Help! Don't know where to start looking!!

[apaco]

Hi all,

I'm finally going to propose to my beloved and would like the very best. I'm not much of a talker so here are my specs:

1.8 - 2 carats (the bigger the better...within budget)
H and above
VS2 and above
Excellent/Ideal Cut
Certified by GIA or AGS
It would help if it gets a good score on the HCA
Budget is $25K (diamond only)

I'm thinking of setting this diamond in a tiffany style 6 prong setting. Her tastes is simple yet elegant. Her ring size is 4.75 so I think this range of size I mentioned above will look great.

I know my budget and my specs may not agree but I can't seem to get myself to buy a diamond with SI1 clarity. It would bother me to no end. I plan to propose to her in about 3-4 weeks (I hope that's enough time).

I hope I've given enough information for all you ladies and gents to help me.

 

[Gypsy]

In order of preference:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.002-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104049675004 and http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-tiffany-style-half-round-18k-white-gold-5478w18

http://winkjones.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=852

http://winkjones.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=836

 

[Gypsy]

Also:

This one has all your criteria G VS 1.8 AGS0

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.80-carat-g-vs2-hearts-and-arrows-round-cut-diamond-gid-70207.html If interested in this one, Mark at Engagement Rings Direct can get you images, ASET, Idealscope when you call (CALL, don't email ERD)

 

[Gypsy]

And honestly, since I am local and do go down to Joe Escobar quite often I would be happy to meet you down them to help you learn what you need to know about diamonds, what too look for in term of performance and also help you with setting styles and choices.

I'd be happy to meet you there, in the next couple of weeks I'm going to be in and out pretty often so if you want to let me know when you plan to go in, I can check my calendar and see if it's a good match.

 

[apaco]

Gypsy, can I just say you're awesome!!!! I haven't had a chance to take a look at the list and I will do that tonight (I'm getting ready for work and have no access there). As far as meeting up, I'm in the west coast so I'm not sure how we're going to plan that! But you're really awesome!

 

[Amys Bling]

Gypsy, can I just say you're awesome!!!! I haven't had a chance to take a look at the list and I will do that tonight (I'm getting ready for work and have no access there). As far as meeting up, I'm in the west coast so I'm not sure how we're going to plan that! But you're really awesome!

she is! Always helping

 

[Gypsy]

I was cross posting. Joe Escobar is in CA in Campbell. If you are on the West Coast close to them. Check them out, and if you want my company just let me know. I love bling shopping.

 

[apaco]

I was cross posting. Joe Escobar is in CA in Campbell. If you are on the West Coast close to them. Check them out, and if you want my company just let me know. I love bling shopping.

Campbell is quite a drive for me. I'm in Los Angeles. But it would be great to have someone to go shopping with!

Anyway, I had a chance to check out your list and the first one has fluorescence. Can you tell me about it? I've been doing some research and it appears that slight to medium fluorescence are more desirable than strong and very strong because the diamond can look "milky" or "oily". I also learned that with excellent cut and some fluorescence, a warmer colored diamond can look a bit whiter. Is that correct?

 

[Amys Bling]

In terms of flouro- strong and very strong don't always have a milky or oily appearance- stone that do typically have coinciding clarity issues that with the flouro cause that milky effect. You would have to talk to the vendor about it and view the stone in many different scenarios...

 

[Gypsy]

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-flourescence Here you go.

BGD's Blue line is inspected stone by stone for the negative effects of fluorescence. You don't have to worry about any of the stones from that line as they have all been screened. But if you are still concerned about an individual stone call them, ask for Lesley and ask her if you can talk to Brian about that stone.

One of our most senior and experienced members just traded in her 'normal' diamond for one with Strong Blue. And last week when I was at Joe Escobar, since I mentioned them, one of their GIA gemologists was wearing her engagement ring-- another Strong Blue.

They DO show a slight blue "Glow" in direct sunlight. It's beautiful IMO.


I don't know why I thought you were in Nor Cal. But if you post a thread asking for places in So Cal to go browsing, a LOT of PSers are from there and will have great suggestions.

If your lady likes antique rings at all, check out Singlestone. And for eyecandy (though its way to expensive to buy there) check out 23rd Street jewelers as well.

You are very welcome, and I look forward to helping you any time you need it! Congrats on your future engagement!

 

[Gypsy]

Gypsy, can I just say you're awesome!!!! I haven't had a chance to take a look at the list and I will do that tonight (I'm getting ready for work and have no access there). As far as meeting up, I'm in the west coast so I'm not sure how we're going to plan that! But you're really awesome!

she is! Always helping

Thank you both very much *blushing*!

 

[Amys Bling]

Gypsy has given you a lot of great options...

 

[apaco]

Gypsy has given you a lot of great options...

Yes, she has. I'm intrigued by the first choice she gave me (I VS2 with strong fluorescence). I'm a little hesitant to pull the trigger because of the color. I'm wondering if the fluorescence can make it appear a little whiter. I've seen GHIJ color diamonds and my limit is H. I can see a very faint color in H when I'm looking at the profile and that's most color I want in a diamond. Plus, everyone won't be looking at the diamond face up all the time. But then again, everyone will be looking at it from a good distance....not 6 inches away all the time. See my dilema?

Also, I'm thinking about a tiffany style setting. Should I go 4 or 6? I like 6 because if a prong happens to break off, the diamond is still safe. With 4, the diamond will definitely fall out. Sometimes 6 prongs can make the diamond look smaller. I like the look of 4 because of the minimal distractions of the prongs. Again my dilema.

What do you ladies think?

 

[Gypsy]

Step by step, what I'd do:

Put the diamond on hold.

Call a Hearts on Fire dealer local to you. Make an appointment for them to walk you through their diamonds and tell them when you make the appointment that you are interested in HIJ stones. See what you think of the colors-- preferrably in stones over 1.2 carats and ideally in the size range you are looking at (although this is nitpicking).
Unset, next to one another, you will see a difference. I don't know if Hearts of Fire has florescent stones, but seeing an straight "I" with no florescence will give you a 'worst case senario" (I mean that jokingly) baseline. YOU can then decide if it bothers you.
See the I sitting in a setting FACE UP next to the H and see what you think. That's the best way to make an educated choice about what you think about the color.

Remember just because you see color doesn't mean you will be bothered by it. Seeing color is just your eyes working correctly. Being bothered by it is a personal thing.

Some people do feel that their florescence boosts their color in some light (like direct sunlight). I have never owned a stone with any florescence (though I would love a strong blue eventually) so I can't speak to it's effect on color in all different lighting conditions from personal experience.

Be prepared that the jeweler you speak with might tell you florescence horror stories and try to scare you away. There is a huge bias in the industry against it among older jewelers, and among many uneducated sales people. ESPECIALLY if that jeweler is pushing a line that doesn't carry strong blue stones.

Hearts of Fire carry a huge premium so try not to pass out when you look at the pricetags.

 

[Gypsy]

Also, I'm thinking about a tiffany style setting. Should I go 4 or 6? I like 6 because if a prong happens to break off, the diamond is still safe. With 4, the diamond will definitely fall out. Sometimes 6 prongs can make the diamond look smaller. I like the look of 4 because of the minimal distractions of the prongs. Again my dilemma.

What do you ladies think?

That's super personal.

Some people really love 6 prongs especially in 1.8 and up sizes. It visually appeals to some people who feel it makes the stone look round. There is the safety issue as well.

Others really love seeing more of the stone and appreciate the four prong look as long as the prongs are dainty.

I personally like both, and feel that in WELL DONE PRONGS it's just preference. Unfortunately there is a lot of REALLY AWFUL prong work out there. BGD, who that Blue Line stone is from, has good prong work though especially if you tell them you want "Leon-like prongs"

Does you lady have a preference for her setting? Her's is really the only opinion other than yours that counts when it comes to personal taste. Mine, and anyone else's on the board, is largely irrelevant.

 

[0-0-0]

If you are intrigued by the one Gypsy linked but unsure of the color I suggest ordering it loose and see if you like it in person. I bet you'll find it very difficult to return.

Here's my thread on a 1.7ct BGD Blue I VS2 with strong blue fluorescence in a BGD 6-prong setting for reference: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/brian-gavin-blue-in-sara.157369/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/brian-gavin-blue-in-sara.157369/[/URL]

 

[Amys Bling]

If you are intrigued by the one Gypsy linked but unsure of the color I suggest ordering it loose and see if you like it in person. I bet you'll find it very difficult to return.

Here's my thread on a 1.7ct BGD Blue I VS2 with strong blue fluorescence in a BGD 6-prong setting for reference: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/brian-gavin-blue-in-sara.157369/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/brian-gavin-blue-in-sara.157369/[/URL]

great idea- and you have a stunning ring

 

[WinkHPD]

I was cross posting. Joe Escobar is in CA in Campbell. If you are on the West Coast close to them. Check them out, and if you want my company just let me know. I love bling shopping.

Campbell is quite a drive for me. I'm in Los Angeles. But it would be great to have someone to go shopping with!

Anyway, I had a chance to check out your list and the first one has fluorescence. Can you tell me about it? I've been doing some research and it appears that slight to medium fluorescence are more desirable than strong and very strong because the diamond can look "milky" or "oily". I also learned that with excellent cut and some fluorescence, a warmer colored diamond can look a bit whiter. Is that correct?

There are a couple of excellent articles about fluorescence that you might find illuminating.

One is here on Pricescope: https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-flourescence/

The other was published by the GIA. It is a long and technical article but the meat of the article is the last paragraph, which I quote.
"Unlike the notion held by many in the trade, fluorescent diamonds are not as prevalent as nonfluorescent stones, as the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory s amp l e d a t a f o r mo r e t h a n 2 6 , 0 0 0 d i amo n d s showed. The present study also challenges the trade perception that fluorescence usually has a negative effect on better-color diamonds. Our results show that the diamond industry would be better served by considering each individual diamond on its own visual merits." (coloring is mine to highlight this last VERY important sentence.)

The whole article can be found here. http://lgdl.gia.edu/pdfs/W97_fluoresce.pdf

Wink

 

[WinkHPD]

Gypsy has given you a lot of great options...

Yes, she has. I'm intrigued by the first choice she gave me (I VS2 with strong fluorescence). I'm a little hesitant to pull the trigger because of the color. I'm wondering if the fluorescence can make it appear a little whiter. I've seen GHIJ color diamonds and my limit is H. I can see a very faint color in H when I'm looking at the profile and that's most color I want in a diamond. Plus, everyone won't be looking at the diamond face up all the time. But then again, everyone will be looking at it from a good distance....not 6 inches away all the time. See my dilema?

Also, I'm thinking about a tiffany style setting. Should I go 4 or 6? I like 6 because if a prong happens to break off, the diamond is still safe. With 4, the diamond will definitely fall out. Sometimes 6 prongs can make the diamond look smaller. I like the look of 4 because of the minimal distractions of the prongs. Again my dilema.

What do you ladies think?

The human eye does not like jagged edges and tends to smooth them out. For most people this means that 6 prongs will actually make the stone look larger. It is also the reason that well cut diamonds with edge to edge brilliance look as big as they are rather than looking smaller like stones with large amounts of leakage around the edges.

If you decide you like the four prong better, then may I suggest you go with a platinum head which will wear longer and has less likelihood of breaking off a prong.

Wink