Ease My Nerves

[DiamondDazed]

As if the thought of getting engaged was nerve wracking enough, ring shopping doesn''t make it much easier.

I started with B&M stores & then found Blue Nile. Once I found this site, its tools & vendors, I have been converted. I attended a diamond/ring event at Kay & walked right out 5 minutes later. I found them to be obscenely overpriced. I know the setting I want, and the fact that only a few vendors have what I''m looking for helped narrow down the store selection. I''m looking at a 5 stone ring (4 small prong set round stones & one elevated larger center stone). The 4 stones in the setting average .10 carots each, G in color & SI clarity. Given the relatively small size of the side stones, I''m thinking too large of a center stone might seem out of place.

I''m looking to spend up $7000 for the diamond & setting. I''ve primarily been looking at 1 carot, F color, VS2, Ideal cut stones. Not sure if the experts on the forum would recommend scaling back color/clarity for size or savings, but two diamonds I have focused in on are:

Diamond A
Weight: .97
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Ex
Symmetry: Ex
Fluor.: None
Table: 56
Depth: 61.9
Crown Angle: 34.5
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Girdle: Med - Sl. Thick
HCA: 1.3
Cert: GIA

Diamond B
Weight: 1.002
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Ex
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluor.: None
Table: 56.2
Depth: 62
Crown Angle: 35
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Girdle: Thin - Sl. Thick
HCA: 1.6
Cert: AGS

Thoughts? I''m guessing when in doubt send the extra $200 & go bigger/AGS. Does anybody recommend going with a different size/clarity/color combination?

 

[Hest88]

Diamond, some people are really color sensitive, so this might not apply to you. However, for the general population I feel comfortable suggesting they look down to H, SI1, as ballpark, if you''re hoping to save money or get a larger stone. Once I actually compared an I ideal cut RB to an F and was amazed at how white the I faced up, but you might be different.

 

[AprilBaby]

If the difference is only $200, go for the bigger!

 

[DiamondDazed]

Thanks for the help. Seeing as how I'm not picking from a selection of diamonds at a store, I feel more comfortable paying that extra bit & sacrificing some size for a clearer, more mind-clean stone. I think I've narrowed it down to two. Certificate links are below. Thoughts?

Diamond 1 (2nd diamond from above):
Diamond 1

Diamond 2 (New contender):
Diamond 2

 

[stone-cold11]

Ya, go bigger.

The report for the GIA stone does not match the numbers you listed.

 

[DiamondDazed]

I gave up on that GIA stone, but saw another "Couples Diamond" that I'm considering. I think I'm still leaning towards the AGS stone, although I'm a little concerned when it says in the notes that "Surface Grain Line is not shown." What does that mean? Is it bad?

 

[FB.]

1ct, F, VS2 is my ideal combination.
It reaches a major milestone (1ct).
It will be eye clean.
It will also look colourless - if that''s what you want; some people like a warmer hint to the stone.
I scrutinise things pretty hard, but I struggle to tell a D from an F. But I can easily tell an F from an H.
I disagree with many people''s opinions that "near colourless" grades H-J can look as white as a D-F. To my eyes, H-J have a "golden afternoon sunshine" tint to them.

I would drop to G or SI1 if it meant that I could attain a major carat milestone that is out of reach of F VS2.

All of the stones that you''ve listed appear to have excellent proportions. Personally, I try not to buy a stone on a carat boundary (e.g. 1.00ct) in case the cutter struggled to hold above the 1ct mark and included a few detrimental tricks to ensure the magic weight and more $$$.

 

[DiamondDazed]

Thanks for the help. Any insight on the Surface Grain listed in the notes section of the AGS cert? IS surface graining a deal breaker?

 

[FB.]

Mention of a single surface grain line implies a large one that travels across many facets. But the fact that it''s not plotted and merely mentioned suggests that it''s nothing more than a minor detail.
It may be nothing to worry about, or it may resemble a large scratch across the surface.
Ask the seller for more information.

 

[stone-cold11]

No problem with the surface grain line not shown. It is just for completeness sake and that as the stone is VS2 clarity level, it means that the surface grain is smaller than at VS2 level else it would be mark or the comment will be clarity grade based on surface graining not shown.

 

[FB.]

Date: 11/24/2009 5:20:48 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
No problem with the surface grain line not shown. It is just for completeness sake and that as the stone is VS2 clarity level, it means that the surface grain is smaller than at VS2 level else it would be mark or the comment will be clarity grade based on surface graining not shown.

I thought that would be the case, Stone, but normally grain lines are spoken of in plural. This seems to refer to singular - implying one large-ish grain line.
Do AGS clout the polish grade, the clarity grade, or neither, for surface graining?

I have a couple of GIA-cert stones with graining in the comments, but it's extremely difficult - bordering on impossible - to see, even with my 7.5/15x loupe. I also have a stone without mention of graining, but I could swear that I can sometimes see traces of internal graining with my 15x loupe.

 

[DiamondDazed]

Stone, FB,

Thanks for the help. It sounds like it should more than likely be fine, but still needs a good eye test & appraisal before committing to it.