Hello, I am currently in search of an engagement ring and this is my first time, the process can be very overwhelming. I live right outside of NYC so I have been going into the diamond district. I am looking for a round cut preferably above a 1.7. I have looked at a few diamonds so far, two 1.77 and a 1.81. The 1.77 are both J color Si2, and triple excellent. The 1.81 is a L color Si2 and triple excellent. All three looks very eye clean, GIA certified, and I barely even, if any can notice the color in the stone and the sparkles are phenomenal. All three stones I have looked at were in retails stores where I feel like they have lights that make the diamond sparkle more than it would. I'm kinda worried that when I buy it and bring it outside, I can notice the yellow color. But then today I was introduced to a friends friends who owns a wholesale jewelry store and he showed me a few stones that he has. The place I went to is not a retail store so it does not have all those led lights shining above. He showed me a stone that he just picked up this morning and it is a 2.04 carat stone.One of the biggest issue with this is that it does not come with a GIA certification. The color he stated is most likely H color as it is very clear and it does have an inclusion on the side of the stone but he stated that it can be hidden with the prongs from the ring setting and it does seem like that is true (he stated that the grading will be around an si2 or I1). I asked if it was clarity enhanced and he stated that it is not but there "might" be a laser drilling. As I am on a budget, this stone he showed me is a very good deal for especially for the size.
I told him that my main concern is 1. the fact that it is not GIA certified and 2. although it does have sparkles, it doesn't look as "blingy" as the ones I see at the retail stores. I asked if I can get this stone GIA certified before buying it and he said yes so I left him a check of 200 dollars for the certification. My question to everyone here is:
1. Is this the right approach to take? I know having a GIA certification is very important for future value. The only problem about getting it certified is that GIA takes about 30 days for the report. I'm not in a huge rush to get it as I am planning to propose maybe in March but I would like to start planning. He told me that he will call me tomorrow when he is at the lab and confirm with me about the time it will take to get it certified. And of course if the GIA certification comes back and it is unsatisfactory I don't have to buy the diamond, Ill just be out 200 dollars for the certification.
2. Does the LED lights in the retail shop really make a stones look that much better?
3. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Thank you so much for you time and any suggestions would be much appreciated.
I told him that my main concern is 1. the fact that it is not GIA certified and 2. although it does have sparkles, it doesn't look as "blingy" as the ones I see at the retail stores. I asked if I can get this stone GIA certified before buying it and he said yes so I left him a check of 200 dollars for the certification. My question to everyone here is:
1. Is this the right approach to take? I know having a GIA certification is very important for future value. The only problem about getting it certified is that GIA takes about 30 days for the report. I'm not in a huge rush to get it as I am planning to propose maybe in March but I would like to start planning. He told me that he will call me tomorrow when he is at the lab and confirm with me about the time it will take to get it certified. And of course if the GIA certification comes back and it is unsatisfactory I don't have to buy the diamond, Ill just be out 200 dollars for the certification.
2. Does the LED lights in the retail shop really make a stones look that much better?
3. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Thank you so much for you time and any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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