Engagement ring.. need some advise.

[archangel]

First, hello everyone. Im very new here and i have been recommened by someone as this is THE place for people like me. im someone who does not like to give up my money unless its worth it! i am someone who loves research and will spend researching toaster ovens if i was looking for one.

ok my question regarding diamonds.

I need an engagement ring. I live about 2 miles from goodoldgold and i realise how lucky i am bc its so close. i went there yesterday and i really liked the star 129 diamond in a I color, Si1 or better, and ideal cut. im pretty sure this is what i want.

i saw a diamond that was out of my range in carat but it was an star 129, I, si2, and 1.03 carat. the inclusion at this level was very obvious with a loupe. they have a big 40" tv that is attached to a microscope where u view it and i was able to see the flaws in detail. i think Si2 is too obvious. i think i would like it problely vs1.

my price range is 2k-3k for the diamond and 1k for the setting (white gold 18k with the little diamonds on the side). what is a good carat size? if i goto a gem dealer in the diamond district in NYC do they have a better pricing. I heard u pay the diamonds wholesale cost and basicly just pay for him to make the setting. would this be a better way to go? im making an appointment today with a dealer in the district. hopefully he will impress me somehow.

i think my heart is definitly set on the star 129. i realise it would have to be less than a carat size but the closer we can get this the better. i see no difference in the I- E range if the cut were all ideal. i had to strain when i looked. i saw a difference between J and E for sure but not with an I

is there any opinions on the 57 facet vs 81 vs 91 vs 129?? i see more contrast in the 57 and more pinpoint light coming out the 129. but in a setting i think the 129 looks very good (almost alive)..

Im sorry if my writing is all over the place.. i just started looking 2 days ago. so im a bit excited.

thanks for any help you guys can offer!

 

[Cleo]

Welcome to PS!!!

You are soo lucky living so close to GOG!

I think I might live in there if I were you...

If you love the Star 129 diamond - then go for it!

It''s great you''ve identified this, and your tolerance with regard to colour grading.

With the SI2 diamond, could you actually see the inclusion with the naked eye? Magnified at 40x most inclusions look pretty hideous (even in a VS1 stone!) especially when projected on a 50" plasma screen!

Diamonds are actually only graded using a 10x magnification, and yes, with an SI2 the inclusion is probably pretty easy to spot at 10x.

One thing I would say though is to ask yourself how often you (or anyone else for that matter) would be looking at your diamond under a loupe.

For me, if I can''t see the inclusion with my naked eye, then that''s good enough. If you decide you need a higher clarity, that''s fine too. However VS1 is really very clean and there are many eyeclean SI1, and even some eyeclean SI2 diamonds to be found.

If you can live with an eyeclean diamond, it might just help you bring a larger size within your reach.

x x x

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/14/2008 8:00:49 AM
Author: Cleo
Welcome to PS!!!

You are soo lucky living so close to GOG!

I think I might live in there if I were you...

If you love the Star 129 diamond - then go for it!

It''s great you''ve identified this, and your tolerance with regard to colour grading.

With the SI2 diamond, could you actually see the inclusion with the naked eye? Magnified at 40x most inclusions look pretty hideous (even in a VS1 stone!) especially when projected on a 50'' plasma screen!

Diamonds are actually only graded using a 10x magnification, and yes, with an SI2 the inclusion is probably pretty easy to spot at 10x.

One thing I would say though is to ask yourself how often you (or anyone else for that matter) would be looking at your diamond under a loupe.

For me, if I can''t see the inclusion with my naked eye, then that''s good enough. If you decide you need a higher clarity, that''s fine too. However VS1 is really very clean and there are many eyeclean SI1, and even some eyeclean SI2 diamonds to be found.

If you can live with an eyeclean diamond, it might just help you bring a larger size within your reach.

x x x

Yes. Cleo makes the same point I was going to. You should focus on what you can see with your eyes, that''s all.

If you can''t see anything with the eyes, even on the SI2, then why not get it?

As for GOG vs. the diamond district, a true "wholesaler" does not sell to the public. You are not getting a deal. And, be sure you are comparing apples to apples when pricing. I don''t know who all sells Star 129, but that''s what you''d need to see and compare, if that''s what you like/want.

Also, one other thing to think about. If upgrading is even a remote possibility, GOG has a great policy. If you find something somewhere else, make sure you ask about theirs.

 

[dockman3]

Hi there, and welcome to Pricescope!

I have to agree with Cleo not to rule out SI2 just yet as this will give you the greatest bang for your buck. Going to VS1 you will have to get something that is probably closer to 0.5ct than 1.0ct even if you went with I color.

My guess is that no, you will not get a great deal in the diamond district. Many of their stones are either ungraded or graded by labs that are known to be not quite as strict as GIA and AGS. You get what you pay for and if a diamond there looks too good to be true, it is. It will be good to compare them to GOG and you''ll see just how great GOG really is.

As for the star 129, that''s a personal choice. If you love it, that''s fantastic and that''s really all that matters. The people over at GOG will take care of you and won''t let you walk out with anything less than a fantastic diamond!

Good luck on your search and keep us posted!