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Any compromise to be had?

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gk172

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 15, 2007
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Since my search has started the price of my diamond has shot up the more info i find and just wondered if there was a compromise to be had to maybe bring the cost down? My colour size and clarity i have set in my mind but where im thinking possibly is the table and depth when searching im choosing 60-72% table and 64-75% depth, would i be silly to choose out with those ranges and how much would it affect the stone and its sparkles?

Any thoughts please?
 
what shape?
 
If you are looking at a a round diamond, I suggest looking at a diamond that is GIA certified G - H - I (near colorless) in color, SI1 - SI2 (slightly included) with a decent cut. This range gives you the best look for the best price. The cut of the diamond is everything. By choosing a diamond that is near colorless and slightly included (no inclusions visible to the aked eye) with a good cut, you''ll get a bigger diamond that sparkles. Don''t get hung up in numbers.
 
Sorry meant to include it will be a princess cut diamond. And clarity i have chosen vs2 as i had a look at a gia report on a si1 and it had knots in it which would bother me knowing they were there so my choice then falls to vs2 or higher. Or do some si1 come without knots?

Thank you
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Do not judge a diamond''s eyecleanliness by the GIA plot. Sometimes those plots can look very scary and the diamond can be completely eye clean. You need to see the diamond or talk to someone who has seen it. It is very possible to find an SI1 or SI2 that is eye clean.

I have to disagree with the previous poster too. Don''t go for a ''decent'' cut. Get the best cut you can. WF has AGS 000 princess cut diamonds. I highly recommend you check them out.
 
Thank you, so cut ranks pretty much top of the scale am i looking at just ideal or is premium a good choice too, avoiding very good downwards then? I will need to narrow things down to 2 diamonds and need all the help i can get
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If you tell us the general size and budget you''re aiming for, we might could show you some examples.
 
Im looking at the 1 ct mark princess cut and my budget was to keep the stone and setting $4000 but its creeping up to nearer $5000, ive found a good few stones but then i look at the colour above or the clarity above and sometime the differance isnt too much and it so it goes on. The first ring we found was from walmart at $2000 and now we have doubled it through gaining knowledge.
 
Thats quite a drop in colour and clarity to what i had been looking at, this or this was what i was looking at is there something that ive not picked up on?
 
=) As I think I''ve said before, most people would not buy a princess diamond without seeing it first, because very little can be told by the numbers. Seeing it means AT LEAST an idealscope if not an ASET image.

The diamonds Diamond Seeker suggested are ACA Princesses, in the top 5% of princesses out there, and the only princesses you could safely buy without looking at the pics.

The diamonds you are looking at on Abzias are not ACA, and there''s no guarantee of quality of light return, because there is no idealscope/ASET image. You get to pay a lot less for higher clarity and color, by having this big "? mark" on how the diamond will actually preform.

Hope that explains the difference.
 
Date: 5/12/2007 10:56:42 AM
Author: gk172
Thats quite a drop in colour and clarity to what i had been looking at, this or this was what i was looking at is there something that ive not picked up on?
Click to expand...

Cut
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. Despite the higher color/clarity, those stones could be total duds, and you''ll be left with a clear piece of lifeless glass.
 
Hi. I''m going to suggest that you watch the videos on Good Old Gold site. They will help show you what everyone is talking about. Here is the site. If nothing else, watch the first 3. You''ll be amazed.
 
Peridot - thank you for all your help in all my posts.

I guess i still have a lot to learn on diamonds and will watch the videos through in the morning, my choice is abazias or go round the shops in the malls, i have still a few weeks before settling on something and ive been in contact with abazias many times but i wont part with $4000 until ive seen the stone and i cant ask abazias to hold a stone for weeks without wiring the monies I think i can request 2 stones to be brought in hence trying to narrow it down. I may be better going round the stores and then i get to see the stones.

Would you rule out all cuts from abazias? the ideal and premium cuts?
 
I would also suggest that you keep an eye on the WF Expert Selection. They don''t have anything in your price range right now, but they get new stones all the time. These are excellent cuts that just miss the mark for ACA (I think it''s usually for optical symmetry, which may not be as important to you as cut/color/clarity.) They are a great value.
 
Please don''t buy from a mall store GK. You will most likely either get a horrid stone OR get ripped off for a good stone. There are very very few mall stores here that are worth a second glance.
 
Hmm, how much is abazias charging to call them in? If Abazias will do an ASET once they're in, it might be worth it.

First, I'd ask Abazias if they have any ags0 stones in their inventory..if they do purchase one of those.

If they don't, stick with the table, depth, and crown numbers plus whatever they call "Ideal" and if you can afford to, call them in and have them do an ASET or idealscope. I would not go outside of these #s since they are the very very basic floor to guarantee light performance. Post the images here and we'll let you know if they're any good.

If Abazias can't do either, I'd consider looking at jewelery stores in your area.

Also, if you're going to Florida, look if there's any jewelery stores in that area through the Pricescope vendor search. I'd call the jewelery store up and ask if they have the selection of stones you're interested in so you can check them out while you're there.

Ask if any of them carry AGS0 princesses, and start window shopping. Look at tons and tons of diamonds so you can get an idea what you like. Once you've seen a bunch of super excellent stones, you could go into any B & M and find a diamond that works for you. Remember to look at the diamonds in natural light, not just store light.

Good luck!!
 
Maul stores.....ACK!!!! (runs and hides) You REALLY don''t want to do that. Please watch the videos BEFORE you buy anything.

As far as not wanting to pay without seeing the stone, I totally understand. But, if you work with a reputable dealer, you can always buy the stone after talking with them and making sure the stone is eye clean, and if you don''t like it, send it back for a full refund.

I bought my earrings from Whiteflash, site unseen. I looked at the maul stores, and laughed. When I got my earrings, I was blown away. They are J in color and SI1 clarity. I was shocked by how white they are. And they sparkle like you wouldn''t believe. How can such a low color look so great? They''re ideal cut. At all the maul stores I looked at, I couldn''t find any ideal cuts. And most of the certificates I found were IGI...not one of the top labs. Even looking at the other stones in all the jewelry store lights, I could and still can tell that none of them compare to my ACA''s. The stores "signature" diamonds don''t even look as good, and I paid less than what those cost and got larger stones.

I for one, would buy from any of the vendors recommended on this site. Because, I know that after talking to them on the phone, that if I don''t like them, I can return them.....no problem.
 
Thank you all, i have now watched the videos and there is no compromise on the cut so compromise will need to be on a higher budget or lower colour, taking whats said about the rounds how much of it relates back to the princess as the cut with 84.2 lower girdle facet to get that effect what numbers should i be looking for? and what part does that come under does it mean a thinner girdle? I have looked on abazias and they have 25 diamonds all with ideal cut but who determines the cut is it the jeweller or gia? As all the stones ive been looking at are gia as they seem to be recognised worldwide.

I have found this one which is ags certified is this one any better?
 
GIA and AGS are deeply connected and are the two most respect organizations in the diamond and jewelry industry. Cut grade is determined by the grading organization and not the jeweler you are dealing with. The diamond appears to be very nice (however I would ask to see the report...I am not sure if I did not see on your link the certification (i could have missed it), but any professional not willing to share the report openly is one you do not want ot deal with). It could be a typo, but ask about the Polish grade. Also, when one shows you how much money you are saving, think twice. Who would sell something for less than it is worth? Noone. I suggest that you go to a local, well established jeweler to see what you are trying to read. I report is just that. It sounds good, but it may not look good to your eye. Don''t get caught up in numbers.....look at the diamonds, that is the only way to understand the "numbers". As far as asking jewelers to hold diamonds....as a professional diamond retailer, I would love to hold diamonds for my clients, unfortunetly, financially it is not possible. The general public really does not understand how much money is involved. The markup on loose, quality diamonds is very little (often less than 15%, not including associtated costs). I suggest, find a diamond that is visually appealing to your eye, that is in you budget. Don''t get sucked in my numbers,, after all, a gift of a diamond is an expression of your love and your love cannot be definted by math. Love is visual and emotional, not statistical.
 
My plan of attack is it is 6 weeks to the day that i will be flying to florida from the uk, ive given myself 4 weeks to rake out the good from the bad (with everyones good knowledge) then when its 2 weeks to go start requesting further info and looking at pictures or reports and finally in my last week pinpoint them down to 2 stones and ask that they be brought in store so that they are not really being held for more than a week fingers crossed. If i remember right abazias want $70 to bring in a second stone.

Does that sound reasonable?
 
This would be easier if you were using a vendor that has the stones in-house and already has pictures and light performance information on the stones for you. It will add to your cost to have stones brought in that you have to keep returning. That''s why we were suggesting going with ideal cut so you wouldn''t have to worry. That last stone you posted could be okay, but I couldn''t see where they attached the AGS cert, so it is impossible to make any judgement without that. In answer to your other question, you should not wait until the last week before your trip to get the diamond. Will it be set by the vendor or are you having it set locally? You need to allow time for that as well, and be sure you get the ring insured before you go on your trip.
 
I plan on getting abazias to make the ring as i have already chosen the setting, ideally we will get to abazias on day 2 of our holiday or possibly day 1 afternoon (depening on the kids) have a look at 2 ideal cut diamonds pick the one i want and then come back whenever the ring is ready which leaves 11 days for it to be set which abazias say is possible. Another possibility is the international diamond center in florida but when i searched it didnt throw up as many as abazias did hence going there.
 
I see. Then I''d just tell Abazias that you want them to find you AGS0 stones. Let them do the work of searching the suppliers. Give them your budget and they should be able to tell you what they can access. That is nice you''ll be able to go look at the stones!
 
Date: 5/13/2007 10:20:17 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I see. Then I''d just tell Abazias that you want them to find you AGS0 stones. Let them do the work of searching the suppliers. Give them your budget and they should be able to tell you what they can access. That is nice you''ll be able to go look at the stones!
Click to expand...

Thank you
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I will wait till nearer the 2 week before mark to request this, as i really dont want to purchase a stone without seeing it first.
 
Just had a reply from the international diamond center in florida and i can go in there and look though all there settings and loads of diamonds and if there is nothing ready made they can set a stone for me in a couple of days, best bit is they are open till 8 and only 30 mins away from where were staying so it wouldnt be taking the kids away that far or eating up too much of there holiday. Would that be a better option?
 
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