Blue Nile Options

[ManhattanSpin]

Hi All,

I know everyone has said White Flash and Brian Gavin and IDJ, etc. are the best places to look online but I just feel the need to have a slightly bigger company backing such a large and personal purchase. Which is also leading me to also consider paying that 20% premium for a premiere name brand...

For now I've been browsing Blue Nile and have come up with a few options that I think are decent. They vary considerably by price, but I guess that just shows my amateur stone choosing ability!

Let me know what you think?

1. 3ct SI1 H (seems like good value) - http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=btn#diamonds_pid=LD02368702

2. 3.37ct VS2 H - http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=btn#diamonds_pid=LD02490792

3. 3ct VS2 H - http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=btn#diamonds_pid=LD02374960

4. 3.42 SI1 G - http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=btn#diamonds_pid=LD02295641

5. 3ct VS2 G - http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=btn#diamonds_pid=LD02313310

6. 3.5ct SI1 H - http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=head#diamonds_pid=LD02481876

I am assuming that you need more info than what Blue Nile gives you...but I guess that's impossible!

I know you all are going to try and convince me to use another company...but if for some crazy reason I ordered a stone and it wasn't what I was hoping for and the company went of business (very rare I know), I would be stuck.

Appreciate your help.

 

[Sparkle524]

Did you plug all the numbers into HCA? What were they? From what I've learned, Blue Nile does not do any reports and do not even see the diamond. They just call the vendor and have them send you the diamond. With the amount of money that you are spending I would want to see an ASET, Idealscope, etc report.

 

[ManhattanSpin]

I plugged them all into the HCA and they all worked out pretty well...I guess that's all you can tell from the info they give you.

#1 got a 2.3 and for $43k it seems like a steal for an AGS 0 stone...am I totally wrong?

#2 got a 1.9

#3 got a 0.8 which I've heard may not be the best. Was trying to stay around 1.5.

#4 got a 1.3 and is slightly bigger but seems to have large clouds (not sure if that matters much)

#5 got a 1.4 and has slightly better clarity and color for an additional $25k+ which may not be worth it.

#6 got a 1.2 and is one of their signature stones...so it's about $17k more for another half a carat.

 

[onedrop]

I didn't go through all of your choices, but to determine whether the SI1 stones are eye-clean, you will need to have BN call those stones in to actually look at them since none of them are in house. If you ran them all through the HCA then I guess I would choose the one(s) that speak to you (or have the highest score) and have them called into BN, and see what they say about them. I don't know if BN provides Idealscope images, but you can always ask. I think folks tend to push WF, JA, GOG, etc. because information you need to make a decision on stones in more readily available, and because many of their stones are in-house, which requires a lot less leg work for the consumer.

 

[blinglover78]

I have ordered quite a few times from Blue Nile. You can call and ask for them to have the diamonds evaluated to make sure they are eye clean. Sometimes a diamond has already been evaluated and they can tell you right away. Other times, they need 24 hours to hear back from their supplier.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I need to understand what you are asking. You are worried that within your 30 day return period that WhiteFlash, or the others would go out of business and then you couldn't return the stone? Blue Nile has a rotten trade-in policy if that is what you are meaning. They require that you spend double the original amount to upgrade whereas WhiteFlash, Good Old Gold, and Brian Gavin allow trade-ins for little to no increase in the cost of the new stone. Blue Nile was founded in 1999, WF in 2000, and Good Old Gold has been around since 1980 and is a family owned jewelry business. So seriously, I see zero advantage of Blue Nile over those other two and actually have bought my own diamonds from WF and GOG due to better customer service, better trade-in policies, and they both specialize in ideal cut diamonds. Most of the stones you see on BN can be called in by the other vendors since most of their stones are virtual. Then you can have the stones analyzed better (idealscope at minimum is necessary). I think their signature stones are the only ones that are not accessible to other vendors.

I'll take a look at the stone choices, but I'll tell you right now you need to eliminate the SI1's in a 3 ct. stone if you want it to be completely eyeclean from top and sides. I'd rather have a 2.5 VS2, personally.

 

[denverappraiser]

I know everyone has said White Flash and Brian Gavin and IDJ, etc. are the best places to look online but I just feel the need to have a slightly bigger company backing such a large and personal purchase. Which is also leading me to also consider paying that 20% premium for a premiere name brand...

It's correct that Blue Nile is a MUCH larger company than the other two you're considering and that comes with a certain amount of comfort. Then again, they are much smaller and THAT comes with a certain amount of value too. In the end you get to decide what is important to you and go with the dealer that suits your style. I'm curious about the brand premium you're discussing. I think the only branded diamonds that BN sell is the line they call 'signature ideal'. Is this what you're asking about?

 

[ManhattanSpin]

I am sorry I was not perfectly clear.

By paying a premium, I meant at a jeweler like Cartier, Harry Winston, Graff, etc. Those who charge more for their brand, but also provide the peace of mind and the ability to walk into a store in most major cities in the world.

I know it is foolish to think Blue Nile would be better in any way than the other vendors you have mentioned, but it's just a feeling I have.

I am prepared to spend up to $100,000 and that's a sizable purchase that I want to be 100% comfortable and certain about. There is nothing worse than feeling you did not get a good deal or that you don't have support for any problems at a moment's notice. I know these vendors also offer that to varying degrees.

I appreciate the recommendation that I not buy a SI1 clarity stone. I will take those out of consideration. I just read that sometimes the inclusions are only on the periphery of a stone.

Sorry to be a pain, it's just a very hard decision that has to be made!

 

[denverappraiser]

I know it is foolish to think Blue Nile would be better in any way than the other vendors you have mentioned, but it's just a feeling I have.

There's nothing at all foolish about that. The primary reasons that so many people shop at BN is because they’re large, well known, well respected, and old (as Internet jewelers go). They're a publicly traded company and they are the biggest player in the Internet jewelry industry by a wide margin unless you include the likes of Costco or Walmart, who are huge for completely unrelated reasons. #2s behind them volume-wise is something like ¼ their size. They didn’t get there by accident and BN is a very popular place to shop. Nearly everyone who shops there goes away happy. They sell what they say they’re selling, they deliver punctually, they honor their return policy if you’re unhappy for any reason, and they honor their warranty if you have craftsmanship type problems. That’s a pretty good list. Others do all of those things too (except for the gigantic size thing) and can sometimes beat the prices by a few percent but the value of doing business with the biggest dog in the industry is not imaginary, especially at that price point. There is nothing to feel bad about in choosing to work with them.

 

[onedrop]

This is probably going to sound like I am trying to spend your money, but I'll say it anyway... Given your budget, and the fact that you are willing to pay a premium to get a certain level of service and that you prefer to do business with a vendor that will "be there" after your 30 day return period, why not just purchase from Cartier, Tiffany, etc.? Nothing against Blue Nile, but based on what you've said perhaps you'd be more comfortable using a recognized B&M for your purchase. That way you'd have the comfort in knowing that the business will be "open" in the future and you'll be able to get a better read on the stone you purchase.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The thing is, once you find a stone you like, the original vendor won't matter a whole lot unless you plan to trade in the stone later. You will have insurance on the ring and if it is lost or damaged, you will get a check and replace it (assuming you get the right insurance). There is nothing wrong with buying from Blue Nile, but I can promise you 100% that if I had a $100k budget, BN wouldn't be on my list because I would have an expert like those I have mentioned finding me the best quality stone that exists in my budget. And the fact is, when we usually help people find a stone here, we show the best stones available from multiple vendors. When you are working with a level of stone that is uncommon (such as over 3 cts. and ideal cut), I think it is a mistake to limit yourself to only one source for the stone.

I am going to look around and see what is available, though, and show you what I would buy if I had the wonderful occasion to do so!

 

[ManhattanSpin]

DS, I really appreciate your help. I'll try to open my eyes to the other options! I think I've realized that I need to spend between $70k and $100k to get the perfect stone that won't disappoint in any way.

Costly endeavor!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It would be a pleasure helping you shop, MS! You are looking for round brilliants only, correct?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, I recently bought a diamond from a virtual listing myself, and I had Jonathan Weigarten from Good Old Gold call it in for me. I paid a little more than the price I saw it listed at on drop-ship vendors, but it was worth it to me. Just to show you what he will do for you (aside from running the light performance testing), I will include a video he made for me comparing 4 diamonds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwiM3COzjFM&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=1&feature=plcp

This video was helpful for me because he compared the diamond I was considering to a perfectly cut stone, and I needed to see if there was a difference in performance. I was then able to order the stone with the confidence of knowing it had excellent light return.

Okay, I have found some stones for you and sorry if I list one that was on BN, but I think these are all new. I just sent Jonathan the GIA report numbers and the weight of stones, etc., and he went and picked up the diamond since he is in NY.

Even with VS2 clarity, you will have to ask if they are eyeclean from the top and sides. Here are some that are good prospects (and better to me than the BN stones), but remember they will cost a little more from a vendor that tests them for you and provides pictures and video.

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=521259&ref=pricescope 3.10 H VS2 * looks really promising

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=521301&ref=pricescope 3.10 H VS2

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=595349&ref=pricescope 3.02 G VS2

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=624665&ref=pricescope 3.15 G VS2

 

[yialanliu]

Big fan of blue nile here and they are cheaper than WF/JA because they don't do reports so there's a cost savings here as well. The lack of reports is a positive and negative obviously. Most prefer having reports, but to each their own. For smaller purchases (studs, pendants) I only do BN due to pricing competitiveness.

Oh and their signature line is in house.

 

[Sparkle524]

I need to understand what you are asking. You are worried that within your 30 day return period that WhiteFlash, or the others would go out of business and then you couldn't return the stone? Blue Nile has a rotten trade-in policy if that is what you are meaning. They require that you spend double the original amount to upgrade whereas WhiteFlash, Good Old Gold, and Brian Gavin allow trade-ins for little to no increase in the cost of the new stone. Blue Nile was founded in 1999, WF in 2000, and Good Old Gold has been around since 1980 and is a family owned jewelry business. So seriously, I see zero advantage of Blue Nile over those other two and actually have bought my own diamonds from WF and GOG due to better customer service, better trade-in policies, and they both specialize in ideal cut diamonds. Most of the stones you see on BN can be called in by the other vendors since most of their stones are virtual. Then you can have the stones analyzed better (idealscope at minimum is necessary). I think their signature stones are the only ones that are not accessible to other vendors.

I'll take a look at the stone choices, but I'll tell you right now you need to eliminate the SI1's in a 3 ct. stone if you want it to be completely eyeclean from top and sides. I'd rather have a 2.5 VS2, personally.

I totally agree with Diamodseeker. I was looking for a 2.5 to 3.5 range, depending on the color and clarity and had GOG call in a 3.5 SI1 I believe and it had twinning wisps which aren't bad inclusions to have but you can definitely see it in normal lighting. Stick to VS1/VS2. You have a huge budget and I am sure that your fiancee to be will love whatever you get her. As for Blue Nile, I actually had WF call in a stone listed on BN. I believe they all have access to the same diamond vendors. So you can ask GOG, WF or who ever you decide to go with to call it in for you.

Here's a link of a video that they just completed for me. I will be at the appraiser's office on Thursday to see them in person. If you go on their website you can see all the reports linked to the diamond. Hope this helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MocNn5LgGCc&feature=BFa&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&lf=plcp

 

[ManhattanSpin]

All of the above stones look good to me. All seem to score well on the HCA as well. I am not sure which is better than the other!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, they do have optimal numbers. Ideally, I would ask Jon to try to source the best 3 and have him make a video like he did for Sparkle . If you watch Sparkle's video, you will see that the last diamond is supposedly ideal cut, but it has awful optical symmetry. I would never choose it. That video shows why it is important to have someone examine stones for us!

(Sparkle, I watched your video and both the E and the F are gorgeous! Tough choice!!!)

 

[Sparkle524]

Yes, they do have optimal numbers. Ideally, I would ask Jon to try to source the best 3 and have him make a video like he did for Sparkle . If you watch Sparkle's video, you will see that the last diamond is supposedly ideal cut, but it has awful optical symmetry. I would never choose it. That video shows why it is important to have someone examine stones for us!

(Sparkle, I watched your video and both the E and the F are gorgeous! Tough choice!!!)

Diamond Seeker I know tough choice. Do you think a table of 59% is too large though? The E and F are both 59%. MS sorry for highjacking your thread.

 

[Sparkle524]

Diamondseeker thank you for answering my question in my other post.

 

[Dancing Fire]

MS
i agree with other members that you should stick with VS clarity in a 3+ct stone. this is my wife's GIA 3.34ct H SI1 GOG H&A stone, it looks eye clean to me but it may not look eye clean to your young pair of eyes.the bottom pic shows water spots not inclusions.

 

[slksapphire]

MS,

while diamonds are readily graded "objectively," at the end of the day, you are buying a stone rather than its resume. if you look at several diamonds AT THE SAME TIME, all with "ideal" HCAs, cut, color, etc, it is still highly likely that 1 or 2 stones will catch your attention / eye (or "speak to you" as my jeweler would say).

i would suggest that you figure out how to see some of the stones you like in person (if you are in manhattan, could you visit GOG?) OR you should allocate some portion of your generous budget to "pay" someone you trust (a jeweler) to look at these stones on your behalf.

i understand wanting to have a well capitalized, reputable brand behind your diamond purchase given the dollars spent. i would go one step further and say it makes sense to pay for a jewelers' help here.

good luck.

 

[ManhattanSpin]

Appreciate everyone's help. I guess I need to determine what the exact properties of my ideal stone are...this is tough stuff!

 

[decodelighted]

I can promise you 100% that if I had a $100k budget, BN wouldn't be on my list because I would have an expert like those I have mentioned finding me the best quality stone that exists in my budget. And the fact is, when we usually help people find a stone here, we show the best stones available from multiple vendors. When you are working with a level of stone that is uncommon (such as over 3 cts. and ideal cut), I think it is a mistake to limit yourself to only one source for the stone.

Bingo! I mean Costco & Target & Sears are "big brand names" -- but I wouldn't think of them for a purchase of that amount. In this case, because of the challenge of buying *virtually* -- and the cost of shipping back & forth that expensive a stone ... the more information & analysis you can get, the better. That is especially so for Round Brilliant cuts, whose qualities can be better quantified numerically ... than other cuts (asschers, emeralds etc)

 

[Sparkle524]

Make sure you have the diamond tested on the colorimeter. I recently found out that an AGS stone which was G color was actually an H.

 

[Smith1940]

ManhattanSpin - just want to say that I have been in touch with Whiteflash, Brian Gavin, and James Allen in the past, and I've bought a lot of stuff from Blue Nile - and Blue Nile is the clear winner.

Full disclosure: Brian Gavin Diamonds is currently making me a necklace, which I'm sure will be stunning. Apparently, they have wonderful diamonds and melee, too. I have also bought a wonderful diamond from James Allen in the past for a fantastic price. However, the transcations are always somewhat difficult, except for Blue Nile. For example, JA gave me the wrong pendant setting and wrong necklace length, Brian Gavin Diamonds once refused to allow me to have 0.02 size diamonds in my scatter ring, only 0.01 - so a local jeweller did the 0.02 size for me, and Whiteflash doesn't work in rose gold at all, also I am trying to buy a sapphire DBTY necklace from WF but the communication hasn't been the best...

In contrast, a transaction with Blue Nile is like sailing a flat sea. They are problem-free, hassle-free, and I absolutely love them. I have some pearls from them, which were stunning and a stunning price, too, and my Signature diamonds studs are amazing diamonds. The only con about Blue Nile is that I don't think they have the most modern, up-to-date settings.

 

[Chuckenator]

I can promise you 100% that if I had a $100k budget, BN wouldn't be on my list because I would have an expert like those I have mentioned finding me the best quality stone that exists in my budget. And the fact is, when we usually help people find a stone here, we show the best stones available from multiple vendors. When you are working with a level of stone that is uncommon (such as over 3 cts. and ideal cut), I think it is a mistake to limit yourself to only one source for the stone.

Bingo! I mean Costco & Target & Sears are "big brand names" -- but I wouldn't think of them for a purchase of that amount. In this case, because of the challenge of buying *virtually* -- and the cost of shipping back & forth that expensive a stone ... the more information & analysis you can get, the better. That is especially so for Round Brilliant cuts, whose qualities can be better quantified numerically ... than other cuts (asschers, emeralds etc)

I'm amazed by the negativity regarding BN. They ship back and forth (insured) for free and can save a significant amount of money. It makes me question whether all posters on this site are truly independent (ie not employed by a vendor).

I estimate that my 32k stone would have been 5-10k more expensive at the vendors mentioned above. BN was extremely easy to work with, I changed my diamond decision three times, my setting three times, and eventually sent back the ring and had them mail the loose diamond to Mark Morrell for a custom setting. All of that was free and easy as pie.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Chuck, it would be my dream to work for these vendors, but alas, I am just a faithful customer! (Not to mention PS doesn't allow posts promoting stones by employees of the vendors.)

This site is about promoting high cut quality diamonds in case anyone missed it. And there are a handful of vendors who provide the information needed to make a safe and educated choice in order to buy an outstanding stone. The price differences have been grossly exaggerated, because you aren't comparing apples to apples if you compare a hearts and arrows stone to a regular GIA Excellent or AGS0. I don't think you'd find the prices of non-hearts and arrows stones thousands of dollars in difference. I am willing to pay a little more for idealscopes and vendor magnified images of inclusions because those are important to me. You also get a far better trade in policy from vendors like GOG and WF, and that is worth a little more as well to many of us here. My last diamond was virtual and listed on drop shippers, but I had GOG call it in. Yes, I paid a few hundred more, but I knew that I would keep it once I had it sent to me rather than having a stone drop shipped, sending it to an independent appraiser, and then potentially having to send it back (three times???!!!). But whatever!