Experience buying loose diamond & send to JA for mounting?

[Blumustang]

I would love to buy the diamond and setting from James Allen as I love their classic solitaire setting, but there seems to be a decent price gap (expected) with the drop shippers like BN or B2C. BlueNile specifically I have cashback so I can go a little higher.

I have a pretty firm limit around $13k. I am looking for 1.7ct +, Ideal Cut, Color I, minimum clarity VS2, and an HCA score under 2.

This seems much more obtainable from B2C or BN. Has anyone else had positive experiences ordering the diamond seperately and sending to James Allen to set? As long as those standards and other specs such as girdle, are met, and lets say the clarity is VS1 or greater - is there anything else to really worry about buying the diamond from them?

Thanks!

 

[ecf8503]

Re: Experience buying loose diamond & send to JA for mountin

VS is overkill. Save some money and drop your clarity - there are plenty of eye clean SI1's out there, and a fair number of SI2's as well. Clarity has nothing to do with how the stone sparkles - that's all in the cut quality. which you do NOT want to compromise on.

As for JA setting outside stones - I'd call them and ask them directly. There may be an additional fee if they do.

The advantages of buying from the same place you buy the setting are many - I'd try to find a stone at JA if possible. And BN doesn't provide any light performance images as JA will. You want to know what you are buying - the HCA is a weedout tool; after you find one preferrably under 2 then the next step is idealscope images, which BN can't do.

 

[brellymom]

Re: Experience buying loose diamond & send to JA for mountin

I don't think JA will set a diamond bought elsewhere. I recently purchased 2 pear shaped diamonds from them to do a 3-stone, and asked if they would set it for me, but because my center stone was bought elsewhere, they passed.

 

[Venti25]

Re: Experience buying loose diamond & send to JA for mountin

I had an outside stone set at JA, I was charged shipping + setting fee + cost of setting which I bought there which I thought was reasonable considering I did not buy the centre stone from them. They may not agree if you're bringing stones other than the centre, might get too complicated.