For those of you with larger stones.......

[windowshopper]

For those of you who purchased a stone 3 carats or larger I would appreciate knowing how large the stone is, where you purchased it, and how long it took you to find or have found the stone you ended up with. Large stones are tougher it seems??? I am considering an upgrade but i love my stone so much I am having trouble imagining finding anything comparable......

 

[orange_horse_fiance]

WS,
My asscher is 4.21 carats and is just over 9mm x 9mm (I think). My DH started shopping for the al stone for us and we were not successful until sometime in January. It was a frustrating for us, but one we re still thrilled with the outcome. It does seem like the larger stones have a more limited selection and I think especially when you get into particular cuts. Looking back the wait, delay and pickiness we went experinced was all worth because we are still thrilled with the stone and I am not sure I will ever want to change for a different size or cut.

Good luck and just try to be patient!!!

OHF

 

[windowshopper]

Date: 4/30/2006 11:06:24 AM
Author: orange_horse_fiance
WS,
My asscher is 4.21 carats and is just over 9mm x 9mm (I think). My DH started shopping for the al stone for us and we were not successful until sometime in January. It was a frustrating for us, but one we re still thrilled with the outcome. It does seem like the larger stones have a more limited selection and I think especially when you get into particular cuts. Looking back the wait, delay and pickiness we went experinced was all worth because we are still thrilled with the stone and I am not sure I will ever want to change for a different size or cut.

Good luck and just try to be patient!!!

OHF

i remember it took you a while--where is your stone from : pricescope or non pricescope vendor?

 

[Mara]

i dont have a 3c+ stone, but i do check out WF's inventory fairly often (esp while i was shopping for my 2c plus stone which took about 4-5 months to come up, because i had very stiff particulars) and i have only seen about two 3c range stones in the last year on their site. i know now they have the 5c I SI that looks FABULOUS for 'only' $80k...but other than that i know their pickins have been really slim. i also recall that solange had to wait about 6 months for WF to find her a stone that worked for her 4c upgrade.

oh also i know that mark at ERD has a huge list of stones (virtual) on his site and that he does have alot of large ones in the list...so maybe he'd be someone to call to see what he thinks, what he can pull in, etc etc.

 

[ELL]

I looked for about 6 months and found an amazing 3.15 ideal cut round diamond with SI1 clarity (eye clean) and a ice white G color. It has excellent polish and excellent sym. I ended up buying it from a private party who lived in Wisconsin. I live in Encinitas Ca. so we used an escrow company. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will hopefully post pictures next week when it is set!

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 4/30/2006 1:45:21 PM
Author: Mara

oh also i know that mark at ERD has a huge list of stones (virtual) on his site and that he does have alot of large ones in the list...so maybe he''d be someone to call to see what he thinks, what he can pull in, etc etc.

Yeah, I think most of the "big" stones come through NYC on their journeys elsewhere -- so Mark has a clear advantage on getting a look at ''em without having to call them in!

There must be more demand - ''cause Facets even started showing more big stones in pre-set rings?? Aren''t they in NYC too?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 4/30/2006 1:52:07 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 4/30/2006 1:45:21 PM
Author: Mara

oh also i know that mark at ERD has a huge list of stones (virtual) on his site and that he does have alot of large ones in the list...so maybe he''d be someone to call to see what he thinks, what he can pull in, etc etc.

Yeah, I think most of the ''big'' stones come through NYC on their journeys elsewhere -- so Mark has a clear advantage on getting a look at ''em without having to call them in!

There must be more demand - ''cause Facets even started showing more big stones in pre-set rings?? Aren''t they in NYC too?

Yup, they are right in the diamond district.

 

[Dancing Fire]

WS

OT.... but i notice you were looking for a nice watch, i didn''t want to hijack diamondfan''s thread anyway, you should take a look at Jaeger-Le coultre ( JLC for short) they make beautiful mechanical watches (i''m a mechanical watch snob

) very high quality in house movements for the money,one of very few true manufacture of fine watches.

here''s the beautiful PP that my brit GF Lorelei is buying.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/for-those-lucky-ladies-patek-philippe-just.43251/

 

[headlight]

My stone (round) is 3.29 ct., 9.59 mm.
Purchased at a B & M who carries inventory of larger stones.

 

[ELL]

What is the color and clarity? Do you mind if I ask how much the diamond was? Ball park?

 

[ELL]

The 3.29 round.

 

[windowshopper]

thanks--and i am interested to learn if people had specs of their own or just inspected stones gotten in by b & m stores

 

[headlight]

Date: 4/30/2006 7:18:46 PM
Author: ELL
What is the color and clarity? Do you mind if I ask how much the diamond was? Ball park?

It is an EGL graded H color, SI2 clarity; it was purchased three years ago, and was approx. $20k.

As for going to the B & M with specs, yes I did have "notes" with me. I knew the "ranges" of all the numbers I was aiming for. My stone''s specs fell into all the desired ranges on my list except for the table was a little bigger. But I really focused on what the eyes saw and this stone has lots of color flashes that come forth from all areas of the stone, and the colors are comprised of the full spectrum of the rainbow, and the stone performs in most lighting (or lack of) environments. I cannot see the inclusions to my eye, so I didn''t let the clarity stand in the way for me, although w/ the loupe it is a bit scary!!! The color, which I suspect is more of an I color, did take some getting used to for me but it doesn''t affect me now. I have had a number of jewelers (who did not sell me the stone) tell me what a beauty it is, whatever that is worth.

 

[ELL]

Your diamond sounds like a real beauty! You got a good price on it too. What are the dimensions? How did you set it? Do you have a picture? THANK YOU!!!!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/30/2006 2:10:38 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
WS

OT.... but i notice you were looking for a nice watch, i didn''t want to hijack diamondfan''s thread anyway, you should take a look at Jaeger-Le coultre ( JLC for short) they make beautiful mechanical watches (i''m a mechanical watch snob

) very high quality in house movements for the money,one of very few true manufacture of fine watches.

here''s the beautiful PP that my brit GF Lorelei is buying.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/for-those-lucky-ladies-patek-philippe-just.43251/

No DF this is the beautiful PP that my American BF Dancing Fire is buying for Lorelei

Because I''m worth it

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Hi! I got mine in B & M stores. They were already in the display cases when I saw them.

 

[windowshopper]

more info please--madame bijoux.............how big, etc

 

[Madam Bijoux]

My bigger guys are 3.56 carats and up. One is a 3.56 pear (E, VVS2) with tapered baguettes that was in Bailey Banks & Biddle's display case. Another one is a bypass style pear shaped ruby & diamond ring from the 1920's (both stones about 3.75 carats each, the diamond is a G color) with baguettes that was in an estate show at BBB. I've always had good luck with estate shows at B & M stores. If you don't mind paying top dollar, the big-name houses on 5th Avenue always have a good selection of larger stones.

Edited to add: I've noticed that the stores have a bigger selection of larger stones beginning in October of each year.

 

[solange]

I bought my 4.10 round stone from Whiteflash. I saw stones on the multiple listing site and sent them to Lesley but she rejected all of them as not being what she thought I would want. I actually wanted a G or H and was willing to pay more. But when this stone came up, it was ideal proportions and Lesely said she would send for it and if it did not meet with their approval as to quality, I would not have to pay for having it shipped to them.

When the stone arrived, Brian called and said that he felt this was the perfect stone for me. It is an I, Si2 but he said it was eye clean and it was difficult to find an ideal cut stone in this size that was perfectly eye clean and it faced up more like an H because of the cut. Jewelers who have seen it guessed it was a G or H.

I had the stone sent to an appraiser where I could see it and loved it. It was the first stone they sent me but I had looked extensively in the Diamond District so I had an idea of what was around and I did wait quite a while until Lesley found this beautiful stone for me.

Just curious, Windowshopper. What size is your present stone and what size and shape are you looking for? And how long do you have it? Your present ring is gorgeous.

 

[KristyDarling]

Hi Windowshopper, my stone is a 3.56 carat RBC. I bought it from JA after about 2-3 months of looking. And I found that it was REALLY hard to find any ideal-cut stones in the G-H-I range above 2.2 carats. Above 3 carats was even harder. When I approached the PS vendors, I had a narrow range of specs in mind. When JA found my stone (I think someone in NYC had it in their display case), I was skeptical because it was about .5carats larger than I had wanted, but in all other aspects it was perfect. Nancy Stacy actually preferred it over an ideal-cut 3.0 carat stone with even better proportions from GOG that I had cllaed in. So, DH coughed up the additional 9K that was not in our original budget (I was VERY nice to him for months after that, hehe) and we went for it.

Good luck with your search! Can't wait to hear more about it.

Given how stunning your current ring is, your new one is sure to be amazing.

 

[windowshopper]

Date: 5/1/2006 9:24:10 AM
Author: solange
I bought my 4.10 round stone from Whiteflash. I saw stones on the multiple listing site and sent them to Lesley but she rejected all of them as not being what she thought I would want. I actually wanted a G or H and was willing to pay more. But when this stone came up, it was ideal proportions and Lesely said she would send for it and if it did not meet with their approval as to quality, I would not have to pay for having it shipped to them.

When the stone arrived, Brian called and said that he felt this was the perfect stone for me. It is an I, Si2 but he said it was eye clean and it was difficult to find an ideal cut stone in this size that was perfectly eye clean and it faced up more like an H because of the cut. Jewelers who have seen it guessed it was a G or H.

I had the stone sent to an appraiser where I could see it and loved it. It was the first stone they sent me but I had looked extensively in the Diamond District so I had an idea of what was around and I did wait quite a while until Lesley found this beautiful stone for me.

Just curious, Windowshopper. What size is your present stone and what size and shape are you looking for? And how long do you have it? Your present ring is gorgeous.

I have had my 3.18 EC since 12/04. I love love love my stone. its magnificent imo and i get absurd compliments on it........that being said i want a larger stone for 2 reasons: 1)i have never liked my current mounting. too much mounting for the stone and 2)i have very long hands. really. i my hand it looks like 2 carats ...a lady at a jewelry store once asked if it was 2 then to see it and tried it on and it looked huge on her much smaller hands. its a proportion thing...

 

[windowshopper]

Date: 5/1/2006 10:21:24 AM
Author: KristyDarling
Hi Windowshopper, my stone is a 3.56 carat RBC. I bought it from JA after about 2-3 months of looking. And I found that it was REALLY hard to find any ideal-cut stones in the G-H-I range above 2.2 carats. Above 3 carats was even harder. When I approached the PS vendors, I had a narrow range of specs in mind. When JA found my stone (I think someone in NYC had it in their display case), I was skeptical because it was about .5carats larger than I had wanted, but in all other aspects it was perfect. Nancy Stacy actually preferred it over an ideal-cut 3.0 carat stone with even better proportions from GOG that I had cllaed in. So, DH coughed up the additional 9K that was not in our original budget (I was VERY nice to him for months after that, hehe) and we went for it.

Good luck with your search! Can''t wait to hear more about it.

Given how stunning your current ring is, your new one is sure to be amazing.

is JA James Allen? thats where my stone is from ---yours is DIVINE!

 

[cutey TT]

Window Shopper -

I thought that it would take me months to find a 3+ RB stone that I loved, but it was actually quite easy and I''m a little disappointed because DH is not ready for me to upgrade right at this very moment. I''m sad to let the stone "go" - which is kind of a funny thing since it was never mine to begin with, but oh well. I''m sure that when we''re ready to buy, I''ll find another one I like just as much (at least based on the specs).

This one is a 3.17 G VS1 (AGS0, ideal ideal, no culet or flouresence). If you want more info on this stone, I''d love to pass it on since I love it (even though I''ve never seen it) and I feel like someone on PS should definitely own it. At least I would be able to see it in its all its glory on SMTR.

 

[KristyDarling]

WS, yes it's from James Allen.

 

[headlight]

Date: 4/30/2006 9:03:53 PM
Author: ELL
Your diamond sounds like a real beauty! You got a good price on it too. What are the dimensions? How did you set it? Do you have a picture? THANK YOU!!!!!!

ELL,
It''s dimensions are 9.59 - 9.51 x 5.85 mm.
It is set extremely low in a basket mounting, as a three-stone compilation, flanked by trillions, in platinum.

 

[headlight]

Date: 5/1/2006 2:41:14 PM
Author: headlight

Date: 4/30/2006 9:03:53 PM
Author: ELL
Your diamond sounds like a real beauty! You got a good price on it too. What are the dimensions? How did you set it? Do you have a picture? THANK YOU!!!!!!

ELL,
It''s dimensions are 9.59 - 9.51 x 5.85 mm.
It is set extremely low in a basket mounting, as a three-stone compilation, flanked by trillions, in platinum.

The ring is my avatar, and here is another angle.

 

[guildasu]

I purchased my 20th anniversary ring- GIA certified 4.08 J VS2 rectangular radiant (I know all about the debate over J color radiants--this one is closer to an I and is warm and inviting) with .96 radiant trillion sidestones at Golda''s Jewelry in the NYC Diamond District after months of online and B & M shopping and research. It''s beautiful and I love it. I was a pain in the a** customer, nagging them with all of my pricescope questions and report requests, but Golda''s got me through the selection process, and I am thrilled with the result. Sue

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" src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/36.gif" align="absMiddle border=0">

 

[ELL]

Headlight,
All I can say is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS! Wow! I love the classic symplicity of your setting. So classy. I am sure you get a lot of ohhhhs and awwwws with that on your finger!!! LOVE IT!!!! Thanks for the pictures. WOW!!!!

 

[headlight]

Thank you very much! You made my day