Budget is $14-15000 for 1.5 carat or >, where should my prioriteies be??

[DiamondShopr]

My initial thoughts on spending about $14-15000 for a 1.5 carat stone was to get a diamond in the D-E range and VS2 clarity, with a cut that was termed ideal or within ideal range, and a GIA cert. Should I look to move up in cut to a hearts and arrows or other branded cut, and if so, where should I cut back when buying over the internet? I would think maybe color and stay at a VS2 to be safe? I would like to get the best diamond I can for that price range over 1.5 carat. Any professional or novice opinions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[barry]

If you'll consider a super-ideal cut you
can go to a SI-1 and stay at D-E and get more
diamond for your money. The precision cut
and maxed light output will make the
diamond face-up eye-clean.

Barry
www.superbcert.com

 

[Rhino]

Priorities should definetely be cut first, color, size then clarity and not necessarily the last 3 in that order. You can definetely stay with your min VS2 clarity and keep in your zone as well.

Feel free to paruse our chapters on cut (www.goodoldgold.com/cut.htm) as well as the pages here on pricescope as well for some good reading and education on the subject. If you have any questions there are participants here that can help you with quality gemological information.

Kind regards,
Rhino

 

[DiamondShopr]

Thanks Barry and Rhino.....from my few weeks of dealings here you both seem to be two of the most knowledgeable and helpful posters on these message boards. I just wish I discovered all this before I made the 1st purchase (and upcoming return).....thanks again.....

 

[Mara]

I'm sure Lugus will post at some point but here I am ..chiming in again on his absolutely amazing SuperbCert stone he just got this past week from Barry. It was a 1.73c E VS1 for around $17k...but he was considering other stones as well....that just gives you an idea of what you could get for a little out of your range. I've attached the picture of his stone, such a knockout. I may make it my desktop wallpaper. Hee Hee.

I also did a quick search on Cut Quality and found this stone for you:

1.68c F VS1 Hearts & Arrows AGS 0 SuperbCert $15960
http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1012/v.cgi?stock=464923&_s=1012&_p=sdf348gd743&_c=&_fs=1&prestock=
It has the Bscope report, large image of the stone, certification, etc etc. Lots of reporting.
HCA: 1.6 EX EX VG VG

If you go slightly under 1.50c you will save some $$ as evidenced here:

1.48 E VS1 Hearts and Arrows AGS 0 $11890
http://www.niceice.com/certcopies/gia12356016/index.htm
Hearts and Arrows images, closeups of the inclusions, light ray estimate (cool), certification, etc.
HCA: 1.3 EX EX EX VG

Also Jonathan/Rhino has MANY stones within and around your price range and carat weight depending on what you want to do with clarity and color. Check out these few I pulled...GOG offers Bscope, Sarin, H&A images, IdealScope images, closeups of the inclusions, etc. Very complete.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_64ct_e_vs2_h&a.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_58ct_e_vs2_h&a.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_61ct_g_vs1_ha.htm

Hope this helps!

 

[DiamondShopr]

WOW Mara, thanks for your post.....I appreciate the help and effort you put into that one. I think I'm sold on going for a sper ideal cut now....once i return my 'ideal cut' that I got last week I now know where to go next. Thanks again.....

 

[Noah]

If you buy a 1.5 carat stone you WILL be paying $14K to $15K

trust me > stay just under 1.5 if you dont mind. NOBODY IN THE WORLD can tell the difference between 1.45 and a pure 1.5 or 1.55.

You can save yourself thousands if you stay JUST UNDER 1.5. like 1.46 like I did.

That way you can get more for your money, thousands more.

the reason for this is that diamond jewelers get charged at a price per carat and it DRAMATICALLY increased once you hit 1.5 carats.

Plus the larger the diamond gets the harder it is to tell that its getting bigger. PLace a 1.6 next to a 1.75 and tell me that you can really tell when its in a ring. nope.

if you ask for 1.5 you will get nailed in every hole. it almost happened to me!