Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Princess

[Airjarhead]

Hi,
I have been thinking about proposing for a while, and now I think I'm really ready. I have been lurking these pages and using the pricescope search engine for a couple of months and wanted to seek advice. I'm very concerned about buying something online with my limited experience, but I know I can get a much better diamond online than at a local jeweler (I've been looking).
I'm looking for something at least 1ct, VS1 or better clarity, F or better in color, and an excellent cut for under $5000. I would like either radiant, cushion, or Princess cut. I really like a blue florescence too.
I think I've found a perfect diamond, but I would love to discuss it with some of you experts.
Here is the link:
http://www.solomonbrothers.com/DiamondDetail.aspx?sku=4H89YFFF&affiliate=9318613A-AD0C-4530-A456-0409DFEFB8DE%20&utm_source=PriceScope

Thanks,
Rick

 

[jaebond]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

I'm not an expert, but I'm sure that most people on the site will see an EGL cert as a red flag.

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

The shapes you wanted cannot be reliably buy with just a grading report. AGS is the only lab that grades the cut performance of a princess, there is no lab that grades the cut performance of cushion or radiant. So what ever cut grade assigned is by the vendor and can mean anything under the sun. At least need an ASET image.

EGL is also known to be soft on color and clarity grading, usually up to 2 grades lower if not worse, and as such is traded at a much lower price than equivalent color/clarity graded stones by GIA/AGS amongst the trade, then pass off as a better deal to the unsuspecting general public when usually it is usually cheaper to buy a stone graded at the correct grade by AGS/GIA.

Can you confirm your SO wants any of these 3 shapes? Most ladies has a definite preference for either angular or rounded, not many do not have preference or like both just as well.

 

[E B]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

This is just over $5k (bank wire price), but hits all your other requirements:

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4859/

 

[Christina...]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

Heres a AVC it's different then the radiant and the square, it's also a G SI1 but eye clean. I just thought I'd throw it out there because the optics are beautiful on this cut and it's a stone that wouldn't be the same as everyone elses but still have that square shape.

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

The shapes you wanted cannot be reliably buy with just a grading report. AGS is the only lab that grades the cut performance of a princess, there is no lab that grades the cut performance of cushion or radiant. So what ever cut grade assigned is by the vendor and can mean anything under the sun. At least need an ASET image.

EGL is also known to be soft on color and clarity grading, usually up to 2 grades lower if not worse, and as such is traded at a much lower price than equivalent color/clarity graded stones by GIA/AGS amongst the trade, then pass off as a better deal to the unsuspecting general public when usually it is usually cheaper to buy a stone graded at the correct grade by AGS/GIA.

Can you confirm your SO wants any of these 3 shapes? Most ladies has a definite preference for either angular or rounded, not many do not have preference or like both just as well.

Thank you very much for the info.
I went back to my notes, and her shape preferences are:
1. Princess
2. Radiant
3. Cushion
Thanks again,
Rick

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

This is just over $5k (bank wire price), but hits all your other requirements:

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4859/

Very nice! Thanks EB.

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

Heres a AVC it's different then the radiant and the square, it's also a G SI1 but eye clean. I just thought I'd throw it out there because the optics are beautiful on this cut and it's a stone that wouldn't be the same as everyone elses but still have that square shape.

Are you talking about the one in your profile pic?

 

[slg47]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/7872/

this one is 0.93 ct

 

[vintagelover229]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

I realize this isn't quite a carat radiant but I've seen this ring some where on PS and it's a very good price and a beautiful ring so I thought I'd share just in case you like it

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/21660/RED!-OBO-GIA-cert-704-VVS2-F-radiant-diamond-ring.html

Good luck!

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/7872/

this one is 0.93 ct

I saw that one too. I love the information / pictures that site provides!

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

I realize this isn't quite a carat radiant but I've seen this ring some where on PS and it's a very good price and a beautiful ring so I thought I'd share just in case you like it

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/21660/RED!-OBO-GIA-cert-704-VVS2-F-radiant-diamond-ring.html

Good luck!

That is a very nice ring and a great price, but she is pretty simple and said she would much rather a solitaire.
Thanks!

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

I have seen a few recommendation for Mark T at ERD and found this one:
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/DiamondDetails.aspx?Item=181869068
I think it looks pretty good...thoughts?

 

[slg47]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

I have seen a few recommendation for Mark T at ERD and found this one:
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/DiamondDetails.aspx?Item=181869068
I think it looks pretty good...thoughts?

I would look for one with a smaller table. also without images or ASET images there is nothing to suggest that that will be a particularly nice stone.

 

[farmer gal]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

You can request asset images for 3 diamonds and have their gemologist look at three to tell you which one is the best. You will have to decide which shape you want.

Radiants

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Good-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1306476.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Good-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1305311.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Premium-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1305896.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Good-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1378096.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Good-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1373721.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Good-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1350760.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Good-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1379781.asp


Cushions

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1334018.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Premium-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1303618.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VVS2-Premium-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1303625.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Premium-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1317715.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Premium-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1303617.asp

Princess cuts

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1349947.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1356546.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1382120.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1381846.asp

I did throw some G's in here because honestly I don't think the average person is not going to be able to tell the difference between an F and a G, it is still going to look icey white. Also there are some VS2's because again to the eye you should not be able to tell the difference. ( This is GIA and AGS grades I'm talking here if you go with an EGL diamond you are most likely paying for two color grades below and a clarity grade below what it is advertised for)

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

Wow!
Thanks

 

[Airjarhead]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

This is just over $5k (bank wire price), but hits all your other requirements:

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4859/

Thank you all very much for the suggestions. I've looked at every one of them (along with my own searches) several times in the past few days, but I keep going back to the diamond above. I spoke with Good Old Gold today and the guy said they didn't have a better square cut diamond for less than $7k.
I also feel pretty comfortable with the clarity and color from all of the info they have on the site. However, I'm still a little unsure about table. Is the table size on this diamond ideal? In other words, could I do any better in this quality/size/price range?
Thanks again!

 

[jaebond]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

I don't know much about radiants, but it looks perfect to me. I don't know how tables work on radiants, but that is a good sized princess table. Also the cut grader gave the table % a 1A (although, it gets a 2A if you go by the % listed on the cert, I don't know which is the right one).

 

[E B]

Re: Advice / Suggestions For a 1ct Radiant, Cushion, or Prin

This is just over $5k (bank wire price), but hits all your other requirements:

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4859/

Thank you all very much for the suggestions. I've looked at every one of them (along with my own searches) several times in the past few days, but I keep going back to the diamond above. I spoke with Good Old Gold today and the guy said they didn't have a better square cut diamond for less than $7k.
I also feel pretty comfortable with the clarity and color from all of the info they have on the site. However, I'm still a little unsure about table. Is the table size on this diamond ideal? In other words, could I do any better in this quality/size/price range?
Thanks again!

I think it's a great choice, hitting all of your requirements (including strong blue fluor!) AND juuuust missing the 1 ct. price increase by an amount not visible to the naked eye. What is your concern about the table?