Getting Engaged but am I getting Ripped?

[Jay13]

Hello All,

This is a really great forum and has helped in my search for info on getting my g/f and engagement ring. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

The other day I put a refundable deposit on an E graded VS2 .70 carat diamond on a platinum setting and wanted to sleep on it.

The diamond was quoted at around $3500 dollars. The only concern I have is that it is EGL graded.

Now seeing that I am far from a Gemoligist or Jeweler, how important should this be to me? As mid 20''s everyday run of the milll guy who wants to get quality for my g/f within by budget should the certificate be all that important? From looking at it with my naked eye the diamond looked spectaclar from others I have seen. Keep in mind I want to get my g/f the best for my budget, so I am unsure if a GIA etc. graded stone should be the "live and die" by.

Thanks,
J

 

[Jay13]

FYI- The diamond is a round cut.

 

[Xrisus]

Hey J

Is it EGL USA? If so this is the better of the choices of the EGL labs. Personally, I think that if you think the diamond looks fantastic, and you like the specs, then your eyes and not a certificate should be the more important aspect. What may help is if you can get some of the dimensions of the diamond (pavilion depth %, crown angle, etc) so that the real pros here can help you out. Also, if you are buying the diamond from a retail store (and not online), I would try to barter with them, as many times their prices are marked up to allow for bartering.

 

[Hest88]

The price isn''t unreasonable, but without more information on the cut (table, depth, etc.) it''s hard to tell if it''s a gorgeous stone or not. For instance, we know this one is most likely a great performer:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/0_71ct_g_vs1_h&a3.htm

 

[valeria101]

You may want to read THIS and check which EGL is that. There is no reserach or proof anywhere that various EGLs have more or less high standards, but since they insist that each brancs puts their separate ID on the paper (as opposed as one name for all EGL reports) - perhaps this is right...

IMO, your E may turn out "G" by someone elses'' opinion, in the worst.

There is something else still. EGL certs give cut proportions and finish grades. How do these read for your diamond ?

 

[kfds]

This is just my opinion, but this is what I would want someone to say to me if I were in your position...

1) Get you money back. "E graded VS2 .70" is not enough information to buy a "quality" diamond. It''s only enough information to buy a diamond.

2) Get an education on cut, HERE

3) Decide what you want to compromise on. Because any budget requires a compromise on one of the 4 C''s. (Hint: Cut should not be the first to go! Its up to you to decide which is least important: Color, Clarity, or Carat)

4) Look at what''s offered on-line at vendors on pricescope. You can still buy locally, but now you''ll have something to use as a comparison. You''ll know what you $$ can buy.

5) Don''t buy a stone without comparing it to other stones. The first stone I saw, I thought was beautiful. (I didn''t realize the jeweler was showing it to me as an example of a "DOG", until he showed me a quality diamond.) Many diamonds look "good" on their own. It''s when you see it next to another that you''ll really be able to discern quality. Once you know what quality looks like, you''ll be able to spot it without comparing it to another diamond.

6) Get FULL SPECS on the diamond you want to buy. Post them here. The experts here will tell you if it''s good or not and will help you use the tools that are available.

That''s it for now.

Good luck and congrats!

 

[Jay13]

Wow,

Thank you for the responses.....

I guess my first question would be, should I be turned away as a consumer by EGL graded diamonds, even though I am not a jewlery expert?

The second would be does anyone have a link to show, say a range of good to bad on pavilion depth, crown angles etc. I do not have this info at hand.


Again, thanks!

 

[Jay13]

Here are the Specs.
.70 VS2
E Color
Table 57%
Crown 16.4%
Pavillion 43.9 %
Girdle Tin to Med.
Total Depth 64.7%
Polish VERY GOOD
SYmmetry VERY GOOD

This is a EGL Certified diamond.

Thoughts?????

 

[Jay13]

Sorry for the repeat post, but this is EGL USA

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

The stone is a little too deep. Basically, you are paying for weight of a diamond that you won''t be benefitting from. The diamond seems to have been cut for weight retention rather than beauty. There will be light leakage because of the depth of the stone and your gf won''t benefit from the visual performance as an ideally cut .7 carat stone...

Nice Ice has a good website that explains cut. Here is the gist of it.

To properly determine the proportions rating of a diamond, it is mandatory that you know the Table Diameter (%); the Crown Angle (in degrees) which is NOT the same as the crown height; the Pavilion Depth (%); the Girdle Thickness (%); and the Culet Size... For your convenience the parameters for the AGS IDEAL CUT proportions rating for round brilliant cut diamonds is as follows:

Note that the Total Depth % of the diamond is not taken into account... This is because it is the Crown & Pavilion angles that control most of the brilliance and thus the Total Depth is not as important a factor. Just the same, we prefer that the total depth of a round brilliant cut diamond be somewhere between 59.0% and 61.8% with the ceiling being around 62.5% in our opinion. Although it is not uncommon to find AGS Ideal Cut diamonds with total depths as deep as 63.5% we recommend that you avoid them like the plague because they are simply too deep!

Good Luck!​

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

AGS Ideal Cut proportions

Table Diameter: 52.4 - 57.5%
Crown Angle: 33.7 - 35.8° degrees
Pavilion Angle: 40.15 - 41.20 degrees
Girdle Thickness: Thin, Medium, Slightly Thick
Culet Size: None, Pointed, Very Small, Small, or Medium

 

[Rhino]

Hi Jay,

A diamond with those proportions will produce an IS image similar to this. The areas of white and pale red are indicative of light leakage or weak light return. Also a diamond with a depth of 64.7% means that you''ll have a .70ct stone that''ll look more like a .55-.58ct which means you''d be paying a premium for the .7xct magic number and not getting the size that a .70ct should appear.

Regards,

 

[Jay13]

Thanks for the feedback,
Please keep in mind i have roughly a 5K budget.

The setting I am looking at is .40 ct. weight with 4 .10ct (2 on each side, round)

The measurements are 5.60-5.52x3.60

 

[kfds]

How much is the setting? How much is the diamond? Or is the center diamond already set in the ring?

Hestt88''s Suggestion
Carat Weight: .71
Clarity: VS1
Color: G
Cut External
* Polish: GIA ~ Excellent
* Symmetry: GIA ~ Excellent
* Proportions: AGS ~ Ideal
Cut Internal
* Symmetry: Hearts & Arrows
* Light Return: Excellent


Your prospective diamond:
Carat Weight: .70 (but will look smaller due to the proportions)
Clarity: VS2
Color: E (Don''t buy a bad rock on color - mine''s a J)
Cut External
* Polish: Very Good
* Symmetry: Very Good
* Proportions: Not Ideal
Cut Internal
* Symmetry: Not Likely a H&A
* Light Return: Good


You diamond in the Halloway Cut Advisor (Click HERE to try)
Light Return: Good
Fire: Good
Scintillation: Good
Spread: Good
Total Visual Performance: 4.5 - Good - Only if price is your main criterion

Note: A score below 2 (Excellent) means you have eliminated known poor performers (more than 95% of all diamonds). Your own personal preference may be for a diamond with an HCA score of 1.5 more rather than one with a lower score of say 0.5.

Hest88''s suggested diamond:
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Very Good
Total Visual Performance: 1.2!!! - Excellent within TIC range

Try the tutonrial on the GOG site (focus on cut). It''s far more "conversational" and much easier to digest than the one here. Then come back and read the one here.

 

[kfds]

Also, here''s a pic that will help explain the image the Rhino posted:

Compare that image to the image for the suggested diamond and the