Diamond illiterate needs help

[canewf]

Hi Guys and Gals...

I''m wondering if you can give me some help on a diamond purchase that I''m doing. This''ll be my engagement ring for my absolutely wonderful soon-to-be fiancee. She deserves nothing but the best...and that''s what I''m going to try and do.

Here''s what I''m looking to purchase from BlueNile...

From the GIA report online:
0.77-Carat Princess Cut Diamond
Measurements.......: 4.98 x 4.95 x 3.66 mm
Weight.............: 0.77 carat
Clarity............: VVS2
Depth %............: 73.9%
Table %............: 70%
Girdle.............: Medium
Finish
Polish............: Very Good
Symmetry..........: Very Good
Clarity Grade......: VVS2
Characteristics...: Feather
Color Grade........: H
Fluorescence......: None

The price is $2914.00.

I''m also looking to get it independently appraised by Nancy Stacy in Walnut Creek, CA. I don''t know if that''s overkill or not...any suggestions/comments?

I''m also planning on having it put in the setting at BlueNile too. They have the setting that we both really like. I think that''s the best way to go...but I might be wrong. Any comments/questions on this?

Sorry for the abundance of info too. This being my first post, I''m doing what I can to make sure I don''t miss anything obvious.

I''d sure love some feedback on this diamond...or even some suggestions on other diamonds to peek at, I''d greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!
Shannon

 

[lillguy]

If it''s a reputable dealer, as you BlueNile seems to be, then another one doesn''t hurt!! When I picked up my ring from a B&M, I had a copy of the GIA cert. They gave me the original and I compared it...then I asked them to show me the inclusions as listed on the cert to show that I was getting the same stone. They had no problem performing this task for me to ensure my sense of security and uphold their reputation!!

 

[oldminer]

It does not sound like a bad stone or a terrible price. There are similar stones on Pricescope for less and for more money of fairly equivalent quality range. Nancy is an excellent appraiser, so that is a good place to check out that all''s well with the diamond and its documentation. The mounting probably could come from the source of the diamond so that someone would accept responsibility for breakage of the diamond during the setting process. Usually the seller of a mounting won''t do this unless you bought the diamond from them, as well. Check and see if Blue Nile will be responsible for any inadvertent damage during setting before using them,,,,,,

Best of luck.

 

[canewf]

Thanks for the replies!

If I did decide to buy the diamond and setting separately...how would I get them mounted? I''m in Northern California...Dublin to be specific. Are there places that will mount the diamond to the setting for me? Or are they very hands off when it comes to that since they can''t guarantee nothing will go wrong?

Thanks again!
Shannon

 

[Big_G]

My family has always had good luck with Baron''s Jewelers in Stoneridge Mall (I''m from Pleasanton). I''m not sure if they will set a loose stone for you though. If you get a setting from them watch out for their markup, which seems to be around 200 percent. Be willing to haggle and you will get a more than fair price though.

 

[canewf]

I hate being a pain in the butt...but would someone be able to take a peek at the specs below. I've bouncing around a bit with diamonds and what I should do.

Thanks again!

Carat Weight.........: 0.78
Cut..................: Very Good
Color................: G
Clarity..............: VS1
Depth %..............: 73.5%
Table %..............: 71%
Symmetry.............: Excellent
Polish...............: Ideal
Girdle...............: Slightly thick to thick
Culet................: Pointed
Fluorescence.........: None
Measurements.........: 5.07 x 5.00 x 3.67 mm
Lenght/Width Ratio...: 1.01

The price is 2996.00

Shannon

 

[windowshopper]

Date: 5/4/2005 7:32

5 PM
Author: canewf

I hate being a pain in the butt...but would someone be able to take a peek at the specs below. I''ve bouncing around a bit with diamonds and what I should do.

Thanks again!

Carat Weight.........: 0.78
Cut..................: Very Good
Color................: G
Clarity..............: VS1
Depth %..............: 73.5%
Table %..............: 71%
Symmetry.............: Excellent
Polish...............: Ideal
Girdle...............: Slightly thick to thick
Culet................: Pointed
Fluorescence.........: None
Measurements.........: 5.07 x 5.00 x 3.67 mm
Lenght/Width Ratio...: 1.01

The price is 2996.00

Shannon

In my opinion this is a better stone: i would never pay for the premium of VVS like the first stone you mentioned above. especially in a brilliant faceted stone (as opposed to step cut). Plus this has slightly bigger measurements and a very very good l/w ratio as well as better finish details...

 

[valeria101]

How about F - VS1 for the same 3k ?

This one seems to have a nice cut (high crown by stats and... nice looking face in the picture)

Measurements: 5.05x4.98x3.65 <---- same as yours
Depth: 73.3%
Table: 70%
Crown Height: 9.0% <----- good news, usually is lower and higher is better, they say (see AGA charts)
Polish: VG
Symmetry: GD
Culet: None
Girdle: Thick < ------ it does waste some material but in this case the spread is OK.
Fluorescence: Medium <----- cool, this looks even whiter than the F grade and is probably a bit discounted for it!
Culet: None
Lab Comments: None

These guys could set it as well.

I did look for 1 carat (5.5 - 5.8mm versus current 5mm) and I/SI1 sort of fits the budget. There's more of a psichological than visual difference between I and F around 1 carat and SI1 should be eye clean in the majority of cases (something that you can esily check with the seller beforehand). If size matters enough to go for it, I'd try. Between these two it is not easy for me to choose (although the F/VS1 is tempting because of the ncie cut as well).

Between the current .8 and 1 carat there's no significant difference of size, especially that the princess cuts with better spread (size for weight) come at a premium.

 

[canewf]

Hey everyone...

Thanks for the awesome help and info.

I think I have enough now to go on and actually purchase THE ring. Big time thanks to everyone.

Shannon