Engagement Ring Purchased - Help Needed

[Christina...]

OP I would like to present another opinion.

When selecting a diamond, there are various standards you can use to judge its cut. One is the lab report, and in this case GIA gave the diamond an Ex cut grade. Another is a tool like the HCA, which was designed by one of the owners of PS and is a great tool in many ways but it is not used widely in the diamond world. Another is your eyes. Another is imaging tech like an ideal scope or a microscope. All of these tools help you to exclude diamonds not worth considering further. Some also let you actually *select* diamonds, like the lab report. In all cases, though, the choice is yours as a consumer how narrowly you want to define "well cut". Selecting a GI Ex cut already means you have narrowed the pool considerably. You can narrow the pool further using tools like the HCA, which would exclude your current diamond from consideration. Or, you can choose NOT to narrow the pool any more and stick with what you have. The choice is YOURS and I do not think there is a decidedly wrong choice given that you already selected a GIA Ex cut and that you paid a fair price for the diamond and mount. Think about it and think about what you are after.

If you consider a replacement, be sure to compare it to your present stone and examine it with your eyes before you opt to switch! Actually, better yet, take your ring to Jared and compare it to an AGS0 cut stone (don't worry about color and clarity since those are not at issue). Can you see a difference? No? Stick with what you have. Yes? Pursue a switch.

AGS is stricter than GIA

On cut, yes. There is some talk on the boards about AGS being slightly less strict on color but there is no hard proof of this.

THIS^^^

I'm really happy that Dreamer responded. I read your response in the car on my way home and I felt horrible that you were feeling overwhelmed and confused. I also wanted to tell you, as Dreamer already did, that any GIA Ex cut stone is going to be very pretty...better cut than the majority of stones being sold to consumers today. I think on this forum we sort of lose sight of that because we are constantly searching and evaluating stones, looking for one that might be just a bit better. THAT doesn't necessarily help YOU.

My intent in showing you the AGS stones was in hopes that it would remove some of the guess work for you. GIA doesn't grade cut, AGS does, my thinking being that my narrowing your choices to a few that had already been evaluated for light performance, would take away some of the guess work and inspire a bit of confidence that a well respected lab had already assessed the stone as having wonderful light performance. Unfortunately I confused you even more.

If you have already contacted the vendor and asked them to show you the AGS stone, then I would do just as Dreamer suggested and compare it side by side with the stone that you've already chosen. View it in a variety of light environments, in the office if they will allow you, and outside as well if that is possible and see if one speaks to you more than the other. If you can't see a difference, then stick with the stone you already have, you chose above all others once, and you are in the best position to determine it's beauty...the eyes trump all. I hope that helps bring things into better perspective.

 

[msop04]

AGS is stricter than GIA

This.

 

[Zach3859]

Thank you all for wonderful assistance which you've provided me with during this important and expensive purchase. I've contacted the jeweler but found out the stones which they offer online are stones which they don't have in their retail store and in order to look at those stones, you must purchase them first. This doesn't sound like a good idea to me, especially considering I could purchase a similar stone at a better price online.

I've decided that I'll go to both Fuller's and Jared later this afternoon to compare similar stones which hopefully rate better on the HCA score than my previous stone. If I don't notice a considerable difference I'll just keep the engagement ring that I've already purchased. I feel as though, I've honestly stressed more about this purchase than necessary. My girlfriend is non-materialistic and will love anything which I pick out for her. I was just trying to find the best possible stone and setting for my budget which is $7,000. In fact, my girlfriend would probably call me crazy if she finds out how much I decided to spend on this purchase because she is rather thrifty.

Again thanks to everyone on the forum!

 

[msop04]

I'm really happy that Dreamer responded. I read your response in the car on my way home and I felt horrible that you were feeling overwhelmed and confused. I also wanted to tell you, as Dreamer already did, that any GIA Ex cut stone is going to be very pretty...better cut than the majority of stones being sold to consumers today. I think on this forum we sort of lose sight of that because we are constantly searching and evaluating stones, looking for one that might be just a bit better. THAT doesn't necessarily help YOU.

My intent in showing you the AGS stones was in hopes that it would remove some of the guess work for you. GIA doesn't grade cut, AGS does, my thinking being that my narrowing your choices to a few that had already been evaluated for light performance, would take away some of the guess work and inspire a bit of confidence that a well respected lab had already assessed the stone as having wonderful light performance. Unfortunately I confused you even more.

If you have already contacted the vendor and asked them to show you the AGS stone, then I would do just as Dreamer suggested and compare it side by side with the stone that you've already chosen. View it in a variety of light environments, in the office if they will allow you, and outside as well if that is possible and see if one speaks to you more than the other. If you can't see a difference, then stick with the stone you already have, you chose above all others once, and you are in the best position to determine it's beauty...the eyes trump all. I hope that helps bring things into better perspective.

+1

I felt bad for you, OP!! Don't be overwhelmed -- be proud that you care so much about making your FF happy, that you are determined to find a great diamond she'll love! And you will!

As you have seen, we at PS are nit-picky and well... obsessive about every little thing concerning a diamond, so we sort of lose track of real life in a way!! HA! As Dreamer said, a GIA excellent will be more beautiful than most you'll see IRL anyway! I have utmost confidence that whichever stone you choose, it will be great and she will love love LOVE it!!

Keep us posted!! Good Luck!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Thank you all for wonderful assistance which you've provided me with during this important and expensive purchase. I've contacted the jeweler but found out the stones which they offer online are stones which they don't have in their retail store and in order to look at those stones, you must purchase them first. This doesn't sound like a good idea to me, especially considering I could purchase a similar stone at a better price online.

I've decided that I'll go to both Fuller's and Jared later this afternoon to compare similar stones which hopefully rate better on the HCA score than my previous stone. If I don't notice a considerable difference I'll just keep the engagement ring that I've already purchased. I feel as though, I've honestly stressed more about this purchase than necessary. My girlfriend is non-materialistic and will love anything which I pick out for her. I was just trying to find the best possible stone and setting for my budget which is $7,000. In fact, my girlfriend would probably call me crazy if she finds out how much I decided to spend on this purchase because she is rather thrifty.

Again thanks to everyone on the forum!

I think the benefit of Pricescope is education, and all of us trying to help posters like you should be endeavouring to explain all of our advice so that you can then make an informed choice. Some people ask questions on PS and learn some things and then use that education to buy a very precisely proportioned diamond in terms of cut. Some use it to get a deal on the secondary market. Some use the education to make sure they make informed choices, knowing exactly what they are getting and why they chose what they did. Some use the education to fight off misinformation from jewelers! All of these are great outcomes of PS. And I think that you have demonstrated that you have learned some important diamond lessons. You bought from a store with a return policy! You paid a fair price! You selected a diamond with a GIA report and Ex cut! All very good choices. You just need a little more education on cut. Jared Peerless brands are all AGS0 cfor cut, which is the top of the top. Clean your diamond very well and then take it and compare in many different lighting environments and see what you think. Then you can make another informed decision.

 

[Zach3859]

After going to Jared and Fuller's Jewelry Store and comparing several stones to the one which I purchased I decided to hang on to my original engagement ring purchase. I honestly didn't notice a massive difference in the AGS0 stone.

I still have a month left on my return policy so if my soon to be fiancé doesn't like the stone, the setting, or cut she can return or exchange it. Although the stone I purchased didn't get a high HCA score it looks like a fabulous stone to me, especially in the setting which I chose. I truly believe I received a rather fair price considering the warranty and services provided at the local jeweler.

Thanks Again!