First time diamond buyer could use some help...

[RoyalFB]

I have been spending a lot of time on these forums for a while (lurker), but just became a member today as I am in need of advice. I recently graduated from college and I am in the process of applying to medical school. I only say this to emphasize my lack of money and the lack of money I will have over the next decade or so. I''m planning on proposing this spring and have been searching for a ring in my price range. I''ve been to tons of jewelers and they all seem to be so much more expensive than some of the online vendors. I know you can''t really judge a stone without seeing it first, but the vendor I have been looking at, Adiamor, has a 30 day return policy. I figure there is no harm in ordering as I can always return it. I was hoping to get some opinions on both the vendor and the diamond itself from the more experienced posters. Thank you so much in advance!!


Here is a link to the diamond I''ve been looking at:

http://www.adiamor.com/D-7260693.htm

 

[Ellen]

Hi Royal,

I have a question for you first. Has your girl specifically shown interest in a Princess cut?

As for this particular diamond, I would pass. It's very deep, too deep. That takes away from how big it will look, and doesn't help make for a pretty diamond.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am not familiar with that particular vendor or their policies. However, I will tell you that I can personally recommend both Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash, and both have hundreds of positive consumer reviews on this forum. They both have lifetime trade-up policies where you can trade in your stone for one of greater cost. You get 100% of what you paid toward the new stone. In addition, WF has a 10 day return policy and GOG has a 30 day return policy. But both carry ideal cut stones, so it would be unusual to return one unless you change your mind about the color, size, or something like that. What is your stone budget?

 

[RoyalFB]

Hi Ellen! Thank you for your response. Yes, my girlfriend and I went ring shopping together a while back and her favorite cut was the princess cut. From what I gather, that might make my job tougher, because of their reputation for leaking light. Is this pretty much always the case? How deep would you say is too deep. Thanks again!

 

[RoyalFB]

I haven''t looked at Good Old Good, so I will give that a try. I''d like to spend under $4000 for a diamond and find a setting later...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'll check the inventory for you in a little while, but GOG will carry ideal cut princess stones. They can call some in for you if they don't have one in stock at the moment. It just makes shopping SO much easier when you're looking at pre-selected well cut stones. Trust me, been there done that!

 

[RoyalFB]

Fantastic! Thank you very much for your help.

 

[RoyalFB]

I found another diamond on the same site. It is a little more money, but is the depth more desirable?

http://www.adiamor.com/D-7223448.htm

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''ll tell you the truth, without all the photos of the stone, etc., I don''t think we could tell you a lot about that stone. Here is one from GOG that is ideal cut, just so you can learn some desirable specs and see the associated pictures and other evaluations. Some people want higher than J color in a princess, but you''d have to ask Jonathan if this stone shows a tint or not. Ideal cut rounds seem to show less color than princess cuts.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3370/

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Here''s another possibility (not ideal cut but nice):

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-373455.htm#

 

[RoyalFB]

I really like the one you posted from Good Old Gold, I will definately call on that. I know it is not one of the sites you mentioned, but do you know anything about James Allen? They don''t have all of the Ideal Scope pictures posted, but they do have several actual photos of the stone. Here is the one I was looking at...

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1130956.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I answered you on the other thread. I just wanted to say that I didn''t mention JA before due to them not having as good a trade in policy. But it is likely that your future wife will want to keep her original diamond even when you are able to get her a future ring for an anniversary or something. I did keep mine, as a matter of fact. JA can have some good buys, but they don''t give all the info that some of the other vendors do, so you have to know the numbers pretty well. I am sure there is someone who''ll be able to comment on that particular stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Wait, I found some more true ideals in your price range:

http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-78249.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-40277.htm

Both of these are top cut quality, branded stones, and they will have a 5% discount if you pay by wire and tell them you are a PS member!

 

[RoyalFB]

I like both of those a lot! I''ll check them out more in depth when I get off work. Thank you so much for all of your help! I think I learned more in 30 minutes than the the last 2 weeks at jewelry stores

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You''re very welcome! Many of us started out here not knowing anything and got hooked on the forum! I can''t keep buying diamonds (if I want to keep my husband!), so I, and others, enjoy helping the new people! I am thankful I found PS before my husband bought me a diamond for our anniversary. What I saw locally couldn''t compare.