First Diamond Purchase--Need Help Please

[jefeweizen]

Hello PS members and thanks for all the great information, I have learned a tremendous amount here! I am a diamond novice and am ready for my first purchase--I just need some help to find a quality diamond at a good price. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. This is what I am after:

Budget for diamond = $4k
Size: .92-1.00ct (Round)
Color: F-G
Cut: Excellent/Ideal (The cut is very important to me)
Clarity: Would prefer VS2, but I''m thinking I might need to go SI1 to keep within budget, what do you think?
GIA or AGS certified

I''m having a hard time picking one out online, sight unseen, and need some guidance from the pros.

Thank you in advance!

 

[kenny]

Here's a diamond from Whiteflash that AGS gave their top cut grade to.
It is G SI1 and 0.901 ct.
HCA is 1.4.

Price with PS discount is $4193 if you wire funds.

There is a feather near the center so ask WF how eye clean it is.

click

Edit, for some reason the original link went to a princess cut.

 

[kenny]

Next here''s a 0.88 ct F SI1 from James Allen with an HCA score of 1.3 that also got AGS''s top cut grade for $3550.

Click

 

[swingirl]

0.901ct G SI1

Here is one to consider.

 

[jefeweizen]

One more important thing to add...I plan on setting the diamond in a round bezel type pave setting, the kind that goes around the diamond. I really need to keep the diamond a bit above .90 to properly fill up the bezel.

 

[kenny]

Just under 1 carat is very hard to find.

Diamond cutters try really hard to cut those so they reach the 1.0 carat milestone, even if it results in a diamond with poor light performance.
A 1.000 carat sells for much more than a 0.999 carat.

Also keep in mind several stones of the exact same weight may have different diameters.
They are not all cut to the same proportions.

If you have a setting that requires a certain size diamond you need to shop for a certain diameter range not a certain weight range.

Find out and tell us what that diameter range is.

 

[jefeweizen]

Ok, I just learned that any size diamond will work (the setting has to be custom made because of a small ring size), so I''d like to keep the diamond at about .90 or so. A VS2 would be great. Any help finding a great diamond is truly appreciated! Thanks again.

 

[jefeweizen]

Date: 11/2/2009 11:04:16 PM
Author: kenny
Next here''s a 0.88 ct F SI1 from James Allen with an HCA score of 1.3 that also got AGS''s top cut grade for $3550.


Click

Is there some sort of flaw near the middle? Is that something to be concerned with? I suppose I should ask if it''s eye clean.

 

[JulieN]

inclusion. ask if eye-clean.

 

[jefeweizen]

What is your opinion on this diamond? Is there anything I should be concerned about? What about the cloud toward the middle? The vendor claims it is eye-clean, do you think it is? It''s a GIA Dossier report so the inclusions are not mapped. The HCA score is 1.3 and it''s priced at a hair over $4k. I''m seriously considering purchasing, but want to make sure it checks out with you guys first. Can I buy with confidence?

Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.18 - 6.25 x 3.83 mm
Carat Weight: 0.90 carat
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 61.6%
Table: 56%
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Clarity Characteristics:
Feather, Cloud


Thanks again!

 

[jefeweizen]

Idealscope

 

[stone-cold11]

Yap, looks good to me.

Cannot judge eye-clean from an image, so only the vendor can tell with the stone in his hand.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/13/2009 12:13:41 PM
Author: jefeweizen
What is your opinion on this diamond? Is there anything I should be concerned about? What about the cloud toward the middle? The vendor claims it is eye-clean, do you think it is? It''s a GIA Dossier report so the inclusions are not mapped. The HCA score is 1.3 and it''s priced at a hair over $4k. I''m seriously considering purchasing, but want to make sure it checks out with you guys first. Can I buy with confidence?

Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.18 - 6.25 x 3.83 mm
Carat Weight: 0.90 carat
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 61.6%
Table: 56%
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Clarity Characteristics:
Feather, Cloud


Thanks again!

It looks very good indeed.

 

[jefeweizen]

I just talked to the gemologist and they said it''s 99.9% eye-clean. The cloud in the middle is a bit gray and possibly could be seen by a trained eye who knew what they were looking for in the right lighting conditions. There is also a white feather toward the edge that they said could be covered by a prong. The gemologist said it''s a very nice diamond overall with a great cut. Does this all sound about right for a VS2 diamond? Should I not worry about the cloud and go for it?

 

[stone-cold11]

Ya, should be ok. You still have the 30days inspection period right?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/13/2009 1:40:42 PM
Author: jefeweizen
I just talked to the gemologist and they said it''s 99.9% eye-clean. The cloud in the middle is a bit gray and possibly could be seen by a trained eye who knew what they were looking for in the right lighting conditions. There is also a white feather toward the edge that they said could be covered by a prong. The gemologist said it''s a very nice diamond overall with a great cut. Does this all sound about right for a VS2 diamond? Should I not worry about the cloud and go for it?

All you can do is take a look in person to see whether YOU can see the inclusions and if so, if they bother you.

 

[DChokie]

I understand your apprehension - I was in your shoes only three months ago. After days (weeks - MONTHS even) of looking at idealscopes, online images, plotting diagrams, etc., it becomes very easy to "lose sight of the forest for the trees" - meaning, the minute variations, flaws, inclusions, etc. in the stones become huge issues - potential dealbreakers, even.

But, coming from recent first-hand experience, let me tell you that there is an enormous difference between looking at these online images, and actually looking at the stone on your fiancee''s hand with the naked eye. Trust me when I say that, to the naked eye, it''s unlikely that VS2 inclusions are detectable, especially after a few weeks of wear, once the stone gets dirty.

When making my final selection between two stones, I spent a good, long time analyzing both rocks with the naked eye and with a loupe - and I couldn''t really see the marked inclusions even with the loupe and the plotting diagram in front of me. The eventual winning stone was a VS2 - not the highest rating on the little chart - but completely eye clean.

Bottom line is, you''re on the right path by emphasizing cut. Your idealscope looks amazing, the HCA score is outstanding, and the diamond is reported eye clean - you are good to go.

 

[jefeweizen]

I just learned that this is a Canadian diamond inscribed with a maple leaf. Is that a good or bad thing, or does it matter at all? I''m about to pull the trigger.

Also, is it bad luck to buy a diamond on Friday the 13th? haha

 

[DChokie]

Assuming the inscription is tiny (is it on the girdle?), you''re probably fine. It can probably be hidden by the ring setting, if necessary.

 

[stone-cold11]

Canadian diamond normally commands a higher premium, because of the totally no blood diamond connection hype to it. So not a bad thing.