Best half carat diamond for $1500?

[maddiemooker]

Hello...I''m a newbie but I feel like i''ve learned a lot hanging around here the past couple of days. If someone has some time to kill and wants to give me some examples of the "best" quality diamond I would be able to purchase with a budget of around $1500 I would appreciate it! Thanks in advance

 

[Lorelei]

Hi and welcome!

By quality, it would be helpful if you could let us know your preferences for colour and clarity. If you have been reading here then you will know that the cut of a diamond is so crucial for it''s beauty, but if you could let us know how high or low your colour and clarity needs to be, then we can work from there. Would you necessarily want the largest diamond available for your budget, or stick to higher colour and clarity etc?

 

[maddiemooker]

I was thinking around a G color and VS2 clarity? Since I was thinking of ordering online I decided I shouldn''t go the S1-2 route....I just don''t want to have to worry about the whole eye-clean thing. I think a half carat is a good size for me, but I want it to be as sparkly as possible!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/2/2007 4:47:58 PM
Author: maddiemooker
I was thinking around a G color and VS2 clarity? Since I was thinking of ordering online I decided I shouldn't go the S1-2 route....I just don't want to have to worry about the whole eye-clean thing. I think a half carat is a good size for me, but I want it to be as sparkly as possible!

I have just pulled this one up as an example for you - superb cut.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-292592.htm

It looks to be eyeclean except with the Idealscope Image, however the actual image of the diamond looks clean - also a vendor such as WF will be completely honest if a diamond is eyeclean or not according to your idea of eyeclean which they would discuss with you. There are many clean SI2's in that size, so don't rule one out if you have a great vendor and everything else is right. The cut is what will give you that all important sparkle, so that needs to be a high priority. I wil have a quick look and see what else is out there for you.

This one looks great.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1101348.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Also if you stick to in house diamonds, a vendor can get to the diamond easily and answer any questions you may have about it.

 

[maddiemooker]

Thanks for your help! So, you can just call and give them the item # and chat about a paticular diamond, is that how it works?

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/2/2007 4:31:26 PM
Author:maddiemooker
If someone has some time to kill ...

oops...

Well between Lorelei''s two, and these two...at $1480 and $1379 respectively, based on wire pricing...you''ve pretty covered.

Or, just check yourself here.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/2/2007 5:00:04 PM
Author: maddiemooker
Thanks for your help! So, you can just call and give them the item # and chat about a paticular diamond, is that how it works?

Nice finds Ira!!

Yes Maddie, providing they are in house diamonds you are considering, ones that the vendors own and have access to. They can get the diamond out and discuss it with you and do a thorough job of describing it and its suitability for you. Also they will very often have used the various cut analysis technologies and have Idealscope images, ASET etc which can further help you choose. Some vendors have what are known as virtual stones, in some cases as well as in house diamonds. This makes a large amount of diamonds available for sale, but the drawback is that then the vendor has to call in the diamond and there may be a charge for this. By sticking to in house diamonds, it makes choosing and discussing contenders easier.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/2/2007 5:13:51 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 9/2/2007 5:00:04 PM
Author: maddiemooker
Thanks for your help! So, you can just call and give them the item # and chat about a paticular diamond, is that how it works?

Nice finds Ira!!

Yes Maddie, providing they are in house diamonds you are considering, ones that the vendors own and have access to. They can get the diamond out and discuss it with you and do a thorough job of describing it and its suitability for you. Also they will very often have used the various cut analysis technologies and have Idealscope images, ASET etc which can further help you choose. Some vendors have what are known as virtual stones, in some cases as well as in house diamonds. This makes a large amount of diamonds available for sale, but the drawback is that then the vendor has to call in the diamond and there may be a charge for this. By sticking to in house diamonds, it makes choosing and discussing contenders easier.

Thanks, Lorelei,

I'll dedicate this post to yours.

I've sympathy for your preference for in-house diamonds. It's a part of why I'd tend to recommend WF over JA, on a first pass.

So, in the spirit of seeking clarity, and in the hope JA is reading here, since they're most likely to be uniquely able to answer, I'll offer a $5 note ($5 bucks) to anyone who can clearly and credibly define and distinguish between three databases for JA, and the meaning for them, if they're in there. They are the:

- search by cut
- in house
- hearts & arrows search at JA

questions to be clarified...

1) are one, two, or three of these diamond databases representing "in-house" diamonds? One more than the other?
2) to what extent will there be overlap between diamonds in these three
- i.e. presuming the diamond is HCA under 2, when will it be in all 3...ever? never? 2 of three?
3) is there any real difference between diamonds for JA that are a) in-house, and b) virtual
- and how is that difference defined...i.e., if in house...are they on premises, and if so...what are the premises
- their offices?
In NY
In MD
in a vault shared with other vendors

Points to clarify...

-I'm a satisfied JA customer
-I'm a frustrated helper to other shoppers, wanting to assist them on sensitive points as Lorelei has brought forward, but being a bit unsure about how to do this
-Not wanting to search through multiple databases, when I don't have to
-Attempts previously made to clarify have been thwarted, actually, but I'll not say die

Sorry, thanks,

With good cheer on Labor Day weekend...

$5 can be collected, tbd

P.S (edited to add)...I've sent the link to this thread to JA...for interested others.

 

[Regular Guy]

Sorry, though the previous post timed out...I just wanted to share I try to be an equal opportunity inquisitor.

Regards,

 

[Julianna]

Date: 9/2/2007 6:03:43 PM
Author: Regular Guy

Thanks, Lorelei,

I''ll dedicate this post to yours.

I''ve sympathy for your preference for in-house diamonds. It''s a part of why I''d tend to recommend WF over JA, on a first pass.

So, in the spirit of seeking clarity, and in the hope JA is reading here, since they''re most likely to be uniquely able to answer, I''ll offer a $5 note ($5 bucks) to anyone who can clearly and credibly define and distinguish between three databases for JA, and the meaning for them, if they''re in there. They are the:

- search by cut
- in house
- hearts & arrows search at JA

questions to be clarified...

1) are one, two, or three of these diamond databases representing ''in-house'' diamonds? One more than the other?
2) to what extent will there be overlap between diamonds in these three
- i.e. presuming the diamond is HCA under 2, when will it be in all 3...ever? never? 2 of three?
3) is there any real difference between diamonds for JA that are a) in-house, and b) virtual
- and how is that difference defined...i.e., if in house...are they on premises, and if so...what are the premises
- their offices?
In NY
In MD
in a vault shared with other vendors

Points to clarify...

Hi Regular Guy! We are reading! If you ever have a question that is not being answered to your satisfaction here, though, please call us directly! I can clarify only a few of your points myself, but here they are:

Our in house diamonds are on premise in our New York office and are not housed in a vault with any other vendors'' diamonds. Diamonds that are part of our basic inventory but not owned by us are avaiable through several affiliates. These diamonds may or may not be in our New York office, so we usually double-check to be sure they are available before we sell them. If you like a diamond and would like to know if that particular diamond is in house, just ask.

As far as the hearts and arrows search goes on our site, obviously it only pulls up hearts and arrows diamonds. That said, I would assume (without actually checking myself) that the site''s own hearts and arrows search function would overlap some with both of the other Pricescope searches you mentioned, as hearts and arrows is relevant to both cut AND in house. It''s like a Venn diagram.

As far as which search would yield the most in house diamonds, that''s a difficult formula, and again, I''d suggest you just ask. There is a search option on the site itself that will give you ONLY in house diamonds, if that''s at all helpful.

I hope I''ve been of some assistance.

 

[Regular Guy]

Hi, Julianna,

Thanks for getting back.

Some annotations within, and after...

Date: 9/4/2007 10:38:31 AM
Author: Julianna

Hi Regular Guy! We are reading! If you ever have a question that is not being answered to your satisfaction here, though, please call us directly! I can clarify only a few of your points myself, but here they are:

Our in house diamonds are on premise in our New York office and are not housed in a vault with any other vendors' diamonds. Diamonds that are part of our basic inventory but not owned by us are avaiable through several affiliates. These diamonds may or may not be in our New York office

probably this is the main question...how often are diamonds in your office that are not in the Pricescope db described as "in-house"...

, so we usually double-check to be sure they are available before we sell them. If you like a diamond and would like to know if that particular diamond is in house, just ask.

As far as the hearts and arrows search goes on our site, obviously it only pulls up hearts and arrows diamonds. That said, I would assume (without actually checking myself)

...but we should????


that the site's own hearts and arrows search function would overlap some with both of the other Pricescope searches you mentioned, as hearts and arrows is relevant to both cut AND in house. It's like a Venn diagram.

As far as which search would yield the most in house diamonds, that's a difficult formula, and again, I'd suggest you just ask.

....but...that's actually what I'm doing here.

There is a search option on the site itself that will give you ONLY in house diamonds, if that's at all helpful.

I hope I've been of some assistance.

So, hopefully it's generally known how this works.

A shopper comes on to Pricescope, and we seek to help them.

If you think Lorelei's predispositions have any reasonableness to them, we might like to understand, as best as we can, the likelihood that the diamond is in-house.

The expectation is not that you would have both the shopper and us random prosumers seeking to help the shopper also calling you. We're just working with what we've got...with what we can see on-line.

So...this then goes back to your actually rather helpful analogy....

The Venn diagram.

Clearly, those diamonds which are marked: "in-house," we should understand are that, minimally.

Apart from updating, should we understand the obverse is true. That is, if we find a diamond in the "search by cut db" or the "H&A db," but we do not find it in the "in-house" db...should we understand that the likelihood is that it is not in-house?

Here's hoping you might make your "difficult formula" a little easier.

Regards,

 

[Julianna]

probably this is the main question...how often are diamonds in your office that are not in the Pricescope db described as ''in-house''...

I can''t venture a guess here. I got as far as I could with my Pricescope database/JA database knowledge in the previous post.


that the site''s own hearts and arrows search function would overlap some with both of the other Pricescope searches you mentioned, as hearts and arrows is relevant to both cut AND in house. It''s like a Venn diagram.

As far as which search would yield the most in house diamonds, that''s a difficult formula, and again, I''d suggest you just ask.

....but...that''s actually what I''m doing here.

I should have been more clear in my wording. What I''d intended to say here is, if you are considering a diamond and are not sure of its status, please ask the staff if it is in house. Which I see from reading below was part of your issue.

So, hopefully it''s generally known how this works.

A shopper comes on to Pricescope, and we seek to help them.

If you think Lorelei''s predispositions have any reasonableness to them, we might like to understand, as best as we can, the likelihood that the diamond is in-house.

The expectation is not that you would have both the shopper and us random prosumers seeking to help the shopper also calling you. We''re just working with what we''ve got...with what we can see on-line.

So...this then goes back to your actually rather helpful analogy....

The Venn diagram.

Clearly, those diamonds which are marked: ''in-house,'' we should understand are that, minimally.

Apart from updating, should we understand the obverse is true. That is, if we find a diamond in the ''search by cut db'' or the ''H&A db,'' but we do not find it in the ''in-house'' db...should we understand that the likelihood is that it is not in-house?

Here''s hoping you might make your ''difficult formula'' a little easier.

Regards,

As I have limited knowledge of how Pricescope''s databases talk to JA''s database, it would seem that my usefulness regarding your questions is likewise limited. I apologize that I could not be more helpful, and will forward the topic on to those who may be able to explain the database more thoroughly.

 

[Julianna]

PS Regular Guy: I guess the $5 is still yours.

Egads.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

hum, I cant help but wonder about the hearts and arrows designation then. There are no pictures provided and if I am reading this correctly some of your HandA diamonsd are not actually in house. Which means that some unknown person who is not affilitated with you and who you can not vouche for is claiming that a diamond they have s hearts and arrows based on unknown criteria and JA then goes on to charge a premium and list thsoe diamonds as there Ideal HandA cuts?

I just dont see how non-inhouse diamonds have a right to make it to that HandA label without one of yoru own people looking at it based on particular criteria--then throw on top of that the fact that we, thus I can only assume you as well, are not provided any images of the hearts and I just dont see how JA has any right to claim and charge them as HandA under those conditions.

If that is in fact whats happening, it sounded that way to me at least.

 

[Julianna]

Date: 9/4/2007 1:33:40 PM
Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards
hum, I cant help but wonder about the hearts and arrows designation then. There are no pictures provided and if I am reading this correctly some of your HandA diamonsd are not actually in house. Which means that some unknown person who is not affilitated with you and who you can not vouche for is claiming that a diamond they have s hearts and arrows based on unknown criteria and JA then goes on to charge a premium and list thsoe diamonds as there Ideal HandA cuts?

I just dont see how non-inhouse diamonds have a right to make it to that HandA label without one of yoru own people looking at it based on particular criteria--then throw on top of that the fact that we, thus I can only assume you as well, are not provided any images of the hearts and I just dont see how JA has any right to claim and charge them as HandA under those conditions.

If that is in fact whats happening, it sounded that way to me at least.

Every hearts and arrows designated diamond on the site has been personally inspected by our on-site graduate gemologist. I think that Regular Guy''s questions veer more toward some databases leaving out some stones and how to narrow down in house diamonds without having to call each one in.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/4/2007 1:33:40 PM
Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards
hum, I cant help but wonder about the hearts and arrows designation then. There are no pictures provided and if I am reading this correctly some of your HandA diamonsd are not actually in house. Which means that some unknown person who is not affilitated with you and who you can not vouche for is claiming that a diamond they have s hearts and arrows based on unknown criteria and JA then goes on to charge a premium and list thsoe diamonds as there Ideal HandA cuts?

I just dont see how non-inhouse diamonds have a right to make it to that HandA label without one of yoru own people looking at it based on particular criteria--then throw on top of that the fact that we, thus I can only assume you as well, are not provided any images of the hearts and I just dont see how JA has any right to claim and charge them as HandA under those conditions.

If that is in fact whats happening, it sounded that way to me at least.

Now look at that...your best fan is anxious.

Working...I think the view your coming in on might obscure the idealscope...but...oops...that''s really what those are about. They document the image for these with reflector technology. Hearts...there''s not an accepted rigorous explanation for these anyway. WF posits one. Perhaps if you want WF''s definition for H&A, you''ve got to go to them (or GOG, or Infinity).

Let''s just now confuse what''s being claimed...for what''s being seen. JA could have them in house or not...but where do they represent what H&A is to them, anyway?

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

yes but if you have unknown people claiming them to be hearts and arrows without any set rules or any obligation to the company there is no way to have any idea what that actually means. Some may say that in the diamond buisness trust is one of the primary tenants on which it operates, but as consumers all we can do is evaluate a buisness and decide if we trust it in particular, and we certainly dont have enough information to trust what some random wholesaler is claiming.

further Beacuse of that very lack of definition in the Hearts and Arrows property (though to be fair the Hearts and Arrows property does have some clearly defined rules, just not in the USA) it leaves PLENTY of leeway for those　supposed numerous wholesalers to call whatever they want hearts and arrows, despite how poor a form it may actually be taking.

Then to list it as such without any set guidlines and without him being part of the buisness the consumer has researched and decided to trust, and then to charge a premium for it, would just be inexcusable in my book. But anyway, maybe thats not the case? I guess I will just have to wait and find out.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/4/2007 1:41:48 PM
Author: Julianna

Date: 9/4/2007 1:33:40 PM
Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards
hum, I cant help but wonder about the hearts and arrows designation then. There are no pictures provided and if I am reading this correctly some of your HandA diamonsd are not actually in house. Which means that some unknown person who is not affilitated with you and who you can not vouche for is claiming that a diamond they have s hearts and arrows based on unknown criteria and JA then goes on to charge a premium and list thsoe diamonds as there Ideal HandA cuts?

I just dont see how non-inhouse diamonds have a right to make it to that HandA label without one of yoru own people looking at it based on particular criteria--then throw on top of that the fact that we, thus I can only assume you as well, are not provided any images of the hearts and I just dont see how JA has any right to claim and charge them as HandA under those conditions.

If that is in fact whats happening, it sounded that way to me at least.

Every hearts and arrows designated diamond on the site has been personally inspected by our on-site graduate gemologist. I think that Regular Guy's questions veer more toward some databases leaving out some stones and how to narrow down in house diamonds without having to call each one in.

Julianna,

Maybe you can help us visualize what sort of operation you've got going. You may not have these H&A on premises...they are with associates. But, you own on-site gemologist has seen each of these?? What's the basis for their access?

OK...I'm starting to run an account...let's take cash off the table temporarily...can I offer a wink and a smile?

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

as long as your left hand is sliding a couple bills under the table to me, you can wink away

]

EDIT:

Actually, I tried to make a joke, but I am not sure what you were saying with yours....so in my embarressement I just tried to come back with one of my own, which on reflection may not have made sense depending on what you meant...

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/4/2007 2:01:05 PM
Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards
as long as your left hand is sliding a couple bills under the table to me, you can wink away

Sorry...news is too fresh for any left hand sliding business....

 

[Julianna]

Date: 9/4/2007 1:59:32 PM
Author: Regular Guy

Julianna,

Maybe you can help us visualize what sort of operation you''ve got going. You may not have these H&A on premises...they are with associates. But, you own on-site gemologist has seen each of these?? What''s the basis for their access?

OK...I''m starting to run an account...let''s take cash off the table temporarily...can I offer a wink and a smile?

I don''t think I offered enough information on your first set of questions to merit the first fiver, much less further cash. I''ll take any spare smiles, though.

If you don''t mind, Ira, I''d rather leave further answering to those who are more qualified. I''m a sales associate who was trying to be of more help than I''m capable, and haven''t been around long enough to know all of the ins and outs. I only know the big answers, not the minutae. If that wasn''t already apparent.