Help a new guy...

[AlfaRomeo]

Hello, I''m very new here and know nothing about diamonds.

I''m looking for something for my soon-to-be wife and I don''t really know where to start.

I''m in Singapore and would like to spend between 2 and 3,000 SGD or about US $1200-2000 or so.

Would it be unusual to go for a lower quality diamond but larger? It''s easier to see the size vs. any flaws, right? Therefore isn''t this more bang for your buck?

I bet a lot of new and uninformed people say this, but to my untrained eye all the qualities look the so close yet the prices are so different. Might as well get the cheaper one...?

I need some direction and advice....thanks.

Singapore

 

[mrssalvo]

Hi and welcome

you found Pricescope so you''re off to a good start. I''d suggest reading the tutorial here on this site to get a pretty good idea of terminology as well as other diamond searching advice. you''ll soon discover the CUT is the most important "c" when it comes to diamonds. a well cut stone can hide some color and inclusions and will sparkle much better than a poorly cut one. this is where you can cheat down in clarity and color like you suggested and gain size. if you go to the home page you can search your diamond by entering in different specs to see what your budget will allow you to get. good luck.

 

[phoenixgirl]

Hello,

Here is a post written a few years back on some jewelers in Singapore, if that helps: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamonds-and-jewelry-in-singapore-where-who-and-what.6110/

I agree that it is easier to see size than flaws. Remember, each grading of color and clarity represents a very slight difference. It is only until you have bumped down numerous grades that the difference becomes obvious.

That said, you asked if it would be unusual to go for lower quality and larger size. For the average American, definitely not. For PriceScopers, there are different preferences, but many people choose to forego the absolute highest color and clarity grades for larger size, especially with an ideal cut. In Singapore, there may be more of a preference for smaller, higher color and clarity stones. I guess it all depends on your own preferences and preferences of your soon-to-be-wife.

My ideal combination is I SI1. You might decide that you want to know that the stone is considered colorless but not want to pay for D color, so you might go for an F or even a G. It''s up to you. My only strong recommendation is to make cut a priority. The rest is a balance between your budget and desires.

 

[AlfaRomeo]

Thanks a lot for your replies. When you say make a cut the priority, how can you measure/determine the cut?

Thanks...

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome

To start read this thread here http://diamonds.pricescope.com/crn_pav.asp then click on each topic on the left to work through the components of a diamond's cut.

Learn about:

Depth percentage
Table size
Crown and pavillion angles
Girdle thickness
Diameter measurements and spread.

This will give you a basic understanding of cut for a round diamond. Don't underestimate the importance of cut - no diamond is beautiful with a bad or so so cut. Also don't be misled by labels pinned onto diamonds such as Ideal, Premium, Good etc by vendors, they don't always mean you are getting a well cut diamond. Take each on a case by case basis, learn what to look for and find a diamond which most closely matches the recommended proportions best. You can use the Holloway Cut Advisor under tools to help with your selections - very useful. Lastly, you can buy an Idealscope which can help separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak, these are inexpensive and well worth having. Also see if your vendors have any info on the cut of the diamond you are interested in such as Idealscope Images, Sarin Reports etc.

Idealscope Tool http://www.pricescope.com/idealscope_indx.asp