First Post, Need Advice, What to look for visually

[MyBling]

This is my first post, and I am hoping for some quick advise. I am going to view a diamond today, very soon actually, and I need to know what to look for. What visually would make one stand out from another, or do they do just that... "stand out"? I mean, I can''t remember a time when I was in a Jewelry store when all the diamonds didn''t look beautiful. They all sparkle and look amazing in those conditions.

I want a quality stone that really sparkles and grabs the attention. I have a designer setting with 1 ct of F-G VS2 surrounding stones, and I want the center stone to set it all off. I think the paper backs it, for our budget. The stone is a GIA Cert F color SI1 EX/EX/EX. I have read so much about the stats to look for, but it''s always followed up by "Don''t buy paper"... a Diamond must be seen.

My Jeweler/Broker went on a buying trip and while there hand picked this one for me to view, said it was "the one" that grabbed the attention visually and knew instantly upon opening the paper it was going to be the one that "popped" They are very excited for me to see it. This is a smaller, reputable family owned operation that will not have all the fancy machines. Just years and years of experience.

So, any advise?

 

[Ellen]

Hi MB,

Hard to say in a couple sentences.

1. If they have any AGS0 graded stones (newer with light performance grade), compare yours with one of those.

2. Take it (or it and the other preferably) away to the window, or better yet outside if they''ll let you, and see what it does away from the lights. It should not go totally "flat", there should still be brightness, and a slightly sparkely look. In full sun, it should be very sparkley, with fire (colors) flashing off it.

Also, these parimeters will help.

Depth between 60-62
Crown angle between 34-35
Pavillion angle between 40.7-40.9

HTH

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/21/2007 2:38:52 PM
Author: Ellen
Hi MB,

Hard to say in a couple sentences.

1. If they have any AGS0 graded stones (newer with light performance grade), compare yours with one of those.

2. Take it (or it and the other preferably) away to the window, or better yet outside if they'll let you, and see what it does away from the lights. It should not go totally 'flat', there should still be brightness, and a slightly sparkely look. In full sun, it should be very sparkley, with fire (colors) flashing off it.

Also, these parimeters will help.

Depth between 60-62
Crown angle between 34-35
Pavillion angle between 40.7-40.9

HTH

Welcome to PS!

Ditto Ellen, as you have so little time. See if you can compare to an AGS0 to give you an idea of how a superideal cut can look, but above all use your eyes and check it out in as many different lights as possible. If you are not sure, then perhaps come back here and read up on cut, as it is this which is crucial for a diamond's beauty. If you had more time, an Idealscope would be useful for you, if this isn't the one, then perhaps it might be worth considering ordering one to help you judge other diamonds.

Good luck to you!

 

[MyBling]

Thanks for the replies so far! This seems to be a very friendly active board

They have a small store front so I don''t know if they will have anything close to compare it to. Before the trip, they showed me one that was similar in size (1.26) and color, but it didn''t have an excellent cut. I could ask to compare those 2 if they still have that stone.

I do have some of the Information you talked about though, as I have the GIA cert # and got the info from the GIA website:

Cut Grade GIA Excellent

Depth 62.1

Crown Angle 35

Pavillion Angle 41

Girdle Thin to Med, Faceted

Cutlet none

Flor None

Does that help?

 

[Lorelei]

It looks a possibility, do you have a table size?

 

[MyBling]

Table is 55%

 

[MyBling]

I guess I should have mentioned it is a Round.....

 

[Lorelei]

It sounds promising so see what your eyes tell you when you see it, as that is really the bottom line, but it looks from the info given, definitely worthy of consideration. No worries, we can tell the shape from the proportions usually! One more thing, the diameter measurements would be good, such as 7.0 x 7.1 etc

 

[MyBling]

It''s 6.92x6.95x4.31

 

[Lorelei]

Sorry and the carat weight is 1.26? It is hovering around where it should for it's weight by the look of it.

 

[MyBling]

Yes, 1.26

 

[Lorelei]

I think it is well worth a look, let us know how you get on! Try to compare with some others if you can just to make sure you enjoy the personality of the diamond, but above all - trust your eyes!

 

[MyBling]

Thanks for the vote of confidence on the paper~ I''m excited to see it.

She does several buying trips a year and She told me that she can look at stone after stone after stone of stones with similar stats, and there is ALWAYS one that stands out above the rest, and that''s what she looks for. I really like this jeweler on a personal level but I don''t want that to cloud my decision making process, but I do feel her excitement is sincere. When I get in a Jewelry store, they all look so gorgeous, so I want to feel I am making an educated decision too, it''s probably the only time I''ll get to do this

But, I think for me, researching all the stats has taken a lot of the excitement out of it~

Now it''s time to just go look at the beauty and feel the romance.

I''ll let you know what I think later today! Thanks again!!

 

[MyBling]

Well, I''m back .........and we own a diamond!

We looked at it in the store and outside (on a very overcast day) We compared it to the similar stone I mentioned previously. It was a 1.21 and MINE at 1.26 seemed much larger, had much more sparkle, (although I will admit the other one was awfully nice too) I could not see any inclusions with my eye but was able to see 1 feather with the 10x loupe.

I don''t know if I asked all the right questions, I''m no expert but I wanted beauty and sparkle and it had that for sure. I also can''t claim I paid the best price out there, but I am confident I paid one that was fair. I received amazing personal service from the owner, and the charge also included removing the existing stone, setting the new one, resizing both the e-ring and wedding band, getting an independant appraisal for the entire set and insuring it for the first year through Jeweler''s Mutual. I''m proud I could support a family business and maintain a local relationship. (Trust me, If I didn''t think I was getting what I wanted & needed locally, I had a few online merchants I was ready to contact, there seems to be several great choices there too!)

I love this site, and a few others like it out there, where I''ve gotten so much information. Just reading other''s posts has answered so many of my questions. It''s all so helpful! As I said, I''m still no expert but I knew enough. In fact, I''m more educated than I ever thought I would be about diamonds. I used what I learned to buy a stone of quality & beauty but still strike a balance with what our budget would allow, what was appropiate for the setting and the other diamonds in it. It will make an awesome crowning jewel for my beautiful engagement/wedding set! I''ll be so proud to wear it~!

Yeah, I''m sure if we broke it down and analyzed every aspect there would be plenty of reasons that another stone might be a better choice, but this one was absolutely BEAUTIFUL to my eyes, and I LOVED it! That''s really what it''s all about, right?

I should have it next week, if anyone is interested in seeing it!

Many, Many thanks again for the advice~
MB

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/21/2007 11:08:28 PM
Author: MyBling
Well, I''m back .........and we own a diamond!

I should have it next week, if anyone is interested in seeing it!

Many, Many thanks again for the advice~
MB

But of course!!

It sounds like you did well, congrats!!

 

[Skippy123]

Congrats! Can''t wait for pics and welcome to PS!!!

 

[MyBling]

Ugh, I just read all those pages of posts about the 41 Pavillion angle and the 35 crown--- Granted I didn''t understand the majority of the thread, it was way over my head, I did gather that it''s not regarded as a good combo. Which, of course, is the exact combo mine has.

Why would something people think of as a bad combo, receive a score within the Ideal or Excellent range? I don''t get that.

I thought the stone looked Beautiful, so I hope after it''s set and on my hand, I will feel the same... It''s so hard to know...

 

[strmrdr]

If you loved it unset you will love it set.
Congrates!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/22/2007 4:43:12 PM
Author: strmrdr
If you loved it unset you will love it set.
Congrates!

Yup!! Congratulations, can''t wait to see it!!!!

 

[MyBling]

Thanks Guys.... You''re right. It''s in my nature to second guess things I think. Plus all the information puts my brain on overload sometimes!

I need to remember my own words and sentiments from yesterday.... besides, I''ve owned a few diamonds before this, and I thought they all looked good. With some, the only stats I knew were the carats! My first one was 0.10! It was too small to see!

I''m sure this one will be the nicest one I''ve ever owned, even if it has a 41 degree Pavillion Angle!

 

[marcy]

I can''t wait to see the finished product. Congratulations on your new sparkly diamond.

 

[Lynn B]

I only skimmed that 41 Pav angle thread, but it seems to me that lots of the experts are saying that a 41 degree pav can be quite gorgeous, and that the 41 degree-pav-a-phobia that some people have is just plain SILLY... so I don''t think you need to worry.

Your jeweler sounds WONDERFUL, your diamond sounds BEAUTIFUL, and I think you are going to LOVE it!!!

And yes, of course we want pictures! LOTS OF THEM, PLEASE!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Do not worry, if your stone looked beautiful and was graded as excellent cut, then you are FINE! We look forward to seeing it!

 

[MyBling]

I''ve tried to take pictures several times over the past couple of weeks, I''ve discovered a photographer I am not. However, here''s a shot of Mybling''s bling. I will be posting a few more over in the "show me the ring'' section. I LOVE my new diamond!