Engagement Ring Search...Take Two (Help)

[jasonh]

Hello,

I previously found this site and it's members invaluably helpful when I purchased an engagement ring several years ago; and have also recommended it and the vendors to others who've purchased since that time. I am again searching for an engagement ring/diamond and thought I'd seek the advise/help of the same community that helped previously.

I'm looking this time for a RB, K or better, SI or better, Excellent or better cut. I'm unsure of the setting yet other than it will likely be white gold/platinum or possibly rose gold. I am currently looking at the following diamonds and hope to make a decision soon.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11405/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12000/
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3157603.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3063753.htm

I'm looking to keep my diamond budget under 6K but will stretch if necessary for the right opportunity.

I previously purchased through GOG so I'm comfortable with them; however, not at the expense of not considering other vendors. Any thoughts on dealing with Whiteflash?

Any thoughts, recommendations, opinions, etc. that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated and welcomed on my diamond hunt.

Thank you.

 

[jasonh]

...

 

[Gypsy]

I don't like the last stone. The two GOG stones are good.

What I'd advise, going up a little in color:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.05-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-359018 I Si1 AGS0 and under budget

Put it on hold and ask for an idealscope. Ask if it is eyeclean. It is a no cost and no obligation hold. JA has a 60 day return policy. And that includes their standard settings.

 

[jasonh]

Thank you for the reply.

I did contact JA about that diamond and few others and am awaiting a reply and additional information.

I did also find a diamond through Ritani. They are not in house and neither has any additional images currently available so I'd have to have them shipped to a local jeweler to look at.

http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-1-13-Carat-I-color-GIA-certified/D-MHQRHM

Any thoughts on that based on the limited information available whilst I await the additional information from my other inquiries?

 

[Gypsy]

Thank you for the reply.

I did contact JA about that diamond and few others and am awaiting a reply and additional information.

I did also find a diamond through Ritani. They are not in house and neither has any additional images currently available so I'd have to have them shipped to a local jeweler to look at.

http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-1-13-Carat-I-color-GIA-certified/D-MHQRHM

Any thoughts on that based on the limited information available whilst I await the additional information from my other inquiries?

Pass crown is way too low.

 

[Gypsy]

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.

 

[jasonh]

I'm back after more searching and consideration. I'm currently look at the following options:

Option 1:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.15-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-347411


Option 2:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3204945.htm#

Option 3:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3178634.htm#

Option 4:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3178633.htm

Option 5:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10583/

Option 6:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12120/


Any thoughts? Any obviously better options than others? The setting will almost assuredly be white metal.

Thank you so much.

 

[Gypsy]

Performance wise:
1 is a no.
2 is a yes
3 is a yes
4 is a no
5 is a no
6 is a yes.

So that leaves you with 2, 3 and 6.

Now color:
6 is a J
2 is a J.
3 is an I

Now clarity:
All are eyeclean.

Now size:
All are 6.7mm (rounding up for #6).

3 wins.

 

[jasonh]

That's kind of where I was headed myself. Thanks.

I do wonder how that stone would compare to something like this: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.105-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104072827009

Is the sacrifice in color grade for any benefit of the fluorescence ridiculous? Is that fluorescence boost just a novelty?

Just had the idea of one of these diamonds floating around in my head as I've looked at the others.

 

[Gypsy]

Hmm.

That's an interesting question. I don't think the fluorescence color boost is a 'novelty' so much as something that doesn't happen all the time. It's stone specific. The reason many like it is because it is a little 'secret' thing that makes their stone special. Strong Blue will glow in direct sunlight, and it's a pretty thing to see. But it's not for everyone. Some don't like the glow.

Here are my thoughts.
If you are buying for yourself, do whatever you want.
For example, I would be buying for myself and I love fluorescence. I adore BGD's settings. And I have happily worked with BGD in the past and would love to work with them again.

So for me it might make sense to buy a J with fluorescence over an I without it from a different vendor.

But for someone else, who is buying this as a gift... I would probably advise them by saying this: 1) does the person you are buying for have color preferences? 2) which vendor has the setting you prefer?

If the question to two is both. And you don't know the answer to one, then I'd tell you to be conservative and take the I. I wouldn't want anyone I bought a ring for to think it was inferior because it has fluorescence and the trade perception of that is still (incorrectly) negative.

It really just 'depends'.

Why don't you tell me more about whoever is going to wear the ring?

 

[jasonh]

She isn't the type to say it must meet a certain size, color, clarity, price threshold. I don't think she would care about the "trade perception" so much as she doesn't worry about it. She wants it to be beautiful, sparkle, etc. She would want it to be conflict free. I think in an ideal world we'd both love the idea of using a family ring/diamond but there isn't one available. She said something in passing the other day to the effect of while she's usually pretty budget and cost conscience in any expenditure there are certain one time purchases where it goes out the window and the engagement ring is one of them.

She doesn't wear a ton of jewelry: a white metal gemstone ring she was given as a gift, a horizontal white metal crucifix, occasionally a white metal bracelet with inscription. She has some rose gold pieces and while I think she entertains the thought of a rose gold setting I think she prefers the thought of white metal. She has identified some settings of a more vintage style she likes and some that are more modern. She doesn't want anything dainty in setting but also not so much metal it distracts from the diamond.

I think in any scenario I'm likely to just by the stone from a vendor. I lean towards proposing with a basic solitaire and giving her more choice in the setting. She trusts me to pick out something myself and will often say she trusts/appreciates my taste in things; however, I think that the process of picking something together perhaps at the Sholdt workshop would be more memorable.