ARGGHH!!! Can''t decide....

[eickst]

Hello everyone. Nice forum you have here, everyone is very nice and helpful, unlike other forums I have visited.

I have been researching Princess cut diamonds, budget for the stone is up to $2500. I have found a couple that could be winners, but I have no idea what I am looking at.


http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2365056.htm
.73ct E VS1 GIA

http://diamondsonweb.com/shopping_dd/ddetail.pl?shape=PR;p_min=2000;p_max=2500;ct_min=.65;ct_max=.8;search.x=35;search.y=18;origin=dia_form;clar=IF;clar=VVS1;clar=VVS2;clar=VS1;clar=VS2;color=D;color=E;color=F&sortby=price&sorto=desc&id=1654577&start=0
.72ct E VS2 GIA


What's an appropriate depth/table percentage for a princess cut? I have seen conflicting informaiton on different websites, and am getting overloaded with information. Will either of these vendors send an Ideal Scope or a picture of the diamond under light?

 

[Lorelei]

Wow all these new members asking about Princess cuts today! Welcome to PS

Princess cuts aren't my forte but if you look under knowledge you will find the info you need to help with cut quality. Whiteflash should have IS images and all the cut quality info you could need also they are very helpful and expert. Check out their site and you should see the info with most of the diamonds. One further comment, if you find you are getting overwhelmed then take your time to study up and compare diamonds and also use your eyes - very important with fancy cuts, the numbers give you a place to begin but don't always tell the whole story. Take your time, the right diamond will come along. Hope this starts you off until better help comes.

Here is the Princess cut chart for you. http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fnc1.asp

 

[eickst]

Thanks for the link! SOrry about the URLs, I tried putting them in tags but it isn''t working.

 

[JulieN]

Well, the diamondsonweb one seems a little on the cheap side, and who is that vendor? I'd worry about the cut.
I'm also going to reject the WF one because of "Good" on Symmetry.

I kind of like this one: http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00400223&filter_id=0
AGS0 light performance, but a finish takes a hit. Clouds in the corners, but with V-prongs, should be ok. Also if BN sets it and something happens, you're not responsible.

James Allen also has some nice ones:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=633142
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=315389
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=315390 ooh, I like this one.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=315393 might not be eye-clean

Anyway, that's four 2500-2700 from JA, all in-house with IS image and mag, so they'll be able to pull them out and talk to you about each one. I think there's a PS discount, too.

 

[eickst]

Those are pretty nice. I found some other ones after posting this, on ERD. Sent Mark an email, hopefully he can help me out because I am obsessing over specs now. I know I shouldn''t be, but it''s what I do all day at work, so I keep doing it when searching for a stone.

 

[JulieN]

awesome. let us know how your search goes.

 

[eickst]

Well, I haven''t heard back from Mark yet but it is like 8pm his time, so I didn''t expect to hear anything. I did find this one on ERD which looks pretty nice and is AGS cert''d.

.70ct Princess AGS cert
Cut Premium (how is that graded?)
Color F
Clarity VS2
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Depth 74.7
Table 72
Measures 4.94x4.89x3.65

No link to view cert, so I hope Mark can share the cut grades on it when he gets back to me.

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/loose_detail.php?id=9822631&sz=150

 

[JulieN]

VTN-TN girdle

 

[eickst]

Is the girdle important on a bypass style tension mount? I know it''s more susceptible to chips, but the edges won''t be exposed like a traditional setting.

I think I am just going to get her a new car instead, it''s much easier to shop for.

 

[JulieN]

ah, now i understand your VS clarity. Princess tension, half the girdle is exposed? go for medium girdle.

I'm inclined to get this and call it a day: http://www.infinitydiamonds.be/diamond.php?ID=122

.62 4.65 - 4.64 x 3.59 mm F VS1

 

[eickst]

Ok, so I have found a few that have had medium to slighty thick girdles on Whiteflash. I'll take another look at those. Thanks for all of your advice so far, you have been very helpful!

ACtually, those infinity diamonds look pretty nice. I found this one...

Click me!

Clik me too!

 

[JulieN]

Yes, those Infinity princesses do look nice. IS image is a little hard to read, but ASET looks nice. I just wish it weren't a J. I'm thinking E-G range.

Stone 2: http://www.elmyrservices.com/stone.php?id=a7aeed74714116f3b292a982238f83d2

Closest thing to a sure bet on princess: AGS-0

ETA: interesting the .62 isn't listed on diamondexpert's site. He posts here sometimes.

 

[eickst]

Ok, so the .54 E AGS Ideal is the way to go then. Is it really mined from Canada? I thought the only diamond mines were in Africa. Shows how much I know. If it is from our northen neighbors it will make her happy, she doesn''t like how some people are treated in Africa due to the diamond mines there.

I just hope she''s okay with the size, but I''ll have to tell her that it''s quality not quantity that''s important....(will that work?)

 

[JulieN]

Yup, it''s really mined from Canada

.71 I VS2? http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1992/

Can I ask why you don''t like the .62 F?

 

[eickst]

Nothing wrong with the .62 F, that one would be perfect, but I didn''t see it listed on the dealer''s site. I guess I could call them. I really don''t know what I am looking for on the scope images, I am going to have to research it. Now, from what I have read in other posts, I would be OK with an H, I, or J in a white gold or platinum setting, since it will pick up the color of the band? I hope so.....

 

[JulieN]

yes, just call. tell them it''s listed on Infinity''s site.

Here''s the Idealscope for it.

These are inscribed on the girdle, so make sure the setter knows not to cover the inscription.

 

[JulieN]

why I would not get a J: this is tension set, so the side of the stone, where color is apparent, is exposed.

 

[eickst]

Ok, I''ll call. That one isn''t 0.0.0 AGS Ideal though is it? I didn''t see a report on it, but that link you gave me shows it as an Excellent. Light performance is a zero, and that''s the most important aspect on the AGS correct? I am starting to like that smaller .54 E if the cut is that much better.

 

[JulieN]

It''s an AGS-1. AGS-0 light performance, which is the important thing. AGS-1 for finish, which is not really a difference that''s discernable in normal viewing.

Yes, I''m steering you towards the .62 if you can afford it. Why? Princesses do not perform as well as rounds, and this difference is worse at the smaller sizes.

 

[eickst]

So you recommend against the J, what about H and I?

I actually have a deposit down at a jeweler here in Orange County, the whole reason I am looking online is because it was a little pricey for what it was. It had a nice cut though, it looked really good. It was a .70ct H SI2, don''t know any other specs on it but it did look nicer than the G they brought out next to it. The price on it was $2900, which I thought was kind of high due to preliminary price research I did before going. I made an emotional decision, unfortunately, and put a deposit down on it. I know I can change though, and just put the deposit towards the band if I bring my own diamond. I just feel like I can get her a higher quality stone if I get it online instead of through them.

 

[JulieN]

Color is a personal decision. You saw an H, you liked it.

I'm actually from OC. Cool.

Let's talk tension settings. Most PSers would not rec. having any jeweler do it. Too many things can go wrong. They are impossible to resize, so get her sized accurately. Stick to the big names: Neissing, Kretchmer, Bunz, Gelin Abaci. If titanium, Boone Rings.

 

[eickst]

Actually, if I remember correctly, the band that I had them order to set the stone in was a Gelin Abaci, I picked it out of a catalog. My only problem was with the price of the stone

link
This one is a D, VS2, .80ct and rated ideal cut, but its GIA.....polish and symmetry are good though..

 

[JulieN]

Now that you've mentioned that H is OK this might fit the bill, http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1989/

ERD: GOG:
Cut: ? AGS-Ideal must be better
Clarity: VS2 VS2 same
Carat: .8 .72 decrease
Color: D H decrease
Cost: same same same

Well, that's my reasoning! The ERD might be a great stone.