buying loose diamond

[lookingforadiamond]

I am looking to purchase a loose diamond from either JA or Whiteflash along with a setting. Should I have them set the diamond before shipping? Or get the diamond loose so that I can take a look at it. After I am happy I can bring it somewhere to have them set it. Or does it not matter?


thanks

 

[stone-cold11]

can be done both ways. If you want a more accurate appraisal of the stone by an appraiser, loose stone is better.

Just note that if the stone is not set by a jeweler who did not sell you the stone, usually they will not cover the stone if they damage it during setting so you will have to buy separate policy to cover for that accident, rare but not unheard of, depends on how much of a risk taker are you.

 

[kenny]

Companies do not like to set diamonds they didn't sell. (I suspect they make more profit on diamonds than settings.)
They may not insure it against breakage during setting to discourage this.

I'd just buy the diamond from the same vendor that sets it.

Whether to see it before it is set depends on your comfort level with your diamond knowledge and your trust of the vendor.
I have personally bought stones (returned and kept) from Whiteflash and I trust them fully.
I would not bother getting a stone I bought from them checked before setting, but I buy only VS1 and above.

If I was buying the lower-clarity stones I may want to get an appraiser to help me select it or check it out during the return period and before setting.
So much of this is all about your comfort level and your education level.

 

[lookingforadiamond]

So if I am buying from Whiteflash or James Allen, I should probably let them set it??
Does Whiteflash offer a discount for pricescope members?

thanks

 

[stone-cold11]

yes, both companies has PS discount.

Letting them set their stone will be cheaper for you.

 

[lookingforadiamond]

OK Great. That is what I was thinking, just let them set it.

I have been looking for days for a diamond on both sites but am overwhelmed with all the details that I should be looking for in a diamond. I would like to find a 1ct, minium H SI1, eyeclean and best cut that I can get for under 5K. To get something like this do I need to spend more than 5K?

 

[lookingforadiamond]

For example I find this one (about $4500)
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268960.asp

But then I seem to find 10 more that look the same to me but the prices vary by a few hundred dollars.

 

[stone-cold11]

Looks promising. Request an Idealscope image from JA and ask if it is eye-clean.

Ya, common for the price variance as there are several factors affecting the selling price of the stones.

 

[stone-cold11]

This could be good too, if you do not mind the medium blue fluorescence. Same thing, ask JA if it is eye-clean and get an idealscope image if interested.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1263641.asp

 

[lookingforadiamond]

Thanks. Does the fluorescence effect the stones look in normal lighting?

Here are the stones that I am potentially going to buy from. Dont know if anyone has the time to look through them but it would be greatly appreciated. Which one do you think is best? Thanks in advance.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1269539.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1264630.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1265689.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1245492.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1256504.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1248248.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268960.asp

I have also found a couple from Whiteflash but they do not currently have the certs uploaded.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 11/22/2009 3:10:38 PM
Author: lookingforadiamond
Thanks. Does the fluorescence effect the stones look in normal lighting?

Here are the stones that I am potentially going to buy from. Dont know if anyone has the time to look through them but it would be greatly appreciated. Which one do you think is best? Thanks in advance.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1269539.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1264630.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1265689.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1245492.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1256504.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1248248.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268960.asp

I have also found a couple from Whiteflash but they do not currently have the certs uploaded.

 

[stone-cold11]

3-6 looks promising from the numbers and image. Ask for IS images. But JA only allows 3 IS images at a time so choose accordingly.

 

[lookingforadiamond]

Yes. I agree. I was leaning towards #4 and #5. I have asked them if they are Eye Clean and for idealscope images. I will post them when I get them.


The inclusion in #3 kind of worries me.

 

[stone-cold11]

Should not be a problem with those comments. You can ask the JA gemologist to have a look at it if you are interested in that stone.

 

[lookingforadiamond]

What do you think about the indented natural in stone #3?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/28/2009 10:09:42 AM
Author: lookingforadiamond
What do you think about the indented natural in stone #3?

Ask for one of the gemologists to check it out for you, although its unlikely to be an issue each needs checking on a case by case basis.