Help choosing A Diamond

[Taylormade]

Hello,

I''m a Pricescope Virgin so please be gentle.

My wife would like to upgrade her ring for our 10th anniversary. She currently has a 3/4 ct. stone that was my mother''s. She would like to upgrade to a larger stone and switch to one single ring.

I am definitely interested in a quality diamond but she is also interested in a large diamond. I''m budgeting between 20k to 25k for the diamond itself. Is it worth going with an H SI1 for example at 2.4 or 2.45 or should I go with the F SI1 2.0?

Perhaps once a stone is mounted, no one is casually going to know that the stone is an H or likewise an F. Also, I always thought Ideal Cut would be ideal but the price differential is quite large.

Any recommendations would be very helpful. I have checked out blue nile and a few other sites but I''m not sure what to do.

Thank you for your input!
Victor

 

[Taylormade]

Here are a few examples:

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-very-good-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD01384673?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-si1-clarity_LD01406793?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD01384670?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Victor and welcome!

It is cut quality which gives a diamond its beauty, far more than colour or clarity - so it is very important to concentrate on that. Not everyone needs or wants a top cut superideal hearts and arrows diamond, some just want a beautiful well cut diamond which isn't cut to such strict standards which can still be an excellent choice, it depends on your priorities. Also do beware of vendor applied labels such as Ideal Cut, Premium Cut etc, these are no guarantee of a well cut stone.

As to your colour and clarity specs, that is a personal preference, but you could certainly shoot for reliably graded H colour and SI1 clarity if verified eyeclean - it will still look very white and fabulous if the cut is good!

The diamonds you posted could be better cut, I would recommend you check out some vendors who have in house inventory diamonds, that way they can get the diamond out for you on demand and describe it to you, also they have detailed photos and cut aids such as Idealscope images which are very useful for judging the cut - these guys are also experts so you can take advantage of their expertise!

I would check out -

www.winkjones.com

www.whiteflash.com

www.goodoldgold.com

See what these guys have to offer or suggest. Also centre your search around AGS0 cut grade and GIA Excellent, that will help to find a well cut stone. As your wife wants a large diamond, I would look at G, H or even I colour, and VS2 to SI1 clarity ( verified eyeclean to your standards) and the best cut and largest you can find with those parameters. I will have a quick look to see what I can find for you as examples.

Ok here is one - http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4884/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4766/

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-906725.htm#

 

[Taylormade]

Thank you for the input!

I have also discovered the HCA on this website. The really gives insight into the diamonds when you''re just looking at the certificates. The H is listed is only 6.5 while the G is a 2 and the F is a 3.

The 1st diamond example you gave me at Goodoldgold is an HCA 1 and within TIC range.

I will take your advice and continue my search.

 

[Ellen]

Any of those stones Lorelei picked would be awesome.

 

[Lorelei]

You are most welcome! The HCA is invaluable, aim to further evaluate diamonds which score 2 or below, that will eliminate known lesser performers leaving you with the better candidates to consider. Also with the HCA a lower score doesn''t mean that a particular diamond is better than one with a higher score as that can be confusing to some, once you get these scores you then go on to evaluate each diamond with Idealscope images, and trusted vendor/ appraiser input.

 

[Taylormade]

I''ve checked out the 3 websites Lorelei has referred me too and they all seem to have great diamonds. All the examples you sighted were less than 2 HCA.

Do you have any idea whether or not the pricing is firm or is there any negotiating room?

Thanks!

 

[J2K]

Most online vendors operate at a very low margin already, so they may be able to negotiate slightly, but not even close to the percentages of B&M stores.

I believe that some of the above vendors will give a pricescope discount though, if you ask.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/22/2008 4:01:16 PM
Author: Taylormade
I've checked out the 3 websites Lorelei has referred me too and they all seem to have great diamonds. All the examples you sighted were less than 2 HCA.

Do you have any idea whether or not the pricing is firm or is there any negotiating room?

Thanks!

Ditto J2, but if you pay by bank wire transfer Taylor, there may be a discount available that way in some circumstances if you ask!

 

[Taylormade]

Ok, after doing my research, it seems that the goodoldgold.com diamonds may be the best but here are the diamonds that I think are worth considering: (All are HCA <2)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-906725.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-906695.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4766/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4884/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4844/

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-very-good-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD01274519?filter_id=0

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD01305968?filter_id=0

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD01309854?filter_id=0

Please let me know what you think and thanks for taking the time to help me.

 

[Ellen]

Ok, I'm skipping the BN because they don't give enough info, and that will help narrow things down.


If you want the biggest stone, if eyeclean, the GOG stone is almost the same diameter as the other, and less money. So I would pick that one of the two larger.

If you want one of the smaller, I'd shoot for the I from WF, if eyeclean. If not, then try the GOG I. (this one has strong flo, if that appeals or not to you)



But you have to decide which size you want, we're not comparing apples with apples here.

 

[Taylormade]

Thanks Ellen.

I didn''t realize the one stone had strong Fluorescence. I''ll pass on that one.

 

[Taylormade]

I think I have finally narrowed it down to 2 stones. They are smaller than the others above because my wife decided to go with a Michael B band that would have stretched my budget with the above stones.

I also think GoG makes the most sense for me because I plan on taking advantage of their trade in policy in the future.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3659/ HCA 0.5

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4638/ HCA 0.8

I'm leaning toward the Candian Diamond because I like the fact that it is gauranteed not to be a blood diamond.

Thanks!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/23/2008 7:33:49 PM
Author: Taylormade
I think I have finally narrowed it down to 2 stones. They are smaller than the others above because my wife decided to go with a Michael B band that would have stretched my budget with the above stones.

I also think GoG makes the most sense for me because I plan on taking advantage of their trade in policy in the future.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3659/ HCA 0.5

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4638/ HCA 0.8

I''m leaning toward the Candian Diamond because I like the fact that it is gauranteed not to be a blood diamond.

Thanks!

I like that one better personally, nothing wrong with it!

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 9/24/2008 8:15:03 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 9/23/2008 7:33:49 PM

Author: Taylormade

I think I have finally narrowed it down to 2 stones. They are smaller than the others above because my wife decided to go with a Michael B band that would have stretched my budget with the above stones.


I also think GoG makes the most sense for me because I plan on taking advantage of their trade in policy in the future.


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3659/ HCA 0.5


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4638/ HCA 0.8


I''m leaning toward the Candian Diamond because I like the fact that it is gauranteed not to be a blood diamond.


Thanks!

I like that one better personally, nothing wrong with it!

Same here, but because of the slightly better Gemex performance.