Advice on Brian Gavin Diamonds loose stones

[kimberlisco]

As I posted earlier, I am looking to upgrade my diamond to a 1.5 ct RB. I'm willing to sacrifice on the color/clarity in favor of cut. I've been trolling the forums obsessively and I think I have a good idea of what to look for. I'm still considering the GIA diamond that I looked at yesterday. It is $8400 J SI2 excellent cut grade/sym/polish. Eye clean, except for a black spec on the girdle.

I found some loose diamonds online. BGD seemed to have the best prices/value. I know it's impossible to tell if a diamond is eye clean from a grading report, but these diamonds look cleaner than the ones on BN. Has anyone had any experience with this retailer?

The main issues I have, other than not actually seeing the stone, is that I don't know how much it could cost to have it set in my current setting. It may require some adjustment. Do jewelers typically do this if you didn't purchase the diamond from them? How much do they charge for that usually? My setting is a white gold pave setting. This cost would have to be factored in as well as the $500 I would lose for trading in vs selling my current stone outright. Do you pay tax online?

Thanks

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Can you show us a particular stone you are talking about? Because BG's stones are some of the most expensive, generally. This is the only stone they have close to the specs you were talking about.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.586-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-104047809020

Oh, but here is an apparently new stone they are getting in that looks terrific! The blue fluorescence is a bonus and may help the stone appear higher in color!

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.513-j-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104057888017

If you order a stone from out of state, you are not charged sales tax.

Post a picture of your setting.

 

[kimberlisco]

Here is one of the stones I was looking at:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.530-j-si2-round-diamond-gia-37285118

It looks included on the sides though.

 

[kimberlisco]

What would you say is the best priced online retailer on loose stones?

So is blue fluorescence typically ok or does it vary by stone?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, that is a virtual stone and not one they really have on hand. I think about the lowest price for virtual stones that are called in and inspected decently would be ID Jewelry in NYC. Take a look through James Allen's inventory and many of the stones they list and picture are accessible by multiple vendors because they are owned by a diamond supplier. From what I have seen here, ID Jewelry will beat the prices on the JA site. I'll take a quick look and see if I see anything.

Blue fluorescence is an advantage in an I-J or lower color stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

This one may have really good inclusions (as in eye clean):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1463673.asp

Not fond of feathers as the primary inclusion but the numbers are good if it was eyeclean:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1455791.asp

another nicely cut but check on inclusions:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1451229.asp

Again, check prices and availability from ID Jewelry and tell them you are a pricescope member and want excellent cut. Also ask if they see any with fluorescence because it might lower the price of the stone.

 

[kimberlisco]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely check out ID Jewelry. I like the first and the third JA stones. I'm starting to realize that there is a pretty noticeable difference between SI1 & SI2.

I was looking at this one on JA and although it's not super clean, it looks ok:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Very%20Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1477500.asp

I was worried that strong fluorescence would look milky- but since I am looking at I-J diamonds- it could be worth checking out.

 

[kimberlisco]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely check out ID Jewelry. I like the first and the third JA stones. I'm starting to realize that there is a pretty noticeable difference between SI1 & SI2.

I was looking at this one on JA and although it's not super clean, it looks ok:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Very%20Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1477500.asp

I was worried that strong fluorescence would look milky- but since I am looking at I-J diamonds- it could be worth checking out.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely check out ID Jewelry. I like the first and the third JA stones. I'm starting to realize that there is a pretty noticeable difference between SI1 & SI2.

I was looking at this one on JA and although it's not super clean, it looks ok:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Very%20Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1477500.asp

I was worried that strong fluorescence would look milky- but since I am looking at I-J diamonds- it could be worth checking out.

Yeah, it is a lot easier to find an acceptable SI1 stone, for sure. Actually someone just posted a link to a GIA article that said very few stones graded very strong fluor. had any negative effects. I would feel fine with medium to strong blue and there is a chance that very strong could be okay

http://lgdl.gia.edu/pdfs/W97_fluoresce.pdf

This last stone you posted just isn't cut as well as the others, and I would be hesitant to recommend it. It has a large table at 61% (you usually want 54-58 and some will accept up to 60, but that would be my absolute max). It also has a really shallow crown angle at 32.5. We often recommend 34-35 which you'll see in most ideal cut stones, but you can sometimes go to the 33 range if there is a complimentary pavilion angle.

 

[Md123456789]

I was just reading this thread and wondering- what is wrong with a table percentage over 60%?

 

[Dancing Fire]

I was just reading this thread and wondering- what is wrong with a table percentage over 60%?

IMO..less fire.

 

[06pvc]

J/SI2's are where i decided to settle.

Here is one a little over budget/undersize (8995, 1.40). Maybe the inclusion would be to much tough.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8792/

I went through IDJ and I would recommend the same to you. With SI2 you need lots and lots of assurance the diamond will be eye clean to your satisfactions, so a place that gives picture and trustworthy opinions is a must. Going through IDJ will allow you to not limit yourself to websites like GOG and JA that have pictures, but will broaden your search to all virtual stones.

You could also consider shooting just under 1.5 which would give you tons of options. You could look for a lesser weighing stone that gives you a 1.5 spread.

You could ask if these are eye clean:
(0.8 HCA) http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-2644793-1.60-carat-Round-diamond-J-color-SI2-Clarity.aspx?sku=2644793&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com
(AGS0) http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=521043&ref=pricescope
(Low HCA) http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-2792219-1.53-carat-Round-diamond-J-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=2792219&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

Honestly though, there are soooooo many stones within that budget. 8.5K for a J/SI2 you should be able to get a very nice stone. I think you could even get better clarity/cut/color or consider just spending a little less money .