Help a newbie choose diamonds for engagement....

[Skittlejelly]

Hi there

Apologies in advance for a long post

I've been reading this forum for a while and having recently got engaged (yay!) I'm hoping to get some advice from all you knowledgeable folk out there. I've read all of the tutorials but am still feeling a bit overwhelmed about deciding on the best possible diamonds. I'd be so grateful for any advice or help you can give!

We're after a 3-stone ring, something like this: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...3-Stone-Pave-Set-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html although the plan (at the moment) is to buy the 3 diamonds online and then get them set by a local jeweller (we're in Australia and so are a little worried about having to send it back to the US for warranty issues etc...)

The budget for the 3 diamonds is about $10K all up, which from our price-scope searching I think will be split to about $8K for the centre diamond and then $2K for the two matching side diamonds.

Currently using these criteria:
Shape: Round
Cut: Ideal/Excellent (this is the highest priority, but it doesn't need to be a branded H&A - since from what I can gather that brings the cost up substantially without necessarily guaranteeing a sparklier diamond.. Is that right?)
Carat: This is the next highest priority - currently searching for around the 1.2 mark
Clarity: 3rd highest priority, searching for VS2/SI1, but realistically for the price range I think it will be an SI1. Beyond this broad category, though, I don't really know what I'm looking for in terms of where the inclusions are located. I've seen others talk about this before in the forum...
Colour: I've been searching for G, H, and I. Prepared to sacrifice this for the other Cs because realistically I don't think either of us will really know the difference, but would prefer not to go below an I.

I've pulled up these 3 for comparison:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/?View=4&Tab=3&Comparison=1494590,1445793,1496746

This is where I start to get really overwhelmed. At this point, how should I go about choosing between diamonds? I'd really love any advice anyone can give - either generally, or about those 3 diamonds in particular. Are they decent or do you think I could find better?

I'll worry about the two side diamonds once we've decided on the centre diamond, since they'll need to match for colour etc (which I have more questions about, but that can wait for another post.... )

Sorry again for the lengthy post...!

 

[TitanCi]

Skip the GIA one, scores bad on the HCA.

Btwn the 2 AGS stones I like the numbers on the 1st stone the best. It gets a 1.5 on the HCA, while the other one is just barely over 2.0 (2.1). Stone 2 is deeper so it will face up slightly smaller, and obviously stone 1 faces up the largest of the two. Plus the inclusions at 5 and 8 are probably prongable. Of the three you have, stone 1 is best. Are there any better ones? Probably, but it depends on what you're willing to compromise on further. Maybe not. If you think you have the perfect balance of the C's that makes you happy, then I think btwn the 3, stone 1 is the best.

I think you have a fair balance of Cut, color, carat, and clarity.

Next is IS images just to confirm, but you chose an AGS 000 so I'm not sure if that's needed...but I'd do it ANYWAY.

 

[JD2012]

Hi TitanCi

You seem to really know what you are talking about. I left a post yesterday that was unfortunately not answered as yet. I am looking to to purchase a diamond for my g/f for our engagement and am pointed in a few opposing directions. I would be very grateful for your insight. The post I left is called is "Help, I need a diamond expert opinion". It is in the unanswered post section.

JD2012

 

[JD2012]

Hi

Tx so much for ur reply. This has gotten very confusing, started with the 4's, then started looking into polish, symm, and flour. Now into tables and depths. Have no experience in this, you might let me know what to expect to pay for each of these if that is possible? Also, whether you think I should sacrifice color for cut or more carat. Was told my jeweler shop not to go below F but have been recommended to go to I and get better "Cut:.

Your help is very much appreciated.

Option 1: GIA 1139492614

Option 2: Got from viewing James Allen website

Option 3: GIA 5136276879

It would suit to purchase on vendor for Option no .1 as if 2 & B are based in the US and if i get them delivered to the UK I will have to pay additional duty. No. 1 is based in Dubai and I will be there for work later in the year and can pick it up.

It may be possible for me to change diamond spec e.g. depth, table, measurements of diamond but I do not know what I should be changing it too or if I am making it better or worse.

Thanks again
JD

 

[stone-cold11]

Sorry to the OP for the confusion. JD, can you start another thread in this forum so as not to hijack the OP's thread.

Pricewise, you can use the diamond search tools to search pricescope's database and see how each variable affect the price. Keep the stones to those graded by AGS/GIA, more consistent. Colorwise, if you/your OH do not buy into the advertizement, depends on personal preference and sensitivity. Some like more tinted stone, or are less sensitive to color or with darker skin color, etc... so cannot really give you a guide there, too personal.

A rough guide to color, to show you how little the difference in color grade is. This is just a guide as what you can see is also dependent on how well balance in color is your display.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/awesome-video-on-diamond-color.108616/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/awesome-video-on-diamond-color.108616/[/URL]

Option 1 is no on GIA's database. Very iffy unless it is a very recent stone.

Check it out yourself. http://www.gia.edu/reportcheck/

Post the GIA report of the JA stone.

Option 3 is not promising from the numbers.

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=5136276879&weight=1.01

Input the numbers into the Cut Adviser. https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca To be safe, you want the score to be between 0-2 if you are buying just by the numbers alone. JA can provide Idealscope images, so there is greater leeway but stones with good idealscope images usually lies between HCA score of 0-2.

 

[TitanCi]

Hi TitanCi

You seem to really know what you are talking about. I left a post yesterday that was unfortunately not answered as yet. I am looking to to purchase a diamond for my g/f for our engagement and am pointed in a few opposing directions. I would be very grateful for your insight. The post I left is called is "Help, I need a diamond expert opinion". It is in the unanswered post section.

JD2012

Thanks for the kind words. I only try to emulate the real pros on this board, but I do my reading though!

Stone-cold has given you very good advice, so I'd start with what he's telling you.

OP - have you thought of anything yet?

 

[Skittlejelly]

Thanks so much for your advice.

I've requested an idealscope image so I'll report back shortly

 

[Skittlejelly]

Rightio, I requested idealscope images and gemologist evaluations for 3 comparisons (one was the 1.27 I originally posted but the other two were new ones). One of the new ones seemed a lot better than the other 2 and so I have it on hold while awaiting a custom setting quote (and, incidentally, the other 2 are now unavailable anyway). I *think* the idealscope image looks pretty good (not much white?). However, I will feel a whole lot better about buying online if I can get some confirmation (or a thumbs done - I'd rather honest feedback) from a few PS gurus.

Also, this diamond was the most expensive of the 3 I was looking at. Can anyone comment on the legitimacy of vendor's gemologist's advice: Is there a tendency for them to just recommend the most expensive diamond, or do they give honest opinions?

Details:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1501548.asp
GIA3X 1.20 crt H VS2
Depth: 60.9% Table: 59% Crown Angle: 34.5% Pavilion Angle: 40.8%
HCA: 1.7
Gemologist: "very bright and has great fire, brilliance, and scintillation. It's the brightest of the group, faces eye clean, and has a true "H" color."
Price: $8250
Idealscope image:



Advice? Is this a go-er or am I better to keep looking? Thanks

 

[Gypsy]

In my experience they don't just push the more expensive one. They are usually quite honest.

I think the stone looks great.

Also, I would like to recommend the following setting for you. It's in the style you want. Allows for a close/flush fit wedding band (which the JA does not allow) and best of all is much cheaper than the JA one, has great quality. And the sidestones are perfect (IMO) for the size of your center.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/queen-dinah-3-stone-pave-18k-white-gold-5679w18 We had a couple people buy this one and been thrilled with it (and their pictures beat out how lovely the setting is).

You could have the JA stone sent for setting to BGD. BGD is a company that our AUS posters use often with good results.

 

[Skittlejelly]

Thanks, Gypsy - great recommendation. It is a lovely setting and since it is already designed for a flush fit it is much closer to what I'm looking for. Just to be difficult, though, I'm thinking of either a deep-cut prong set or fishtail pave (I'm still struggling to get my head around the difference) for the shank - and I'd want it to be about 3/4 around. They have a couple of nice solitaire settings with this type of band, so I've contacted them to get a quote on "merging" the two designs.

I found the perfect setting here in Perth yesterday - exactly what I want - but they will only set their own diamonds... and I just can't justify the diamond prices here. For the same price as the centre stone I just posted about, the best they could offer was a 0.9crt G VS2 with Very Good cut, symmetry, polish. It was so hard being patient rather than just going with the tangible item on my finger! But I'm hoping it will pay off in the end.....

 

[webdiva]

They can add the pave on the side for an extra cost - contact them to see how much. From other Australia posters, it seems the PS approved vendors provide much better value and quality than Australia jewelers.