Benefits of H&A, ASG0 & Chicago area

[LikeDeIce]

Alright, well I''m going to sound stupid right off the bat as this is my first post. Anyway, I''m looking to buy my first diamond, which so happens to be an important one (an engagement ring for my girlfriend). Probably not buying for another 4 or 5 months, but trying to get some research in beforehand. As a newbie, I''ve got a few questions.

1) I know what H&A diamonds are, and I hear them often compared to ASG0 diamonds, but I''m not srue what an ASG0 diamond is. Is it a special cut, like H&A, or just an ideal rating from ASG?

2) Will H&A or ASG0 really make a big difference over other stones with similar clarity and color and a "very good" cut?

3) I''ve seen a few threads about jewelers in Chicago, which I will definitely check out, but I actually live quite a ways north of the city. I live in Libertyville (about an hour from the loop), and I''m not sure if anyone is familiar with that area, but are there any highly recommended jewelers out here? I kinda figure I''ll be going downtown anyway, I guess this is a bonus question. Thanks everybody!

 

[Angel7]

Date: 1/24/2008 9:32:06 PM
Author:LikeDeIce
Alright, well I''m going to sound stupid right off the bat as this is my first post. Anyway, I''m looking to buy my first diamond, which so happens to be an important one (an engagement ring for my girlfriend). Probably not buying for another 4 or 5 months, but trying to get some research in beforehand. As a newbie, I''ve got a few questions.

1) I know what H&A diamonds are, and I hear them often compared to ASG0 diamonds, but I''m not srue what an ASG0 diamond is. Is it a special cut, like H&A, or just an ideal rating from ASG?

2) Will H&A or ASG0 really make a big difference over other stones with similar clarity and color and a ''very good'' cut?

3) I''ve seen a few threads about jewelers in Chicago, which I will definitely check out, but I actually live quite a ways north of the city. I live in Libertyville (about an hour from the loop), and I''m not sure if anyone is familiar with that area, but are there any highly recommended jewelers out here? I kinda figure I''ll be going downtown anyway, I guess this is a bonus question. Thanks everybody!

Hi LikeDeIce...

I''m in the NWsuburbs of Chicago. Pricescope recommends Burdeen''s in Buffalo Grove..you could try there! I think I may try to go there this weekend.
Do you know what kind of stone (round, princess) and size you are looking for? People on here are great and you''ll run into ton of experts so you came to the right place

Good Luck.

 

[LikeDeIce]

Do you know what kind of stone (round, princess) and size you are looking for?

I''m just going to go with a simple round solitaire. As far as sizing goes, I''m hoping to get the stone for around $5,500-$6,000. From the little research I''ve done, I hear that a VS2 or SI1 are usually good values and the inclusions can''t be seen with the naked eye. For color, I''ll probably go in the H or I area. I really don''t mind the diamond having that extra warmth as long as it isn''t clearly yellow tinted to the eye.

What I''m most concerned about (and what most people on here seem to agree with) is the cut. I really want that sparkle and fire from across the room. This is why I''m really curious about the H&A and AGS0 and whether or not the difference is really significant. With a very good cut, VS2 or SI1 and an H or I color, I think I can get a 1.1-1.2 carat... if someone can confirm that that sounds reasonable, that would be nice.

Thanks for the heads up on burdeens too, I think I''ll head over there on Saturday and see what the have!

 

[Angel7]

Here are some from Whiteflash: AGS
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Default.aspx
ACA H&A stones

Here are some of there Expert Selection Stones - Some AGS some GIA
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Default.aspx

For that price range it seems you may be closer to the 1.0 carat range than 1.2

Good Luck

 

[Regular Guy]

LikeDeIce,

Sounds to me like you''ve got your head on pretty straight...

Date: 1/24/2008 9:32:06 PM
Author:LikeDeIce

1) I know what H&A diamonds are, and I hear them often compared to ASG0 diamonds, but I''m not srue what an ASG0 diamond is. Is it a special cut, like H&A, or just an ideal rating from ASG?

Mostly, AGS0 is "just" an ideal rating from AGS...representing a pretty fine titration of options. H&A is not so much a special cut...as a precise one, yielding hearts & arrows, in a round. Though you can have H&A characteristics, and have it still not be "well cut," because the proportions are actually non-ideal...generally...you''d first want a diamond with a proportion set so that light performance is good, and ideal...whether from AGS or GIA, can give you this...and then H&A is a frequently sought after bonus.

Welcome!

 

[LikeDeIce]

Thanks everybody! Appreciate your help!