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First time buyer, please HELP!!!!

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patrick835

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
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Hello everybody, thanks so much for taking your time helping me (a poor student) out
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Im looking for a pair of princess cut stud earrings for my mom, i want it big and sparkling
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i got a cheap pair from Netaya in K - I2I3 - turned out they were kinda scam sending me unacceptable ones so i returned them and got my money back but i think K is ok for me.

since money is a big issue im just looking for something less than 1,400, and i found these at diamondsafe.com
loose diamond - $550 each
platinum 4 prong set- $270
attached is the specs of those loose diamonds

So my question is:
is this a good price?
how can i know if their GIA certificate is real or not?
can i trust diamondsafe.com?

Thanks again and really appreciate your help guys :)

screenshot_03.jpg
 
Here''s the spec of the other one

screenshot_04.jpg
 
You can use the GIA Report Check feature to verify the details of the lab report. As competing dealers, we can''t comment on the details of the diamonds you mention, but recommend reading the tutorials and threads pertaining to princess cut quality here on Price Scope as well as obtaining ASET and Ideal Scope images for the princess cut diamonds if visual performance is a concern.
 
Hi Patrick,

These do not look like well cut Princess to me from the info given. I am not familiar with this vendor, you could try a search here or a Google search to see what comes up.

Cut quality is so important if you are going to have beautiful Princess so personally I would look for some others, if you like we could make some suggestions for you?
 
Yes please, i would love to know your recommendations :D
 
Can't find any stones in your budget with images.

WF have a ready set to go Princess cut set. 0.75ctw is within your budget.
http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=678&CategID=54

Or this set from BN, Just within your budget, need to check for eye-clean though.
http://www.bluenile.com/princess-cut-diamond-1-carat-or-less-good-cut-e-color-si2-clarity_LD01018165?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/princess-cut-diamond-1-carat-or-less-good-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD01018166?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

AGS is the only llab the cut grade a princess cut, with AGS0 being the ideal grade, it is a safer bet than buying GIA unless you have access to ASET images.
 
Thanks, that is really helpful... but i really want them a little bigger
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so GIA is pretty ok, it's just the cut grade for princess cut they're missing right? can i actually call them and request a picture or something so you guys can take a look a help me out?
thanks
 
Date: 4/29/2009 6:06:43 PM
Author: patrick835
Thanks, that is really helpful... but i really want them a little bigger
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so GIA is pretty ok, it''s just the cut grade for princess cut they''re missing right? can i actually call them and request a picture or something so you guys can take a look a help me out?

thanks
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If you really want to go with GIA, then you will have to trust the vendor in their view on the cut. They could be truthful, could be trying to push the diamond to you or do not have much experiences with Princess cut performance, so you are putting a lot of trust in them. One way to judge a princess cut is to ask for an ASET image for them but not a lot of vendors carry these scope, so it might not work out.

Or you could get round brilliant cut, they are a lot easier to judge by the numbers alone. Sorry, could not be of more help in princess cut.
 
why princess cut?
1: they look bigger than brilliant :D
2: my mom likes them
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she has a pair of round brilliant already

i'll call the vendor tomorrow and let you know :) thanks so much
 
Date: 4/30/2009 2:51:14 AM
Author: patrick835
why princess cut?
1: they look bigger than brilliant :D
2: my mom likes them
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she has a pair of round brilliant already

i''ll call the vendor tomorrow and let you know :) thanks so much
Click to expand...
patrick, I would try Jon at www.goodoldgold.com give him a call and tell him what you are looking for, he might be able to come up with 2 lovely Princess in your budget.

Also try Wink at www.highperformancediamonds.com he might have some clean I1 Princess which might work.
 
@Lorelei: i couldn't find anything less than 2k in those 2 websites :D

I'm thinking about stonecold's pick from bluenile - .39 and .40 - both AGS Idea 0 - SI1 and SI2 - E and F colour.
Bluenile has like 10 AGSL graded princess cut diamonds, which they put in different cutting grades such as Very good/good/fair but their AGSL certificates all show AGS Idea 0 ... so what's wrong with bluenile?

in addition, i came across wikipedia and they say AGS is not the only lab to grade princess's cut.

Accredited Gem Appraisers (AGA) and American Gem Society Laboratory (AGSL) and European Gem Laboratories-USA (EGL-USA) are currently the only labs that grades the Princess cut for Light Return. An AGS cut grade of "0" is the highest grade and an AGA or EGL "EX" is also the highest grade. These are considered "ideal" princess cut diamonds. Such a diamond demands a price premium over other princess cut diamonds because it has better light performance. Generally the best princess cut diamonds will have a table of 62%-68%, crown height of 10%-15%, and a total depth of 64%-75%.
 
Date: 4/30/2009 11:12:03 AM
Author: patrick835
@Lorelei: i couldn't find anything less than 2k in those 2 websites :D

I'm thinking about stonecold's pick from bluenile - .39 and .40 - both AGS Idea 0 - SI1 and SI2 - E and F colour.
Bluenile has like 10 AGSL graded princess cut diamonds, which they put in different cutting grades such as Very good/good/fair but their AGSL certificates all show AGS Idea 0 ... so what's wrong with bluenile?

in addition, i came across wikipedia and they say AGS is not the only lab to grade princess's cut.

Accredited Gem Appraisers (AGA) and American Gem Society Laboratory (AGSL) and European Gem Laboratories-USA (EGL-USA) are currently the only labs that grades the Princess cut for Light Return. An AGS cut grade of '0' is the highest grade and an AGA or EGL 'EX' is also the highest grade. These are considered 'ideal' princess cut diamonds. Such a diamond demands a price premium over other princess cut diamonds because it has better light performance. Generally the best princess cut diamonds will have a table of 62%-68%, crown height of 10%-15%, and a total depth of 64%-75%.
Click to expand...
AGSL or AGS are considered to have a stricter cut grade for rounds and Princess than EGL out of the major labs, we don't go by EGL cut grading - personally I don't know what basis they use to grade Princess, so for all intents and purposes if you want cut graded Princess I would look at AGS.

As to BN with their VG cut grades and so on used to describe their AGS diamonds I think it is a glitch in their software or in the translation, this happens a lot. You can certainly try some AGS0 from BN, personally I think of it as buying blind even with AGS0 without images, the AGS0 cut grade may get you in the ball park of well cut Princess but even these can vary in appearance and beauty, so to me it is always best to have images. BN do have a good return policy that you can examine the diamonds to make sure they are the right ones for you.
 
Date: 4/30/2009 11:12:03 AM
Author: patrick835
@Lorelei: i couldn''t find anything less than 2k in those 2 websites :D

I''m thinking about stonecold''s pick from bluenile - .39 and .40 - both AGS Idea 0 - SI1 and SI2 - E and F colour.

Bluenile has like 10 AGSL graded princess cut diamonds, which they put in different cutting grades such as Very good/good/fair but their AGSL certificates all show AGS Idea 0 ... so what''s wrong with bluenile?

in addition, i came across wikipedia and they say AGS is not the only lab to grade princess''s cut.

Accredited Gem Appraisers (AGA) and American Gem Society Laboratory (AGSL) and European Gem Laboratories-USA (EGL-USA) are currently the only labs that grades the Princess cut for Light Return. An AGS cut grade of ''0'' is the highest grade and an AGA or EGL ''EX'' is also the highest grade. These are considered ''ideal'' princess cut diamonds. Such a diamond demands a price premium over other princess cut diamonds because it has better light performance. Generally the best princess cut diamonds will have a table of 62%-68%, crown height of 10%-15%, and a total depth of 64%-75%.
Click to expand...

I think AGA is still grading princess cut using the proportions method, do not directly address the cut of the stone. This is the chart they used last time unless they have something new recently, http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fnc1.asp. Not sure about EGL-USA because of EGL''s reputation on being soft on color and clarity and not a lot of stones online anyway.

BN grades princess cut by the AGA numbers from what I can see and not according to AGS cut grade. Also they only have Signature Ideal, VG, G and P grade with Signature Ideal being their in-house stone and with an additional report by GCAL which we don''t know how they grade the cut performance.
 
There aren't many options for AGSL diamonds
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i feel bad for asking you guys too much
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really. i guess i'll have to switch to Round Brilliant, could anybody help me find a best pair for the money please
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around 1,4k

thanks guys, don't know what to say, you are being like my family...
 
Date: 4/30/2009 11:31:38 AM
Author: patrick835
There aren't many options for AGSL diamonds
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i feel bad for asking you guys too much
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really. i guess i'll have to switch to Round Brilliant, could anybody help me find a best pair for the money please
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around 1,4k

thanks guys, don't know what to say, you are being like my family...
Click to expand...
DON'T feel bad! Are you sure she would want RB? I know you said she preferred Princess?

You could ask James Allen how these 2 match

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1225463.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1225479.asp
 
I just told her it's hard to find princess cut, she said RB is ok
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4 prongs. big, sparkling, and best-for-the-money
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i came here 2 years ago from Vietnam for school, so 1,4k is a lot of money to me
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they don't even let me work with F1 visa (that's ok anyway, school is the top priority
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) hehehehehe
 
Date: 4/30/2009 11:43:57 AM
Author: patrick835
I just told her it''s hard to find princess cut, she said RB is ok
21.gif
4 prongs. big, sparkling, and best-for-the-money
11.gif


i came here 2 years ago from Vietnam for school, so 1,4k is a lot of money to me
14.gif
they don''t even let me work with F1 visa (that''s ok anyway, school is the top priority
34.gif
) hehehehehe
Click to expand...
Ok! Check out the 2 Princess I found above and see what you think, then we can try to find some rounds for you.
 
Date: 4/30/2009 11:43:57 AM
Author: patrick835
I just told her it''s hard to find princess cut, she said RB is ok
21.gif
4 prongs. big, sparkling, and best-for-the-money
11.gif


i came here 2 years ago from Vietnam for school, so 1,4k is a lot of money to me
14.gif
they don''t even let me work with F1 visa (that''s ok anyway, school is the top priority
34.gif
) hehehehehe
Click to expand...

Hmm... university?

Studs, nothing cheaper that I can find, sorry.
http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=WFER-4R-Set&CategID=54

What is your mum''s present stud size? Maybe you can get her something like this?
http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=WF-4054&CategID=54

Or something like this? Much bigger coverage than a stud.
http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Flower-Cluster-Diamond-Earrings--READY-SET-TO-GO_954.htm
 
Yeah yeah just took the final yesterday and i'm getting my AA next week ;) going to UCF (orlando) in fall. will be bringing this pair of earrings back to Vietnam on May 18 ;)
My mom's pair is around .6 in gold. this pair is gonna be a bigger one in white gold ;) and just simple, no fancy style.

Is James Allen a reputable store to buy from? i see it in ripoffreport
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http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/333/RipOff0333857.htm

and how do they grade its cut as ideal cut? same GIA certificate.

thanks.
Khiem
 
James Allen are a very reputable PS vendor, no worries there. I have seen many happy clients of theirs over the years I have been here. I don't know what criteria they use to decide on their ideal cuts, like many other vendors they use this term but what we do is to evaluate each diamond on its own merits rather than go by labels such as ideal cut anyway.
 
tempting,,, those two look like a pretty good deal to me
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and their settings are pretty cheap compare to others'

ahhh, runnin out of battery,,, gotta go home...
 
Date: 4/30/2009 12:15:53 PM
Author: patrick835
Yeah yeah just took the final yesterday and i''m getting my AA next week ;) going to UCF (orlando) in fall. will be bringing this pair of earrings back to Vietnam on May 18 ;)
Click to expand...

I think most university has a work-study program that F1 can work in.

Anyway, JA is a trusted vendor on PS, lots of satisfied customers here compared to just one negative report on the site.
 
@stone-cold: i want to work as a tutor or something like that so i have a chance to speak English to other people, not like walk around in the library organizing books T___T and those good positions are filled up way too fast. they have a long waiting list even before i get accepted to the University :D

@Rorelei: wow, i didn't know SI2 can be THIS bad
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6107550180PIC.JPG
 
depends. Some are minimal or white inclusions. Ask JA if it is eye-clean, some SI2, even I1 can be eye-clean.
 
pic of the other one, what do you think?
i''ll give them a call this afternoon when i get home

6107546882PIC.JPG
 
Sorry, it is impossible to judge as these image are taken in a diffuse surround lighting conditions that makes inclusions more visible. Only the vendor looking at the actual stone can tell you if it is eye-clean or not.
 
that''s awkward isn''t it? i thought they always use lighting to hide the defects ;)
 
Date: 4/30/2009 1:38:48 PM
Author: patrick835
that''s awkward isn''t it? i thought they always use lighting to hide the defects ;)
Click to expand...

Well, these lighting conditions are used to see inclusions. :p
 
James has 3 princess cut Ideal .58tcw I SI1 for a little more... should i sacrifice Color from F down to I to get a cleaner stone? and what should i ask them when i call in?

they're similar to each other
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-924913.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1225542.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1055829.asp

thanks
Khiem.
 
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