Help finding a diamond/suggestions...

[jnwaco]

Thanks to everyone for helping out in my first thread. I''m trying to find a diamond for an engagement ring (need a setting as well). I''m looking for a 1 carat diamond (or close) that has a really really good cut, is H-I color or better, S1 clarity. Priority I suppose would be getting it as close to 1 carat as possible and still having a really good cut. I''d like one that doesn''t have inclusions easily seen with the naked eye (that''s normally S1, right?). I have set a budget for the ring, setting, and shipping at $4,000. I would rather get a simple solitaire setting and spend more on the diamond. Size 5, if that makes a difference. Maybe I''m not being realistic here, but there did seem to be some in this price range. I''m learning.

Thanks again for the friendly responses and offers of help.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/5/2008 2:53:32 PM
Author:jnwaco
Thanks to everyone for helping out in my first thread. I''m trying to find a diamond for an engagement ring (need a setting as well). I''m looking for a 1 carat diamond (or close) that has a really really good cut, is H-I color or better, S1 clarity. Priority I suppose would be getting it as close to 1 carat as possible and still having a really good cut. I''d like one that doesn''t have inclusions easily seen with the naked eye (that''s normally S1, right?). I have set a budget for the ring, setting, and shipping at $4,000. I would rather get a simple solitaire setting and spend more on the diamond. Size 5, if that makes a difference. Maybe I''m not being realistic here, but there did seem to be some in this price range. I''m learning.

Thanks again for the friendly responses and offers of help.

Here are some diamonds for you, if you just want a simple white gold setting, then that might be the way to go, then that gives you more cash to put towards the diamond.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4320/

If this one is verified eyeclean, could be a lovely choice! Always check SI clarities are eyeclean to your standards by checking with the vendor.

=399&src=cert:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=399&src=cert

 

[jnwaco]

Hey, thanks for taking the time to post those! After looking at those two, I definitely am reconsidering the 1 carat criteria I set. I''m going to visit a jeweler and try to compare some diamonds under a carat, but from the measurements, I think I would have a hard time telling a half millimeter''s difference in size...

Thanks again so much,
Justin

 

[dockman3]

That sounds like a great idea! To give you a better idea now, here''s a link to a thread that compares the sizes of different carat diamonds:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamond-size-comparison.83517/

That should give you a good idea. Also, when you go to your local jeweler, be sure to look at different color and clarity grades, as well as different cut grades to see what the differences are. Be sure to look at the diamonds in as many different lighting conditions as possible.

 

[jnwaco]

I''ll definitely ask to see various cuts, etc. as well. I can definitely tell a difference between the 0.75 and 1 carat sizes, even when not enlarged. Most of the stores'' size comparisons make the 0.25 increment jumps, which is noticeable, and probably why they use those increments. Somewhere between 75 and 1 carat, however, my eyes seem to lose the ability to tell the difference based on the thread you posted - very helpful btw)...

Just want a really shiny one! She''s going to be surprised as I think she would probably guess I''d by something about a half carat in size (or less).

 

[jnwaco]

Alright... I stopped by the "premier" jeweler here in Waco today after work to check out some diamonds. They had five or six in stock from .9 carats to 1.05 carats. The next smallest size that they had was a 1/3 carat.

I compared the .9 carat to one that they had that was 1.0 carats and though I could tell the difference in size, it was very hard to see, and in addition, one was G and the larger one was an H. I asked her permission to see the certificate and she seemed a little surprised, but she was nice and even made me a copy of it. Unfortunately, it''s EGL, but the spcs are:

0.90 carats
6.16-6.13 x 3.88mm
Depth 63.10%
Table 54%
Crown Angle 14.80%
Pavilion Angle 44.40%
Girdle - medium to thick faceted
Cutlet - none
Polish - Good
Symmetry - Good

Clarity SI2
Color G

I ran this through the cut calculator here and it came back as a "Good" rated cut.

Their price: $3,900. Of course, I knew they would be sky high, but that''s $1,600 more than 10 or more of the very very similar diamonds (EGL cert) on the web. In my price range barely, but definitely not what I was looking for on cut. It was a pretty diamond and I could not see any inclusions with the loupe. But I''m not really experienced looking through those anyway.

I DID come to the conclusion that I''d probably be happy (not that I''m wearing it) with a .9 carat, but that''s probably as small as I''d want to go.

 

[jstarfireb]

I'd pass on that one because it's only a good cut with good polish/symmetry. You can do better. I would definitely consider lower colors such as I/J, because they will look very white face up when the cut is ideal. I'd also stay away from EGL certs, not because you can't find a beautiful diamond with one (you can), but because you might be paying a premium for a particular color/clarity when in fact the EGL grading is likely to be one or more grades off compared to GIA or AGS. I'd in particular worry that the "SI2" from EGL may actually be a true I1 or I2.

How about this one?
0.902 I/VS2. An AGS VS2 is virtually guaranteed to be eye-clean, and an I color stone that's well cut won't look yellow at all. It looks really great; it's a newly posted diamond with an AGS1 cut grade. It meets your size and price criteria with room for a simple white gold setting in the budget. And WF doesn't charge for shipping.

ETA: also, with the discount for buying by bank wire and being a PS member, you may be able to afford this very elegant setting in white gold!

 

[jnwaco]

That one looks pretty good. So White Flash is pretty reputable? The web sites all look alike to me (which is why I''m now here!). It''s certainly more expensive than the EGL diamonds I was looking at. If EGL is that bad, why does anyone use them?

I''m going to call WF tomorrow (if the hold on my ring fund has been removed by Szul). I take it if you guys recommend someone I can call and find out what''s in stock? Now that I search more and see the huge difference in price between EGL and other certificates, I''m tempted to save some more money instead of buying now. After being near the brink of purchase twice, and being in two stores locally that were overpriced, I really want to find someone who will deal honestly and help me find the best diamond for the budget, especially online. Is that reasonable to ask for when making a $3-4 thousand diamond purchase? Zales is just flat out a ripoff, and the other local store seems friendly, but I think they''ll be up to 30% overpriced. Sorry if I''m being a nuisance, I''m just clueless and don''t want to get ripped.

 

[jstarfireb]

WF is a perennial favorite around here, for both the quality of their stones/workmanship and their customer service. I worked with Bob Hoskins for my engagement ring and bezel set pendant projects. He didn''t steer me wrong. He was very patient with my millions of questions and constant changing of my mind. But honestly, whoever answers the phone will be fine!

If you like that stone I showed you, I''d recommend calling as soon as they open tomorrow to put it on hold (remember they''re on Central time since they''re in Texas). I think it should be a fabulous stone and the price is really great. Trust me; it won''t be around for long! Heck, I''d even call tonight and leave a message saying you''re interested in it (give them the item code so they know which one you''re talking about).

I think the stone is more expensive because (1) the stones you''re looking at are of lesser cut quality, and cut does factor into pricing; and (2) AGS and GIA certed stones have a higher premium than EGL because of their reputation. But compared to another AGS/GIA ideal cut stone that you''d buy at a place like Jared''s or Hearts on Fire or something, the markup at WF is very minimal.

 

[AndyMN]

Try not to think in terms of ct weight. You listed a 0.90 carat diamond above that spreads 6.15mm. Meanwhile Lorelei linked you to an 0.81 ct stone that spreads 5.97mm and an 0.82 ct that spreads 6.04mm. But wait, that’s not all. The 0.90 carat stone has crown and pavilion angles that are going to leak light, so the better-cut diamonds Lorelei linked stand every chance of appearing larger since they will have edge-to-edge light return. Do not compromise on cut! It improves both face-up color and size appearance. Increased carat weight is something that can come with time... there are companies out there that stand behind their diamonds to the point where they'll give you exactly what you paid for it toward an upgrade a week from now or ten years from now regardless of how much larger you'd like to go.

 

[jstarfireb]

While I would hardly call an AGS 1 diamond compromising on cut, that''s a good point about spread. You''re unlikely to notice the difference betwen 6.05 and 6.15 mm, especially when set and not side-by-side...we''re talking a tenth of a millimeter here. The F/SI1 diamond at GOG is beautiful from the pictures; my reservation about that one is that it looks like it might not be eye-clean, although I know you can''t always tell from the close-ups. As for the Infinity, I can only see a grading report on that link, not the diamond itself, but Infinity diamonds are known for their superior beauty. An added bonus of the slightly smaller diamonds are that they''re higher in color, but I still maintain that a well cut I will look beautifully white.

So...jnwaco, which one you like best will depend on whether you want a 0.9 for the sake of having 0.9 (like some people treat 1ct, 1.5, 2, etc.), or whether you''re OK with a smaller ct weight that has a bit better spread. Any of these diamonds will be beautiful though!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/5/2008 11:10:35 PM
Author: AndyMN
Try not to think in terms of ct weight. You listed a 0.90 carat diamond above that spreads 6.15mm. Meanwhile Lorelei linked you to an 0.81 ct stone that spreads 5.97mm and an 0.82 ct that spreads 6.04mm. But wait, that’s not all. The 0.90 carat stone has crown and pavilion angles that are going to leak light, so the better-cut diamonds Lorelei linked stand every chance of appearing larger since they will have edge-to-edge light return. Do not compromise on cut! It improves both face-up color and size appearance. Increased carat weight is something that can come with time... there are companies out there that stand behind their diamonds to the point where they''ll give you exactly what you paid for it toward an upgrade a week from now or ten years from now regardless of how much larger you''d like to go.

Thanks Andrew!

 

[jnwaco]

Thanks! I'm learning a lot from this site. There's so many moving pieces when grading a diamond that it's easy for me to get focused on one or two criteria and not notice the obvious! Thanks for taking the time to post! I'm supposed to be off today, but had to come into work for meetings... but when I get out, I'm going to take a look at WF.

Thanks everyone!