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feeling like I am way over my head!

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texaslove

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
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My husband and I have always said that I would get a entirely new wedding set and center stone at our ten year anniversary (he would have done it sooner but I kept putting it off). And now here we are and I feel completely and utterly overwhelmed. My type A, have to know everything and explore all options personality means I feel like I need to research everything and look at every diamond that exists. The result....I feel like I am drowning in information and I am ready just to scrap the whole idea (when was the last time you heard a woman talk about turning down a diamond?!?!?!?!)

So here is the good news, I found a ring I absolutely love:

http://www.robbinsbros.com/engagement-rings/engagement-ring-detail.asp?prod_id=31382&strewshid=2906564&pType=ring&set_shape=1012

Center stone is 2.05 princess cut VS2 H 6.79 x 6.78x5.04
Table 74.5
Depth 74.3
Polish and symmetry both very good

But having read much on this awesome website, I now know that we would be paying way too much (which goes against every fiber of my being). And the fact that Robbin Bros. recently emerged from bankruptcy doesn''t necessarily instill confidence. So....I went to Dallas Diamonds. Way better price, but don''t think it was as good of a diamond and didn''t like the setting as much.

2.01 ct princess cut G si1 7.14x7.08x5.07
table 75%
depth 71.6%
polish very good
symmetry good

I looked on GOG, Whiteflash and BN and the first two didn''t really have diamonds in the size and quality I was looking for. BN does, but not really a setting that I like. So here I sit, after midnight wondering what to do and where to go next.

Help, help, help.......
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GOG and WF didn't have the quality you were looking for? You don't get much better than an ACA.

2.01ct G VS2

2.08ct G SI1

James Allen might be another place to look.
 
Oops, my original post was a little confusing....hazard of typing when both tired and frustrated. I think both the diamonds at WF and GOG are great, but I would ideally like to spend $15k or under on the stone, but if it is more, that is okay too. The WF search engine only returned stones more than $20k. And I think that 2.08 from GOG is just too big. I had originallly gone into this thing saying I wanted nothing bigger than 1.5 but hubby and every jeweler have said that a 2 looks better on my long fingers (and for the most part I agree.)

I really appreciate any advice I can get!!
 
Date: 9/19/2009 8:55:08 AM
Author: texaslove
Oops, my original post was a little confusing....hazard of typing when both tired and frustrated. I think both the diamonds at WF and GOG are great, but I would ideally like to spend $15k or under on the stone, but if it is more, that is okay too. The WF search engine only returned stones more than $20k. And I think that 2.08 from GOG is just too big. I had originallly gone into this thing saying I wanted nothing bigger than 1.5 but hubby and every jeweler have said that a 2 looks better on my long fingers (and for the most part I agree.)

I really appreciate any advice I can get!!
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The 2.08 is smaller than the 2.01 you are currently looking at.
The 2.01 is 7.14x7.08x5.07
The 2.08 is 6.87x6.95x5.01

You might want to take another look at the 2.08. It looks to be a beautiful stone and it comes in just under
16k with the wire discount.

Edit - BTW, in stones that large a few points here or there are not going to be seen.
 
Thanks for the resonse and good point. So what am I looking for on the ASET images, etc. to determine what is a good stone? Is the big white spot in the center of the image good/bad.
 
There are two Crafted by Infinity Princess cut diamonds listed on Wink''s site High Performance Diamonds . Both under $15,000.

You''d need to be flexible about color (clarity and cut will be top of the line for both stones), but in a well-cut stone, a K color should not look "yellow."

link 2.03

link 2.04
 
Hmmm for a princess I would contact wink about getting an infinity princess so you are assured a fantastic performer and let him know what you are looking for and it might take a little time but I would *absolutely* hold out for quality. Don''t be dismayed if they don''t have exactly what you want right away... good things take time. But GOG has a great policy and are really good peeps and you can trust their opinion on light return as well. Princess cuts have a lot of factors involved in them and some stores might not even realize that there are different #''s of chevrons on princess cuts which give different light performance so you want to make sure you''re working with someone who can explain that to you and find out the look you want and go from there.
 
if you are committed to the 15k price then get a smaller stone and don't skimp on the quality :) I know - many of us are size whores here but you'd be seriously hard pressed to find ANY of them give up quality for size.
 
Date: 9/19/2009 9:41:35 AM
Author: sarap333
There are two Crafted by Infinity Princess cut diamonds listed on Wink''s site High Performance Diamonds . Both under $15,000.

You''d need to be flexible about color (clarity and cut will be top of the line for both stones), but in a well-cut stone, a K color should not look ''yellow.''

link 2.03

link 2.04
Click to expand...
This is the aset image from the first Crafted by Infinity princess link. These princess cuts are amazing and in a class by themselves. Look at the red center X. You just don''t see that in other princess cuts. And the red areas at the edges mean the light return from the edges of the stone is wonderful. I''ve seen these Crafted by Infinity stones in person, and this is the only princess cut I would buy. (admission - I normally prefer rounds for their sparkle.)

I have seen the K''s in person, and I can tell they have some tint looking from the side or bottom, especially when laying next to a F princess. But, they look pretty darn white from the top.

asetscope800120500KfO.jpg
 
Ditto what Cehrabehra said in her last two posts.

I did see a 1.80 princess on Wink''s site, too, that was in your price range, high color/clarity, if you''re willing to think about a smaller size.

Do give Wink a call/e-mail and let him know what you''re looking for. He''s also very good at explaining the differences between the different #''s of chevrons in a princess and how the number affects light performance.

Paul Slegers, the cutter of the Infinity princess, has posted on this forum, too, about the # of chevrons (search for his name in the archives; there are several threads).

I own an Infinity round brilliant that I bought from Wink. I can''t say enough good things about how easy he is to work with. I''m not a fan of princess cut diamonds, but I''d make an exception for an Infnity princess -- the two-chevron look, to me, is outstanding.


Here''s a link to a video Wink made of an Infinity princess:
link
 
The stones linked at GOG and WF are absolutely top cut quality. You won''t find better. It takes all the anxiety off of finding a high quality stone because they have been hand selected for their collections. Infinity is also excellent, but I would not go to K color in a princess stone. I think you would see some color if you go that low. G-H is a good target.
 
I agree with Diamondseeker. Unless you know that you are comfortable with a K, I would also look for a princess in the G-H color range. Warm colors can be lovely, but you need to see them and decide if that is what you want. The WF ACA that swingirl found looks gorgeous!! If you can be flexible with your budget, you might want to consider this diamond.
 
Date: 9/19/2009 9:23:11 AM
Author: Stone-cold11


Date: 9/19/2009 9:16:43 AM
Author: texaslove
Thanks for the resonse and good point. So what am I looking for on the ASET images, etc. to determine what is a good stone? Is the big white spot in the center of the image good/bad.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

This is an excellent tutorial on ASET.

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

What I would do if you are considering a K colour Infinity is to ask Wink to make a video for you, you could be surprised at how white a K can face up, also if you decided to buy one he does have an excellent return policy so you can be sure.
 
The diameters of the stones suggested are not really "too" big. The largest one is facing up smaller than my 1.40 round... Go for the biggest one you can.
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Also, unless you could see the K beforehand to know you''re ok with the possible warmth, I would suggest staying more around the G-I range.
 
All....I have been travelling and just got home to my four year old and one year old daughters (four year old is sitting right here oooooohing over the rings on some of your names). Obviously I couldn''t resist seeing what responses if any there were (tried logging on by blackberry, but that didn''t work), and I can''t give your information or the girls the attention they deserve at the same time. I can''t wait to review and digest the information you provided. I am so excited and thankful for the responses and didn''t want you thinking I was ignoring everyone or had lost interest. Will jump back on after bedtime!!!!!!
 
Thanks for all of the advice...it has been so helpful. When we were looking at loose stones at several stores, I was told by multiple people at different locations that I was "sensitive to yellow" or "really aware of color difference" without knowing what the diamonds were rated. Obviously, I understand that some of them had other motives to sell me what may have been a more expensive diamond but it does make me somewhat nervous about dipping that far down in color - especially in light of the setting I have in mind. I understand that the color difference might not be as noticeable in an infinity cut, but it just makes me worry.

I have spent a lot of time on GOG''s site now and getting lots more comfortable with the idea of buying something that I haven''t physically seen. Probably mostly because of the vast amounts of information supplied and reviewing tons of side by side comparisons. At least now i don''t feel like I am going to throw up or cry......

I''m sure I will be looking to you for more opinions in the future!!!
 
Date: 9/20/2009 10:52:52 PM
Author: texaslove
Thanks for all of the advice...it has been so helpful. When we were looking at loose stones at several stores, I was told by multiple people at different locations that I was ''sensitive to yellow'' or ''really aware of color difference'' without knowing what the diamonds were rated. Obviously, I understand that some of them had other motives to sell me what may have been a more expensive diamond but it does make me somewhat nervous about dipping that far down in color - especially in light of the setting I have in mind. I understand that the color difference might not be as noticeable in an infinity cut, but it just makes me worry.

I have spent a lot of time on GOG''s site now and getting lots more comfortable with the idea of buying something that I haven''t physically seen. Probably mostly because of the vast amounts of information supplied and reviewing tons of side by side comparisons. At least now i don''t feel like I am going to throw up or cry......

I''m sure I will be looking to you for more opinions in the future!!!
Click to expand...
Just take your time, if you have any questions just ask and when you feel ready we will be with you every step of the way
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Date: 9/20/2009 10:52:52 PM
Author: texaslove
Thanks for all of the advice...it has been so helpful. When we were looking at loose stones at several stores, I was told by multiple people at different locations that I was ''sensitive to yellow'' or ''really aware of color difference'' without knowing what the diamonds were rated. Obviously, I understand that some of them had other motives to sell me what may have been a more expensive diamond but it does make me somewhat nervous about dipping that far down in color - especially in light of the setting I have in mind. I understand that the color difference might not be as noticeable in an infinity cut, but it just makes me worry.

I have spent a lot of time on GOG''s site now and getting lots more comfortable with the idea of buying something that I haven''t physically seen. Probably mostly because of the vast amounts of information supplied and reviewing tons of side by side comparisons. At least now i don''t feel like I am going to throw up or cry......

I''m sure I will be looking to you for more opinions in the future!!!
Click to expand...
Well that''s a good thing!
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Ditto Lorelei, just take your time, there is lots to absorb. I can tell you with certainty you can definitely buy sight unseen and get a gorgeous diamond, provided you do your homework. I purchased my upgrade from GOG, and could not be happier. I got a lot more for my money and a better cut diamond than I would have shopping locally. (which I tried, just didn''t go well)

If you feel you really are color sensitive (and that bothers you, some are, but don''t mind), I''d stick to G-H diamonds.


Feel free to ask any questions you can''t find the answer to, and have fun!
 
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