Help, first time diamond buyer. Round (1.5ct) or Princess(3ct)...

[newbie2k8]

I can''t decide, but my wife likes princess cuts. Plus our 10yr and I''ve never bought a ring before. However, I saw a Round cut @ BN that looks nice (similar to the tiffany Novo setting).

I don''t know if I should buy the loose princess and put it in a setting later, or buy a round 1.5 ct with a novo like setting(from BN Ideal only).

I''m still not sure what Cs are good for a round cut. Can someone give me an affordable range?

Also, the princess is priced @ 10K and it''s a 3.24 ct. Is this really worth it? Specs below:

Shape: Princess
Weight: 3.24 carat
Cut: Good
Color: I
Clarity: I2
Lab:GIA
Measurements: 9.28x7.09x5.8mm
Depth: 81.8%
Table: 72%
Girdle: Slightly thick to Very thick
Culet: NONE
Polish: VERY GOOD
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: NONE

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/22/2008 4:28:08 PM
Author:newbie2k8
I can't decide, but my wife likes princess cuts. Plus our 10yr and I've never bought a ring before. However, I saw a Round cut @ BN that looks nice (similar to the tiffany Novo setting).

I don't know if I should buy the loose princess and put it in a setting later, or buy a round 1.5 ct with a novo like setting(from BN Ideal only).

I'm still not sure what Cs are good for a round cut. Can someone give me an affordable range?

Also, the princess is priced @ 10K and it's a 3.24 ct. Is this really worth it? Specs below:

Shape: Princess
Weight: 3.24 carat
Cut: Good
Color: I
Clarity: I2
Lab:GIA
Measurements: 9.28x7.09x5.8mm
Depth: 81.8%
Table: 72%
Girdle: Slightly thick to Very thick
Culet: NONE
Polish: VERY GOOD
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: NONE

Welcome Newbie!

Lots of red flags here I am afraid, 10k is waaay too low for a diamond of this size, I2 clarity is very unlikely to be eyeclean in such a large diamond. The cut does not look good from the limited info we have, it is deep and possibly hiding weight in other ways, so it is likely to look small for its size, also does it have a full GIA lab report or was it graded by a GIA gemologist? I would be very surprised if the diamond had a full GIA report for this price. I would pass on this diamond, if you want a good diamond of this size then you would need to triple or quadruple the budget regrettably. I would think about spending the 10k on a smaller but well cut diamond, you could still look at I colour and SI clarity and end up with a lovely stone you can both be proud of. I am sorry to be a naysayer, but from the info given I would definitely say to not pursue this diamond. Also do you know if the diamond has been clarity enhanced?

If you want a well cut round diamond, I would suggest looking at AGS0 cut grade and GIA Excellent, as this will help you find a well cut diamond more easily. If you have the proportions for the round diamond, you could post them here and we can help you further, we need the -

depth %
table%
crown angle
pavilion angle
girdle thickness
polish and symmetry grades
diameter measurement
fluorescence if applicable

 

[newbie2k8]

Thanks Lorelei, I guess I just needed a second opinion to stop me from getting the 3ct princess. And I can''t ask my wife since it''s suppose to be a surprise.

I don''t know much about it, I just saw it listed on mondera.com. Not sure if that is a good place.

Well, maybe I''ll spend the extra for the round. Just not sure what C''s to look out for.

I was thinking:

Carat: 1 - 1.5
Color: I or H?
Cut: Blue Nile Ideal? (something good)
Clarity: Not sure, if I go with SI2, will people see the inclusions? Should I go VS2?

Not really sure about all the other stuff, I just read somewhere I should follow the 60/60 rule.

 

[stone-cold11]

Do not follow the 60/60 rule. Go and use the HCA, it will tell you what stones not to consider.

https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

For 10k you should probably get a ideal cut stone from GOG or WF. That will be worth it. VS2 is definitely eye-clean. SI1 some of the cases will be eye-clean.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/22/2008 4:28:08 PM
Author:newbie2k8
I can''t decide, but my wife likes princess cuts. Plus our 10yr and I''ve never bought a ring before. However, I saw a Round cut @ BN that looks nice (similar to the tiffany Novo setting).

I don''t know if I should buy the loose princess and put it in a setting later, or buy a round 1.5 ct with a novo like setting(from BN Ideal only).

I''m still not sure what Cs are good for a round cut. Can someone give me an affordable range?

Also, the princess is priced @ 10K and it''s a 3.24 ct. Is this really worth it? Specs below:

First of all, there is the answer to which shape you should be looking for. Please, get what she likes.

What is your top budget? Is it the 10 grand?

If that''s it, here''s a few. You want to go with a great cut, it makes all the difference. But you pay for that, so the size is going to go down.

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-1169405.htm# Ask about the girdle, if it''s ok at the very thin part. (about 2% PS discount off that)

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-1169405.htm# (same discount)


http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4791/ 8730.00 with bankwire


If you can go above that, there are other options.

 

[jetmal]

if you know what you wife likes, and what to look for, you might also want to consider investigating private party sales.

Some people (myself included) have even found good stones at great prices on Ebay!

good luck!

 

[newbie2k8]

Thx for all the help. I''ll come back to post pix on what I decided.

 

[newbie2k8]

Hi again, anyone know where else I can find this ring, besides BN?

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_7798?metal_filter=platinum&setting_filter=sidestone&sort_select=LTHP&show_all_pages=1&set_shape=AS

This is what''s stopping me from going elsewhere and causing me to focus on the round cut. They only allow round or asher, not princess on this ring at BN.

My ring for her would be this but on a princess cut. BTW, what is princess of hearts cut from GOG? That looks too good to be true.

 

[stone-cold11]

If you like GOG's Princess H&A Cut, talk to them about customizing a similar ring then.

That cut is more like a round cut to a square shape, not to the traditional princess cut style.

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 9/23/2008 10:57:15 AM
Author: newbie2k8
Hi again, anyone know where else I can find this ring, besides BN?

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_7798?metal_filter=platinum&setting_filter=sidestone&sort_select=LTHP&show_all_pages=1&set_shape=AS

That looks like fishtail pave. The
WF Harmony is similar and could be done with any shape. If you like stones with clipped corners like the Asscher or Princess of Hearts, check out WF''s X-factor cut. It''s basically just a princess with clipped corners.

You could get a POH stone at GOG and have them send it to WF for setting if you so choose.

 

[newbie2k8]

Thx for all the info again.

So I have this Princess diamond in mind, what do you guys think?

I haven''t called on the price of the POH, but hope they are in my budget...

Carat weight: 1.51
Cut: Signature Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VS1

Price per carat: $8,449
Depth %: 70.9%
Table %: 70%
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 6.33 x 6.16 x 4.37 mm
Crown height: 13%
Length/width ratio: 1.03

 

[LGK]

I think the setting you''re looking at on Blue Nile is their version of Tiffany''s Novo. If you like that style look for (or get a custom) Novo replica. Any good bench could make a nice one, it''s not a particularly unusual/complex style.

 

[Lorelei]

It could be a nice stone, but unfortunately we can''t tell without detailed photos and ASET images, to the best of my knowledge BN don''t provide them.

 

[kcoursolle]

I would check out whiteflash.com, jamesallen.com, and goodoldgold.com. They have pictures of actual stones you can see and have excellent customer service and can help you find a great stone. Definitely pass on the I2 princess listed way above...