Decisions, Decisions......... and then there were two.

[malachi]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

long time viewer here. (just signed up) And now its time to ask the opinion from the community. i have a budget, but i don't want to give it away yet.


i have narrowed the choices of diamonds down to two. here are the reports i have. (note: these are EGL USA grades, both. and i know, i know, but, i just want an opinion on which would you go with, and what you think a price for each would be.

option 1:
Cut: ROUND BRILLIANT
Carat Weight 1.05 CT
Clarity Grade SI2
Color Grade I

Measurements 6.58 x 6.54 x 3.93 mm
Table 58%
Depth 59.9%
Crown Height 15.2%
Crown Angle 36.2°
Pavilion Depth 41%
Pavilion Angle 39.4°
Girdle SL. THICK FACETED
Culet NONE

Finish
Polish GOOD
Symmetry GOOD
Fluorescence NONE


option 2:
Cut ROUND BRILLIANT
Carat Weight 1.03 CT
Clarity Grade SI2
Color Grade G
Cut Grade VERY GOOD

Measurements 6.38 x 6.34 x 4.1 mm
Table 56%
Depth 64.5%
Crown Height 16.2%
Crown Angle 36.4°
Pavilion Depth 43.9%
Pavilion Angle 41.3°
Girdle SL. THICK TO THICK FACETED
Culet NONE

Finish
Polish VERY GOOD
Symmetry VERY GOOD
Fluorescence MEDIUM BLUE

now, i have seen both, and both look really good. color grade is VERY fair! not like the horror stories iv heard about EGL. that goes for the inclusions also. the 1.03 has A carbon inclusion, that you really cannot see with the eye, and can be "hidden" when set.

also, the numbers seem to match what the eye sees, the 1.03 does seem to "fire" more than the other.


both are pretty clean, minus the color, which you only can pick out after you turn them on their sides.

the setting is solitaire, on a "thin" band. the finger is somewhat long, and skinny.

thanks for viewing!
also, MODS, sorry if this is not the correct place.

 

[JulieN]

the cut quality is atrocious on both of them.

 

[malachi]

the cut quality is atrocious on both of them.

agreed, i don't have the best "eye" but i saw no hearts and arrows.

 

[JulieN]

If your budget is under 4000 I'd be interested in these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-247175
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-253617
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-232529

 

[malachi]

If your budget is under 4000 I'd be interested in these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-247175
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-253617
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-232529

Hoooo boy, dis dont look good.


with the diamond set + tax title license, Grand total is $5,500.00


PS, the inclusions are spot on for the two i was looking at compared to these three.

also, i can see the "j" color, the "I" and "G" are less color. i know i am looking at a screen, but i also looked at other G's and I's on that site.



so $5,500.00, am i getting bent over, or not too bad. i dont mind supporting local business.



EDIT: the CUT does look better in the three you posted. i can see arrows.

 

[msop04]

with the diamond set + tax title license, Grand total is $5,500.00


PS, the inclusions are spot on for the two i was looking at compared to these three.

also, i can see the "j" color, the "I" and "G" are less color. i know i am looking at a screen, but i also looked at other G's and I's on that site.



so $5,500.00, am i getting bent over, or not too bad. i dont mind supporting local business.

In a word, yes.

Cut is the most important thing. A well cut J will look whiter than a poorly cut I color.

 

[malachi]

with the diamond set + tax title license, Grand total is $5,500.00


PS, the inclusions are spot on for the two i was looking at compared to these three.

also, i can see the "j" color, the "I" and "G" are less color. i know i am looking at a screen, but i also looked at other G's and I's on that site.



so $5,500.00, am i getting bent over, or not too bad. i dont mind supporting local business.

In a word, yes.

Cut is the most important thing. A well cut J will look whiter than a poorly cut I color.

LOL, how bad are we talking? from a local dealer, what should i pay? not for just the diamond, but for setting and tax?

 

[doubledouble]

You should pay whatever you can afford, but you should get the best cut quality no matter what. Go down in size or color if you have to.

 

[JulieN]

The EGL USA grading counts for one grade discount, and then the cut proportions and finish are probably worth one discount each. So guesstimate 3 grades discount total, compared to a GIA/AGS ideal cut: In the worst case, the I SI2 gets discounted to a K I1, and probably the best case scenario the G SI2 gets discounted to a J SI2. There is usually a pretty wide spread between J SI2 and K I1 prices.

 

[malachi]

Roger that guys,

ill have to see if i can take some pics.

ill make sure to keep this updated.




i think second time around, ill have to try one of these online sites. options are slime from my location, and like i said, i try and support local business.


and thanks everyone!

i knew NOTHING about diamonds before this site. (i think things were better that way before i found PS lol )

 

[msop04]

so $5,500.00, am i getting bent over, or not too bad. i dont mind supporting local business.

In a word, yes.

Cut is the most important thing. A well cut J will look whiter than a poorly cut I color.

LOL, how bad are we talking? from a local dealer, what should i pay? not for just the diamond, but for setting and tax?

My concern would be that your diamond will not sparkle as well as a well cut stone. If you are fine with that, then okay.... but no one on here will tell you to buy an inferior cut stone. Period. Why spend a lot money on something that doesn't sparkle as much -- when the point of a diamond is to sparkle?? BTW, a smaller stone with an excellent cut will appear larger than lesser cut stone that is "bigger."

Regarding setting... It depends on the type setting you're getting. Settings can be as little as $200 for a simple solitaire or as elaborate as you can imagine. I wouldn't focus on the setting, as you can get that almost anywhere. The most important part of the ring is the diamond. Unless she has given you specs on the type setting she wants, you can't go wrong with a solitaire. Here are some from James Allen.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...solitaire-engagement-ring-six-prong-item-7990 $180
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...nife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7115 $180
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...old-cable-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-9315 $280

If you let us know your budget and what type setting you're looking for, then maybe we can help you find a better cut stone.

 

[msop04]

The EGL USA grading counts for one grade discount, and then the cut proportions and finish are probably worth one discount each. So guesstimate 3 grades discount total, compared to a GIA/AGS ideal cut: In the worst case, the I SI2 gets discounted to a K I1, and probably the best case scenario the G SI2 gets discounted to a J SI2. There is usually a pretty wide spread between J SI2 and K I1 prices.

Good explanation, JulieN... the OP could get a much better cut stone with that price...

 

[msop04]

FWIW, I have a J in a 2.43 ct... the last thing I see is "yellow" when I look at it. A well cut one carat J will be white. Here is my stone in good and terrible lighting, so you can see how "yellow" it can be -- remember, a larger stone will show more body color than a smaller one of the same color grade.

This is as tinted as it ever looks (in bad office lighting)...

 

[LLJsmom]

Malachi, I'm all about supporting local businesses. I applaud you for that. However, IMHO, in doing so, you should at least be fully aware of what you are getting and what it is actually worth on the market. If you know you are buying a stone of a certain, clarity, color, cut and weight, and you are knowledgeable enough to know how much of a premium you are paying for supporting the local business, and are happy with paying that premium, then great! More power to you. However, you should not pay the price of an H and get a J, or some other derivation of overpaying, without knowing you are doing so and by how much, just for the sake of supporting a local business. Unless of course, budget is of no concern to you. Then you may as well go to Graff, just for the fun of buying something from them. Best of luck!! Please keep us updated.