Help - about to buy in the next 48 hopefully

[chrisleduc21]

Hello,

First time poster, about to guy a ring for the g/f. She wants a round diamond, she says .75 to 1 ct. I don't mind buying larger but budget and quality are restrictions.
Id like to be 8000-8500 max total, no tax here in Delaware.
My biggest concern from the research I've done is having as high a grade cut as possible. From there I'm not too sure which is more important - the colorlessness or the flawlessness. I like to buy quality, especially here, but I don't to have a E/IF diamond.

I am considering one, but still have a lot to learn and at this point though Ive got many many hours of research invested, I need some help. I need some advice.

Could I get a few opinions on this diamond (good deal, good diamond etc) and maybe some suggestions if you think I can get a better/larger diamond for the money?

Here is the one I am looking at, this is their signature diamond so the cut is SUPPOSED to be excellent....

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-signature-ideal-cut-e-color-vvs2-clarity_LD02564085?tempcurr=USD&click_id=196325403

NOTE you can view the GIA GCAL reports and the GCAL report has the optical analysis and photos of the stone.

Thank you in advance !!

 

[Niel]

What kind of Setting does she want?

 

[chrisleduc21]

She actually doesn't care too much about the setting - its going to be something basic, not a completely plain band, but not a 3-stone or anything "antique". Really something that will accentuate the stone.

 

[TC1987]

(I don't want to be too negative. I just did a quick 'n dirty look at this diamond, and you can read the other comments on here regarding Blue Nile and decide to stay with them or switch vendors.)

I'm no expert but I think you should go for a little better cut. If I read the measurements correctly (and that's hard to do on my laptop, LOL), I plug them into the HCA cut adviser tool and that diamond falls just outside of the AGS top cut grade, but is still within GIA's. It's probably a nice looking diamond, but I am not liking the way it looks in that certificate photo. I prefer a smaller table, like 55%-56% and the arrows look a little sloppy or something in that picture.

I prefer to deal with the vendors like Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin, who actually have the diamond(s) in-house and can look at them and give feedback. Blue Nile has to call either call the diamond in from the cutter and take his word for it, or have the diamond shipped in to be able to look at it.

I also wanted to try to learn something new, so I played with the AGA/NAJA cut tool, and here's my input and the output, below. (I did it hastily, and didn't check the inputs). It tossed out one 1B score, so that kind of might confirm that this diamond is not the absolute best cut. I don't know how to interpret the scores without looking it up but I suspect that getting one 1B drops it to an overall 1B grade. I really don't know.
inputs:
Length:5.94
Width:6.00
Depth:3.66
Total Depth:61.31%
Table percent:57
Crown height:15
Girdle (from):Medium
Girdle (to):Slightly thick
Polish:Excellent / Very Good
Symmetry:Excellent / Very Good
Crown angle:35
Pavilion depth:43

output (cut grades)
Tab Percent: 1A
Crown Angle: 1B
Crown Height: 1A
Pavilion Depth: 1A
Girdle: 1A
Depth: 1A
Polish: 1A
Symmetry: 1A

 

[Niel]

well I usually dont like the idea of BN just because they dont provide photos.
if you wanted a verly simple setting theres this; id just ask wf to tell you if its eye clean

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2829735.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/keystone-half-bezel-solitaire-engagement-ring-1105.htm

or this
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2812693.htm
with that theres lots of settings you could pick

Or JA
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1483384.asp

a few settings to pick there too
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-tapered-six-prong-filigree-basket-solitaire-engagement-ring.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-double-claw-prong-surprise-diamond-engagement-ring-17129w.html

 

[JulieN]

This is a Signature ideal, the numbers are fine, and there are pictures.

The diamond looks great. Did you know you can save money by going to F VS2 which is still very high quality?

 

[chrisleduc21]

if you wanted a verly simple setting theres this; id just ask wf to tell you if its eye clean

Nielseel - Thanks for the links, Ill look into these and compare prices.

 

[chrisleduc21]

This is a Signature ideal, the numbers are fine, and there are pictures.

The diamond looks great. Did you know you can save money by going to F VS2 which is still very high quality?

I was thinking the diamond was Ok was hoping for more opinions and I was wondering how this diamond compares price wise - is it a good deal or..?

I will look at the VS2 and F and see what I can see.

 

[Niel]

I'm sorry I assumed you can't see those pictures sense the first but says sample photo. :/


I agree you can probably stretch your budget a bit with an f vs2 but if youre set on that one I think it's comparable. But I'm sure someone with more knowledge of the RB prices will come chime in.

 

[chrisleduc21]

Im really wanting to stay at VVS2, or maybe VS1 or better and a G color or better, but then again Im not the expert so... I definitely want to stay as colorless as possible and keep the cut as good as possible.

 

[chrono]

You can't see a thing on a VS2 stone so unless you have this deepseated purity of diamond mind clean issue, G VS2 is very white and clean. It is unnecessary to pay more for a VVS when it looks just like a less expensive VS.