Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3Ex

[smnlng]

Hi, I've got this diamond on hold and hoping to get some feedback on this:
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pag...&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=1199406963

Measurements 6.33 - 6.35 x 3.90 mm
Carat Weight 0.96 carat
Color Grade I
Clarity Grade SI1
Cut Grade Excellent
HCA Score 1.6

PROPORTIONS
Depth 61.5 %
Table 57 %
Crown Angle 35.0°
Crown Height 15.0%
Pavilion Angle 40.8°
Pavilion Depth 43.0%
Star Length 50%
Lower Half 80%
Girdle Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.5%
Culet None

FINISH
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent

FLUORESCENCE
Fluorescence None

CLARITY CHARACTERISTICS
Clarity Characteristics Knot, Feather, Twinning Wisp

 

[smnlng]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Here's a picture and video as well: http://tinyurl.com/p82s6oh

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Have you seen the stone in person? If not, has the jeweler verified that it is absolutely eyeclean? The numbers are fine, but I generally prefer SI1 and up for an engagement ring.

 

[smnlng]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Hi, I haven't seen it in person, but the person has guaranteed it is eye clean. Not sure about your second comment as this diamond is an SI1?

 

[lxAsTrOxl]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Hi, I haven't seen it in person, but the person has guaranteed it is eye clean. Not sure about your second comment as this diamond is an SI1?

You have SI2 in your subject title, I believe that's where the miscommunication is coming from.

 

[smnlng]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Oops! Sorry about that. I don't see a way to edit the original thread title or post, but it is an SI1 based on the GIA report.

 

[jsmith85]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

I would not get this stone. The inclusions are black, and on the left side of the table they are very visible and likely to affect light performance. If you have the time, a bit more searching might find one with the same 4C's that doesn't have such large inclusions on the table. Ask the vendor for an idealscope and ASET image of the stone to see how much the light performance is affected.

You would probably be better off dropping the carat size to below 0.9 carats (the actual visible size change will be very small, probably around 3%, from the 6.33mm shown to 6, if you drop to 0.85) and bumping up the clarity to VS2 if you can. You'll get a cleaner diamond for about the same price.

 

[crans223]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

I would like to second the passing on the stone. You could absolutely find a better deal and get a better quality diamond that is much more appealing than that one. The black inclusion will definitely be a losing factor for me, and although it may say it's eye clean I find it hard to believe the wisp inclusions on the side would not be visible to the naked eye without a loupe.

 

[jsmith85]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Quick search: I would guess the price for the stone you are looking at is around 3.5 - 4K.

For that price you can get an 0.85 carat I VS1 (3,400) from BrianGavinDiamonds (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.850-i-vs1-round-diamond-gia-57213819). If you go through them you can get ASET and IdealScope images for around 50$ (cost of shipping).

Or a 0.9 carat I VS2 (4,000) (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.900-i-vs2-round-diamond-gia-62655742)

Both diamonds are very close in visible size (6.09mm, 6.19mm vs 6.33mm) while being eye clean. I would prefer both of those diamonds to the one shown.

Heck, you could get an I VVS1 ideal cut with 0.81 carats @ 5.96mm for 4,100 (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.810-i-vvs1-round-diamond-bfg-11514).

I think you can do a lot better for your money than the above diamond. And I wouldn't use the seller who is telling you it's "eye clean" again.

 

[RockyRacoon]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Quick search: I would guess the price for the stone you are looking at is around 3.5 - 4K.

For that price you can get an 0.85 carat I VS1 (3,400) from BrianGavinDiamonds (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.850-i-vs1-round-diamond-gia-57213819). If you go through them you can get ASET and IdealScope images for around 50$ (cost of shipping).

Or a 0.9 carat I VS2 (4,000) (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.900-i-vs2-round-diamond-gia-62655742)

Both diamonds are very close in visible size (6.09mm, 6.19mm vs 6.33mm) while being eye clean. I would prefer both of those diamonds to the one shown.

Heck, you could get an I VVS1 ideal cut with 0.81 carats @ 5.96mm for 4,100 (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.810-i-vvs1-round-diamond-bfg-11514).

I think you can do a lot better for your money than the above diamond. And I wouldn't use the seller who is telling you it's "eye clean" again.

This seems like a pretty harsh assessment of this vendor. And I don't think it's founded.

The first two links are Virtual stones. BGD has nothing to do with them, they just have access to them, as do many other vendors. No reason to look at BGD if you are looking at VI.

The third stone is considerably smaller, for a similar price. If both stones are eye-clean and that is the concern of the OP here, then why pay the premium for VVS?

OP - the stone you had originally linked is a solid pick. If it is eye-clean to your standards, I see no reason to shy away from this stone. If you can get Idealscope image, you will have all the info you need to make a final, informed decision.

 

[jsmith85]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

I may have been harsh on the vendor, but I don't see how that diamond could be eye clean. It has very large inclusions located right on the table. They aren't on the side or hidden in the stone, and they are black. I think there are better vendors he could use, and I would recommend he do so.

I used BGD as an example for diamonds because, generally, their prices will be close to what the virtual inventory will cost elsewhere when you search by GIA number. I used them as examples, not hard and fast purchase recommendations.

He didn't list what was important to him, so I gave him a list of options at 3 different sizes, to better show what he could get for his money. It seemed like the most important thing to him was carat size and eye clean, so I used VS2 and better, as those are the official "eye clean" diamonds for the GIA (inclusion not visible w/o 10x magnification). I think the first two diamonds I got in a 10 minute search are both preferable to the one he was looking at, which had large inclusions located in the table itself. Without an ASET or Idealscope image, I simply wouldn't buy the diamond listed, and I don't think he would be happy with it.

The diamond he has listed, after searching that inventory number, is listed at $4200 on the seller's website. I would think the 0.9 carat VS2 from BGD would certainly qualify as better value (0.1mm smaller, less than 1% difference in visible size) than the one he was looking at. The stone he was looking at hid a portion of the carat weight in the girdle, which was from medium to slightly thick.

 

[RockyRacoon]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

The diamond he has listed, after searching that inventory number, is listed at $4200 on the seller's website. I would think the 0.9 carat VS2 from BGD would certainly qualify as better value (0.1mm smaller, less than 1% difference in visible size) than the one he was looking at. The stone he was looking at hid a portion of the carat weight in the girdle, which was from medium to slightly thick.

That's the problem, though - we have no idea if that Virtual stone is well-cut or not. It scores well on the HCA, but the numbers are on the edges of acceptability. We don't even have an image of the actual diamond. With GIA rounding, this stone could certainly be a less-than-exceptional stone.

The original stone linked has much 'safer' numbers, even accounting for GIA rounding.

There is no way to say the BGD stone is a 'better value,' based on available information.

We would need Idealscope images of both to make a truly informed decision.

However, there is no reason to throw out the original stone, despite you judging it, remotely, through a computer, to not be eye-clean.

FYI - 'medium to slightly thick' girdle is not an issue.

 

[smnlng]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses. This diamond is being sold for just under $4100. What's most important to me is the following...
1) Greatest value for a diamond between 0.95-0.99ct (3EX/AGS000/HCA <2.0) and
2) Eye Clean.

After searching on PS for a while I couldn't find a comparable result in that 0.95-0.99 range (VS2-SI1, H-I) without exceeding my budget by about $300 or so.

I don't mind the inclusions as long as they aren't visible to the naked eye and hence I went with an SI1.
RockyRacoon is correct that I'd rather invest in carat and cut over the VS2 rating especially for a diamond under 1ct. However, I'm definitely weighing the input from jsmith/crans into my final decision.

Is it normal to get Idealscope images of a rock before buying it, or do I need to take it to an appraiser for those services? I won't see this stone until I pay for it or at least put a deposit to have this shipped from NYC closer to me.

 

[teobdl]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

??? What is the black inclusions you're talking about, jsmith?

I think this stone is eye clean by most standards. My concern is not w/ black inclusions but with the white feather at 10 o'clock--in certain lighting and angles there's a possibility that it would show up (and probably only if the diamond is dirty). In normal viewing conditions, you'd be very unlikely to spot it.

This diamond has "best value" potential, and I think one would be hard pressed to find another that meets your criteria.

If you want to dip slightly below your desired carat weight, here is a good choice:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-514684

 

[jsmith85]

Re: Feedback on potential diamond for E-Ring? 0.96ct I SI2 3

RockyRacoon: I agree the stones can't be compared equally without the ideal scope. To get one from BGD will generally run around 50$ if you don't purchase their stone (they don't include that cost if you buy from them, as is the case with most vendors). What I meant by the girdle comment was not that the diamond girdle was too thick, just that some of the carat weight was accounted for in the girdle, which is why the 0.9 carat and 0.96 carat diamonds were so close in diameter. I didn't intend to imply that a medium to slightly thick girdle was unacceptable. We'll just have to agree to disagree about the value of the diamonds.

teobdl: There are 2 black inclusions are around the 11:30 position, which are probably not visible to the eye, but are located on the table. The ones that bothered me were the left hand side (9 o'clock position) spots that were in the feather / cloud / twist. On my computer looking at the image it looks like it has 3 or 4 black spots within it.

smnlg: If you have to have the .95 carat diamond, this stone might be the best one for you. From a quick search I found a few stones on JamesAllen that were just under that (6.24mm diameter, so incredibly close in the visible size range), but yours was the only 0.95 or higher carat i found at that price point with an HCA <2. If you get an idealscope image and it looks good, go for it : ). You can always return it if, in person, it doesn't look eye clear to you when you get it. It is very normal to get an idealscope and ASET image from an online vendor. If it is something they have in their physical location it will typically be free. If they have to get the stone sent to them, it will generally run around $50 for a 4K stone (at least that's the number most quoted me when I was looking). It's essentially the cost of shipping and insuring the diamond during shipment if you don't purchase it. If you buy it most will waive the cost.

The JamesAllen search I used: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=0.9&CaratTo=0.99&Color=I,H,G,F,E,D&Clarity=SI1,VS2,VS1,VVS2,VVS1,IF&Cut=Ideal,Excellent,TrueHearts&PriceFrom=200&PriceTo=4100&ViewsOptions=undefined&advancedParameter=CaratSliderBottom&showAdvanced=show&Polish=EX,ID&Symmetry=EX,ID&Lab=GIA,AGS&Flour=&DepthFrom=60.0&DepthTo=62.0&TableFrom=53.0&TableTo=58.0