* * * EMERALD CUT * * * Need help, please

[EmeraldCutQuest]

First time poster … By the way, great, GREAT website! Fun, informative and deliciously addictive!!!

So ... I have read a lot over the past few months, learned a lot, and now have some specific questions. I will be buying a diamond ring for my DW, and have narrowed it down as follows:

(a) Shape: Emerald Cut diamond.
(b) Weight: 2.5 carats minimum.
(c) Price: $15K to 20K (of course, the lower the better).
(d) Most important to her: Spread – that is, size as seen from above (length x width).
(e) Least important to her: Color; she says ‘J’ would be fine. I am tempted (not sure why) to go with at least an ‘I’.
(f) Clarity: VS2 minimum. I’m afraid that, given the ‘glassy’ aspect of an emerald cut diamond and the weight (size) I am considering, an SI1, which she says is OK, might not be eye-clean. (Then again, I have seen real SI1 diamonds under 10x and even then, it was hard to find the inclusions sometimes – so I am willing to be flexible on this).
(g) Cut: I’m really not sure how to quantify this, but my ‘gut’ says I want this to be at least ‘Very Good’, with perhaps ‘Good’ as a possibility also. I know that cut is critical in a fancy shape for sparkle and scintillation, but … see (d) above.
(h) Depth % and Table %: high 50s to high 60s.
(i) Certification: GIA or AGS.

---------------------
Here are my questions:
1. Is the above reasonable, or should I change something?
2. What parameters should I use for Symmetry / Polish / Girdle / Fluorescence?
3. Is the length-to-width ratio strictly (within reason) a cosmetic issue with ECs? For most of the ones I have seen so far online or at B&M stores, it is around 1.1 to 1.4, whereas I have read that the ‘preferred’ ratio is between 1.5 and 1.75. My (her) preference seems to gravitate around 1.3.
4. Is there a real difference among the main PS online sellers? I include Blue Nile, White Flash, Good Old Gold, Mondera, JamesAllen and Abazias. [Note: I will not be upgrading later, and a 30-day return policy is, of course, preferable to a 10-day].
5. I saw many postings where people phone the etailer – what for?
6. Are there any other key questions I should be asking?

Thanks for your kind guidance.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 1/15/2008 3:18:49 PM
Author:EmeraldCutQuest

First time poster … By the way, great, GREAT website! Fun, informative and deliciously addictive!!!

So ... I have read a lot over the past few months, learned a lot, and now have some specific questions. I will be buying a diamond ring for my DW, and have narrowed it down as follows:

(a) Shape: Emerald Cut diamond.
(b) Weight: 2.5 carats minimum.
(c) Price: $15K to 20K (of course, the lower the better).
(d) Most important to her: Spread – that is, size as seen from above (length x width).
(e) Least important to her: Color; she says ‘J’ would be fine. I am tempted (not sure why) to go with at least an ‘I’. She wants a J get one if you can find one if not go with I...
(f) Clarity: VS2 minimum. When ordering online its a good idea to stick too vs2 or higher if the buget allows it.
(g) Cut: get pictures too judge cut you can not go by ratings.
(h) Depth % under 70%
Table %: high 50s to low 60s.
(i) Certification: GIA or AGS.

---------------------
Here are my questions:
1. Is the above reasonable, or should I change something? see above
2. What parameters should I use for Symmetry / Polish / Girdle / Fluorescence? vg/vg/ as long as its not overblue they are all good.
3. Is the length-to-width ratio strictly (within reason) a cosmetic issue with ECs? For most of the ones I have seen so far online or at B&M stores, it is around 1.1 to 1.4, whereas I have read that the ‘preferred’ ratio is between 1.5 and 1.75. My (her) preference seems to gravitate around 1.3... she likes 1.3 get a 1.3 or 1.4 its all about what kind she likes. kicken EC''s are available in most ratios its all in what she likes.
4. Is there a real difference among the main PS online sellers? I include Blue Nile, White Flash, Good Old Gold, Mondera, JamesAllen and Abazias. [Note: I will not be upgrading later, and a 30-day return policy is, of course, preferable to a 10-day]. They all offer different levels of service. GOG is the only one doing video and its a plus with an EC.
5. I saw many postings where people phone the etailer – what for?.. some people are more comfortable that way.
6. Are there any other key questions I should be asking?
Call in charges, they will have too be called in for an eval and pictures by the vendor.
They range from 2 callins free at GOG to $50 to $60 per stone.

Thanks for your kind guidance.

at the min you need pictures too chose one and too do that you need to have a vendor call some in.
These are the biggest considerations not mentioned, call in charges, how many pictures and if they offer video if you want it.

 

[Cravin My Emerald cut]

I would request more pictures, etc. but this photo looks pretty darn white for a J and I like the virtual loupe offered by James Allen
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-893036.asp

Best of luck...

 

[EmeraldCutQuest]

Thanks, Storm and Cravin.

Storm ... what is and who charges a ''call in charge''. How much is it typically, and from where are they "calling" the diamonds?

Cravin, I''ve had my eye on that EC (details below for those who want to know). I like the 9mm+ x 7mm+. All the other parameters are right in-line with what I think I want also. Other than getting pics, what do y''all think about the specs of this stone?
--------

Shape: Emerald
Carat weight: 2.75
Cut: Ideal
Color: J
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 66.1%
Table: 63.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 9.01*7.02*4.64
Ratio: 1.28

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 1/15/2008 11:05:34 PM
Author: EmeraldCutQuest
Thanks, Storm and Cravin.

Storm ... what is and who charges a 'call in charge'. How much is it typically, and from where are they 'calling' the diamonds?

Cravin, I've had my eye on that EC (details below for those who want to know). I like the 9mm+ x 7mm+. All the other parameters are right in-line with what I think I want also. Other than getting pics, what do y'all think about the specs of this stone?
--------

Shape: Emerald
Carat weight: 2.75
Cut: Ideal
Color: J
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 66.1%
Table: 63.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 9.01*7.02*4.64
Ratio: 1.28

sounds ok get pics and crown height, which is something too add too your list min. 10% crown height.

vendors charge call in fees for calling in diamonds from wholesalers.
The charge varies and larger stones can cost more.

 

[denverappraiser]

Most of the stones being sold on the big lists are being sold through a system called ‘Memo’. This is a consignment system where a dealer will advertise a stone for sale and, when a customer expresses interest will ‘call it in’ to inspect it, ship or show it to you, get it appraised and hopefully make a sale. Up to this point no one has actually spent any money and it’s possible to easily advertise thousands or even tens of thousands of stones that they don’t actually have. Both online and storefront jewelers do this. Bringing in the stone costs money, time and risk and this is not a free service. Some dealers will bill it separately, especially if you end up not making the deal, while others will simply include it in their costs of overhead like the rent and advertising. This is the cost that I think Storm is referring to. If there is to be such a fee, the dealer should tell you up front what to expect. Usually it’s little more than the cost of insured shipping both directions but it will be listed in their terms and conditions.,

There’s an article explaining more about this system here.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[chrono]

Colour: H and better because fancies like ECs do show colour. This is subjective to the wearer''s taste/tolerance level. You are getting a fairly large stone so an I or J will be tinted. In rounds, J faces up white but not fancy cuts like ECs. Make sure you see a J EC before making that decision.

Clarity: VS2 and better. No point getting VVS because even with a VS, you can''t see a thing and I haven''t seen any eye clean SI1s. You can get away with SI1 in rounds but not ECs.

Table: 65% and under to avoid a glassy look and for more fire

Depth: 68% and under to avoid having a smaller diameter diamond. If you really want to maximize size, aim for nothing over 65%.

Crown height: 10% and higher is better for more fire

Girdle: Avoid very thin and under, very thick and over to avoid chipping and hidden weight. An even medium girdle is very hard to find so don''t aim for one.

Polish: Very Good and better

Symmetry: Very Good and better

Cut is what will make the EC look like a dazzler. None of that glassy business that many people say ECs look like. A well cut EC will be shooting fire.

 

[EmeraldCutQuest]

Thank you all for the great info. It seems that I have most of data for stones that I would consider, except crown height (and more pics., of course).

How do I get the crown height information? Does the stone have to be called in to the vendor I would like to do business with, and they would be able to measure?

 

[chrono]

The vendor will have to call in the stone for additional pictures and to run a Sarin to get the crown height.

 

[tberube]

that diamond seems great, as far as the numbers go - but I''d see it first, a J might be a little too yellow. EC''s really show their body color a lot. I have an ''I'' and in certain lights and angles the color can really show up (I''m the only one who''d see it but still) - and if you go lower than ''I'' it could be worse. Just be sure you''re comfortable with that before you choose.