Help - I don''t want to make another mistake!!!

[Firekitty]

Hello Everybody,
I''ve been lurking for a few weeks, reading a LOT and learning all I can. Too bad I didn''t know about Pricescope to begin with. Oh well.

Here''s the deal:

My husband wanted to get me a bigger diamond for our 30th wedding anniversary. (Yes, he is a FABULOUS man, and I love him with all my heart, and this was HIS idea--- WoW!!).

We bought a diamond from a local "family" store before we knew about Pricescope -- ooooops....

I really loved my "old" small stone - it made lovely little rainbows (I guess that is called "fire"), and although this new one is more than twice the size, it just sits there, white and round. No rainbows. We''d like to get something else, but now of course don''t have as much to spend.

We can get a 1.508 carat, H, SI1, Depth 61.4, Table 56.1, Crown angle 35.4, Pavillion angle 40.5, Ideal polish, Ideal symmetry, for about $7600 more dollars WITH the trade-in of the 1.25 carat stone that we bought elsewhere. (Their full price on this stone that we are considering is $14,000, and the cert is AGS) That seems some comparable to Pricescope dealers, and we wouldn''t actually lose money on it. This one came out .6 on the HCA, which seems a good thing.

This store also has a GIA certed, 1.51 carat, G, SI1, Depth 63.4, Table 56, Crown angle 36.5, Pavillion angle 40.4, sym/polish VG/VG, which would cost us an additional $6720 with the trade in stone. This one came out 1.7 on the HCA scale, which makes it "FIC." Hopefully, lots of "rainbows"! (We haven''t actually seen this one yet, but it will be there tomorrow. The full price on this one is $13,100.)

The alternative is to purchase another stone from a trusted Pricescope dealer, but our budget would be $7600 - 8000, total. (There is no trade-in on a diamond not purchased from the Pricescope dealer, so we can''t look at $14000 e-stone.)

My Honey just wants me to be happy and love whatever the new stone is, as much as I did my "old" one. And I want to honor him and his gift, and not make aNOTHer mistake...

...

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!!!

FireKitty

 

[whatmeworry]

What lighting condition caused all the little rainbows that you loved? I suggest that you take any stone that you are considering and evaluate it in that lighting condition. Take your time, shop around till you find the right one. Congrats on 30 years!

 

[JulieN]

Hopefully, the FIC looks good!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/8/2008 5:48:02 PM
Author:Firekitty
Hello Everybody,
I've been lurking for a few weeks, reading a LOT and learning all I can. Too bad I didn't know about Pricescope to begin with. Oh well.

Here's the deal:

My husband wanted to get me a bigger diamond for our 30th wedding anniversary. (Yes, he is a FABULOUS man, and I love him with all my heart, and this was HIS idea--- WoW!!).

We bought a diamond from a local 'family' store before we knew about Pricescope -- ooooops....

I really loved my 'old' small stone - it made lovely little rainbows (I guess that is called 'fire'), and although this new one is more than twice the size, it just sits there, white and round. No rainbows. We'd like to get something else, but now of course don't have as much to spend.

We can get a 1.508 carat, H, SI1, Depth 61.4, Table 56.1, Crown angle 35.4, Pavillion angle 40.5, Ideal polish, Ideal symmetry, for about $7600 more dollars WITH the trade-in of the 1.25 carat stone that we bought elsewhere. (Their full price on this stone that we are considering is $14,000, and the cert is AGS) That seems some comparable to Pricescope dealers, and we wouldn't actually lose money on it. This one came out .6 on the HCA, which seems a good thing.

This store also has a GIA certed, 1.51 carat, G, SI1, Depth 63.4, Table 56, Crown angle 36.5, Pavillion angle 40.4, sym/polish VG/VG, which would cost us an additional $6720 with the trade in stone. This one came out 1.7 on the HCA scale, which makes it 'FIC.' Hopefully, lots of 'rainbows'! (We haven't actually seen this one yet, but it will be there tomorrow. The full price on this one is $13,100.)

The alternative is to purchase another stone from a trusted Pricescope dealer, but our budget would be $7600 - 8000, total. (There is no trade-in on a diamond not purchased from the Pricescope dealer, so we can't look at $14000 e-stone.)

My Honey just wants me to be happy and love whatever the new stone is, as much as I did my 'old' one. And I want to honor him and his gift, and not make aNOTHer mistake...

...

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!!!

FireKitty

Do you have the diameter measurements for the FIC? Sometimes the trade off can be that these diamonds face up a little smaller for the weight, however it sounds as if a FIC could be a good match for you! The other diamond looks good too, see which you like best. A lower HCA score isn't better than a higher one, the HCA is used for rejection not selection, generally once you score 2 or under, then these diamonds are considered worth further evaluation. Also in some cases diamonds which score over 2 can be good stones if you have all the info.

 

[Firekitty]

Hi and thanks so much.

No, I don''t have the diameter measurements for the FIC. I will get them. My husband is concerned that it will look a bit small for its size, but if it makes the little spectrums of light, then I will be over joyed!

There are 2 other possiblities, both GIA certed:

I - SI1
1.53 carat

Depth 62.4 %
Table 57 %
Cr A 35.5
Pav A 40.4

pol/sym VG/VG
(full price $10,800)


Also GIA certed:

I - SI1
1.59 carat

Depth 61.4 %
Table 55 %
Cr A 34.5
Pav A 40.8

pol/sym Exc/Exc
(full price $12,200)

Do you think all these prices are reasonable? I know we would have done better to start on Pricescope (if only we had knownit existed!), but now we need to make the best of the situation.

Thanks again for your help, and I''ll see what I can find out.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/9/2008 1:42:54 PM
Author: Firekitty
Hi and thanks so much.

No, I don't have the diameter measurements for the FIC. I will get them. My husband is concerned that it will look a bit small for its size, but if it makes the little spectrums of light, then I will be over joyed!

There are 2 other possiblities, both GIA certed:

I - SI1
1.53 carat

Depth 62.4 %
Table 57 %
Cr A 35.5
Pav A 40.4

pol/sym VG/VG
(full price $10,800)


Also GIA certed:

I - SI1
1.59 carat

Depth 61.4 %
Table 55 %
Cr A 34.5
Pav A 40.8

pol/sym Exc/Exc
(full price $12,200)

Do you think all these prices are reasonable? I know we would have done better to start on Pricescope (if only we had knownit existed!), but now we need to make the best of the situation.

Thanks again for your help, and I'll see what I can find out.

I really like the look of the last one, can you get the diameters for these also please? You can check your pricing using the search tool at the top of the page Pricescope your Diamond, generally online prices are less than brick and mortar jewellers, but it will give you an idea. With all SI clarities, check carefully that the diamond is eyeclean to your standards.

 

[Firekitty]

The diamonds were supposed to come in today. When I didn''t hear from the salesperson, I phoned and found she is off today and no diamonds came in. So will have to find out more tomorrow.

I am a bit concerned, because of course my mind is on diamonds and looking for more info, so I started checking out Jared''s on Pricescope and reviews on the web. (That is where we found the stones I listed earlier. And Jared takes trade-ins not purchased originally from them. My husband is not comfortable with the online thing, and would prefer a B&M store, so he wanted to check out Jared.)

Putting it gently, reviews I have read today about Jared''s are not exactly complimentary. I don''t know whether to even trust them with setting a stone!

Now I think, there is no hurry to rectify my original mistake. We need more research.

I don''t think we were ripped off by the first guy (small estate jewelry shop locally). I have been looking at Pricescope dealers'' prices on a similar stone, and because it was not certed by GIA or AGS, I have to go on the appraisal numbers he gave us, for dimensions etc. If the measurements are accurate, it looks like the price was within $200 of the average of 5 stones on a Pricescope dealer, on not-so-great-cut stones of this color and size, angles, etc... At least the ones we saw at Jared are GIA or AGS...

Boy, it IS a jungle out there....

 

[Firekitty]

Saw the diamonds -- WOW!!! Today is a much happier day!

How about that HCA ?!! That is a very helpful tool. Applause to Garry

OK, Narrowed it down to 2, but I''d sure like to have input:



Stone 1:

GIA certed, I, SI1

7.52 - 7.55 x 4.63

1.59 carat

Depth 61.4%
Table 55 %
CA 34.5
PA 40.8

HCA: 1.2 Excellent, withing TIC range, ( Ex, Ex, Ex, VG )

Pol/Sym Exc/Exc

Star/LGF 55/75

Girdle: thin- med fac


Stone 2:

GIA certed, G SI1

7.17 - 7.27 x 4.58

1.51 ct

Depth 63.4%
Table 56 %
CA 36.5
PA 40.4
HCA: 1.7 Excellent, within FIC range (Ex,Ex, Ex, G)

Pol/Sym VG/VG

Star/ LGF 55/80
Girdle: med - thick fac

Stone 1 is bigger, and I am not seeing any inclusions, to my eye. I think the colored bits are almost larger looking, but then maybe that is because of the size of the stone?

Stone 2 seems to me that there is more contrast in the lights and darks - does that make any sense? that is a plus for me.
Stone 2, I can see one tiny black inclusion, almost like a curved hair. Not sure that that really bothers me, but would it over time?? and even though it is smaller, it is almost like it has more facets.

Stone 2 is $900 more dollars than stone 1.

BOTH sparkle like crazy!!! Oh, soooo pretty!!!

Advice, suggestions very welcome!!! Thanks in advance!!!

 

[stone-cold11]

I think I prefer stone 1 from just the numbers, better price and size and HCA says it has better spread than the other stone too, meaning bigger size for the same weight.

But you saw it in person.

 

[Firekitty]

Hi Stone cold11,

Thanks! My husband went to look at them tonight, and he likes that one also. I am hoping some others will give their advice/choice as well.

 

[Firekitty]

Thanks, Lorelei,

I''ve posted the dimensions -- what do you think???

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/10/2008 11:57:20 PM
Author: Firekitty
Thanks, Lorelei,

I've posted the dimensions -- what do you think???

Hi FK,

I prefer the first one by the numbers, it is a very well cut diamond, it should give you a nice display of white and coloured light ( fire). The second FIC has a bit of extra depth as explained before and the trade off for the FIC is that it could look a bit smaller for its weight. Which one are you leaning towards?

 

[Sharon101]

First of all....thet husband of yours certainly sounds like a keeper!!!!! Congrates on having such a wonderful relationship!!!!! You must be all that too!!!!

I would definately go for no. 1. It is cheaper by $900 and larger by a fraction, but more importantly it doesnt have a black hair inclusion!!!!! I could probably live with a tiny black hair inclusion if everything else was sweet, but would never choose it over another similar diamond!!!!!

It sounds like they are both good performers to choose from.

 

[Firekitty]

Hi Lorelei,

Thank you!

Now that I have gone back with my husband to see them magnified, Stone 1 (the bigger one) is winning. I didn''t realize there is such a difference between "Excellent" and "Very Good" symmetry! Whoa, huge difference! (He liked the bigger one right away, but I think I was so taken with the idea of a "firestone"...

)

Both stones have a LOT of colors/fire. I read several pages of an interesting thread last night, re: the effect of LGF (in different configurations) on light return/fire. This page is especially interesting to me, because of the photos:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/low-lgf-need-advice-on-this-stone.65508/page-2

The LGF on Stone 1 measure 75%, and the LGF on Stone 2 measure 80%. Looking from the top, the pavillion hearts really ARE like the photos posted by John Pollard on the above referenced page.

We had seen another stone, at a different shop, that has very thin arrows and although it is AGS top rated, (and lots more $$$), I felt like I was looking at a round sphere of glitter. Yes, beautiful, but I wasn''t happy looking at it. I am happier looking at the lesser Stone 1. Now, I know what I like is "chunky fire." Cool, huh?!

It was SO interesting, to compare the GIA certs and the information we have gleaned off Pricescope, with actual diamonds and real scopes and such. The salesperson was amazed when we would say, "well, theoretically, it should look thus and so, compared to the other one," and we''d all look, and indeed, facts proved the theories correct.

The sales person said she had never encountered people like us -- all these numbers and such -- I asked her, "How does that feel to you?" And she said, "It''s refreshing, and it''s fun and a learning experience for me!!" I referred her to Pricescope and she said she would definitely check it out.

Sorry this got long -- my enthusiasm is getting the better of me.

 

[Firekitty]

Thanks Sharon!

Yes, you are right -- they are BOTH gems....the husband AND the diamond....my consolation on buying that other diamond (that we are now replacing), was that, hey, I got the MAN right and that is a whole lot more important!!!
I felt like an idiot and an ingrate to say to him, I wasn''t happy with this new diamond, and you know what he said? "Well, after 30 years, this one is just a stepping stone...we''ll go find a MILEstone" And last night, he was more than excited than me to go look -- he loved looking at the diamonds through the scopes -- and he asked for copies of the GIA certs and was on Pricescope until almost 1:00am, reading stuff, trying out numbers -- he was having a blast. And that is fun for me to see.

 

[Lorelei]

Great stuff FK!!!