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Deciding on engagement ring

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Date: 10/27/2006 2:13:01 PM
Author: GC

Budget: I had planned to spend between 5500-7K. As mentioned, the local jeweler had a 1.5 ctw three stone I liked (1 carat center, 0.5 ctw sides) for $7100 total, but Reis Nichols has the Scott Kay setting ($1314, 1/4 ctw, 19k on the ring) and the I/VS2 Princess ($4208) for just over $5500..so just about $6K total.
If both of these stones were GIA certified you would be able to compare them and check to see if the price was good. Since they are not you are just taking a sellers word for the quality of the one stone. And the other is EGL which is usually a lax grader compared to GIA.

I am not comfortable taking a sellers word that their stone is SI1 Even if they seem to be very nice. That stone could be I1 or lower. Then I would worry about the inclusions and if they would cause any structural problems.

Either way make the sale depend on an appraiser''s evaluation. They can point out any problems with the stone. And will tell you about the color and clarity and cut. That way you will know what you are buying and can check back here and see if the price is fair for what you are buying.
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Date: 10/27/2006 2:28:05 PM
Author: Stone Hunter


Either way make the sale depend on an appraiser''s evaluation. They can point out any problems with the stone. And will tell you about the color and clarity and cut. That way you will know what you are buying and can check back here and see if the price is fair for what you are buying.
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So do I need to get an independent appraisal on the stone from somewhere..or will this be from the EGL certification, or ask the store to give me an appraisal evaluation? or another option that I missed.
 
If you are buying an uncertified stone or one that is graded by someone other than GIA or AGS, you probably should get an independent appraisal...by an appraiser not affiliated with a jewelry store, if possible. Of course, this adds to the cost which brings us back to the fact that it won''t cost much more to get an AGS or GIA certified stone to begin with.
 
Ok. That all makes sense.

Now, here''s the question I came up with. I checked the prices of the AGS/GIA graded stones that you listed for me diamondseeker, and I''m getting the same qualities in the stone at the B&M for about 300 less I believe, tho its obviously not certified by either of those labs.

So if, to my eyes, and what I''m sure would be my gf''s eyes also, if the stone they have looks good, has a nice sparkle to it and is more than satisfactory for me, is it worth it to mess with getting it certified by an outside source, or mess with buying a certified stone online, OR it looks good enough for me, should that be sufficient?
 
It depends; are you a gambling man?
 
Date: 10/27/2006 3:07:13 PM
Author: GC
Ok. That all makes sense.

Now, here''s the question I came up with. I checked the prices of the AGS/GIA graded stones that you listed for me diamondseeker, and I''m getting the same qualities in the stone at the B&M for about 300 less I believe, tho its obviously not certified by either of those labs.

So if, to my eyes, and what I''m sure would be my gf''s eyes also, if the stone they have looks good, has a nice sparkle to it and is more than satisfactory for me, is it worth it to mess with getting it certified by an outside source, or mess with buying a certified stone online, OR it looks good enough for me, should that be sufficient?
No you don''t know this. You only know what the jeweler is telling you. An independant appraiser or a GIA grade will tell you what you have. Search PS and see what stones a level below what they are telling you cost. You are probably not saving anything by taking their word for the level the stones are at. You may be paying too much. And if you are happy with a J/SI1 that is what you should pay for. The cost for an I/VS2 is higher.

So do a search for J/SI1 1ct and a G/I1 and see what they cost. Of course a really good cut costs more and you really don''t know what the cut is like in the stones you''re looking at.

I hope my post doesn''t sound rude. I just think you need to know what you are paying for and if it is a fair price.
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No, I don''t find it rude. Its just someone trying to help out. I appreciate it, even if it throws all new wrenches in my plans so far!
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So a bit of new information. After I disheartedly called the local jeweler to say I was probably going to go with the Indy store, he then called back and said he obviously couldn''t match the 1K lower price, but he could come down to 6700, total. Its still higher of course, but it''ll make me consider it again. haha

The other: the woman at Reis Nichols said I could have a copy of the certificate from EGL, and that she would be glad to discuss the cut and specifics of the diamond tomorrow when I come in.

SO...aside from me searching PS, possibly, futilely and with a short amount of time tonight to do so, can anyone give me a link or does anyone know some strong % numbers I should look for in the stone characteristics tomorrow, if all are there?


I started looking at the tutorial on Cut and how it breaks down on GOG...but I don''t know if i''ll be able to get thru all of it before tomorrow, AND would be able to understand what I need to by then.
 
I have to agree with Stone Hunter who said you do not know that you are looking at stones of the same quality as the two I showed you. I''d bet against it if I were a gambler.

I think you should get all the numbers off the EGL cert, which you can do over the phone, and post them on here. I am not a princess expert but there are some people on here like Julie who might be able to tell if the numbers would fit AGS0 requirements. Obviously we can''t test the light performance, but I wouldn''t pay that much for uncertified stones when the certified ones we know are excellent.

Let me just say that most people just go in jewelry stores, buy a ring, and that is that. But you are obviously here because you do want excellent quality. We are just trying to help you get it. I''ve made the mistake myself in the past, and it just pains me to see people make the same mistake when there are so much better choices.

The other thing you can do is copy numbers off the certs of the stones I linked for you to get some ideas of AGS0 proportions.
 
The EGL*USA report for the princess stone lists:

1.00carat
5.46 x 5.20 x 4.18
Depth-80.4%
Table-74%
Crown- 13.7%
Pavilion63.5%
Girdle- Med. to SL Thick Polished
Culet- None
Polish- Very Good
Symmetry- Very Good
Clarity- VS2
Color- I


I am pretty much positive I''ll buy from this store. My GF went in with me, looked at settings, and she liked the one I picked out the most (but she didn''t know it was the one I''d chosen too).

After talking with in a bit more detail, she mentioned the a Princess is more susceptible to chipping obviously because of its four corners, but not to discourage me. So I looked at a RB that is of interest as well. It has a GIA report, but didn''t look at it then. But I know my GF would be quite happy with either stone, so I just have to decide which of the two I want.


And..I don''t want anyone to think I''m ignoring all the advice that was offered. I very much appreciate it. But at this stage I think I''ll stay with the store purchse, but I certainly will have lots of options and info that you''ve provided me with for whenever I make the next purchase!
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Truly, GC, we support your decision to buy at the local jeweler! If that is your decision, then please know we''ll still be glad to give comments on the stones you''re choosing from there.

Just to give you one more opinion...and again this is just my personal preference...I think a round diamond is classic and timeless, and I do think princess will come and go in style, just like marquise and pear have done in the past. But rounds are always safe, and you don''t have the issue of the corners. But if you get a princess stone, you''d need to get a setting that protected the corners.
 
Date: 10/28/2006 6:30:55 PM
Author: GC
The EGL*USA report for the princess stone lists:

1.00carat
5.46 x 5.20 x 4.18
Depth-80.4%
Table-74%
Crown- 13.7%
Pavilion63.5%
Girdle- Med. to SL Thick Polished
Culet- None
Polish- Very Good
Symmetry- Very Good
Clarity- VS2
Color- I
5.33 mm^2 is very small for a 1 ct princess.
 
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