HELP! college kid looking to buy a diamond online but need a bit more education

[shaef22]

OK, so I have pretty much settled on a .65-.70 carat diamond with an F or G color, and an SI1 or SI2 clarity. However, I don''t know much about depth and table and anything else that might go into making the cut ideal. What is a good range of numbers for depth and table? I want an Ideal cut diamond as pretty much everyone I have talked to and everything that I have read says that cut is the most important of the C''s. Thanks for any information that you can help me out with as I am a college kid who is trying to figure this out fairly quick so that I can propose! Also, any input as to where I should buy (I am currently looking at Blue Nile and Union for the diamond and then having it set somewhere else) would be greatly appreciated. From everything I have read the most complaints about online purchases seem to come from the settings so I figured it would be best to have it set at a brick and mortar store so that I can check it out myself more easily. OK, thanks for all your help and take care!

 

[dageman]

http://www.gemappraisers.com/oldcutgraderules.asp

Select round from the drop down menu and check out all the numbers you can handle lol

Otherwise use this site to search above and click on H&A and AGS0 when you search for what you are looking for and ideal cut diamonds will be the only results you get.

Good luck! I know the trials of being a college student and trying to find the time/money to do all this the right way!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

To make it really easy, look for:

table: 54-57%

depth: 60-62%

crown angle: 34-35

pav. angle: 40.6-41 (has to go with the crown angle)

girdle: thin, medium, slightly thick

Here is the best search:

https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx

Put in excellent-excellent for cut and check GIA and AGS only for labs.

If you want it to be really easy, look at WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold who have already done all the homework for you!
What is your budget for the stone?

 

[shaef22]

I would like to spend no more than $3,000 at the very most. Also, can sites such as good as gold, whiteflash or even union or blue nile, etc. be trusted to set just as well as a brick and mortar jeweler?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have bought from WF and GOG, and I would trust them to set my stones. I haven''t seen enough set by the other companies you mention to be sure. But there are many rings on here that have been set by GOG and WF.

Are you looking for a specific style of ring like a solitaire?

 

[shaef22]

How does this one look for $2660 through Pricescope and James Allen?

Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.70
Cut: Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 60.9%
Table: 55.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.69*5.74*3.48

Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown %: 16.00
pavilion Angle: 39.8°
pavilion %: 42.00

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There are some very nice choices available right around your budget limit!

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-283272.htm ($3131 with wire and pricescope

discounts)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-231183.htm (also $3131 " )

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-29128.htm ($2953 with discounts)

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 1/7/2008 9:34:05 PM
Author: shaef22
How does this one look for $2660 through Pricescope and James Allen?

Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.70
Cut: Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 60.9%
Table: 55.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.69*5.74*3.48

Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown %: 16.00
pavilion Angle: 39.8°
pavilion %: 42.00

Hang on and let me look at it on the site.

We can get a better one than that. When you look at the search list, you want the HCA green words to say ex-ex-ex-vg.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I only saw one James Allen stone that I liked, and it was still $3000. I like WF''s lifetime upgrade policy, so all things equal, I''d buy from WF. However, if you want to go VS1 over SI1, it would be a contender:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1122722.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131 ($3000 w/discounts)

 

[shaef22]

Is AGS every bit as good of a certification lab as GIA? Up until now I had pretty much been set on buying a GIA certified diamond due to what I''ve read as well as what an uncle who is in the jewelry business said.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Most people around here actually prefer AGS, because they give more information on their certs and do a more rigorous job of grading cut, which is the most important feature of a diamond. But both AGS and GIA are very well-respected.

Of the stones posted, that 0.747 G SI1 ACA from Whiteflash is my favorite for staying slightly under your budget - it looks totally gorgeous

 

[diamondseeker2006]

As Amber said, AGS is a very reputable lab. It just grades fewer stones than GIA, so you don''t see their certs as often. But their AGS0 Ideal cut is a top quality stone.

 

[shaef22]

Hmm...I am starting to get a headache from trying to figure everything out but I think I have decided to go with Union and just purchase a diamond and then get it set somewhere. Here are a few very similar diamonds from Union and if anyone could tell me if anything separates them from any of the others than I would really appreciate it. They are all F in color (except 1 E), all VS2 in clarity and all a very similar size (abt .70) and all GIA certified.

Carat Color Clarity Cut Depth/Table Price Price Polish/Sym
View 0.71 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 61.8/57 2803 2887 VG/VG
View 0.72 E VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 61.6/56 2774 2857 EX/EX
View 0.72 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 60.3/56 2646 2725 VG/VG
View 0.73 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 60.1/57 2683 2763 VG/EX
View 0.71 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 61.2/56 2694 2775 EX/VG
View 0.70 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 61.6/57 2611 2689 EX/VG
View 0.70 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 60.1/57 2648 2727 VG/EX
View 0.70 F VS2 Select Idealâ„¢ 60/57 2686 2767 VG/VG

Oh, and the first price is the price for a bank wiring payment in case you were confused

Thanks for all your help!

P.S. HERE IS A LINK SO THAT YOU CAN COMPARE THEM BETTER AND SEE FURTHER INFORMATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE:

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?search_type_id=3&action_type_id=6&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA590427&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA570545&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA570337&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA570563&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA546151&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA572894&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA572896&form%5Bitem_id%5D%5B%5D=AA572897&sort_field=&sort_dir=

 

[E B]

shaef,

Unfortunately, Union Diamond just doesn't provide enough information to give a fair assessment of cut.

I just recently ordered a stone from Blue Nile and was very happy with their service AND with the stone. Might you consider going that route? They don't offer pictures of their stones, but they'll let you know if they're eye-clean; I asked about several and got prompt replies (usually after a day or so) about each. They also have a 30 day return policy if you aren't happy with the stone.

.71 ct G, SI1 AGS 0 Ideal, 1 on the HCA $2356 bank wire price

If you're looking to stay under $3,000, you still have enough left over after the stone to pop that baby in a classic platinum 4-prong solitaire:

Four-Prong Solitaire, Platinum (Total cost = $2856)

 

[E B]

Or maybe a setting with sapphires, in white gold:

Channel-Set Diamond and Sapphire Ring

(Total = $2956)

Hope this helps somewhat. Good luck finding the perfect ring!