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catharsis3k

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
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I want to propose to my girl and I''m finding out that picking out a diamond isn''t as easy as I thought!

maybe it''s because I don''t have much money that it''s so difficult. My budget is around 3k with the setting.

#1. Is bluenile.com a trusted source for buying diamonds ?

#2. I found a diamond that seems a good match but in the GIA report it says Clarity: Feather
Is that a really bad thing or not so much ?

The other stats of the diamond are:

carat: 0.55
color: E
cut: round - ideal
clarity: VVS2
polish/symmetry: excellent
depth: 59.9%
table: 58%
fluorescence: none

Thanks!
 
Feather at VVS2 is nothing to worry about.

Need more infomations to consider if this is a good buy. For example price of the stone?

Can you give us at least the GIA report number?

E color and VVS2 are over-kill in most of PSers' eyes, most of us will go down to at least a G VS2.

EDT

And what amount are you setting aside for the setting?
 
Date: 9/30/2008 1:16:06 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
Feather at VVS2 is nothing to worry about.

Need more infomations to consider if this is a good buy. For example price of the stone?

Can you give us at least the GIA report number?

E color and VVS2 are over-kill in most of PSers' eyes, most of us will go down to at least a G VS2.

EDT

And what amount are you setting aside for the setting?
Click to expand...
Ditto - no worries there. It is cut quality which makes a diamond beautiful, just in case you are very new to diamonds, so you could drop the colour and clarity to G or even H easily in that size, and VS to SI clarity which is verified eyeclean - of course if you want E VVS then ignore that advice! As to the diamond's cut, we need the proportions to help you evaluate it, can you post the link please? Also images such as Idealscope are so useful to help judge the cut of a diamond, but BN do not provide these to the best of my knowledge, whereas vendors such as Whiteflash, Wink Jones, Good old Gold etc have in house diamonds and often the cut analysis done, so you can make an informed choice.

Also I don't know if an upgrade might ever be a consideration, but BN don't have an upgrade policy, just so you can factor that into your decision.
 
thank you for the prompt reply!

the stone is priced at 2330$

the full link is this: Diamond

the GIA report can be found in there

for setting I was thinking white gold or platinum. If I go for platinum I''ll be right near my max budget of 3k but I''m not sure if it''s worth it since the white gold is rhodium plated.
 
I''d stick to AGS stones that get Ideal for cut if buying from BN.
 
WOW! That is one old diamond... 2004, so no angles for the round are described. I cannot make an informed choice on this round for you. Sorry.
 
What is you range of requirement for the stone? Maybe we can find something else for you?
 
Date: 9/30/2008 1:36:18 PM
Author: catharsis3k
thank you for the prompt reply!

the stone is priced at 2330$

the full link is this: Diamond

the GIA report can be found in there

for setting I was thinking white gold or platinum. If I go for platinum I'll be right near my max budget of 3k but I'm not sure if it's worth it since the white gold is rhodium plated.
Click to expand...
Not enough info unfortunately, we need at a minimum these proportions -

depth %
table%
crown angle
pavilion angle
diameter measurement
polish and symmetry grades
girdle thickness
fluorescence if applicable

Also BN won't provide the missing info to the best of my knowledge which could be done with a Sarin report. I would look for another stone personally, one which has the above info available so you can judge the cut.
 
what about this one

I have seen a couple of rings my friends bought for their girlfriends and honestly I don''t want to get something huge but with defects, that don''t sparkle/shine. One of them for example I can clearly see a black line inside the diamond! I''d rather get something smaller but of better quality that will hold its value through time.

I guess my biggest concerns are these

1. It has to be round
2. depth/table proportions must be ideal
3. no fluorescence
4. cut: ideal to excellent
5. symmetry/polish excellent

I am saying all this because that''s what my research indicated would be a good diamond. What I actually want is a beautiful stone with no imperfections that shines - ex: I''d rather have a smaller shiny stnoe than a big dull one
 
Date: 9/30/2008 2:01:03 PM
Author: catharsis3k
what about this one

I have seen a couple of rings my friends bought for their girlfriends and honestly I don't want to get something huge but with defects, that don't sparkle/shine. One of them for example I can clearly see a black line inside the diamond! I'd rather get something smaller but of better quality that will hold its value through time.

I guess my biggest concerns are these

1. It has to be round
2. depth/table proportions must be ideal
3. no fluorescence
4. cut: ideal to excellent
5. symmetry/polish excellent

I am saying all this because that's what my research indicated would be a good diamond. What I actually want is a beautiful stone with no imperfections that shines - ex: I'd rather have a smaller shiny stnoe than a big dull one
Click to expand...
That could be a nice diamond, an Idealscope image would be good to confirm, but overall it looks promising. I take it you prefer E VVS? Just so you are aware, a colour such as G or H and VS or SI clarity if eyeclean and well cut, will still look shiny and beautiful, that is the difference that cut makes. A D IF which is poorly cut will look like a chunk of glass compared even to a well cut J SI2 if eyeclean and the cut is excellent. Like I said before, if you prefer E VVS then thats fine, but it is cut which will give you the beauty you desire.
 
what color range and clarity range are you looking for?

Your new stone has the following numbers:
60.2% depth, 55% table, 33.5 crown angle, 40.8 pavilion angle, HCA 0.7, which is excellent, scoring excellent for Light, Fire, Scint and Spread. But it is probably on the shallow crown range which will result in a darker stone on close inspection, not good for a ER.
 
Date: 9/30/2008 2:10:30 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
what color range and clarity range are you looking for?

Your new stone has the following numbers:
60.2% depth, 55% table, 33.5 crown angle, 40.8 pavilion angle, HCA 0.7, which is excellent, scoring excellent for Light, Fire, Scint and Spread. But it is probably on the shallow crown range which will result in a darker stone on close inspection, not good for a ER.
Click to expand...
Sorry SC, me again - I don't think it should be a problem in this case, the crown angle is only slightly on the shallower side of PS preferences, if the pavilion angle was below 40.6 then I might be concerned, but as the pav is a bit steeper then it should be fine. An IS is always nice to confirm of course but I see no reason why this diamond should have that type of problem.
 
Date: 9/30/2008 2:10:30 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
what color range and clarity range are you looking for?

Your new stone has the following numbers:
60.2% depth, 55% table, 33.5 crown angle, 40.8 pavilion angle, HCA 0.7, which is excellent, scoring excellent for Light, Fire, Scint and Spread. But it is probably on the shallow crown range which will result in a darker stone on close inspection, not good for a ER.
Click to expand...

I guess I''m looking for an F, don''t really wanna go lower.

As far as clarity I thought VVS2 was decent but I don''t really know if to the naked eye there will be a difference between that and a VS1/VS2. Don''t want to go any lower than that either.
 
Date: 9/30/2008 2:14:09 PM
Author: catharsis3k

Date: 9/30/2008 2:10:30 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
what color range and clarity range are you looking for?

Your new stone has the following numbers:
60.2% depth, 55% table, 33.5 crown angle, 40.8 pavilion angle, HCA 0.7, which is excellent, scoring excellent for Light, Fire, Scint and Spread. But it is probably on the shallow crown range which will result in a darker stone on close inspection, not good for a ER.
Click to expand...

I guess I''m looking for an F, don''t really wanna go lower.

As far as clarity I thought VVS2 was decent but I don''t really know if to the naked eye there will be a difference between that and a VS1/VS2. Don''t want to go any lower than that either.
Click to expand...
As long as the diamond is verified eyeclean and the cut is great, then you wouldn''t see a difference with the naked eye between SI and VVS clarity even. As a compromise maybe consider VS1 or VS2 which is still a high clarity, but it might broaden the options.
 
Date: 9/30/2008 2:12:28 PM
Author: Lorelei

Sorry SC, me again - I don''t think it should be a problem in this case, if the pavilion angle was below 40.6 then I might be concerned, but as the pav is a bit steeper then it should be fine. An IS is always nice to confirm of course but I see no reason why this diamond should have that type of problem.
Click to expand...


Ya, it is a the borderline on the HCA chart, between the older and young people ring range, and also it is out of the AGS0 range which is why I raise the flag, probably nothing, I was going to add this in my previous post but saw that you already commented on it. :P

catharsis3k, VS1/2 range unless it is a mistake or you have supersharp eyesight should be un-noticeable. It is suppose to be moderately difficult with a 10x mag... :P
 
If graded correctly from a reputable lab (GIA or AGS), there should be no visible difference to the naked eye between VVS2 and VS2. Personally, I think the VS2 is a much better value, but that is just my opinion.
 
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1467061.htm#

Try this, WF is a trusted vendor here on PS. It is a 0.56ct F VS2 ACA H&A stone at only 2067 PSer discount.
 
Date: 9/30/2008 2:20:13 PM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 9/30/2008 2:12:28 PM
Author: Lorelei

Sorry SC, me again - I don''t think it should be a problem in this case, if the pavilion angle was below 40.6 then I might be concerned, but as the pav is a bit steeper then it should be fine. An IS is always nice to confirm of course but I see no reason why this diamond should have that type of problem.
Click to expand...


Ya, it is a the borderline on the HCA chart, between the older and young people ring range, and also it is out of the AGS0 range which is why I raise the flag, probably nothing, I was going to add this in my previous post but saw that you already commented on it. :P

catharsis3k, VS1/2 range unless it is a mistake or you have supersharp eyesight should be un-noticeable. It is suppose to be moderately difficult with a 10x mag... :P
Click to expand...
LOL Sorry! ;)
 
The diamond that Stone recomended looks great!

I think you would be best to head towards GOG (Good Old Gold) or White Flash for the nicest sparkle for your $$$ they have tonnes of info on each individual stone, pictures and reports (not just numbers like BN). Have you looked at GOG?

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I would still go with my original recommendation FVS2 stone. You are paying about 400USD more for an improvement in color and clarity grade that you most probably won''t notice and also from the ASET and IS, the F VS2 looks more symmertical to me and I like that pattern better.
 
Both gorgeous diamonds, you can''t go wrong so pick according to your budget and colour preference. As to the setting, I would choose the normal Tiffany style personally as I think it would be the most graceful with that size diamond.
 
The heavy tapers off from 3mm to 2.3mm while the traditional is 2.7mm throughout. I would have thought the heavy would look more elegant on the finger? Assuming it tapers off after the widest part of the finger? I can''t tell from just the pictures though...
 
For the setting, what about one of these instead? I really like the classic knife edge 6 prong look.
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Classic-tiffany-style-Knife-Edge_1137.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/6-Prong-tiffany-style_993.htm

For the diamond, I suggest dropping to G/VS and spending the extra on a little bigger diamond or a better setting. When we started our search, we were stuck on E/VVS1. As we saw more diamonds, we realieze that we really can''t tell a big difference between a G/VS1 and an E/F/VVS.
 
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