Help a newbie on his 25th anniversary?

[mjs9876543210]

Wow, what a great resource -- thanks to all who have contributed to this site. Our 25th wedding anniversary is coming up, and I want to get my wife diamond stud earrings, ~2.0 carats total weight. From my research I think I can get nice cut, color and clarity for $10,000-$11,000, which is in my budget. I''d appreciate any help you can provide to be sure that I''m getting good value and making a good set of trade offs.

So my specific questions are:

* I''m looking at two options in detail. Everything looks pretty good (to my newbie eyes) except the HCA on the 2nd stone in each pair. Of the two options I''m considering below which would you chose, and is there any significant problem with either of them? Can I do better, and if so what would you recommend?

* Blue Nile is the easiest site I''ve found for comparing, so I''ve been looking there. Blue Nile appears to have a mixed reputation on these boards -- if you have other suggestions I''d appreciate them.

Option 1
========


Both stones G SI-1. $10,107 for the pair (with platinum setting).

Diamond 1
http://www.bluenile.com/viewcert.asp?pid=LD01117308 , http://www.bluenile.com/diamond_zoom.asp?pid=LD01117308
HCA says
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Very Good
Spread: Very Good
Price: $4,892
Carat weight: 1.01
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 61.50%
Table %: 58.00%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.43 x 6.49 x 3.97 mm

Diamond 2
http://www.bluenile.com/viewcert.asp?pid=LD01112420 , http://www.bluenile.com/diamond_zoom.asp?pid=LD01112420
HCA says
Light Return: Good
Fire: Fair
Scintillation: Good
Spread: Very Good

Price: $5,215
Carat weight: 1.02
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 62.50%
Table %: 58.00%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.38 x 6.45 x 4.01 mm

Option 2
========

Both stones H VS2 (one lower color grade, one better clarity grade than Option 1).
$11,424 for the pair (with platinum setting)

Diamond 1
http://www.bluenile.com/viewcert.asp?pid=LD01088729 , http://www.bluenile.com/diamond_zoom.asp?pid=LD01088729
HCA says
Light Return: Very Good
Fire: Very Good
Scintillation: Very Good
Spread: Very Good

Price: $5,409
Carat weight: 1.01
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 62.20%
Table %: 56.00%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.41 x 6.45 x 4.00 mm
Diamond 2
http://www.bluenile.com/viewcert.asp?pid=LD01130960 , http://www.bluenile.com/diamond_zoom.asp?pid=LD01130960
HCA says
Light Return: Good
Fire: Fair
Scintillation: Fair
Spread: Very Good
Price: $5,690
Carat weight: 1.01
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 62.00%
Table %: 57.00%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.41 x 6.47 x 3.99 mm

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Welcome! What a lovely gift idea for an landmark anni! May I inquire if you have a color or clarity preference?

While thinking, check these out.....

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-150441.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-171978.htm

This price does not include a setting.

cheers--Sharon

 

[iheartscience]

Wow, what a great anniversary gift! As far as vendors, I would check out Whiteflash.com or GoodOldGold.com in addition to Bluenile. Both offer great diamonds at very competitive prices, and I know Whiteflash has a great upgrade policy. I think GoodOldGold, does, too. Plus, WF and GOG offer a ton more information than Bluenile does.

I''ve personally worked with Whiteflash and I think they''re great! I highly recommend Sheerah as a sales representative. I haven''t worked with GoodOldGold but I wouldn''t hesitate to after reading about them here on Pricescope.

Also, Whiteflash offers a wire transfer/Pricescope discount, and GOG may also.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I prefer looking for matching pairs on WhiteFlash due to them having the actual pictures and other information on the stones. This might be a good pair. Ask them if the stones are eye-clean and close enough in size.

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Compare_Diamonds.aspx?idnos=283310,283309#

These three are A Cut Above and would have a 5% discount for wire and Pricescope:

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Compare_Diamonds.aspx?idnos=273582,312255,312256

 

[mjs9876543210]

I appreciate the referrals to other possibilities, but I would appreciate any feedback you have on the specific ones I''ve described as well.

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[mrssalvo]

can you get the crown and pavilion angle's off the certs? i just can't read the tiny copie's from the links. personally, all of the stones are just out of ideal range for me personally but they may be fine looking stones. the other info will let us run the #'s through the HCA to see how the stones will perform. also, any reason you want plat. for earrings? I love plat. and would only want it for an e-ring but you're not even going to really see the metal and it won't suffer the same abuse as a ring so i'd get WG and put the extra money towards the stones.

I also agree with the above posters that one thing nice about dealing with whiteflash or goodoldgoold etc. is they will have actual pictures/ideal scopes of the stones. the bluenile stones only provide sample images. do you know if BN will run a sarin? just curious, I'm not sure if they can or not.

 

[Ellen]

To be honest, I don''t care for the angles on all but the first stone. Stick to their Signature Collection.

i.e. This is what I would suggest.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=btntext_select&elem=img&pid=LD01005526&filter_id=0

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=btntext_select&elem=img&pid=LD01023596&filter_id=0