DC/Northern VA Diamond GURU needed!

[shoff]

Hi there!

My name is Sarah and I am on a daunting search for the most “fire” filled Princess cut diamond I can find in Northern Virginia! Any help would be appreciated. With the #1 piece pf advice on this Forum being to "look at each stone and keep looking for the best" I''m hoping to find a sales connection where I can view a few QUALITY stones and get even better quality advice!

I live in Alexandria, VA just outside DC and I work in downtown DC.

Here’s my ideal:
Not lower than G color
Not lower than SI2 and that’s me really compromising for size. I’d prefer VV if possible. Any SI2 stone would have to be “eye clean”.
Cut- the BEST possible.
Size 2-3 carats
As far as price; right now I’m considering an 2.53 carat, F color, SI2, GIA Cert. Table 66%, Depth 72.1%, 1.01 ratio at 7.46 x 7.35 x 5.30, TK Girdle and unknown crown for $15,742.22
I am willing to go a little higher for better clarity. Thank you in advance for anyone you can reccommend!
Sarah

 

[John P]

Hi Sarah,

Welcome. First I''m curious; are you committed to buying in VA to support the economy, ease of local jeweler, don''t want to travel, don''t want to buy online...? It will help to know if your range is expandable (for instance, to the DC area).

Most importantly, do you have an ASET image of the diamond you''re considering. You say "BEST possible" cut, but GIA gives no indication about how well the diamond is cut in terms of performance. An ASET would help us understand what ballpark you''re in.

This also makes me curious about your G+ color requirement. Have you seen top-cut princess stones in H, I or below? The best ones face up quite colorless. When the cut is spectacular - very unusual in commercial outlets - you might be quite surprised how colorless near-colorless can appear.

 

[shoff]

Hi John!

Thank you for a welcome and your advice! I''m not set on giving money to Va, that''s hilarious. I''m just hoping to follow the advice of the masses and eyeball my diamond before buying. I''m also serious about doing my research to ensure that my guy''s hard earned cash buys the best quality possible instead of whatever the mall has in stock!

The website folks just sent me the GIA report for the stone I was considering...it doesn''t say much (no crown info) and since this is my first look at a GIA report I don''t know if that''s normal. I''ve attached it for viewing by the pros! There seem to be crystals that look a bit large...

I just asked them for an ASET image, I doubt they''ll have it. The response to me was that no 10x pics, or any pics of the diamond exists. Their e-mail left me not so satisfied,
"I hope your day is going well, and thank you for contacting XXXXXX.com!
I just received word from the diamond company that this stone is available. I also had Mr. (Who Cares) look over all the details of the diamond with me. He is very particular when it comes to diamonds as we want our customers to purchase the most beautiful stones! He and I both agree that this diamond looks beautiful according to the GIA grading report.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the most respected diamond grading company in the world. If they grade a diamond as having an SI2 clarity, there will be slight inclusions microscopically. At this time, there is no way for me to send 10X images for this diamond as even the diamond company does not have them available. I have included a copy of the GIA grading report for you to view. If you decide to purchase this beautiful diamond, you will have a right of return. If you are unsatisfied, we ask that the diamond be returned within 2 weeks."

Yeah, I know all about GIA- thanks. Let''s take this up a notch!

To answer your question, I''m not SET on G but I would prefer the best color possible. So far I have been able to tell the difference between F/G''s and below though I''m open to a particularily nice H! John if you have any suggestions as to reputable websites with ASET images I''m all ears!

Sarah

 

[dbsdiamonds]

Hi there,

Rafi at Rafael jewelers is a jeweler living in Herndon who does jewelry bench work for Bailey Banks and Biddle, Niemann Marcus and other high power accounts up there. He doesn''t have a store front but I''m sure he can help in your quest.

I also looked at the GIA cert of the diamond you referred to. Have you seen that stone in person? Forget Aset, I suspect that the circular inclusion that is center towards 4 oclock is probably a visible inclusion.

Hopefully not. But with "crystal" listed first and the size of the circular diagram it raises concerns. I don''t think Ex/Ex or Aset is a play in this if the inclusion is an issue.

Marty
CEO/Pres
DBS Diamonds

 

[shoff]

Hi Rafi and thank you! I agree, my immediate thoughts were that those inclusion circles looked a bit large. I''ll give Rafi a try and let him know you referred me!

Sarah

 

[february2003bride]

A few to try:

May Jewelers in Tyson''s
Aspen Design Jewelers in Herndon
White and Ivory in Leesburg
Quest Jewelers in Fairfax
Bella Diamonds Inc in Lansdowne
M. Beem Jewelers in Reston

I know many people who have bought from Mervis Diamonds in Tysons, but I find them to be hit or miss in sales knowledge and prices.

Hope this helps!

 

[John P]

Date: 8/13/2008 4:31:01 PM
Author: shoff
Hi John!

Thank you for a welcome and your advice! I'm not set on giving money to Va, that's hilarious. I'm just hoping to follow the advice of the masses and eyeball my diamond before buying. I'm also serious about doing my research to ensure that my guy's hard earned cash buys the best quality possible instead of whatever the mall has in stock!

The website folks just sent me the GIA report for the stone I was considering...it doesn't say much (no crown info) and since this is my first look at a GIA report I don't know if that's normal. I've attached it for viewing by the pros! There seem to be crystals that look a bit large...

I just asked them for an ASET image, I doubt they'll have it. The response to me was that no 10x pics, or any pics of the diamond exists. Their e-mail left me not so satisfied,
'I hope your day is going well, and thank you for contacting XXXXXX.com!
I just received word from the diamond company that this stone is available. I also had Mr. (Who Cares) look over all the details of the diamond with me. He is very particular when it comes to diamonds as we want our customers to purchase the most beautiful stones! He and I both agree that this diamond looks beautiful according to the GIA grading report.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the most respected diamond grading company in the world. If they grade a diamond as having an SI2 clarity, there will be slight inclusions microscopically. At this time, there is no way for me to send 10X images for this diamond as even the diamond company does not have them available. I have included a copy of the GIA grading report for you to view. If you decide to purchase this beautiful diamond, you will have a right of return. If you are unsatisfied, we ask that the diamond be returned within 2 weeks.'

Yeah, I know all about GIA- thanks. Let's take this up a notch!

To answer your question, I'm not SET on G but I would prefer the best color possible. So far I have been able to tell the difference between F/G's and below though I'm open to a particularily nice H! John if you have any suggestions as to reputable websites with ASET images I'm all ears!

Sarah

Sarah,

If the dealer is local the best tool to use is your own eyes - however, none of us on this site can possibly predict performance of a fancy shape without ASET (or ideal-scope at least, but it's far less useful in fancies). If you're using your eyes only when shopping I suggest you see a number of top-cut princesses personally, if cut is indeed most important to you. You will need to see them in several lighting conditions; jewelry store lights make practically any cut look great.

Several of the reputable PS sellers provide ASET. It's the foundation of the AGS cut grading system, and can reveal much about a diamond's performance qualities to those with even a little training. You will not find it much-employed by brick & mortar jewelers (understandable since most of their traffic can see the diamond for themselves) with the exception of AGS-member jewelry stores who may have a unit onsite, or if they have the DQC report it will have the stone's ASET printed on it by the lab itself.

To that end the letter you received is reasonable if from a brick & mortar store, but there is no reason an online company cannot provide images unless they don't actually have the diamond there (a possibility). Further, I would not purchase an online stone without an ideal-scope or ASET image. The most reputable, cut-focused online sellers post them for every stone. Further, the most reputable online sellers may carry AGS0 princess cuts which boast the Ideal light performance grade.

 

[sparxs111]

I would listen to John. Look at whiteflash and goodoldgold they have all the info on their diamonds that you need to make an informed decision, and will give you one of the best prices out there. They have GREAT diamonds, and if they say a stone is eye clean then it will be!!! I would also increase your clarity slightly to an SI1 instead of SI2. This will decrease the size a bit, but you will probably be a little happier with the clarity and not worry about seeing inclusions. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 8/13/2008 5:50:42 PM
Author: John Pollard
If you''re using your eyes only when shopping I suggest you see a number of top-cut princesses personally, if cut is indeed most important to you. You will need to see them in several lighting conditions; jewelry store lights make practically any cut look great.

Local to you, though Jared''s may not be the place you make a purchase from...they''re known to stock diamonds with AGS certificates. I think they call them their "peerless" line.