Engagement Ring Diamond Advice - Have I found the one?

[jjspierx]

I am about to pull the trigger on a diamond for an engagement ring. My budget won't allow a diamond anywhere near what my girl deserves, but I have decided to go with a high quality diamond rather than a big diamond. I want a diamond that will sparkle and shine like crazy. I found a diamond with the following numbers and based on my research it seems to have everything required to be a high quality shiny diamond, but I can't get an actual picture or ideal scope of it, so numbers is all I have to go off of. The diamond is GIA certified.

Round Brilliant
Carat: 0.71
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Clarity Characteristics: Crystal, Pinpoint
Cut: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Fluorescence: Strong Blue

HCA: 1.0 Excellent (calculated from the numbers on the GIA cert)

Based on everything above, it seems to be great. Are there any real pitfalls that I should be aware of? If the numbers all seem great, is there a chance the diamond will not look great since I can't see a pic or ideal scope, or is this a pretty safe bet?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bunnycat]

I am about to pull the trigger on a diamond for an engagement ring. My budget won't allow a diamond anywhere near what my girl deserves, but I have decided to go with a high quality diamond rather than a big diamond. I want a diamond that will sparkle and shine like crazy. I found a diamond with the following numbers and based on my research it seems to have everything required to be a high quality shiny diamond, but I can't get an actual picture or ideal scope of it, so numbers is all I have to go off of. The diamond is GIA certified.

Round Brilliant
Carat: 0.71
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Clarity Characteristics: Crystal, Pinpoint
Cut: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Fluorescence: Strong Blue

HCA: 1.0 Excellent (calculated from the numbers on the GIA cert)

Based on everything above, it seems to be great. Are there any real pitfalls that I should be aware of? If the numbers all seem great, is there a chance the diamond will not look great since I can't see a pic or ideal scope, or is this a pretty safe bet?

Thanks in advance.

JJ - could you post the numbers here?

diameter
crown angle
pavilion angle
table
depth

 

[jjspierx]

crown angle: 33.5
pavilion angle: 40.8
table: 58
depth: 60.5
measurements: 5.75x5.76x3.40

 

[bunnycat]

crown angle: 33.5
pavilion angle: 40.8
table: 58
depth: 60.5
measurements: 5.75x5.76x3.40

The numbers don't look bad. Is there a return policy? If so, you could get it in and take it to an appraiser. You could also get a little idealscope kit and check the performance for yourself. It would be a few extra dollars well spent on something that you are investing thousands in and it's very easy to use.

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

 

[jjspierx]

Yes, there is a 30 day return policy. I am stretching my budget just to get the ring, so I can't really purchase an ideal-scope or even get it appraised before the 30 days. The numbers seem really good to me, but is it possible to have an HCA of 1.0, and and the cut being excellent with VS1 clarity, to still end up with a ring that doesn't stand out and shine above most other diamonds? I suppose I can always send it back if I need to, but is there no way to look at the numbers and have a pretty solid idea that it is going to be a very nice looking 0.71 carat diamond?

I think I might be purchasing it tomorrow, based on the specs and numbers I can't see any reason not to get it, the price is right, I just hope I am not disappointed. I am an engineer, so typically I am used to being able to get anything I need from numbers, but diamonds have so much depth to what makes them great that is seems like numbers alone will never get you all the way there to choosing a good diamond, but rather just give you a good indication of probability

Anyway, I have greatly enjoyed researching diamonds over the last several weeks and I thank PS and it's forum members for teaching me so much. I think at this point I just need to take the plunge and hope for the best.

 

[JulieN]

if you are stretching the budget, how about an I SI1?

 

[jjspierx]

Mostly because I haven't found an I, SI1 with an HCA of under 2.0.

 

[bunnycat]

Mostly because I haven't found an I, SI1 with an HCA of under 2.0.

If you are not locked in to BN, try the Brian Gavin BLu line. It has fluoresence, and so brings a discount with that (though they have been personally evaluated to make sure there are no negative effects). There's an I in the size range you are looking at, with all performance info already done for you, for probably what I am guessing is somewhere in your budget range. You'll already know you have a good performer, because it's been evaluated and if you ever want to upgrade, you won't have to spend double.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.731-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104064190001

 

[Christina...]

Mostly because I haven't found an I, SI1 with an HCA of under 2.0.

If you are not locked in to BN, try the Brian Gavin BLu line. It has fluoresence, and so brings a discount with that (though they have been personally evaluated to make sure there are no negative effects). There's an I in the size range you are looking at, with all performance info already done for you, for probably what I am guessing is somewhere in your budget range. You'll already know you have a good performer, because it's been evaluated and if you ever want to upgrade, you won't have to spend double.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.731-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104064190001

beautiful stone!

 

[bunnycat]

Oops- I forgot to add, if you call the to place it on hold and tell them you are from Pricescope, ask them about the Pricescope discount. It will give you something like an extra 3-5% off the price, I think (and bank wire is your least expensive option) so if you do wire and say your are from PS you'll get the discount off the wire price.

 

[jjspierx]

I am actually looking @ B2C Jewels diamonds because of prices, and because I like their settings and want to buy both the diamond and setting from the same place. B2C's prices are significantly cheaper than all of the other online retailers, by SEVERAL hundred dollars for similar diamonds. I am looking at spending between $2-2.3k on the diamond. That Brian Gavin diamond does look very nice, but a little more than I can spend on just the diamond.

 

[bunnycat]

I am actually looking @ B2C Jewels diamonds because of prices, and because I like their settings and want to buy both the diamond and setting from the same place. B2C's prices are significantly cheaper than all of the other online retailers, by SEVERAL hundred dollars for similar diamonds. I am looking at spending between $2-2.3k on the diamond. That Brian Gavin diamond does look very nice, but a little more than I can spend on just the diamond.

I thought B2C would do an Idealscope image if you asked? (Am I thinking of someone else besides JA?)

With only the numbers to go on, I think you've got as much info as you can on it.

If you are concerned about performance, you might give ID Jewelry a call and see what Yekutiel can do for you. They have pulled off some great budget rings, and you can get Idealscope images from them. He's very good at picking out stones for people.