget and what you want and they will start looking for you. They have several resources to pull stones from. Then you could post a potential here if you wanted and get opinions on it.
 
Thanks everyone. I am going to start emailing the other vendors you mentioned. I really like the diamond from GOG, but price is definitely over our higher budget limit ($12,700). The BN one was excellent cut, polish and symmetry on GIA cert. Ideally, we want to maximize size, cut is non negotiable, I really want it to sparkle. 1.80 carat or more. I/J is OK for me because I used to work for a millionnaire lady here in Silicon Valley. She has a huge rock as e-ring (insured over 1 million), pear shape, really colorless, and I am sure great quality, but everytime I looked at her finger, diamond was somewhat a "cold" color. My sister in law has an e-ring qbout 1.5 carat I color that looks nicer to me in color than my former''s boss e-ring. I hope I am not saying something too dumb here !
 
Date: 3/24/2008 12:30:11 PM
Author: cecily
Thanks everyone. I am going to start emailing the other vendors you mentioned. I really like the diamond from GOG, but price is definitely over our higher budget limit ($12,700). The BN one was excellent cut, polish and symmetry on GIA cert. Ideally, we want to maximize size, cut is non negotiable, I really want it to sparkle. 1.80 carat or more. I/J is OK for me because I used to work for a millionnaire lady here in Silicon Valley. She has a huge rock as e-ring (insured over 1 million), pear shape, really colorless, and I am sure great quality, but everytime I looked at her finger, diamond was somewhat a ''cold'' color. My sister in law has an e-ring qbout 1.5 carat I color that looks nicer to me in color than my former''s boss e-ring. I hope I am not saying something too dumb here !
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Nope, not at all. Many people actually prefer warmer diamonds!

Good luck on your search, and let us know what happens!
 
Hi everyone,
I emailed Pricesope''s vendors and a couple have replied. I have a good contact and feeling with Gary at Engagement Rings Direct and this morning he offered the following (that they have in their stock): 1.60 carat, J color, VS2, GIA excellent cut, symmetry and polish. No fluorescence, $8,455. Depth 61.9 table 55, crown 34.5 and pavilion 40.8. He says it is beautiful face up, BUT.... it is slightly smaller that what I had in mind (Ideally, around 8mm diameter because of my hands''size), it does not have blue fluorescence which might help the J color. I really like that it performs well on HCA though and I really like the price (budget in 11,000 range). Brilliance will probably compensate the color. I have been devouring Pricescope forums since I began my search and I would like to have your guys'' opinions. Also it says on certificate that one of the inclusion is a feather ? Any advice ????? I do not need the diamond right away, I have at least 3-4 more weeks to decide. Thanks !!!
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cecily, that diamond sounds great, no red flags. And if he says it''s pretty, I believe him.

I understand the quandry on waiting for the size you really want. Stones falling slightly under the 2 ct. mark, that are well cut, are not a dime a dozen, but they are out there.. The question is, will one pop up in your time allotment. No one can say. Can you not go past 4 weeks? if you could, it might be worth the wait. It''s just really hard to say what to do here...
 
Ellen, I can wait more than 4 weeks. But I need the ring by late May, early June before I leave the US with my kids for summer. My husband is staying but I would really like to be the one to receive ring to check it out. We are renewing our vows in August. I am also talking to Chris at Whiteflash, so hopefully a stone will come up soon... If anyone sees something, please post it so I can check it out.
 
I'm poking around, I love what you're after! I found this one:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1155337.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

I'll post more if I come across any more that look promising. Like Ellen said, they aren't abundant, but what you're after is out there. I personally LOVE what you're after, a gorgeous 2ct J/SI stone, woohoo!!!!!!!!! I just upgraded my 1.59 J/SI2 to a 1.82 K/SI2----I wish I had the $ for it to have been a 2ct J/SI! Someday. I also second the suggestion to strongly consider going with a company with an upgrade policy. I had my 1.59 less than a year before I was sooooo ready to start inching my way up the scale. I'm sure that 1.6 Gary has is GoRgEoUs, but you've got the budget to get a 2ct so by all means, do it.
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Oh, and I think a J/SI will look fabulous in yellow gold. If it's well cut you have nothing to worry about in the color department. Especially since you know from the past that your eyes prefer a little warmer diamond as oppossed to the icy white.
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I like the James Allen, but it has several feathers close to the girdle and 1 of my friend had a really bad expericence with a stone like that (structural problems after a few years of wear). Also, Whiteflash emailed me a stone that is H&A, very similar to one suggested by Engagement Rings Direct. They have exc. cuts, sym and numbers almost identical and also perform very well on HCA. The "only" difference is $3,000 just because it is H&A. What do you think ? Are the H&As really worth the price difference over "regular" excellent cut stones? I think Jenn is right I am going to go as close as possible to 2.00...
 
Hi
I found another diamond as follows:
J
VS2
7.85x7.94x4.71
1.77 ct
GIA cert as follows: very good cut, good polish, very good symmetry, strong blue fluor, no culet, thin to medium facetd girdle
59.6 depth
58 table
33 crwon
41 pavilion
less than $10,000
Scores extremely well, pricescope vendor says it is extremely beautiful "in person".
What do you think ? So far I only considered the diamonds GIA excellent everything. Is this one worth looking or what do you experts think ?
 
Hi cecily, I didn't see your post from the 26th, didn't want you to think I was ignoring you!

This stone has potential, and I love the J color with strong flo! It is not "top notch", but it could be very nice.


Questions.

1. Does the flo affect the stone negatively? need to ask.

2. Can you get any type of pics on the stone? And a Sarin report?
 
Hi Ellen,
Also looked at this stone:
www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3154

on goodoldgold website. It is way over budget, but I thought maybe they would give a Pricescope discount. Anyway, what do you think, Charles says it is completely eyeclean and beautiful. Do you generally think H&A are worth the additional $$$ or no ?
 
Wow, another J with strong flo!

Honestly? That stone is worth every penny, to me. It''s not only cut well, it''s a branded stone, just not advertised as one. They cut a truly stunning diamond, I have one too. If there is any way to swing it, I''d get it. You will never have to wonder if you could have done better, if you do. Stunning stone.
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The discount is the bankwire price listed below regular.
 
Ok Ellen, thanks for the advice. Now it comes down to $$$$. I guess I am going to see how much money we will have to part with on April 15 th (small business owners anyone... ?). If it is possible, I will try to go with this stone then, hopefully it will still be here.
I will keep you posted.
 
Date: 3/30/2008 1:11:47 PM
Author: cecily
Ok Ellen, thanks for the advice. Now it comes down to $$$$. I guess I am going to see how much money we will have to part with on April 15 th (small business owners anyone... ?). If it is possible, I will try to go with this stone then, hopefully it will still be here.
I will keep you posted.
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I understand. However, if I were you, I would call and talk to Jon and see if some kind of hold arrangement could be made. Maybe possibly putting a small refundable deposit down? I don''t know if he would consider it, but it wouldn''t hurt to ask. My reason for suggesting this is, now that it''s been put out here, with the unique combo, nice size, and the fact that it''s eyeclean, I''m affraid someone lurking might snatch it up. It happens.

I would call him and just explain the situation. He''s really nice, and at worst, all he could say is he can''t do it. But ya never know.
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And yes, please let me know what happens!
 
OK Ellen,
Thanks for the advice. I will post again when I have everything ready.
 
Hi Ellen and Pricescope people !!!!! I am spneding so much time on this stone search that my husband just suggested trying harder with the keyboard and wait for the diamond to pop out of the computer screen. Anyway, the stone I saw on GOG that was awesome is pushing our budget a little too high. But GOG just added another one
link is www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4269. What do you think, it is obvioulsy "lower" quality than their other J 2.03 stone, but performs decent on HCA, huge spread. Two questions: is the shallowness of the stone an issue (I read somewhere here that sometimes they break more easily than deeper ones) and what do you think of brilliance/fire ? I am not in a social circle where people have such an acute eye for colors and clarity but I want it to sparkle.
 
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