first time buyer questions

[questionsRus]

Hi everyone. This is my first time ever buying a diamond, and am unsure as to whether or not to do it online or at a store around town so I can see them before I buy the one I want. I am looking to spend in the $4000-$5000 (5000 max, i would prefer it to be between the 4000 and 4500) range. I am looking for something between .75 and 1 carat, and am wondering if I should sacrifice size for quality, or I can get a good quality larger sized one for that range? Thanks in advance!!

 

[questionsRus]

i've been reading up on this website for about a week now, it's addicting haha. everyone talks about cut, but how exactly do you know if the diamond you are looking at is cut well? are you supposed to go by the table and similar measurements? or do you go by the "scope" pictures? that's one point i am quite unsure about. I have done the diamond search, with the H&A box checked, and found ones i like, but how do i know it's exactly what i want and is a good cut? my preferences are: anything with a V in it (VVS1,2, VS1,2) and anything from D-G, between .75 and 1 carat (if possible). i have found diamonds using the search on this site, but (one last time) i don't know about cut so much. Thanks!

 

[questionsRus]

Could anyone give me an opinion on this diamond?
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00247540&query=2&filter_id=0
I think it's pretty nice, it seems to have good traits and falls in my range nicely
It is graded by the AGSL, are they any good?

 

[bling]

well, youve got a great start! your questions are certainly valid, but if you plan to go through the internet, you have to understand that alot of you decision will have to be from what you are presented with, without acutally seeing the stone in person (unless you are lucky enough to live near one of the vendors). Thats why so many of the vendors provide you with all that great info..the sarin reports, the idealscope image, Bscope images, H&A patterns, and Isee2 readings. You combine all of this info, and maybe use the HCA and the AGA cut grading chart..you can weed out the poor performers. What you have left are a bunch of great looking stones, that you can start to split hairs between. From all of the above listed tools, you should be able to get a really good idea of the cut and the performance of the stone. Since many of the vendors have great return policies, you also have the opportunity to send it out and have it independently appraised, maybe in your area, before you purchase it.
As for color and clarity, if you get a well cut stone, you may consider going to a F/G or a VS2 to maximize your size. well cut stones tend to face up very white and mask inclusions well...but all that is up to you.
intenet vendors understand that they cannot always show you the stone in person, the way a B&M can..so they make up for it in other ways. countless people here have taken that leap of faith, gotten wonderful results, and would never shop for diamonds any other way!
sorry if i still havent even answered your question, but i hope it helps..

 

[questionsRus]

would anyone care to give me their opinion on the above diamond? opinions mean lots to me! i am especially curious of who AGSL is.

 

[questionsRus]

nevermind about the who is AGSL, for some reason it's AGS Labs. I would still really really like your opinions before i go off and buy this diamond though!!! please. especially some of you experienced people. maybe i should make a post with a more interesting title.

 

[Lynn B]

Oh lord, I feel SOOOOO unqualified to comment on that diamond! I am pretty much a newbie myself. But I have read everything I can get my hands (and eyes) on!!! Does that count for anything?!!!!

Please take all opinions with a grain of salt, and I humbly defer to any of our true experts here! But since you maybe seem to be feeling a wee little bit "neglected"

I wanted to at least post something!

I ran it through the HCA (link at bottom of this page) -- that's a great screening tool. It scored 2.5 (VERY GOOD in light return, fire, scintillation, and spread) and an overall grade of "Very good, worth buying if the price is right."

Generally, you want to try to buy a diamond that scores <2 on the HCA, but as has been discussed here before, the HCA is only one screening tool. It's not intended to be the "final word."

I would call or e-mail BlueNile and ask them to pull the stone and give you their input. Most of PS's vendors seem to be extremely candid and honest in that regard.

Lynn

PS I LOVE your screen name!!! LOL!

 

[strmrdr]

This one is better and cheaper.
Its .01ct lighter but bigger in diameter and the same E vs2

http://www.goodoldgold.com/0_81ct_e_vs2_h%26a.htm

Have you considered going down in color and clarity and up in size?
G eyeclean si1 will get you a bigger diamond.

 

[bling]

the blue nile stone looks okay, but i am a little concerned with the crown angle. i am too, just a consumer, but at 35. something crown angle coupled with its pavillion is a little steep for me. try plugging those numbers in the HCA and see what happens. The cert was a little blurry as well, so im not sure if it said 35.x or 33.x...
also the depth was a little deep for me, coupled with a slightly thick girdle..just means your losing a little weight on the bottom that you wont see.
although it could be a nice stone, i would keep looking..im sure you can find something better. good luck and keep us posted!

 

[questionsRus]

Yeah, i have looked around and call me picky but i like the higher up ones i do like that diamond you posted though, does diameter make a difference in sparkle? thanks for the replies! and yeah i was feeling a little neglected lynn haha, i know it's dumb but oh well! I subsequently ran it through the HCA and it scored real good, but i couldn't fill in some of the angles.

 

[strmrdr]

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-695986.htm

Id want to see an ideal-scope image, h&a photos and clarity photos for this one but it looks good and decent price two.

 

[aljdewey]

Hi, Russ: The Blue Nile diamond looks as though it could be nice, but my personal preference would be to find one with a slightly more shallow crown angle and a bit less depth in the stone.




Here's an example of what I mean: .828, E, VS2 for $4284




http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/diamond_detail.cfm?did=7044120&ref=PS622




This stone has CHERRY numbers.....only 61.1 depth (instead of almost 63!); and crown angle is 34.3 instead of 35.4. Also, the girdle is more preferred.




The Blue Nile stone hides a bit of weight in the depth and the girdle, and that affects the diameter (5.92 x 5.99). As you can see, the Dirt Cheap stone has better diameter (6.06-6.0, so you'll SEE all the weight you're paying for. AND it's $200 less!




In short, the BN stone is nicer than most maul grade stones, so it's better than the run of the mill, but you could do considerably better and get a 1A cut diamond for less money and get a BLAZING stone.