Engagement ring opinion/advice

[szhabi]

Hello everybody,

I have been reading some posts and I see the great community here and the willingness to help out less diamond educated people. I would like to ask you for your opinion about a diamond I would like to purchase.

My initial budget for the diamond is 6000 dollars not including the ring.

At the moment I live and work in Europe but my girlfriend lives in the Unites States. Therefore I've been looking for online options.

I have received an offer today for a 1.13/ct H SI1 with a GIA report. The jeweler says 100% eye clean, very clean “SI1” for the stone. It is an excellent Polish and only a faint fluorescence. The HCA is 2.9.

I got an offer for this diamond with a 14k white gold ring for 6000 dollar.

What is your opinion about this?





My original intention was to have a +1.0 ct, VS2, excellent cut at least G color.

I'm also not in a super hurry I will need the ring ready by early August. So if this is not the best I will keep looking.

This seems like a good diamond although the color and the clarity is a little bit lower than I was originally planning.

Best regards and thank you for all of your help,

szhabi

 

[szhabi]

Any ideas?
szhabi

 

[telephone89]

I would keep looking, it really doesn't look that great.

For example you could get this
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3273922.htm 0.953 ct G SI1 $6,616
A bit over your budget and a bit smaller, but higher colour, and will sparkle like crazy.

 

[JDDN]

The price is nice, although I'm a bit worried about the HCA. IS looks okay though. Do you know the dimensions? Crown angle, Pavilion angle, table and depth?

What's the return policy?

 

[msop04]

Have you considered an older cut?

http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/1-01ct-loose-early-round-brilliant-cut-diamond-gia-f-vs2/

 

[szhabi]

Hi all,

Thank you very much for all of your help.

telephone89
So unfortunately I can not go over 6000 dollars for the stone that is the top of my budget.

JDDN
The dimensions of the stone table 61% depth 59.8% crown angle 33 pavilion 41.2, no cutlet and faint fluorescence. So with these it is a 2.9 HCA. The return policy is 25 days. The problem is that I'm not in the States at the moment. I'm going to send the ring to my good friends house and he will hold into it until I arrive in August. So basically I wont see the ring myself until then.


I have found an other stone yesterday.

This one is

1.01 ct
G
VS1
Excellent cut, polish and symmetry
Dimensions are table 59% depth 59.7 crown angle 32 pavilion angle 41 no cutlet,
therefore a 1.7 HCA.

Also it is medium blue fluorescence. The jeweler is advising me against it. Price is 5800 dollars


Thank you for all your help again,
szhabi

 

[JDDN]

So the table on the first diamond is huuuge. It will let lots of light in and look bright but it will definitely be at the expense of fire. You will not have much of the color flashes that many love in a diamond. A table between 55% and 58% is a nice range. The second diamond also has a large table. Both diamonds have shallow crown angles which will further contribute to brightness at the expense of fire.

It sort of depends on if that "look" is desirable to your lady.

 

[szhabi]

Hi,

Why are many of the jewelers are trying to talk me off to look at HCA? They say it is not that relevant. Like a 2.9 HCA could be better than a 1.0 or whatever low number. I'm little skeptical. Are they just trying to talk me to a less popular diamond so they can get rid of it?

 

[JDDN]

Can't say for certain what their motives are, but sounds like they don't really know what the HCA is supposed to tell you.

Are you open to buying on-line?

 

[szhabi]

I'm only buying online. ATM I'm not living in the United States.

 

[JDDN]

Ok, and your budget is $6K? I would check Enchanted Diamonds if you have not already. Here is a gorgeous stone that's slightly smaller, it's 0.953 ct, G, eye-clean SI1 for $6616.00. For an excellent/ideal cut 1+ ct G, VS2, $6K may be a little tight.



http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3273922.htm

 

[tyty333]

Have you seen this one yet?

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R111-8AYL6S

That's a nice stone. I would find out if it's eye-clean.

The whiteflash above is also beautiful if it fits your budget.

 

[szhabi]

Hi all,

thank you for all your help and support. I guess then I have to go under that magic 1 ct. mark

I have found this diamond which I really like.
0.95 ct. E color, VS2 clarity 1.7 HCA depth 62%, table 57%, pavilion angle 40.8, crown angle 35, faint fluorescence.








I like this a lot especially since it is already VS2 and not SI1. Also it has a very very good E color, and the HCA is low enough and it doesn't have a big fluorescence. Only "concern" is I will go under 1 ct. and I really wanted to have over 1 ct. one. If you guys think that a 0.95 and a 1.1 is not significantly different I will go with one under 1 ct.

To be honest I really like this diamond but I really would like to ask for your opinion. Oh yes, the price is 5600 dollars for the stone, so with the ring I will be under the 6k budget. My total with the ring was 6500 dollars

 

[szhabi]

Any thoughts? I really like this but your opinion would be great as well since you've been able to help me to shape my thoughts about diamonds. Thank you

 

[telephone89]

I think its a great choice. Yes, its slightly under the 1ct, but depending on the spread, it may even face up larger than some other 1cts. If anyone asked me what size it was, I'd probably say 'its around a carat'. Seriously, many people dont say 'its 0 point 95 carats' haha. So, if its just for appearance, it shouldnt make much of a difference.

 

[szhabi]

Then I think I will buy it. Any other thoughts from anybody?

 

[Diamond_Hawk]

Hi,

Why are many of the jewelers are trying to talk me off to look at HCA? They say it is not that relevant. Like a 2.9 HCA could be better than a 1.0 or whatever low number. I'm little skeptical. Are they just trying to talk me to a less popular diamond so they can get rid of it?

While we cannot speak to the motivations of any particular jeweler for liking or not liking the HCA, there are many who find it less valuable than others. Many of the vendors on PS use and appreciate what the HCA is, as a rejection tool. That said, it is also good to have an understanding of what the HCA does NOT tell you.

Some of the numbers you input into the HCA are averages of several measurements. The Pavilion and Crown Angle are, for example, each averages of 8 measurements, and even that can vary depending upon how the grading lab rounded their own measurements. Within the 4 data points (CA, PA, Depth, Table) you are getting 17 points of information - (if there is a culet, this becomes 5 data points and 18 pieces of information) that go into the calculations - but there are 40 minor facets that are not represented in the HCA, so the light performance images (Ideal-Scope / ASET ) can tell you more, esp. if you are unable to see the diamond in real-life.

Before you rely too much on the HCA, read this thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...d-about-the-hca.214292/#post-3896481#p3896481