H&a need help

[Es860]

[attachment=0]_17439.jpg[/attachmentHi,
Seems like a hard choice - or is it?
I am looking at 2 diamonds 1.70 Gia cert xxx - no fluorescence
I need help deciding if these stones are worth purchasing. Then which one do I buy?
I have compared these two side by side, wow they are both spectacular!
I have seen the si 1 a lot more in many different lighting conditions. The vs2 is at the jewelry store.

#1 h&a
The arrows seem very well defined,straight and consistent in color. The hearts look pretty picture perfect as well.
1.71 si1 g color- eye clean
7.70 -7.74 x4.72
57 table
33.5 ca
41 pa
61.2 depth
43.5 % depth from girdle to culet (none)
14% crown height
55% star facets
80% lower facets
Med girdle (3.5%) faceted
$17720


#2 h&a
As above , but the hearts have med size clefts- (I am no expert)
1.70 vs 2 g color - eye clean
7.63 -7.67 x 4.71
57 table
34.5 ca
40.8 pa
61.6 depth
43% depth from girdle to culet (none)
14.5% crown height
50% star facets
80% lower facets
Slightly thick girdle (4%) faceted
$18200

Thanks
A newbie

 

[WinkHPD]

Ask your local jeweler to put both stones on a slotted tray, but not tell you which is which.

Let YOUR eyes do the walking. Do this at least three times. If your eyes choose the same stone easily more than once, you will have your winner.

If the choice is more a guess, then maybe you have a winner, kind of, or maybe you need to keep looking, or maybe you are in one of those win-win situations where you can not make a mistake because they are both spectacular.

These are choices we can not make for you and you are lucky enough to have both diamonds there. We can not make this choice for you when we do not have the visual delight of seeing the diamonds side by side.

Enjoy your journey.

Wink

P.S. I gave no more than a cursory glance at the numbers you gave us. On paper I have my favorite, but I will not share it with you as I do not wish to overly influence your eyes. Paper is nice, but visual is better.

 

[Es860]

Hi
Thanks for responding! I have placed them in holder(ring type) and the vs 2 has slightly more performance to it. ( seems to have ever so slightly better flashes)
The color is close (I cannot tell the difference between these two stones).
How does the h&a pattern look to you? Is this a fair price for each stone? Is the vs2 worth the extra money?

To be honest, the si1 on the cert is what's really bothering me. There is a wispy grey crystal and a feather ( feather on the side of the table).

Any help would be great

Thanks
Es

 

[WinkHPD]

As a trade member I will not comment on pricing. To me it sounds as if you have already decided which your eye likes better. Now since this is to be a symbol of your love and devotion, why would you even think about getting the stone you do not like as well?

This diamond will create a snapshot of the moment that she will remember in her mind for ever. Why not let her take that mental image with a Nikon rather than an Instamatic?

Wink

 

[luvdajules]

Hi OP, I'm a newbie here too but I've been lurking for months and seen some stones too. I love the H&A stones, so good choice there. My guess was the 2nd stone to be slightly better performer and only $500 more and the higher clarity. So, maybe you've found the one? Price seems within range of the specs you've zeroed in on. However, if you wanted to have bigger setting budget and shave a little off the price, you'd have to give somewhere on the clarity or color ( or size?). Sounds like you could go to H safely, most people can't tell the diff face up. Good luck with whatever decision you make, but the 2nd stone sounds like a winner!

 

[Es860]

Hi luvdajules,
Thanks for your input. I am leaning towards # 2. I have been looking at g-f stones mostly. In many stones I can see different tones.(between h & g/f) I personally like the cooler whites. The si 1 is a beautiful stone, it looks way better than many other stones i have seen.
i was just reviewing the video of the vs 2 .....it looks great too! BOTH of these stones will make the women that wear them happy for sure! $500 more, why not at this point!!

Thanks

 

[Es860]

I would love to hear from the experts out there! Please give your opinions. What do you think about the si 1 pics posted?

 

[heididdl]

I would love to hear from the experts out there! Please give your opinions. What do you think about the si 1 pics posted?

I think you just did WINK has I think over 30 years of being expert lol

 

[Es860]

Hi Heidi,
I visited his site, I would agree with you.
I would like some input on the H & A pics provided too. Do they look correct for a good H&A diamond?
There are many places selling stones that say H&A, I just want to be sure. Its hard to trust many jewelers. They tend to think XXX is all you need! We'll that may be true for most, But I took a liking to the H &A stones. and hear from some h&A experts too!

Thanks

 

[Es860]

As a trade member I will not comment on pricing. To me it sounds as if you have already decided which your eye likes better. Now since this is to be a symbol of your love and devotion, why would you even think about getting the stone you do not like as well?

This diamond will create a snapshot of the moment that she will remember in her mind for ever. Why not let her take that mental image with a Nikon rather than an Instamatic?

Wink

I am totally confused right now!!!
I thought i had my answer UNTIL i kept snooping around. The #2 vs2 diamond that is being sold as a H & A diamond, is also online for a cheaper price and not listed as a H & A stone! I know you wont comment on price, can you give me some input on the H & A ? How do I know if I am getting a true H & A stone? I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place.
Thanks

 

[diamondseeker2006]

H&A is proven by having hearts images, idealscope or ASET.

I would choose #2 because for the small price difference I would FAR rather have VS2 clarity.

 

[WinkHPD]

As a trade member I will not comment on pricing. To me it sounds as if you have already decided which your eye likes better. Now since this is to be a symbol of your love and devotion, why would you even think about getting the stone you do not like as well?

This diamond will create a snapshot of the moment that she will remember in her mind for ever. Why not let her take that mental image with a Nikon rather than an Instamatic?

Wink

I am totally confused right now!!!
I thought i had my answer UNTIL i kept snooping around. The #2 vs2 diamond that is being sold as a H & A diamond, is also online for a cheaper price and not listed as a H & A stone! I know you wont comment on price, can you give me some input on the H & A ? How do I know if I am getting a true H & A stone? I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place.
Thanks

Since the VS2 is at a jewelry store it may in fact no longer be available to the retail vendor listing it on his website. If it is you should still talk with the local jeweler and see if he can not meet you somewhere in between as he has costs associated with bringing in that diamond so that you could look at it. If he is not willing to move and you do go to the Internet vendor then common courtesy dictates that you at least offer to pay his expenses. (This is assuming that he brought it in for you to look at. If he just had it there there is a STRONG possibility that it is no longer avaialble to the Internet Retailer.)

You can visit David Atlas, better known here as Old Miner, (http://datlas.com/) to order your own ASET, Idealscope or Hearts and Arrows viewer if you wish to further inspect the images with your own eyes.

You may well be better off to build a relationship with your local jeweler so that your wife always has a safe haven where she can take her ring to be cleaned and for routine maintenance.

Wink

 

[Es860]

Wow, what margins in some of these diamonds. ( even at 16995, there is still a nice profit being made). They originally wanted 19800.00. They reluctantly dropped the price to 18500, then 18000 after i suggested it was too expensive compared to other similar diamonds I have noticed online. They did bring it in for me to look at and it is scheduled to go back monday or tuesday. There is what I consider to be a big price difference (1000.00). The website is asking 16995.00 wire price. ( I discussed paying the local guy with a cert check if I bought it).
Even after paying the shipping for them, Looks like I still saved quite a bit to put towards the setting, If we cannot reach a deal.

Thanks Again

 

[WinkHPD]

Your Bricks and Mortar retailer has considerably more overhead than the Internet retailer who will likely never see the diamond but drop ship it to you for a margin of 7 - 10%. That does not cover the rent and overhead for long for your retailer. Nor does it allow you to see the diamond before paying for it. To some people that has value, to some it does not.

Wink

P.S. The round ship shipping and postage assuming you are not in the same city as the actual wholesaler of the diamond is likely to be about $200 which your retailer put at risk for you without even asking for coverage. That does not cover the value of his time that he spent with you. I agree you have a right to ask for every penny that you can get, but if you wish him to be there to serve you in the future, you must allow him some profit.

 

[Es860]

Your Bricks and Mortar retailer has considerably more overhead than the Internet retailer who will likely never see the diamond but drop ship it to you for a margin of 7 - 10%. That does not cover the rent and overhead for long for your retailer. Nor does it allow you to see the diamond before paying for it. To some people that has value, to some it does not.

Wink

P.S. The round ship shipping and postage assuming you are not in the same city as the actual wholesaler of the diamond is likely to be about $200 which your retailer put at risk for you without even asking for coverage. That does not cover the value of his time that he spent with you. I agree you have a right to ask for every penny that you can get, but if you wish him to be there to serve you in the future, you must allow him some profit.

As far as value, sure you don't mind paying for some degree of service. I believe everyone should make profit.
Even at 7% that's almost 1200.00 for making a phone call. Less $200 for shipping. $1000 gross profit on the diamond.

The bigger picture is, I explained that a custom cushion halo setting in platinum and 3 matching wedding bands would also be needed from him.

As a small business person I realized all deals cannot be grand slam's. We need to live to fight another day. Thats also why I would have no problem offering to pay the shipping. I hope we can meet somewhere to make a deal! That would make both of our days.