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Help, $3500 for a loose diamond, need it asap!

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mrgodai

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 10, 2010
Messages
54
I'm looking for a loose diamond before my wife comes home (10/14) for a birthday surprise! The Tiffany ring she got right now is just a tiny 0.3ct, i want to give her an upgrade. It's loose diamond only since i'm 100% sure she needs to approve it first before puts it on a ring.

here are the minimum spec I'm looking for

Price $3500
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.9
Cut: Ideal
Color: I (she dislikes yellow, so is this too low?)
Clarity: SI1 (as long as it's eye clean, i can deal with SI2)
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Fluorescence: Faint

I've been looking for a diamond for the last month and half, and still couldnt find anything I want. Now I've finally decide to post here and asking for help, since you guys are pros and always seems to give awesome suggestions to newbies :)
 
mrgodai said:
I'm looking for a loose diamond before my wife comes home (10/14) for a birthday surprise! The Tiffany ring she got right now is just a tiny 0.3ct, i want to give her an upgrade. It's loose diamond only since i'm 100% sure she needs to approve it first before puts it on a ring.

here are the minimum spec I'm looking for

Price $3500
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.9
Cut: Ideal
Color: I (she dislikes yellow, so is this too low?)
Clarity: SI1 (as long as it's eye clean, i can deal with SI2)
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Fluorescence: Faint

I've been looking for a diamond for the last month and half, and still couldnt find anything I want. Now I've finally decide to post here and asking for help, since you guys are pros and always seems to give awesome suggestions to newbies :)
Click to expand...

Well, aren't you nice! What a great surprise for her. No diamonds to suggest, but you could consider setting her .30 diamond and another .30 diamond in a three-stone ring at some point (with the .90 stone you're looking for now as the center). That way she could continue to wear her original diamond in a new ring (just an idea for a future anniversary or birthday present).
 
Sparkly Blonde said:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326398.asp

Here's one I came across. looks like I SI1 Ideal cut from James allen would be in your price range.

good luck :appl:
Click to expand...

thanks Stone-cold11 and Sparkly Blonde!

i have no idea why i havent come across these diamonds on JA's site, i'm really lacking in searching skills. :errrr:
no wonder that you guys are pros! (at least compare to me, lol)

one thing i noticed, Sparkly's diamond looks "milky" on JA's site. is it the way they take the pics? some other comparable I color without florescence are much more defined.

also is I noticeably yellow? She did say how sh hates the yellow tint at one time when she was looking at a K

I'm going to call them up tomorrow to see if they can provide me IdealScope images and check if it's eye clean. I'll post the pics here once i got them. Hopefully it can be done on 10/13 and overnight it to me
 
mrgodai said:
bright&shiny said:
I found several on GOG's site. How about this one?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7560/
Click to expand...

that is a beautiful diamond! but it's a K, the picture already shows more hints of yellow? Wife is already against a K diamond before.

this one looks awesome as well

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6050/

but it's I1, but from the picture, i can barely see the cloud at that 400x, i might as them how eye clean it is.
looks like a very nice modified h&a, would def call GOG and inquire further if you're interested
Click to expand...
 
Yssie said:
mrgodai said:
bright&shiny said:
I found several on GOG's site. How about this one?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7560/
Click to expand...

that is a beautiful diamond! but it's a K, the picture already shows more hints of yellow? Wife is already against a K diamond before.

this one looks awesome as well

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6050/

but it's I1, but from the picture, i can barely see the cloud at that 400x, i might as them how eye clean it is.
looks like a very nice modified h&a, would def call GOG and inquire further if you're interested
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I own an I color diamond, and it is not yellow, but it does have strong blue fluorescence which "whitens" the stone under certain lighting. My diamond is also an eye-clean I1 clarity (primary inclusions are clear crystals).

I really like the GOG diamond. As yssie says, it's a modified H&A because of the thin arrows and their effect on the hearts shapes. But thin arrows make a very pretty shimmery diamond. And it is an E color. It could be a stunning stone for a great price.

I would avoid J and K color stones if your wife has seen a K and disliked it. Some I color stones may be too tinted for her if she's very color sensitive. Do you know what color her current diamond is? Smaller diamonds tend to look whiter, too.
 
Portree said:
I own an I color diamond, and it is not yellow, but it does have strong blue fluorescence which "whitens" the stone under certain lighting. My diamond is also an eye-clean I1 clarity (primary inclusions are clear crystals).

I really like the GOG diamond. As yssie says, it's a modified H&A because of the thin arrows and their effect on the hearts shapes. But thin arrows make a very pretty shimmery diamond. And it is an E color. It could be a stunning stone for a great price.

I would avoid J and K color stones if your wife has seen a K and disliked it. Some I color stones may be too tinted for her if she's very color sensitive. Do you know what color her current diamond is? Smaller diamonds tend to look whiter, too.
Click to expand...

she currently owns a H colored, and she is fine with it.

What is a modified Heart and Arrow?
 
Question for OP: Why are you looking for faint fluorescence? This is probably going to be the hardest parameter to match...

Also, I really like the 3 stone idea that Portree suggested!
 
antelope1 said:
Question for OP: Why are you looking for faint fluorescence? This is probably going to be the hardest parameter to match...

Also, I really like the 3 stone idea that Portree suggested!
Click to expand...



yeah the 3 stone idea is awesome! i'll have to run it through my wife first though. She tend to like things simple and clean.

the fluorescence thing is just kinda cool imo, plus it's suppose to help offset the yellow at H/I color ranges. But it's fine without.
 
Faint is really not enough to offset anything as that is undetectable in most lighting conditions, usually at least a medium if not higher.
 
James Allen's photos always seem off to me. I'm not quite sure why that is.
 
ok i requested idealscope images for these 3 (do they offer other images like aset/hearts/arrows images? forgot to ask)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326398.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1307049.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp

I especially like the AGS report and the picture of 1306898. and here is the reply i got from the chat:
"Eileen: 1306898 will be eye clean. What I wanted to point out is that I believe there is only a few inclusions that are
reflected in the image, rather than actually inclusions throughout the diamond as it appears."
does that mean i'll see inclusions when view from the sides?

also the 1307049 appears milky compared to 1306898 and 1326398 is even milkier, does that mean they are less brilliant? would Idealscope image tell a different story?
 
also is I noticeably yellow? She did say how sh hates the yellow tint at one time when she was looking at a K
Click to expand...

As mentioned above, you can find some really nice colored I stones. Adding to your fluorescence specs might help offset the yellow tint.

J is when you really begin to see that hint of yellow come up for the most part. G to H is a safer bet, but the cut of the stone will make all the difference.
 
Here's a 0.916 ct I SI-1 Expert Selection from Whiteflash, just a little over your budget. IS, ASET, cert already done.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

If you are think there is even a remote possibility that you'd want to upgrade, think about WF or GOG. I LOVE WF's upgrade policy - it's so easy. You just have to spend $1. JA's policy is harder - you need to spend double.
 
starryeyed said:
Here's a 0.916 ct I SI-1 Expert Selection from Whiteflash, just a little over your budget. IS, ASET, cert already done.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

If you are think there is even a remote possibility that you'd want to upgrade, think about WF or GOG. I LOVE WF's upgrade policy - it's so easy. You just have to spend $1. JA's policy is harder - you need to spend double.
Click to expand...

hmm i thought it's just the ACA's from WF that allows for easy trade up, but i just read their policy page, seems like Expert is on the list too

I might go with this diamond :)
 
mrgodai said:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326398.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1307049.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, here are the HCA scores for these stones:

1326398: 3.3, cited in the green area
1307049: 3.9, also cited in the green area
1306898: 1.9, cited in the yellow/orange area - VG/VG/VG/EX

The table on 1306898 is a little larger at 61.2%. This is pretty evident in the photo. If you like the look of the stone though, this may be perfect for you.

The WF stone scored 1.4 - EX/EX/EX/VG. That doesn't mean it's better than the JA 1306898 though.
 
mrgodai said:
hmm i thought it's just the ACA's from WF that allows for easy trade up, but i just read their policy page, seems like Expert is on the list too

I might go with this diamond :)
Click to expand...
You could ask WF about the stone and verify the trade-in on ES stones with Live Chat - they are usually very responsive.
 
starryeyed said:
mrgodai said:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326398.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1307049.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, here are the HCA scores for these stones:

1326398: 3.3, cited in the green area
1307049: 3.9, also cited in the green area
1306898: 1.9, cited in the yellow/orange area - VG/VG/VG/EX

The table on 1306898 is a little larger at 61.2%. This is pretty evident in the photo. If you like the look of the stone though, this may be perfect for you.

The WF stone scored 1.4 - EX/EX/EX/VG. That doesn't mean it's better than the JA 1306898 though.
Click to expand...

I just did a quick read up on HCA

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca/

seems like lower the HCA the better, what's the green/yellow/orange you mentioned?
 
mrgodai said:
I just did a quick read up on HCA

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca/

seems like lower the HCA the better, what's the green/yellow/orange you mentioned?
Click to expand...

Nope HCA is a rejection tool not a selection tool. All tools are basically rejection too, just different ease of use and interpretation.

The JA stones all could work, due to the rounding of the numbers by GIA use for inputs into the HCA. Those scoring above 3 can still work with the larger lower half.

The loupe image of the first 2 stones are tilted slightly, might be contributing to some leakage in the image too.

The 3rd stone you found is a large table, slightly different patterning, more splintery look, some prefer it to the more Tolkwosky proportion.
 
based on the hassle free tradeup from WF, i might go with a smaller diamond
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

now it's between that and the one starryeyed mentioned
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

and also http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

Got them on hold, But i still can't rule out the JA's diamonds they might have awesome IdealScope.

because the price/quality/size difference, i'm reaaaaly torn!

I wish i can have all these diamonds in front of me with you guys, lol
 
mrgodai said:
based on the hassle free tradeup from WF, i might go with a smaller diamond
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

now it's between that and the one starryeyed mentioned
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

and also http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

Got them on hold, But i still can't rule out the JA's diamonds they might have awesome IdealScope.

because the price/quality/size difference, i'm reaaaaly torn!

I wish i can have all these diamonds in front of me with you guys, lol
Click to expand...
Yes, it's not easy, but you have a time constraint, so I'd take the guesswork out of the mix if I could.

Brian Gavin Diamonds' upgrade policy is a little more difficult than WF. You have to go up in 2 out of 3: color, clarity, size. Starting at a VS1 almost forces you to next get a larger H VS1. (I'm not sure if you could get a VS2 or lower.) To me, that policy forces you to put money where you may not want to. VVS diamonds are more expensive, but it's not money that your naked eye sees. If you're not color sensitive, upgrading the color is also forcing you to spend money for something you can't see. That would bug me.
 
starryeyed said:
mrgodai said:
based on the hassle free tradeup from WF, i might go with a smaller diamond
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

now it's between that and the one starryeyed mentioned
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

and also http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

Got them on hold, But i still can't rule out the JA's diamonds they might have awesome IdealScope.

because the price/quality/size difference, i'm reaaaaly torn!

I wish i can have all these diamonds in front of me with you guys, lol
Click to expand...
Yes, it's not easy, but you have a time constraint, so I'd take the guesswork out of the mix if I could.

Brian Gavin Diamonds' upgrade policy is a little more difficult than WF. You have to go up in 2 out of 3: color, clarity, size. Starting at a VS1 almost forces you to next get a larger H VS1. (I'm not sure if you could get a VS2 or lower.) To me, that policy forces you to put money where you may not want to. VVS diamonds are more expensive, but it's not money that your naked eye sees. If you're not color sensitive, upgrading the color is also forcing you to spend money for something you can't see. That would bug me.
Click to expand...


I wonder if the OP and BGD could come to an arrangement re. upgrades, if he decides to go w/ BGD - I believe when I upgraded w/ WF there was a rule of three out of four, or two out of three, or something like that, but because it was a significant upgrade in price they waived those requirements..?
 
starryeyed said:
mrgodai said:
based on the hassle free tradeup from WF, i might go with a smaller diamond
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

now it's between that and the one starryeyed mentioned
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

and also http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

Got them on hold, But i still can't rule out the JA's diamonds they might have awesome IdealScope.

because the price/quality/size difference, i'm reaaaaly torn!

I wish i can have all these diamonds in front of me with you guys, lol
Click to expand...
Yes, it's not easy, but you have a time constraint, so I'd take the guesswork out of the mix if I could.

Brian Gavin Diamonds' upgrade policy is a little more difficult than WF. You have to go up in 2 out of 3: color, clarity, size. Starting at a VS1 almost forces you to next get a larger H VS1. (I'm not sure if you could get a VS2 or lower.) To me, that policy forces you to put money where you may not want to. VVS diamonds are more expensive, but it's not money that your naked eye sees. If you're not color sensitive, upgrading the color is also forcing you to spend money for something you can't see. That would bug me.
Click to expand...
I agree 100% with starry. I'd stick with companies that have the best upgrade policies. You want any future upgrades to be a hassle-free as possible. I think all the stones you're looking at have excellent potential, but sometimes the little extras, like good upgrade policies, really make a difference in the long run. If the WF stone is eligible for their full upgrade policy, that looks like a beautiful stone for the price. I also like the GOG E color, I1 clarity stone, but you'd have to be okay with the clarity. I think your wife will be just fine with an I color, though, if her current stone is an H. Just double-check the return and upgrade policies to make sure the stone you're looking at qualifies!
 
I just played around with HCA tool and i know it's a rejection tool, not a selection tool. So I should just reject the ones over 2?

I found the scores for these

1.4 score http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

1.4 score http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

1.5 score http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

1.9 score http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp

but then I went and find another diamond with score 1.3 on JA that's $3200, $300 cheaper than the above JA, and $500 cheaper than the WF 2400038, looks good.

and you guys talk about the trade in policy, where i have to pick 2 or 3 Cs in order to trade in, which puts me off. I wonder if it's worth the extra $500 for an trade in policy that seems like i can use it once, or use that money for a much better setting.

this is worse than buying a car, but still easier than remodeling my house, lol.
 
mrgodai said:
I just played around with HCA tool and i know it's a rejection tool, not a selection tool. So I should just reject the ones over 2?

I found the scores for these

1.4 score http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

1.4 score http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

1.5 score http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

1.9 score http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp

but then I went and find another diamond with score 1.3 on JA that's $3200, $300 cheaper than the above JA, and $500 cheaper than the WF 2400038, looks good.

and you guys talk about the trade in policy, where i have to pick 2 or 3 Cs in order to trade in, which puts me off. I wonder if it's worth the extra $500 for an trade in policy that seems like i can use it once, or use that money for a much better setting.

this is worse than buying a car, but still easier than remodeling my house, lol.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you are doing your homework mrgodai! :appl:

You haven't posted a link to that last JA diamond. Please be sure to check the numbers and whether the stone has fluorescence. We can look at it for you, but I understand if you are hesitant about it getting scooped by a lurker, without it being reserved.

I don't want to sound like an infomercial, but WF's trade-in policy is good for all ACA's and ES's. You can trade in as many times as you want as long as you deal in ACA or ES stones - it's not just once.

Diamonds are a commodity and pricing is pretty exact. It's a matter of your preferences and tolerances. If you like the look of the JA 61.2% table, get it. Just because the table is outside the "desirable" range does not mean it's a ugly stone.
 
starryeyed said:
mrgodai said:
I just played around with HCA tool and i know it's a rejection tool, not a selection tool. So I should just reject the ones over 2?

I found the scores for these

1.4 score http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2428259.htm

1.4 score http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2400038.htm

1.5 score http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146011

1.9 score http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp

but then I went and find another diamond with score 1.3 on JA that's $3200, $300 cheaper than the above JA, and $500 cheaper than the WF 2400038, looks good.

and you guys talk about the trade in policy, where i have to pick 2 or 3 Cs in order to trade in, which puts me off. I wonder if it's worth the extra $500 for an trade in policy that seems like i can use it once, or use that money for a much better setting.

this is worse than buying a car, but still easier than remodeling my house, lol.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you are doing your homework mrgodai! :appl:

You haven't posted a link to that last JA diamond. Please be sure to check the numbers and whether the stone has fluorescence. We can look at it for you, but I understand if you are hesitant about it getting scooped by a lurker, without it being reserved.

I don't want to sound like an infomercial, but WF's trade-in policy is good for all ACA's and ES's. You can trade in as many times as you want as long as you deal in ACA or ES stones - it's not just once.

Diamonds are a commodity and pricing is pretty exact. It's a matter of your preferences and tolerances. If you like the look of the JA 61.2% table, get it. Just because the table is outside the "desirable" range does not mean it's a ugly stone.
Click to expand...

I would love to buy you guys a round of beer, anyone in S FL? lol. i would probably go insane without you guys!

anyways,

i just removed http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306898.asp,, I just chat with JA again and they told me it has a inclusion that might be visible if put up really close, which is something my wife will certainly do

here are the 2 they say it's pretty clean under 10x and low HCA score

hca score of 1.3 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326397.asp

hca score of 1.0 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315299.asp


i'm going to chat with WF again and re-confirm with their policy, i really dont mind pay a bit more if trade in is that awesome.
 
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