Getting close to buying a diamond...could use input

[jyd24]

Hello-
I am a newbie to diamonds but am shopping around for an engagement ring from my girlfriend. She has no idea this is coming, well she might but we''ve never really discussed it. Anyways, I''ve been looking around at local stores and online. I''ve found 3 diamonds that are all in the same price range and could use some feedback from someone that knows more about this than I do.

#1
Carat- .72
Clarity- VS1
Color- H
Cut- Ideal
EGL cert.
Cost- $2800

#2
Carat- .73
Clarity- SI1
Color- F
Cut- Ideal
GIA cert.
Cost- $2575

#3
Carat- .75
Clarity- SI1
Color- G
Cut- Ideal
GIA cert.
Cost- $2500

When looking at #3 with a 10x scope I could easily see the inclusions, I had to search to find the very small inclusions on #2. I can definitely tell a color differnce between 1 and 2 but not 2 and 3. I saw all 3 certs for these diamonds but I don''t have all of their measurements.

I don''t want to sound stingy, I just don''t want to get ripped off and pay way too much. I don''t have a ton of money to throw around so this is the price range I''m trying to stick to. If anyone has any comments or suggestions I would really appreciate it. I''m going to go back in and look at them Monday so a quick response would be great.
Thanks to all......

 

[blueroses]

Welcome JYD....and you don''t sound stingy to us, PS is ALL about being well-educated consumers, and for many that''s all about value!!!

So....it''s hard to tell much w/ those numbers. Do you have any of the additional specs (table, depth, pavilion, cut, symmetry.....) from those certs? I assume you''re talking about round brilliants (RB)? You''ve come to the right place!

(And for what it''s worth, I wouldn''t worry too much about inclusions seen at 10x -- eye clean is eye clean!)

 

[jyd24]

Unfortunately I don''t have those measurements. And yes they are all round brilliants. What I do know is that all of the measurements were pretty close together. The exact numbers I don''t know but I did compare to see if any of them were way out there. After looking at all 3 next to eachother I am leaning toward #2 because of the color. I have shopped around and this is easily the best price I''ve seen out of a store in the area for stones in this quality range. My main problem is that I''ve been looking but am running out of time. We leave for Mexico in 2 weeks and I want to surprise her on the beach at sunset. Like I said before, I just don''t want to get ripped off.

That leads me to another question: Will I have trouble getting the ring through airport security/What is the best and safest way to get this thing down to Mexico without my gf seeing a security guard pull it out of my bag at the airport?

Thanks

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

If someone is calling these stones (edited to add) IDEAL they either have the #'s or are full of 'it'.

get the #'s or run is my advice

 

[jyd24]

If you are refering to the measurements, then yes they do have #''s. I''ve seen all 3 certs. I''ve looked at them, touched them and read all 3. What I don''t have are those numbers written down to put in this forum. Sorry if I sound frustrated, but the thought of having to start the search all over again does take it''s toll on me. All I''m really looking for is some opinions on if these things are reasonable or way overpriced. I''ve done some searches on pricescope with the info above and come back with diamonds in the same price range.
Thanks

 

[hoorray]

Hi jyd24,

As blueroses says, you don't have enough information to evaluate cut based onthis information. "Ideal" can mean many different things to many different people, and seems to have become a marketing term since more and more people have learned that cut makes the biggest difference in the stone's performance. Thius, if possible, I would try to get sarin reports on these stones, and/or, I'd try to look at them through an idealscope. The cut will make a bigger difference in how the stone looks in everyday lights than either color or clarity.

With just the certs, you can get some of the cut information, just not some of the key light performance parameters. The EGL stone should have the crown and pavilion percentages so you can at least use the HCA to get a feel for where it falls. Since they are are all certed, you should compare the diameter and depth of each to see how they size up to what an good ideal cut of this weight should be. And you should check the girdles to see if there are any problems there.

If you don't end up getting either of sarins or an idealscope, I would ask the jeweler to take all three stones into several normal lighting situations with you (not the bright jewelers lights) and try to decide which looks best to you. I would try to not know which one is the F color while doing this just so that doesn't bias your thinking. (Don't get me wrong, I love F color in stones, but would rather have the better cut stone given the choice, anyday.)

good luck. If you get more info, post it here and people will help you out.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/27/2005 1:7:45 AM
Author: jyd24
If you are refering to the measurements, then yes they do have ...

Not quite... I am pretty sure Garry was asking for a few dozens more numbers: a 3D Sarin report of better.

If that's allot of trouble to get, and you have the stones at hand light return could be checked otherwise.

The point here: if these stones are called "Ideal" based only on lab cert data, the word is not very meaningful: this kind of "ideal" has nothing to do with brilliance - for starters. If there is a premium for the "ideal" label - you might want to ask the seller what that label means (there is no standard for it - to each shop it's own, basically).

 

[Regular Guy]

JYD,

Can''t help with the travel thing. A quick check on pricing based on the info you do have shows the cost basis certainly reasonable. Also, a "Rogerian" approach to responding to preferences among the three would draw me to #2.

Particularly, I hear both that you''re tired of shopping, and that you have a tight time line. Nevertheless, you stumbled into here, a certain focus here is on the cut of the diamond, and a propensity of the feedback you''ve already gotten has to do with that. I started this thread recently, and it shows my bias.

Best wishes,

 

[hoorray]

JYD -- the travel question has come up before here, and many guys have had successful solutions. Do some searches to see if you can find their old threads. I don''t remember off hand what they did.

 

[noobie]

Date: 3/27/2005 12:56:41 AM
Author: jyd24



That leads me to another question: Will I have trouble getting the ring through airport security/What is the best and safest way to get this thing down to Mexico without my gf seeing a security guard pull it out of my bag at the airport?


Thanks

You should have no problems at security. They will not pull it out of your bag unless it looks like a weapon

. If you put it in a carry-on keep an eagle eye on it while you go through the metal detector. Watch it on the belt into the machine and keep an eye on it as it goes through. You can put it in your pocket without much risk of setting off the detector. I have it down to a science. I go through all teh time with my stainless steel watch, belt buckle and ring. Take off your shoes, belt and any magnetic money clips (the money clip stopped me a few times), and of course keys, change etc. I would be very surprised if you were stopped.

WRT the diamond you should be able to find a nice 5.8 mm diamond in your price range, no problem. Do a search on the PS home page. A quick search yielded this one. It is only representative of what a good stone is as there are many. You can compare specs with the ones you are looking at.

Good luck.