Help Choosing

[davelb20]

Hello,

I need help choosing between two diamonds. I originally was going to go with a 1.28 carat diamond, but I decided I am more interested in a 1.5 carat or so diamond.

I have it narrowed down to two diamonds from two different vendors. One from Bluenile.com and one from uniondiamond.com. My experience with both vendors has been excellent so far. But I need some help deciding.

The one from bluenile.com is GIA Certified and has two slight inclusions, one is eye visible but can be masked by the prong when it is mounted. I like the florescense in strong blue I think that will look cool. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Carot: 1.57
Color: J
Cut: Very Good
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 60.2%
Table: 57%
Crown: 34 Degrees
Pavilion: 40.4 Degrees
Florescense: Strong Blue
Cut Advisor: .6 Excellent TIC
Price: 5638

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-very-good-cut-j-color-si2-clarity_LD01634770

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-very-good-cut-j-color-si2-clarity_LD01634770

The one from uniondiamond.com is EGL Certified
and I was told it has a cluster of tiny dark spots between the table and girdle that is not naked eye visible. The color is probably closer to an H color by GIA standards but will not show yellow in a ring or otherwise.

Carot: 1.52
Color: F
Cut: Select Ideal
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61%
Table: 56%
Crown: 13 Percent
Pavilion: 44 Percent
Florescense: None
Cutlet: None
Cut Advisor: 1.7 Excellent BIC
Price: 4512

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?mod=search&search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&item_id=AB645655#


http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?mod=search&search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&item_id=AB645655#

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/12/2010 11:40:46 AM
Author:davelb20
Hello,

I need help choosing between two diamonds. I originally was going to go with a 1.28 carat diamond, but I decided I am more interested in a 1.5 carat or so diamond.

I have it narrowed down to two diamonds from two different vendors. One from Bluenile.com and one from uniondiamond.com. My experience with both vendors has been excellent so far. But I need some help deciding.

The one from bluenile.com is GIA Certified and has two slight inclusions, one is eye visible but can be masked by the prong when it is mounted. I like the florescense in strong blue I think that will look cool. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Carot: 1.57
Color: J
Cut: Very Good
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 60.2%
Table: 57%
Crown: 34 Degrees
Pavilion: 40.4 Degrees
Florescense: Strong Blue
Cut Advisor: .6 Excellent TIC
Price: 5638

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-very-good-cut-j-color-si2-clarity_LD01634770

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-very-good-cut-j-color-si2-clarity_LD01634770

The one from uniondiamond.com is EGL Certified
and I was told it has a cluster of tiny dark spots between the table and girdle that is not naked eye visible. The color is probably closer to an H color by GIA standards but will not show yellow in a ring or otherwise.

Carot: 1.52
Color: F
Cut: Select Ideal
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61%
Table: 56%
Crown: 13 Percent
Pavilion: 44 Percent
Florescense: None
Cutlet: None
Cut Advisor: 1.7 Excellent BIC
Price: 4512

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?mod=search&search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&item_id=AB645655#


http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?mod=search&search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&item_id=AB645655#

Thanks in advance for the help.

Hi Dave and welcome!

With the first diamond, I would be concerned about an effect called obstruction due to the shallow pavilion angle. In simple terms, this is an effect that can be seen with shallow pavilioned stones or ones with shallow crown and pavilion angles. These stones can look dark at close scrutiny as the viewer's head/ body blocks light to the stone. Therefore, I wouldn't want to buy this diamond without an Idealscope image, but BN do not provide images unfortunately.

The second diamond is EGL graded and possibly from EGL Israel which are said to grade loosely compared to some other labs and other branches of EGL, so it is possible the colour and clarity could be considerably lower than stated.

If you like, give us an idea of what you are looking for and budget, we could find some suitable diamonds for you?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Does Union provide IS images? In the case of the second diamond, although EGL graded, the price is *so* low that even if it is a J color it is a deal. My concern is about the clarity though, since it could be lower, and even the cut since I have heard fo cases where it is not assessed well. Can you have it sent to an independent appraiser to get their opinion of the color and the clarity before you finalize the sale (i.e. before the return period is over)?

Ditto Lor, though. Neither is ideal.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/12/2010 11:57:32 AM
Author: dreamer_d
Does Union provide IS images? In the case of the second diamond, although EGL graded, the price is *so* low that even if it is a J color it is a deal. My concern is about the clarity though, since it could be lower, and even the cut since I have heard fo cases where it is not assessed well. Can you have it sent to an independent appraiser to get their opinion of the color and the clarity before you finalize the sale (i.e. before the return period is over)?

Ditto Lor, though. Neither is ideal.

They do D.

 

[davelb20]

Thank you both for your response. I called union and they are going to send me a regular picture first to see if we can see any irregularities, if the regular picture looks good, they are going to bring it into their lab and get me an ideal scope image. Todd from Union diamonds has been very helpful, with that. He said that although the color of the diamond is listed as an F in the EGL report its actually closer to an H color.

But what i''m looking for in a diamond is:

Carat: 1.40-1.7
Cut: Ideal, excellent, very good
Clarity: SI2 or better or below SI2 if its eye clean or if the inclusions can be blocked by the prong settings.
Color: J or Better
Florescence: Medium to Strong blue especially if the color is K,J,I,H. But I''ve never really seen a diamond with florescence before, it sounds like it would look really cool though especially if it can help mask the yellowish color of a low color diamond. Anyone else have an opinion on the florescence?
Budget: Max Price 4900

I''m not sure about the independent appraiser for the EGL stone. I know the stone is not at Union Diamonds, but if the picture looks good they will bring it in for an Ideal scope image. After Lorelei and dreamer_d''s input I''m definitely leaning towards the EGL stone if the picture and Ideal-scope image look good. Unless you can help me find other stones which fit in my price category.

Thank you for the input.

Dave

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/12/2010 2:54:37 PM
Author: davelb20
Thank you both for your response. I called union and they are going to send me a regular picture first to see if we can see any irregularities, if the regular picture looks good, they are going to bring it into their lab and get me an ideal scope image. Todd from Union diamonds has been very helpful, with that. He said that although the color of the diamond is listed as an F in the EGL report its actually closer to an H color.

But what i''m looking for in a diamond is:

Carat: 1.40-1.7
Cut: Ideal, excellent, very good
Clarity: SI2 or better or below SI2 if its eye clean or if the inclusions can be blocked by the prong settings.
Color: J or Better
Florescence: Medium to Strong blue especially if the color is K,J,I,H. But I''ve never really seen a diamond with florescence before, it sounds like it would look really cool though especially if it can help mask the yellowish color of a low color diamond. Anyone else have an opinion on the florescence?
Budget: Max Price 4900

I''m not sure about the independent appraiser for the EGL stone. I know the stone is not at Union Diamonds, but if the picture looks good they will bring it in for an Ideal scope image. After Lorelei and dreamer_d''s input I''m definitely leaning towards the EGL stone if the picture and Ideal-scope image look good. Unless you can help me find other stones which fit in my price category.

Thank you for the input.

Dave

I really would recommend this, just buy the diamond if it checks out and have it sent to an independent appraiser near you or a PS recommended one from afar, and make sure it is all done within the return period. If the appraisal checks out you can have it sent to you to set locally or you can send it back to Union to set.

I know that Union gave their opinion about the color, but you need to make sure that you have an idea of what the diamond would be graded by GIA/AGS so that you can get a better feeling for its value. To me, the problem with buying EGL diamonds is that there is so much variation in the grading that it is very difficult to get a true idea of its value, so it is very hard to judge price. An independent appraiser who has nothng to gain from the sale of the diamond is an invaluable resource when considering EGL diamonds because they can help you to know if you are really paying a fair price for the diamond.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I cannot find anything in your specs graded by GIA or AGS. It makes me wonder about both the clarity and color grades of the F EGL diamond, since its price is really shockingly low. Generally, there are no "deals" in diamonds. The diamond will be priced based on what it can command on the market, regardless of its cert. So I am wondering about this diamond and how poorly it would come out on the GIA/AGS scales. If the diamond is beautiful and well cut, that is great, but I do not like to see you overpay for what the diamond *actually* is.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/12/2010 3:03:58 PM
Author: dreamer_d
I cannot find anything in your specs graded by GIA or AGS. It makes me wonder about both the clarity and color grades of the F EGL diamond, since its price is really shockingly low. Generally, there are no 'deals' in diamonds. The diamond will be priced based on what it can command on the market, regardless of its cert. So I am wondering about this diamond and how poorly it would come out on the GIA/AGS scales. If the diamond is beautiful and well cut, that is great, but I do not like to see you overpay for what the diamond *actually* is.

Thats the thing, the price is incredibly low and that is a flag....Makes you wonder how accurate the grading really is....Dave, I would be very cautious with this diamond and if you decide to pursue it, definitely get an independant appraisal during the return period and just clarify the terms of the return window with UD. The price is in line with GIA graded J colour I1 clarity out of interest so the appraisal is a must.

 

[davelb20]

Dreamer_d,

I guess I'll have to wait and see how the picture and ideal-scope image turn out for the EGL stone. Then if I do buy it and have it shipped to me get it appraised right away.

Whats your opinion on Florescence? I don't know why anyone would not like the bluish color. But I don't own any diamonds and I've only bought one piece of diamond jewelery in my life for my present girlfriend.

Thank you for the help.

Dave

 

[Lorelei]

Personally I love fluorescence, I feel it adds interest and a bit of visual * electricity* to a stone. It can help a lower colour diamond face up a little whiter in some lights but you really need at least medium or strong to have a beneficial effect and even then any benefits are slight. But to sum up, I am always pleased if fluorescence turns up in a stone!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/12/2010 3:45:21 PM
Author: Lorelei
Personally I love fluorescence, I feel it adds interest and a bit of visual * electricity* to a stone. It can help a lower colour diamond face up a little whiter in some lights but you really need at least medium or strong to have a beneficial effect and even then any benefits are slight. But to sum up, I am always pleased if fluorescence turns up in a stone!

Ditto. I think that in the lighting environments that are the most unforgiving on diamond tint, like diffuse indoor lighting, flor is unlikely to help. So I would not look for it as a means of changing the look of a lower color diamond, but rather as an interesting added feature.