Buying an engagement ring..

[Kissingfish]

Hi all..

I''m on the process of buying an engagement ring..
I''ve spent the last two weeks lurking, seeing what to look for and look out for..

Anyway I went to the store to view my diamonds today and was amazed by how beautiful they are..

Now, please note, I''m not in any way rich or wealthy. I''m not even ''well off'' or ''comfortable''.. So I did have to keep this under a tight budget..

So, after much planning, I''ve managed to make up the following ring:

1 princess cut 0.50ct D VVS2
2 brilliant round cut 0.20ct 6p si1 (pink argyle diamonds) on each side of the center stone..

I didn''t know we had so many diamond resources in Australia and must say, I''m very happy with what I''ve seen.

The guy is putting it together for me, and making a custom made mount which I will view in three weeks..


Anyway.. I''m rather excited about this.. Although the stone is a EGL certified stone, it looks rather beautiful.. And he''ll have it appraised and valued and whatever other tests that need by whomever I choose.. Seems rather reputable. I''ll post back with further details, such as measurements to see if someone could help me see if it''s a good stone or not..



Cheers,


Ivan.

 

[kcoursolle]

Hi kissingfish! Your ring idea sounds lovely!! In order to evaluate the stone we''ll need depth/table percentages and crown/pavillion angles, plus the info about the girldle, polish, symmetry, and dimensions.

What size center stone does your girlfriend want? Also, are you part of a religion that values the purity of a diamond? If she doesn''t want a larger stone and you want to buy her the best, then a D/VVS2 diamond will be just what she wants. Also, if you are part of a religion that appreciates the purity of a diamond, then I also understand your decisions.
However, if this is not the case you can go muuuuch bigger or save a ton of money by dropping down in color and clarity. Cut quality is the most important aspect of a diamond that truely will make the diamond shine, color and clarity are secondary and less noticeable. Furthermore, there are basicallly little to no eye-visible differences between a D/VVS2 and an F/VS2, yet the price difference is huge!! You can even go much lower than a F/VS2. Many people on this forum have beautiful I/SI stones that are simply amazing!! They are white in appearance and many SI stones have no eye-visible inclusions. Why pay for what you can''t see? You really don''t need to worry about an F or a G appearing even the least bit "yellow," they will be WHITE!! However, some people simply prefer the idea of higher color/clarity grades, and there is nothing wrong with that.

A thing about EGL certs. Often times they are dead on with the specs they report on the cert, and thus are a value because usually EGL stones are somewhat cheaper than GIA/AGS stones. However, sometimes EGL certs are a grade or two less strict than a GIA/AGS. Thus, it is possible that your stone is actually a E/VS1. While it is fine that your stone could be slightly lower in color/clarity/polish/symmetry, it is something you should be aware of.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome

The ring sounds lovely! With Princess cuts, there are preferences with the best numbers etc, but no better test than your own eyes and if this diamond " sings" to you then it is the right one! Also even better if you have found a diamond with an EGL cert which checks out too - nice to have that lower price tag! Good luck with the appraisals etc and I hope it checks out for you.

Thank you for sharing your excitement with us, please post pics of the ring when you get it!

 

[asscherisme]

That is going to be beatiful. And I think its so cool that you are designing it yourself.

Please post photos when you get it!

 

[Kissingfish]

I will certainly post photos when the ring is finished. It will take three weeks for the jeweler to complete the designed ring, and I will view what it looks like. I really love the fact that the guy I''m going through is able to provide this, that even if I do design the ring and don''t like the end product, he''ll simply start from scratch with me..

I asked the person who is selling me these diamonds to please e-mail me specifications about it.. Mainly the center one.

The Dimensions are as follows:
0.50ct D VVS2
4.32 x 4.24 x 3.21mm
Depth: 73.6 %
Table: 72 %
Girdle: medium to slightly thick
Fluorescence: none
Culet: none
Symmetry: V/G
Polish: V/G




To answer some questions..
I don''t particularly mind whether I end up with a VVS1 or a VS2 stone.. But the thing is, that if I go any larger, the tiny 10pt pink diamonds on each side will look (I think) rather small.. Whereas now it looks like it''s actually part of a three diamond set, if the center stone is larger, I''m afraid the diamonds on the side will simply look like.. Diamonds on the side..

(I think) I am getting this for a reasonable price.. Whereas most jewerly stores have quoted me over US$7000 for this ring, this guy (who is an independed jeweler) can give me the same ring with a darker shade of pink argyle for just over $4000 (US dollars)..

Okay.. When I mention money I sound cheap.. The fact is that I''m trying to do this under a respectable budget whilst not compensating the quality of the ring..

The diamond that Canturi (another jeweler) offered me was an F SI2 .48 ct princess cut.. For the same price I''ll be getting a .50ct D VVS2..

But yes.. I am very excited about this.. And hoping it will look as good in reality as it does in my mind..

Thanks for all your cheerful replies and thank you all for sharing my excitement..


Cheers,

Ivan.

 

[Kissingfish]

I actually just had a look at the Cut Grading Report for Princess Cut Stones at the Accredited Gem Appraisers website but I need a "Crown Height" .. A measurement that I don''t have..

Is there a way to calculating such measurement by the details I currently have?

By following the chart, all the details I have point to a premium cut diamond..

 

[JulieN]

No, you have to get a Sarin or some other scan to measure the crown height. Alternatively, it can be estimated manually.

 

[Kissingfish]

Ah, that''s a shame..

In any case.. I liked the look of the diamond..

Though by reading along this forum and seeing some of the pictures.. a 50pt princess cut diamond is not that big.. sigh.. I wish I could get a larger stone..


I called a jeweler asking for a price on a similar stone who proceeded to yell at me for buying an EGL certified diamond.. I mean, he was literally screaming at me for being so stupid..

I know they''re not as strict as GIA, but seriously, are they THAT bad? Am I really getting ripped off for buying such stone?

 

[JulieN]

You should definitely get an independent appraisal.

 

[Kissingfish]

Ah, I certainly will.. The cost of the appraisal is included on the cost of the ring.. Which I was glad to hear.. And I even get to choose them..


Which brings me to my next question..

Does anyone know a good appraisal place in Melbourne, Australia?

 

[Regular Guy]

I''d see if the author of this piece will do it...if only on the side ...for you. He does claim to be a JAA Appraiser. Also, I''ve always said that given the choice between using an appraiser/jeweler having lots of comparative diamonds to show you (along with the promise, if you need it, that he can''t sell you any if he engages you as a client), vs an independent appraiser, whose alternate virtue is that he can''t sell you anything as an alternative, either ethically or practically -- I''d go for the former.

Worst case, I''ll bet he can direct you.

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 8/29/2006 10:43:27 PM
Author: Kissingfish
Ah, that''s a shame..

In any case.. I liked the look of the diamond..

Though by reading along this forum and seeing some of the pictures.. a 50pt princess cut diamond is not that big.. sigh.. I wish I could get a larger stone..


I called a jeweler asking for a price on a similar stone who proceeded to yell at me for buying an EGL certified diamond.. I mean, he was literally screaming at me for being so stupid..

I know they''re not as strict as GIA, but seriously, are they THAT bad? Am I really getting ripped off for buying such stone?

This is going to be a beautiful ring! I understand now why you didn''t want to go larger in size. The pink diamonds are going to be gorgeous, I would want to show them off too!
Is getting an EGL stone THAT stupid...I don''t think so. It can be a great stone for a better value since EGL stones don''t carry the same premium as GIA/AGS. However, I agree with the independent appraisal just to make sure everything checks out and to evaluate the cut of the stone. I think the important thing is knowing what you are buying, and it sounds like you know that EGL stones have the potential to be a couple of grades off. If you love the stone, that''s fantastic. I can''t wait to see pictures.