help finding a diamond?

[bootsiekin]

Hi everyone,

I am interested in looking for a new diamond to upgrade my engagement ring (or at least to see how good of one I could get for my budget). I have looked on some of the vendor sites, but got a bit overwhelmed! For example on WF, there is ACA, expert and "other"? I have been trying to learn as much as possible from the forum, but I was hoping someone could narrow things down for me! I have been emailing with a consultant at WF, but of course he is trying to make a sale and I do not want to trust his opinion alone.

What I am looking for is RB, around 0.9-1ct, G-H and VS2-SI1 (though SI1 scares me a bit, I think I would need someones expert advice on what looked "eye clean") The budget is $3000-3600 or so.

The consultant at WF sent me the following:

Round 0.90 H SI1 EX EX EX GIA N 61.8% 57% 6.16-6.21x3.82 - $3080

Round 0.92 H VS2 EX EX EX GIA M 62.3% 58% 6.20-6.22x3.87 - $3,590

Round 0.90 G SI1 EX EX EX GIA N 61.7% 57% 6.20-6.22x3.83 - $3,584

(not sure what the third EX is for - I am assuming 2 of them are symmetry and polish? The N and M for fluorescence?)

I asked for crown and pavilion angles (to do the HCA) and he gave me the following along with the HCA scores:

.90 H SI1:
CA - 34.5%
PA - 40.8%
Culet - None
HCA - 1.4

.92 H VS2:
CA - 36%
PA - 41.2%
Culet - None
HCA - 5.4

.90 G SI1:
CA - 34%
PA - 41.2%
Culet - None
HCA - 3

If I have learned correctly, it is desirable to have a HCA score of below 2..should I just throw out the other two diamonds from consideration? I have asked if there is a link to view images, etc of the 0.9, H, SI1.

Thanks in advance for your help or suggestions of any other diamonds!

 

[stone-cold11]

GIA, triple Ex means, cut, polish and symm.

Yap, throw out the other 2. maybe the 0.90 G SI1 could be worth a look at the IS but without IS it is out for me.

Eye-clean, only the vendor can say with the stone in his hand.


EDT:
What is the girdle size?

This from JA might be worth a look. In your price range, althought slightly below your wt spec, has the same face up dimension as your first choice.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1227974.asp

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/26/2009 1:47:10 PM
Author:bootsiekin
Hi everyone,

I am interested in looking for a new diamond to upgrade my engagement ring (or at least to see how good of one I could get for my budget). I have looked on some of the vendor sites, but got a bit overwhelmed! For example on WF, there is ACA, expert and 'other'? I have been trying to learn as much as possible from the forum, but I was hoping someone could narrow things down for me! I have been emailing with a consultant at WF, but of course he is trying to make a sale and I do not want to trust his opinion alone.

What I am looking for is RB, around 0.9-1ct, G-H and VS2-SI1 (though SI1 scares me a bit, I think I would need someones expert advice on what looked 'eye clean') The budget is $3000-3600 or so.

The consultant at WF sent me the following:

Round 0.90 H SI1 EX EX EX GIA N 61.8% 57% 6.16-6.21x3.82 - $3080

Round 0.92 H VS2 EX EX EX GIA M 62.3% 58% 6.20-6.22x3.87 - $3,590

Round 0.90 G SI1 EX EX EX GIA N 61.7% 57% 6.20-6.22x3.83 - $3,584

(not sure what the third EX is for - I am assuming 2 of them are symmetry and polish yes and cut grade? The N and M for fluorescence?) Yes.

I asked for crown and pavilion angles (to do the HCA) and he gave me the following along with the HCA scores:

.90 H SI1:
CA - 34.5%
PA - 40.8%
Culet - None
HCA - 1.4 This one looks best, I would pass on the other two

.92 H VS2:
CA - 36%
PA - 41.2%
Culet - None
HCA - 5.4

.90 G SI1:
CA - 34%
PA - 41.2%
Culet - None
HCA - 3

If I have learned correctly, it is desirable to have a HCA score of below 2..should I just throw out the other two diamonds from consideration? I have asked if there is a link to view images, etc of the 0.9, H, SI1.

Thanks in advance for your help or suggestions of any other diamonds!

The ONLY way to know if a diamond is eyeclean or not is to ask the vendor to inspect the diamond for you but you need to make your expectations very clear. If you don't want to see any visible inclusions from any angle at close scrutiny, make sure you let them know that. Some SI might be eyeclean to your standards and others might not be.

 

[the tree sees]

Bootsiekin,

You''re asking for all the right information. Ditto on Lorelei and SC--I''d pass on # 2 & 3, and would need to take a look at ASET & IS for #1. If you give us the link, we''ll take a look (although I understand waiting if you fear lurkers). As for brandings, WF''s ACA ("A Cut Above") brand is considered its finest selection of diamonds; these are all marketed as H&A stones, and ought to have an image of hearts available next to them on the website to inspect.

This explains H&A diamonds.

I''d keep looking--try Good Old Gold, High Performance Diamonds, and Brian Gavin Diamonds--the last doesn''t have a website fully operational yet, but Lesley there will quickly be able to send you some suggestions on request.

Hope this helps!

 

[the tree sees]

Btw,

I don''t mean that you shouldn''t take a look at WF''s expert selection too. Plenty on this forum have found great diamonds that for one reason or another--often reasons that don''t bear at all on the diamond''s appearance, such as fluorescence--don''t "make the cut" for ACA.

 

[bootsiekin]

Thanks so far!

WF emailed back and said that the diamond was not in-house, and to bring it in to be photographed they would need my credit card on file...does that sound normal?

He said he would check to see if there were any others that matched my criteria and do the HCA scores.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/26/2009 2:18:06 PM
Author: bootsiekin
Thanks so far!

WF emailed back and said that the diamond was not in-house, and to bring it in to be photographed they would need my credit card on file...does that sound normal?

He said he would check to see if there were any others that matched my criteria and do the HCA scores.

I believe so, check with them as to any charges involved.

 

[the tree sees]

WF took my CC info down as well once when I made an inquiry (though I ended up with BGD). No foul play, as far as I can tell! They have an excellent reputation on this forum.