Help: down to two choices

[firstjv]

Dear experts,
After educating myself on this forum and looking far and wide for the rock that fits the bill, I am down to two choices. I am hoping you can help give me a recommendation on which one is a better choice.
#1 GIA: 17455188, Princess, 1.50, E, VVS1, Ex, Ex (sym), 70%, 70.8%, 6.42 x 6.33 x 4.48 mm - $16.5k
#2 GIA: 13679151, Princess, 1.50, E, VVS1, EX, VG (sym), 69%, 72.4%, 6.35 x 6.23 x 4.51 mm - $13k

#1 is from BlueNile and #2 is from a local jeweler who I am not sure whether I can trust, though they seem legit. The good thing is that the diamond from them has serial number laser inscribed and I checked on the GIA website that the report matches. Is this a good enough way to ensure the diamond is real? Which diamond would you recommend?

Thank you very much in advance for your help.
Take care,
James

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/25/2008 4:20:37 AM
Author:firstjv
Dear experts,
After educating myself on this forum and looking far and wide for the rock that fits the bill, I am down to two choices. I am hoping you can help give me a recommendation on which one is a better choice.
#1 GIA: 17455188, 1.50, E, VVS1, Ex, Ex, 70%, 70.8%, 6.42 x 6.33 x 4.48 mm - $16.5k
#2 GIA: 13679151, 1.50, E, VVS1, EX, VG, 69%, 72.4%, 6.35 x 6.23 x 4.51 mm - $13k

#1 is from BlueNile and #2 is from a local jeweler who I am not sure whether I can trust or not. The good thing is that the diamond from them has serial number laser inscribed and I checked on the GIA website that the report matches. Is this a good enough way to ensure the diamond is real? Which diamond would you recommend?

Thank you very much in advance for your help.
Take care,
James

Hi James and welcome!

I take it these are Princess diamonds? Unfortunately there is no real way of knowing how they will look without ASET images and photos of the stones, and I don't think BN provide them. Did you purposely want such high colour and clarity? It is of course a personal preference, but you could drop both comfortably and still have a very clean and white diamond if the cut is good. But if you do prefer E VVS then ignore that advice! As to the second one, if you don't feel you can trust the jeweller then walk! There are many good jewellers out there who are worthy of your business - don't consider one you don't feel comfortable with.

 

[firstjv]

Thanks Lorelei! Yeah, looks like I am gonna bite the bullet and stick with E and VVS1.
Diamond #2 is about $3.5k cheaper than #1, that's why I am seriously considering it, though the trust isn't as high. Nevertheless, #2 it is a pretty big store, though it's an unknown local jeweler. So given both diamonds are within budget, which one would you choose? Is $3.5k worth the small differences?
Thanks,
James

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/25/2008 4:37:05 AM
Author: firstjv
Thanks Lorelei! Yeah, looks like I am gonna bite the bullet and stick with E and VVS1.
Diamond #2 is about $3.5k cheaper than #1, that''s why I am seriously considering it, though the trust isn''t as high. Nevertheless, it is a pretty big store. So given both diamonds are within budget, which one would you choose?
Thanks,
James

You are welcome James! I would probably look some more, if your gut is telling you that you need to tread carefully with that jeweller, I would listen to it. As to the BN diamond, they have an excellent return policy so you have plenty of time to examine the diamond, the problem is that it is really buying blind without photos and ASET images, so way of telling how well the diamond is going to perform. Have you checked out some vendors which have in house diamonds, that can provide pics and all the cut analysis, such as Whiteflash, Good old Gold, Wink Jones etc?

 

[firstjv]

Thanks for the quick responses, Lorelei!
Just checked Whiteflash and GoldOldGold, but nothing close this these specs.
Lets say if trust is not a problem, is $3.5k worth the small differences?

 

[firstjv]

Would love to hear more advise from the other experts on this. Please help! I need to decide on BlueNile very soon.
Many thanks!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/25/2008 12:14:13 PM
Author: firstjv
Would love to hear more advise from the other experts on this. Please help! I need to decide on BlueNile very soon.
Many thanks!!!

Sorry James, threads move fast around here.

Ok, well it is difficult to know what to advise really....If you are not happy with the jeweller I would shop elsewhere - but if you like the diamond and want to buy from him, then perhaps make the sale final on the diamond checking out with an independant appraisal. Cut quality is KEY for a beautiful diamond, and without pics at least we have no idea how well these diamonds are cut, especially the BN stone. As to the price difference, it is very hard to tell also what accounts for the difference, BN are competitive generally but I couldn't really guess at why there is this price disparity as there are no hard and fast rhymes or reasons, especially with online versus brick and mortar store, it could be cut quality which accounts for some of the difference but it is hard to say with so little info.

Also with the BN diamond, like I said, it is really buying blind, we have no way of knowing how a diamond will look from a few numbers, the only thing you can do if you ordered it, is to see if you liked it when it arrived. Plus BN have a 30 day return policy so that would be plenty of time to get an appraisal if that would give you some peace of mind. I know it is difficult to know what to do, but also if you have a dealer in your area which carries AGS0 cut grade Princess, you could maybe look at some of those, these should generally be very well cut stones.

Here is a tool you can use to find an appraiser in your area - https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

 

[ILIKETOLEARN]

Hi,firstjv.
Here are a few photos of a Bluenile Signiture Ideal princess.

.74
VVS1
H
Table 69%
Depth 68.9%
Symmetry VG
Polish EX
Crown 9.5%
Girdle 3.9%
L/W 1.03
Fluorescence None

 

[ILIKETOLEARN]

And this.

 

[ILIKETOLEARN]

And this.

 

[ILIKETOLEARN]

forgot one

 

[swingirl]

Since ILIKETOLEARN''s stone is not the one you are looking to buy there is no way you can use it as a reference. ASETS and 40x enlargements are the way to assess a stone from an internet vendor, something BlueNile doesn''t offer and most B&M jewelers don''t either. You will have to use your own eyes or those of an independent appraiser.

 

[ILIKETOLEARN]

Sorry I didnt mean to mislead anyone. And I am by far, no expert. I guess my point ,is that there are fine stones available at Bluenile.IMHO.I believe the Signature diamonds are in house. If you talk to them you may find that the info you need may be available.

Again, sorry.And of course, swingirl is right, the stone you need to see is the one you wish to purchase.

 

[Lorelei]

ILTL, that is a very beautiful diamond, thank you for sharing it with us!!!