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Engagement soon... need some help.

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hashofet

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 19, 2009
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Hi diamond gurus!

I''m so glad I found this site. I am hoping to put all my plans together and propose this weekend, but I''m running late on time (obviously). I''ve been to at least 6 different B&M diamond stores and have been less then thrilled with the experience so far, so I decided to do some online research/shopping and found this awesome place! I spent at least 6-7 hours today reading all the great information here, and I feel I understand all the lingo now, but I still don''t feel good with putting all the variable factors together and picking a great diamond on my own. I was hoping I could get at least an opinion on the following diamond I found at JamesA. Is it a good buy? Maybe you guys have some alternatives that would be better?


Shape: Round
Carat weight: 1.00
Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: AGS

Depth: 61.2%
Table: 55.8%
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 6.46*6.49*3.97

Crown Angle: 34.1°
Crown %: 15.00
pavilion Angle: 41.0°
pavilion %: 43.30

My goal is 1ct (or near) with awesome cut, for about 5500 or so.... I was hoping for an D-F color, as well as VS clarity, but so far I''m seeing I''ll have to sacrifice color and clarity to get the better size and cut... Am I OK with an H and SI1? Should I get a little smaller stone to get better color and clarity? Or should I just pony up the dough and spend more for a better stone? I''m kinda anal with perfection, and the more I learn, the more I want a better stone =)

Thanks in advance for your awesome (and quick) help!

I see you guys usually ask for an idealscope image, so here it is:
http://www.jamesallen.com/_images/idealscope/1193887.JPG
 
Looks good from the numbers and IS. Color wise, check out this video, http://vimeo.com/3288695. H/I is find with me, SI if eye-clean and has no effect on the optics of the stone, you will not be able to tell the difference between that and a IF stone. You can check that by calling up JA and asking if it is eye-clean or not.

Are you really set on a H&A? As JA will not give a hearts image of the stone, there is no way to verify if that is the case and you are paying a premium for it.
 
I am not an expert, but I ran your stone through the HCA, and it scored a 1.4 which is excellent! As for the color and clarity, I think you will be fine with that combination. An H still faces up very white and SI1''s are fine... (Just check to see if the stone is eye clean.) I have an SI1 and it is stunning! I think you''ve got a good stone there, maybe an expert (Lorelei?) will chime in.

By the way, what are you thinking of for a setting?
 
There is nothing wrong with H SI-1--that is a great value for size combination. SI clarities are a great way to stretch the budget, as long as the vendor can verify they are "eye clean". Color depends very much on how sensitive to color you are and personal preference. There are many gorgeous I, J & K stones owned by PS members, while others just love their colorless D, E & F.

The diamond you picked out is very nice. If you are going to consider upgrading in the future, however, there are several vendors with better upgrade policies such as Good Old Gold, Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds.
 
I was under the impression that the H&A diamonds are "better"? but am I mistaken? Could I get just as good a diamond by looking at a round brilliant "ideal cut" that would be cheaper? If so, maybe I''m looking at the wrong diamond?
 
H&A is just ideal optical symm, may not necessary be ideal optical performance. And H&A is just one subset of optical symm, other facets dimensions are possible to get optical symm but not necessary result in H&A image.

You could get by with ideal or even VG. Just use the cut adviser, https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp, if the score is less than 2, it is a good candidate, ask JA for an Idealscope image and then we can take a look at it for you.
 
Date: 5/20/2009 8:14:42 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
H&A is just ideal optical symm, may not necessary be ideal optical performance. And H&A is just one subset of optical symm, other facets dimensions are possible to get optical symm but not necessary result in H&A image.

You could get by with ideal or even VG. Just use the cut adviser, https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp, if the score is less than 2, it is a good candidate, ask JA for an Idealscope image and then we can take a look at it for you.
Click to expand...
http://www.jamesallen.com/_images/idealscope/1193887.JPG

How do I determine from the image if it is good or not?
 
Thanks Tuckies! All the diamond selections look good hashofet, as Tucks says when dealing with SI clarities always make sure the diamond is eyeclean to your standards by asking the vendor.
 
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