shape
carat
color
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Brian Gavin, James Allen, or Brick and Mortar

tdstl123

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 6, 2012
Messages
18
Hi everyone,
I have been looking for a diamond for a few months now, and it has been a really unpleasant experience, I think my head might explode.
I had been visiting a local jeweler that has a history with my family and claims to be showing me diamonds at a significantly reduced price (due to our relationship). However, I am not really certain if I trust him (as I posted about in a different thread).
From what I have gathered from this site is that cut is very important. So I told him I am looking for a ~1.29 (+/- .05) carat, round brilliant, ~H-color diamond that is eye-clean.
He has shown me numerous diamonds but most of them were "Good" cut quality rather than "Excellent" which is my highest priority (right?).
Right now he told me he has a stone that is 1.31 carats, E color and SI1 for $6,400 but it is certified by the EGL. I did some research on truthaboutdiamonds.com and he seems to indicate that EGL should be avoided completely.

I am starting to lean towards buying a diamond online. For the qualifications I have laid out, what should I expect to be able to buy a diamond for? Is online the right way to go? And what websites are best? Truthaboutdiamonds.com recommends jamesAllen and BrianGavin but he seems to be affiliated with those sites... For a round brilliant diamond should I get a lower color (I have heard H is the highest I should go).

Clearly I need a lot of help, but if someone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I have already conceded to exceeding my budget of $5,000... but I would rather not push it much more than $7,000.
 
A couple things. You were told right about EGL, avoid them if you can. They grade very loosely, and don't grade cut. Well cut stones get sent to AGS or GIA, so stick with them.

The other thing is that you're going to have a very hard time finding the size stone you want for $7000. You'll have to either go up in price, or down in size. I did find one possibility on JA's site, http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1497444.asp.. You'll want them to confirm that it's eye-clean.
 
I second that opinion, and realize that a typical bricks and mortar store cant operate on the margins a online retailer can. Find yourself a dandy of a 1+ carat in a price you can live with!
 
Those are really nice options!


Just out of curiosity... how much would I have to increase my budget to get the kind of diamond I had initially mentioned?

Also, how can I tell if it is eye-clean or not? (Should it be very obvious just by looking at the pictures?)

Lastly, is there any reason for me to value Brian Gavin over Jame Allen?
 
efredman|1342049798|3232578 said:
Hi everyone,
From what I have gathered from this site is that cut is very important. So I told him I am looking for a ~1.29 (+/- .05) carat, round brilliant, ~H-color diamond that is eye-clean.
He has shown me numerous diamonds but most of them were "Good" cut quality rather than "Excellent" which is my highest priority (right?).

You're right to be skeptical and are asking some good questions. As for cut, many well-meaning jewelers aren't really aware of the huge impact diamond cut has on beauty. An ideal cut makes a smaller stone appear larger, makes a tinted stone appear whiter, and will mask inclusions. However, not everyone agrees on what "ideal" actually is. PS holds diamonds to extremely high standards in terms of cut (not that this is a bad thing!), and even many GIA excellent cut stones do not meet our standards for an ideal cut.

To answer some of your other questions...
-Re BGD vs. JA: Both are trusted vendors, but you'll get a larger selection of diamonds at generally lower prices with JA, whereas BGD has a much more personalized customer service experience and far more information given about each diamond, but at a premium. BGD signature stones are also branded "super-ideal" cuts and graded by AGS, the most stringent lab for cut quality grading. JA's stones are mostly graded by GIA, which is a very reputable lab and the gold standard for color and clarity, but less tight on cut grading. JA will give you 3 ASET/IS images, whereas BGD will provide nearly infinite amounts of information on their in-house stones (and can bring in other stones for more info). BGD also has a better upgrade policy (they don't require you to spend a certain amount - your new diamond can be the same price as your old one, whereas I think JA requires you to spend double your original price).
-EGL vs. GIA: Most of us recommend staying away from EGL certs, but EGL-USA has a better reputation than the other divisions. The price premium for an EGL cert is lower than GIA or AGS. When considering price, I usually tell people to mentally adjust 2 grades down for color and 1 for clarity. So my own rule of thumb is that I'd pay the same for an EGL F/VS2 as a GIA H/SI1. Others may disagree.
-Eye-clean status can't be determined by macro photos. It needs to be observed with your own eyes or by a trusted observer. You'll need to define your standards as well. Some people will accept a stone that's eye-clean from 7-9 inches, and others from 3-5 or less.
 
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