Buying an engagment ring - aother newbie who needs help!

[jcl725]

Hi Everyone,

So I'm planning to propose to my girlfriend, but I'm newbie who just recently knew nothing about diamonds. I started my search a few weeks ago and have done some research on various website. I just recently found this website and there's a ton of great information here, but it's all a bit overwhelming at this point.

So I need your help! Right now, I'm primarly shopping on Bluenile and James Allen.

Based on what I've read, here's how I've narrowed down my search criteria (listed in order of importance):

Budget: $20 - 26K
Carat: 2.00 - 2.40 (larger the better of course )
Cut (and polish and symmetry): AGS Ideal or GIA Excellent
Color: F or G
Clarity: VS2 or SI1. I've read that many SI1's are "eye-clean". Eye-clean is very important to me, so I'm only willing to go down to an SI1 if it is eye-clean.
Other: Flourescence - none or faint

Here are 4 diamonds that meet these criterias:

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD01132227
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD01834229
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-vs2-clarity_LD01541180
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-vs2-clarity_LD01761029

So here are my questions:
1. Am I putting too much emphasis on one or or more of the 4 C's? Any criteria I should adjust? I most concerned with going down to a SI1, but am okay with it as long as it's "eye-clean". This will allow me to get a F color (which I read is more important than clarity). Otherwise, I would be looking at G/VS2 combos.
2. Of the 4 diamonds, which one looks the best and why? Or would only be able to tell by seeing the diamonds in person (which isn't possible with BN). Do you know of any better diamonds that meet my criteria?
3. Is it worth it to find an BN "Signature Ideal" or JA ""True Hearts", or are these just marketing tactics?
4. Is there a Depth and Table% I should stick in?
5. How important are other considerations such as H&A, Girdle thickness and Cutlet?

Finally, if anyone has a recommendation for a reputable dealer in the Los Angeles area, I'd love to check them out as an option.

I know that's alot of questions, but I'd appreciate any advice you can lend. Thanks in advance!!!

John

 

[mrgodai]

BlueNile doesnt offer the Idealscope/hearts/aset images, so it's hard to make decisions when buying online.

I went through JA, Whiteflash.com, Goodoldgold.com, briangavindiamonds.com, which i love them all.

in the end i went though WhiteFlash, because their ACA/Expert trade up policy, which you can trade to a different diamond anytime you want without penalty, as long as $1 more.

also watch these videos before you decide on image/numbers alone
http://vimeo.com/5081590
http://vimeo.com/4892106

i would recommand this
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2329037.htm

that white spot on the arrow is not an inclusion since it's not on AGS report, if you tell them to take different pictures, i'm pretty sure it wont show. But ask them if it's eye clean

 

[TotalNewbie]

To reiterate mrgodai's words, Bluenile doesn't provide ASET images or visual feedback BUT if you see a diamond you like on Blue Nile, unless it is a Blue Nile in-house stone (and very few are), you can contact Whiteflash (or another PS vendor) to see if they can get the diamond for you. My FI and I just went through this a few months ago. And we were able to negotiate trade-up as well on the stone that we originally saw on Blue Nile. So for the same price that BN would have charged us, we received ASET images, trade-up, and live feedback from one of WF's gemologists on the diamond we brought in vs. some of Whiteflash's other stones.

Most of the diamonds listed on Blue Nile are definitely not in-house. The second diamond you listed, for example) is already on a few different sites, although the newly-certified ones likely won't be (yet): http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&rlz=1R2GGIK_enUS338&q=2106960191+gia&btnG=Google+Search&rlz=1R2GGIK_enUS338&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=2106960191+gia&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=6248f386b3c06fd8

I'll leave it to the experts to address your other questions. I wish you luck . . . you have a fun purchasing experience ahead of you!

 

[mrgodai]

Thank you Total for clearing that up a bit.

Yeah bluenile wouldnt send me any images i requested due to they are not in house and i wouldnt find one i want that is in house.

 

[stone-cold11]

Hi Everyone,

So I'm planning to propose to my girlfriend, but I'm newbie who just recently knew nothing about diamonds. I started my search a few weeks ago and have done some research on various website. I just recently found this website and there's a ton of great information here, but it's all a bit overwhelming at this point.

So I need your help! Right now, I'm primarly shopping on Bluenile and James Allen.

Based on what I've read, here's how I've narrowed down my search criteria (listed in order of importance):

Budget: $20 - 26K
Carat: 2.00 - 2.40 (larger the better of course )
Cut (and polish and symmetry): AGS Ideal or GIA Excellent
Color: F or G
Clarity: VS2 or SI1. I've read that many SI1's are "eye-clean". Eye-clean is very important to me, so I'm only willing to go down to an SI1 if it is eye-clean.
Other: Flourescence - none or faint

Here are 4 diamonds that meet these criterias:

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD01132227
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD01834229
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-vs2-clarity_LD01541180
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-vs2-clarity_LD01761029

So here are my questions:
1. Am I putting too much emphasis on one or or more of the 4 C's? Any criteria I should adjust? I most concerned with going down to a SI1, but am okay with it as long as it's "eye-clean". This will allow me to get a F color (which I read is more important than clarity). Otherwise, I would be looking at G/VS2 combos.
2. Of the 4 diamonds, which one looks the best and why? Or would only be able to tell by seeing the diamonds in person (which isn't possible with BN). Do you know of any better diamonds that meet my criteria?
3. Is it worth it to find an BN "Signature Ideal" or JA ""True Hearts", or are these just marketing tactics?
4. Is there a Depth and Table% I should stick in?
5. How important are other considerations such as H&A, Girdle thickness and Cutlet?

Finally, if anyone has a recommendation for a reputable dealer in the Los Angeles area, I'd love to check them out as an option.

I know that's alot of questions, but I'd appreciate any advice you can lend. Thanks in advance!!!

John

The BN stones looks promising from the numbers except for the last one, most iffy.

Color is personal preference and sensitivity, most will not be able to tell the difference between F/G when the stones are mounted and not side by side. Clarity, depends on your eye-sight, short-sighted people are usually able to pick up inclusion easier.

From the numbers, prefer #2, but due to the averaging and rounding of the numbers, could be off. #1, with the ASET simulated light performance map is the safest bet.

BN's Signature Ideal is not back up by a hearts image, JA's True Hearts are. Case by case on H&A, some people prefer it, some stones are just out of contention for a brand due to minor difference in certain aspect, so in effect looks as good as a H&A.

Use the cut adviser as a 1st rejection tool.

Girdle thickness, keep between thin to slightly thick. Too thin might result in durability issue, too thick, you have a lot of weight hidden that is not making the stone look bigger. Culet not cutlet, , no issue as long as it is very small it will not be visible.

 

[jcl725]

Thanks for the advice everyone. WF sounds like a great option. But I took a look at WF and it seems like their prices are slightly higher then JA or BN and their selection is more limited. Is the price difference justified? Or is my best bet to find a non-in-house BN diamond and ask WF to price match? If so, do they just honor the same price or do they actually beat it? I don't have a diamond to trade in, but it sounds like I should definitely get ASET images.

mrgodai- I didn't really want to go below a G. Stone-cold mentioned that you can't really tell the difference between a F vs G. But is it more obvious to the un-aided eye once you step down to a H?

Stone-cold11 - what is a cut advisor?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[TotalNewbie]

In our case, WF price-matched the BN price on the stone we saw there. But this may not be the case with every stone. They didn't BEAT the BN price, but WF offered more services regading stone imaging/analysis prior to purchase. I don't know about JA at all. I just thought it was very disappointing for BN not to be able to give us any imaging on the stone prior to purchase, which is what prompted the call to WF. In fact, in my particular case, BN added some confusion to the matter because I happened to want a highly fluorescent stone, whereas the WF gemologist was knowledgeable and his feedback added value, in my opinion.

Good luck and happy stone-hunting!

 

[stone-cold11]

Cut adviser. https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca Score below 2 is worthy of further investigation.

Price difference is due to better service, getting images, stone in hand instead of a drop-shipper like BN where the stone never reaches them. Another factor in price is the vendor's trade up/buyback policy, which BN does not have, each vendor differs so check carefully if you ever think you are going to use it.

 

[mrgodai]

mrgodai- I didn't really want to go below a G. Stone-cold mentioned that you can't really tell the difference between a F vs G. But is it more obvious to the un-aided eye once you step down to a H?

watch this video on color
http://vimeo.com/2347672

and then, go to a local jeweler like Jared, ask them to show you from D-I diamonds of the same line.

you'll know the color limit you really want afterward.

 

[slg47]

also stores that have their diamonds in-house can look at a stone and tell you if it is eye-clean while BN cannot. So that is something to consider when shopping for SI-clarity diamonds. BN has a good return policy though so you could get it shipped to you and then check it out on your own or with an appraiser