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Engagement rock for a newbie-help please!

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thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
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7
Here''s what I want:


-Budget is $3500 or below

-eye clean SI1

-G or H

-Will sacrifice size for dazzle and from what I''ve read, cut is most important here so most likely an "ideal" or "cut above H&A"

-I''m not sure what these mean, but after reading some of the posts it looks like I also want:

table between 54-59
depth between 59-62
crown angle over 34 or 35
pav angle between 40.5 and 41.1

Thanks a lot for the help, glad I found this resource!
 

ayala_jessica

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
292
Hi,

I think that G/H SI1 range is a very good idea since it allows you to get a bigger stone for the price without sacrificing beauty. And you are absolutely right about wanting the best cut, it is the one C that will warranty sparkes !

There are reputable vendors out here, among them Goodoldgold and whiteflash that offer the best cuts available. You should contact them and tell them what you are looking for. They are of great help !

Enjoy your search and keep us informed
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niceice

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 29, 2003
Messages
1,792
Date: 2/9/2007 10:26:11 AM
Author:thebrowser
-I''m not sure what these mean, but after reading some of the posts it looks like I also want:
table between 54-59
depth between 59-62
crown angle over 34 or 35
pav angle between 40.5 and 41.1

You might consider tightening the parameters a bit...

Table diameter between 53 - 57% (not as critical to focus upon as crown and pavilion angles)

Total depth between 59 - 61.8 will help you to maximize the "spread" of the stone which is basically the diameter of the diamond and how it will "face up" in terms of size. The deeper the total depth of the diamond, the smaller the outside diameter will be. Since diamonds are sold by carat weight and what is generally viewed with a diamond is how it "faces up" keeping to a total depth that is within this shallower range will maximize the look to $$$ ratio.

I prefer a crown angle between 34.3 - 34.8 degrees, however a crown angle which is slightly shallower or a little deeper isn''t cause for concern providing that the pavilion angle is between 40.6 - 40.9 degrees. If the pavilion angle is steeper then a shallower crown is generally preferred.

With all of this in mind, seek the opinion of whichever vendor is helping you to find the right diamond because while the numbers aid to narrow down the field of possibilities, they are not an absolute indicator of how the diamond is going to look. I''ve seen beautiful diamonds with a total depth of 64% because the crown and pavilion angles happened to be just right - truly deep pavilion with an extremely shallow crown... And I''ve seen diamonds cut "just right" in terms of the numbers which failed to impress for no apparent reason. Work closely with whichever vendor you choose and rely on their expertise to help you find a beautiful diamond within your desired price range. Good luck & have fun!
 

Ellen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
24,433
Date: 2/9/2007 10:56:22 AM
Author: Maisiebelle
I''m not sure if your budget has to include setting too but I found these diamonds for you to look at:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131&item=997672

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-191605.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-192470.htm

You would need to contact the vendors to see if they are eye clean too
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Maisie
Maise picked out some great diamonds for you. I see the second one is sold now, not sure if you bought it or what.

Good job Maisers.
16.gif
 

thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
7
Thanks everyone, those are some great stones. The price I posted before is just for the stone, but I''ve decided to increase my TOTAL budget to $5k give or take a couple hundred. We''ve looked at several rings and she likes a channel setting with a round stone. I called whiteflash yesterday and the salesperson was very helpful, I''ll probably do business with them when I get the "warm fuzzy feeling" about a stone. I still value dazzle over pure size, but I''d like to get as close to 1 carat as possible. It seems that prices skyrocket when stones hit that magical milestone, so I''ll probably have to stay just under. A good channel setting will probably be $750-$1000, so I''m probably in the $4k range for a rock. I looked on whiteflash today and they don''t seem to have anything in my range (the size I''m looking for is very popular I''m sure).

I found these on bluenile (I know most of you aren''t big fans, but it lets me see what I''m looking at).

Stock number: LD00436621
Price: $4,158
Bank wire price: $4,096
Carat weight: 0.90
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 62.0%
Table %: 53%
Symmetry: Ideal
Polish: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.17 x 6.23 x 3.85 mm

Stock number: LD00209724
Price: $4,176
Bank wire price: $4,114
Carat weight: 1.00
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 62.7%
Table %: 56%
Symmetry: Good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick, faceted
Culet: Medium
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.33 x 6.37 x 3.98 mm

Stock number: LD00434589
Price: $4,239
Bank wire price: $4,176
Carat weight: 0.90
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 62.5%
Table %: 55%
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint blue
Measurements: 6.17 x 6.21 x 3.87 mm


From Good Old Gold (in case I decide to up my budget to $6k total):
Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 1.013ct
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
AGS Cut Grade: Ideal
est GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
AGS Light Performance: Ideal
Optical Symmetry: Superior
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: Negligible
Girdle: 2.10%
Culet: None
Lab Report: AGS
Lab Report #: 8140708
In House: Yes
Width: 6.40mm
Length: 6.44mm
Depth: 4.01mm
Table Percentage: 53.56%
Depth Percentage: 62.45%
Crown Ú: 35.02‹
Crown Depth: 16.26%
Pavilion Ú: 40.65‹
Pavilion Depth: 42.81%
Upper Girdle Ú: 39.91‹
Lower Girdle Ú: 41.88‹
Policy: Lifetime Guarantee

Price: $5,232.18
(Bank wire price: $5,055.25)

view pics at:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2854/

Thanks again!
 

Ellen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
24,433
browser, I''m not sure what you mean by BN letting you see what you''re looking at?

And it''s not really that we''re not fans, but they just give so little to go on, as in, no pics, Sarins, etc. And no upgrade. Are you sure you want to forgo that?

As for the stones you picked, without accurate crown and pavillion agles, and preferably an IS, it''s kinda hard to say.

The GOG stone looks good, however as you noted, you''re paying for that magic number.
 

Maisie

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Messages
12,587
Date: 2/9/2007 2:37:07 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 2/9/2007 10:56:22 AM
Author: Maisiebelle
I''m not sure if your budget has to include setting too but I found these diamonds for you to look at:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131&item=997672

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-191605.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-192470.htm

You would need to contact the vendors to see if they are eye clean too
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Maisie
Maise picked out some great diamonds for you. I see the second one is sold now, not sure if you bought it or what.

Good job Maisers.
16.gif

OOH yey!!!! Thanks Ellen!!!
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thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
7
As everyone can see I''m playing around with my budget and the options are overwhelming me right now, sorry if I''m driving you nuts. I''ve taken the total budget up to $6k, but we looked at Tacori settings on the web today and she loved them. Any opinions? I like their distinctiveness, but the price seems high. Is it worth sacrificing stone size for a great setting? Here are the two we like:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/25655MRD6S/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/2586RD6/

Good old gold quoted us 2k on the first and 1700 on the second (both in 18k) but they were only a couple hundred more in platinum.

We found this stone too. It is a budget buster, but it looks sick. The only thing that concerns me is the SI2. I was wanting to stick to a G SI1. Any thoughts?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2246


Thanks, you folks are great for freely sharing your knowledge.
 

JulieN

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
13,375
SI2s are a great deal if they are eye-clean and not cloudy. And yes, I'd sacrifice stone size for a great setting. The settings are very pretty.
 

Ellen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
24,433
Date: 2/10/2007 10:05:20 PM
Author: thebrowser
As everyone can see I''m playing around with my budget and the options are overwhelming me right now, sorry if I''m driving you nuts. I''ve taken the total budget up to $6k, but we looked at Tacori settings on the web today and she loved them. Any opinions? I like their distinctiveness, but the price seems high. Is it worth sacrificing stone size for a great setting? Here are the two we like:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/25655MRD6S/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/2586RD6/

Good old gold quoted us 2k on the first and 1700 on the second (both in 18k) but they were only a couple hundred more in platinum.

We found this stone too. It is a budget buster, but it looks sick. The only thing that concerns me is the SI2. I was wanting to stick to a G SI1. Any thoughts?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2246


Thanks, you folks are great for freely sharing your knowledge.
You''re not driving us nuts!
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First, I LOVE that first setting, so beautiful, and unique!! The second is also pretty, just much simpler. You will pay more for a designer setting, but if it makes her heart sing....Obviously, get the one she wants!

If the stone is eyeclean, it would work. I know you said you wanted G, I found an H for considerably less, and honestly, I don''t think you''ll see anything at this size.
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It''s the same size as the E, because the E is a bit deeper, so it''s facing up smaller.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2723/
 

thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
7
Thanks Ellen, that looks like a great stone. We both like the first setting A LOT, so I''m going to go with it once I find the right diamond. This is very exciting, I''m getting engaged! (hopefully :)

To share another experience, I went to a local jewelry store last night to see some stones and settings in person. Other than the markups ($2700 for the second Tacori setting I listed above) I was impressed with the stones and the negligible visible difference between a .78 carat and a .96 carat stone. Also, the cut difference between Ideal and Good was striking. It was also cool to see inclusions under the microscope.

I''ll post some more rocks when I come across them and let everyone know when I finally buy one. Have a great Sunday!

Out of curiosity, are most of the posters on this board in the diamond business, or are you passionate amateurs?
 

Ellen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
24,433
I think that setting will be perfect, and yes, it is very exciting!


browser, that''s great that you went looking, it definitely helps.


And we''re mostly passionate amateurs, with a few in the biz posting ocassionally.


Let us know what you decide!
 

Shay37

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
3,343
Another passionate amateur here. I have to say that I love that first Tacori. The price that Jon quoted you is fab. I always assumed I would pay much more than that for a Tacori. Definitely grab that and run.

shay
 

thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
7
Shay and Ellen~You may have another passionate amateur on your hands when this buying process is finished.....I love to geek out on stuff and diamonds don''t seem to be an exception. Next I have to decide which of my planned proposals to choose...........but one step at a time.
 

thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
7
Alright,three more questions.

1. What do you guys think of this stone?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131&item=890306


2. What to you think of James Allen as a retailer?

3. I''m ready to buy the Tacori setting from Good Old Gold, but they haven''t had any diamonds in my range for the past couple of days. How can I have the ring sized and set if I buy the setting and stone from different vendors? Have them both shipped to me and have a jeweler set it?


Thanks!
 

sunshine14

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jul 2, 2005
Messages
247
I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to diamonds...but I am very very pleased with my diamond from JA. I selected one of the stones that had a picture on the JA site, and they were great about getting me an idealscope picture too. The purchase process went very smoothly, and although you don't get some of the freebies that you get with an ACA from WF (viewers, etc), I requested a loupe and they sent that too.

Good luck!

ETA: Granted, I do think it would be easier to get the stone and the setting from the same place. I didn't do it that way and it has been a little more work/difficult. I would first just call GOG and see if they can find what you are looking for. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend JA.
 

Ellen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
24,433
I can''t really comment without an IS and real numbers (which I would ask for if you are serious), but I doubt it would be any better, if not as good as the H I picked out at GOG. I tried to look at the GOG stone to compare a few things, but the site won''t come up.

Do you not want an H?
 

thebrowser

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
7
I bought it!

The setting:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/25655MRD6S/

The diamond isn''t listed on the site, but I talked with Tim about it for a long time. It''s a ~0.8 G SI1 triple ideal. I was a little hesitant about buying it without seeing pics , but the price was right ($3900, so $5900 total) and the specs were just right for me. So I came in under budget on a kick arse ring. Can''t wait to see it.

I''ll try and post some pics of the ring on her finger ''cause I know you diamond geeks love that stuff ;-)

This was the best shopping/buying experience I''ve ever had on the most emotionally significant purchase I''ll ever make. Thanks to everyone who helped me out, especially Ellen.

browser
 

Ellen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
24,433
Yay! I LOVE that setting.
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And if Tim told you what you needed to hear on a stone, I''m confident it''s a winner.
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I can''t wait to see the pics!!



And thank you, I''m glad I could be of help on your big event.
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