Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this???

[roldon7273]

I submitted a different post a few days ago and would really like some recommendations. My fiance' gave me a few specs that have me worrying about his investment, not the ring itself. Although I don't know the dollar amount he is spending (he is almost done), I fear he may have invested too much and the seller got over on him due to his lack of education. Although I educated my fiance' as much as I could without sounding like a nag, he went ahead and picked what he thought had the most sparkle. I asked if he saw it under different light conditions etc. and he said... well... no. sigh...

I am so excited about the looming proposal, but want to know if it makes sense to re-cut or place in halo or some other setting to enhance the diamond. I am not keen on the girdle or the cut being "good".

Any recommendations?

Cert: GIA
Color: J
Cut: Good
Clarity: VS2
Table: 62%
Depth: 62.4%
Polish: Very Good
Girdle: Medium Thick
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Faint

 

[hawk25]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

I don't think there's much a setting can do to enhance a badly cut stone. A halo with well cut melee might contribute more sparkle, but it also might draw attention to the dead stone in the middle.

As for a recut, it's a possibility but it's something that the cutter must examine on a case by case basis. A medium-thick girdle isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does have a large table (I think that's what Niel originally said in your other thread). If at all possible, I'd try to convince your FI to return the diamond and start new. IMO any amount is too much for a poorly cut stone. That's the easiest and best way to go, but I understand it can be a sensitive issue.

Unfortunately these situations happen way too often.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Are you able to provide the crown and pavilion angles? I'm not liking the 62% table, but it's worth putting all the numbers through the HCA. Also, if we know the crown and pavilion angles, it may give some indication as to whether it's a good recut candidate, though only the professional cutters will know for sure upon evaluation.

And congrats on your upcoming proposal!

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Thank you both so so much! I am going to do the best I can to have him consider a better cut stone. I would hate for him to put his hard earned money into it, later to find by someone else (he isn't always keen on my advice) that he could have made a better choice given his budget (which I am unaware of)... I am very excited about the proposal and I appreciate the sentiments!!!!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Honestly.

I would just tell him flat out that the stone is not well cut.

And that you want him to get one that is for the money.

And then give him strict guidelines.

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Gypsy,

I have done a lot of research and I am by no means and expert. Can you give any spec recommendations as a guide. Let's assume he is spending 2500.00

I wanted a .7 or .73 stone to reflect my birth year. I know I'm getting up there This is my first proposal and first marriage so you can imagine how we are both pretty set in our ways. I am big on not letting anyone get over on me and also getting the most bang for my buck. He on the other hand sometimes listens to who he feels are experts without checking them twice. This is where I come in. I agree that I should flat out tell him that he should focus on a better stone and not how big it is. I can go even lower than a .73 as long as it is beautifully cut. I will go as low as an H color or heck even J. No big deal on those specs. I just don't want a dead - dirty looking stone. I have seen them and you can't even tell they are on the women's fingers.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

If it's $2500 for the stone alone, here's a winner! With PS discount, you'll probably fall right around $2500, and no tax unless you're in NY.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...arat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-253410

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Snicklefritz! Thank you for taking the time out to research something for us!

I am going to share the link with him with the hopes that he is willing to get a far better diamond for his money and thus getting a really really happy soon to be bride!

 

[hawk25]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Here's a general cheat sheet for round diamonds (found from another thread on PS)
Depth: 60-62.4%
Table: 54-57%
Crown angle: 34-35 degrees
Pavilion angle: 40.6-41 degrees
Girdle: Avoid the extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc

The crown and pavilion angles should complement each other. A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown

It doesn't mean that a diamond won't be beautiful unless it meets these guidelines, but it should help narrow down the search.

Stones J color and above should face up white, but then again people have different color sensitivities. With clarity, almost all VS2, many SI1 and rare SI2 stones are completely eye clean. For cut, it should be GIA Excellent or AGS 0 Ideal. No compromises on cut.

I had the same budget you have for the diamond. There are some great cut 0.7 stones in your budget, but you'll have to stay within the I-J color ranges. For example, here's ones from BGD and WF. I think the WF one is my favourite, and below your budget, but I would check with them if it meets your definition of eye clean. Their definition is viewing from 8-10 inches from the face up view, while yours may be from 6 inches all angles. Prices are usually higher if your FI wants to buy locally though. I realize not everybody's comfortable buying online, but IMO it really is the way to go.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d.../0.701-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104066228061
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2937168.htm

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

hawk25

Much obliged! I have something to work with here. Hopefully the place he is purchasing from will give him his money back. He doesn't want to disclose the source for fear I will go in there myself and make a few demands

I will try and post an update by the end of the week to let you know the outcome!

 

[Cherokee1979]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Gypsy,

I am big on not letting anyone get over on me and also getting the most bang for my buck. He on the other hand sometimes listens to who he feels are experts without checking them twice. This is where I come in. I agree that I should flat out tell him that he should focus on a better stone and not how big it is.

First, let me say that you sound like a really sweet person and congratulations on your upcoming proposal!

The initial thing that I was unsure of from your threads is whether you know for sure (either way) if your BF is within the return window or whether he has not yet purchased the "good" cut stone you had mentioned? Hopefully he still has the freedom to make another selection.

I do not post often, but I thought that what you had said in the above quote really resounded with me. I recently proposed (and was on a budget) and can totally understand and agree with your general attitude that you want to get the best bang for your buck and not get taken for a ride. Regarding your BF's general attitude of trusting who he thinks is an expert, that is also totally understandable/admirable, but in my opinion, one would be hard-pressed to find more expert or trustworthy advice given on this forum. That being said, do you get a sense from your BF that he would be willing to read through some of the invaluable threads posted here? If so, I think that that could make his task in choosing a beautiful diamond, within his budget, whilst still consulting with several "experts" on the subject, much, much easier and more pleasurable of an experience.

Also, I think that it is very sweet that he is trying to make the diamond, to some degree, a surprise, and it sounds from your posts like he would like for you not to know exactly what vendor he is working with (I'm assuming from your post that it is a B&M store?). That being said, do you feel that you could encourage him to consider purchasing the stone online (after hopefully having consulted some of the experts on PS)? That way, he could still keep the exact stats and vendor a secret from you, but also be able to consult the "experts" here. Also, I think that one can find much, much better values online (since most of the online vendors do not have the overhead expenses of a B&M), and some of the people on PS are INCREDIBLE at finding beautiful stones that offer a great "bang for your buck," no matter what his budget is!

Well, I wish you and your BF all the best!!

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Thank you so much for your kinds words Cherokee1979. I believe I found the vendor that he is dealing with and I am still a bit hesitant with him purchasing from them given some fairly poor reviews on service. However I am open to visiting the store with him on Friday! He gave me a very special invite this afternoon because her finally understands my desire for him to come out on top with his purchase, no matter the size.

I am going to go in with the knowledge I have gained from you all as well as other information I have gathered through pricescope threads and other online research. I must say that I am not particularly a size girl, but I do like lots and lots and lots of sparkle. If I can blind myself and people at every turn, they won't have eyes enough to comment on anything other than its sparkle and flash!

I am shooting for .73 but no larger than .76. I found one on James Allen that is a K color, but I am a bit scared it will look too warm / yellow. Here it is http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.76-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-256890

What do you and others think?

 

[Niel]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Thank you so much for your kinds words Cherokee1979. I believe I found the vendor that he is dealing with and I am still a bit hesitant with him purchasing from them given some fairly poor reviews on service. However I am open to visiting the store with him on Friday! He gave me a very special invite this afternoon because her finally understands my desire for him to come out on top with his purchase, no matter the size.

I am going to go in with the knowledge I have gained from you all as well as other information I have gathered through pricescope threads and other online research. I must say that I am not particularly a size girl, but I do like lots and lots and lots of sparkle. If I can blind myself and people at every turn, they won't have eyes enough to comment on anything other than its sparkle and flash!

I am shooting for .73 but no larger than .76. I found one on James Allen that is a K color, but I am a bit scared it will look too warm / yellow. Here it is http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.76-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-256890

What do you and others think?

I have a k in white metal. Put in the right setting I think at that size you'd be fine.



[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ja-size-7-25-1-78tcw-graduated-5-stone-in-wg.190181/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ja-size-7-25-1-78tcw-graduated-5-stone-in-wg.190181/[/URL]

 

[Niel]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Here's a k at JA I like.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.84-carat-k-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-243493

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

OH WOW!!!! AMAZING NIEL! I am going to check out the link. My Pumpkin is here to pick me up from work, so I am going to get back to you all a bit later this evening. Please send me any other top pics you may have Niel! I AM SUPER EXCITED!

 

[roldon7273]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Niel it is beautiful and the PRICE IS RIGHT! I put it on my wishlist. I hope he likes it.

 

[Niel]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

That stone I liked was looked at by someone else recently. They reserved 3, and if I remember right, this one was the gemologists favorite, but they went with with a different vendor so they didn't grt any.
Idealscope.

 

[Cherokee1979]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

Thank you so much for your kinds words Cherokee1979. I believe I found the vendor that he is dealing with and I am still a bit hesitant with him purchasing from them given some fairly poor reviews on service. However I am open to visiting the store with him on Friday! He gave me a very special invite this afternoon because her finally understands my desire for him to come out on top with his purchase, no matter the size.

I am going to go in with the knowledge I have gained from you all as well as other information I have gathered through pricescope threads and other online research. I must say that I am not particularly a size girl, but I do like lots and lots and lots of sparkle. If I can blind myself and people at every turn, they won't have eyes enough to comment on anything other than its sparkle and flash!

I am shooting for .73 but no larger than .76. I found one on James Allen that is a K color, but I am a bit scared it will look too warm / yellow. Here it is http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.76-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-256890

What do you and others think?

Hi, roldon7273!

First things first, let me say that I think it is GREAT that your BF is inviting you to look at some stones in person with him (and that it appears from your post that he is potentially open to buying the stone online). Regarding color, that is certainly a personal preference, and I think that many people, understandably, love the slight warmth of a K. Maybe when you go with your BF this afternoon to look at some stones, try to look at some different colors (graded by the two only really trustworthy labs - that is only GIA and AGSL) to see how color sensitive you are. Also try to remember to look at the stones in different lighting (and not just under the blazing overhead electric lights. Also, remember that you will see more color when looking at a stone from a side view, so a K face up might look really great to you. My wife is REALLY color sensitive, which is the only reason I went with a higher color.

Also, I think that a .76 will be a GREAT size! My wife's stone is a .81 RB in a platinum pave halo setting. The size looks perfect on her finger, and those sizes can really offer some "bang for your buck"!

Regarding the stone that you selected from JA, although I am a COMPLETE novice and not an expert in any means, the stone looks really good, and it is great that you are focusing on cut above all else (however, I will certainly defer to the wisdom of the real experts here ) In any event, I ran the numbers of your stone through the Holloway Cut Advisor and it came back with a score of 1.1, which is great. Finally, regarding the VS2 clarity, I think that that will be more than sufficient. Since it is graded by GIA, you can be virtually assured that any VS2 will be eye-clean. However, you can follow up all of this with a Sales Rep from JA (and they can provide you with more info and honest assessments of the stone or other stones that you may wish to put on hold with them.) Which reminds me, if you have not yet put the JA stone that you posted on hold, and you really like it, it would be a prudent choice to place it on hold now. There are lurkers out there who sometimes will grab a stone out from under someone.

Well, it was great to hear from you and I cannot wait to hear how your adventure with your BF today turns out!

 

[Niel]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

My stone is quite QUITE similar to the one I linked. They could be twins lol. Here's a few of the stone back when I had it in the cheapest JA solitaire.

 

[Niel]

Re: Can you recommend a re-cut or a setting to enhance this?

It shows a tint. I'd describe it as a bone color. Its not colorless. it isn't yellow. Its just. Not white. Lol. Ive personally never regretted the color. And I prefer the softer hue.