First off -- Happy Thanksgiving, and a sincere thanks in advance for any help anyone may provide!
I've done a fair bit of looking over the past few months and have decided on a round brilliant. My price range, all-in (including setting) is about $12k. I had initially wanted something in the vicinity of 1.75 carats, but quickly saw I'd have to give up too much in the way of all other qualities (too yellow, average cut, poor clarity) solely for the sake of size. I've now gravitated down to the 1.5 range. My girlfriend is also very small w/ small fingers, so I think this is still a very acceptable size for her.
My eye, for whatever reason, seems to be pretty sensitive to color. After G, I just don't find the color to be acceptable. Anything above F generally is out of my price range, so I've narrowed in on F-G.
From perusing many other posts, I seem to have made a rookie mistake early on by failing to appreciate the importance of cut (likely b/c it's the most poorly translatable/understandable term) and by overestimating the ability of my eye to perceive clarity. I've now realized that SI1 is acceptable and, frankly, probably a necessity given my price and size range. With time, though, cut has become more important.
All of this rambling aside, I have a particular stone in mind. Here are the details: 1.54 carats / F / SI1 / AGS Ideal Triple 0. Dimensions are 56.5% / 62.4 % / 35.8 degrees / 40.6 degrees.
I am attempting to post a picture of it as well (although I don't know if it will be helpful at all). I am also posting a picture of the clarity plot as well as the AGSL Light performance map (if this is helpful).
I realize seeing the stone with my own eyes is mandatory and without any substitute (certainly for an SI1 stone to verify it is eye-clean). That said, I have yet to see the stone -- I am hoping to see it in the next day or two. I finally gathered up the mojo to post on this so I could get just a little extra input prior to seeing it myself.
As far as price is concerned -- I have been working with a close friend who I trust will give me a good deal. She has priced this for me at about $10.5k (well below what they're brick/mortar store pricing would be). This also seems to be a fair bit still cheaper than reputable online stores as well.
How does this stone seem to stack up? Given my price constraints, are there other trade-offs that would be wiser to make?
Again, thanks in advance for any help. Happiest of holidays and cheers!
I've done a fair bit of looking over the past few months and have decided on a round brilliant. My price range, all-in (including setting) is about $12k. I had initially wanted something in the vicinity of 1.75 carats, but quickly saw I'd have to give up too much in the way of all other qualities (too yellow, average cut, poor clarity) solely for the sake of size. I've now gravitated down to the 1.5 range. My girlfriend is also very small w/ small fingers, so I think this is still a very acceptable size for her.
My eye, for whatever reason, seems to be pretty sensitive to color. After G, I just don't find the color to be acceptable. Anything above F generally is out of my price range, so I've narrowed in on F-G.
From perusing many other posts, I seem to have made a rookie mistake early on by failing to appreciate the importance of cut (likely b/c it's the most poorly translatable/understandable term) and by overestimating the ability of my eye to perceive clarity. I've now realized that SI1 is acceptable and, frankly, probably a necessity given my price and size range. With time, though, cut has become more important.
All of this rambling aside, I have a particular stone in mind. Here are the details: 1.54 carats / F / SI1 / AGS Ideal Triple 0. Dimensions are 56.5% / 62.4 % / 35.8 degrees / 40.6 degrees.
I am attempting to post a picture of it as well (although I don't know if it will be helpful at all). I am also posting a picture of the clarity plot as well as the AGSL Light performance map (if this is helpful).
I realize seeing the stone with my own eyes is mandatory and without any substitute (certainly for an SI1 stone to verify it is eye-clean). That said, I have yet to see the stone -- I am hoping to see it in the next day or two. I finally gathered up the mojo to post on this so I could get just a little extra input prior to seeing it myself.
As far as price is concerned -- I have been working with a close friend who I trust will give me a good deal. She has priced this for me at about $10.5k (well below what they're brick/mortar store pricing would be). This also seems to be a fair bit still cheaper than reputable online stores as well.
How does this stone seem to stack up? Given my price constraints, are there other trade-offs that would be wiser to make?
Again, thanks in advance for any help. Happiest of holidays and cheers!
300x240.png)