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Help in choosing a diamond

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leslava

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 30, 2012
Messages
7
Hi everyone,

I'm new here and I would like to ask for your help in my diamond selections.
First of all, is Blue Nile still a good place to purchase a diamond?
I have seen others like James Allen and White Flash. What are your thoughts?

So here are the stones I am looking at (All from Blue Nile):

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-g-color-si1-clarity_LD02576414
Stock number: LD02576414
Price: $3,573
Carat weight: 0.80
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 60.2%
Table %: 55%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium
Culet: Very Small
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.07 x 6.02 x 3.64 mm

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD02499471

Stock number: LD02499471
Price: $3,585
Carat weight: 0.80
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 62.6%
Table %: 55%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.93 x 5.95 x 3.72 mm

I am also open to your recommendations. My budget for diamond and ring is $4500. I'm setting aside ~$1000 for the setting.
Here's my criteria:
Carat weight: 0.80 up
Color: H up
Clarity: SI1 up
Cut: Ideal
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Very Good or Excellent

Of course, all your help are appreciated. I am planning to propose this month of June.
Thank you all! :twirl:
 
:wavey:
 
I haven't taken a look at your stone choices yet, but the problem that most people have shopping with BN is the lack of information that they are able to obtain about the stone. You won't be able to see actual photos of the diamond like you will from other places like WF JA BGD GOG etc. They also aren't able to do Ideal scope images or ASET images for you, all of which are extremely helpful in determining the light performance of your stone. So, unless your comfortable trusting your own eyes and are ok with the possibility of ordering and returning a few stones, then you may want to consider one of the other vendors.
 
^I'm not sure if that's you that has the stone on hold, but it appears to be an excellent stone. It scores well on the HCA and warrants further investigation with IS images from JA. If that's you that has it on hold, I'm sure you've asked for the imaging right? Good luck! :wavey:
 
It's a tad deeper than I prefer but not horribly so, and the rest of the numbers look good. If it's you that has it on hold then I'm assuming that you've asked for images? Post them as soon as you get them and we can confirm that it's a winner. Also ask them to evaluate it for eye cleanliness. If you don't want to see any inclusions from 6 inches, you need to tell them this, likewise if you don't want to see inclusions from the side. Most vendors consider 1/2 an arms length to be eye clean, so if that isn't your definition you need to be clear with them. I recently purchased a stone through JA and ask them to be quite critical in their evaluation and I feel that the gemologist did a nice job, so don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. =)
 
Thanks TitanCi and Christina for the replies!

Yes, I have it on hold and below is the IS image from JA:
1389730id.jpg

Also from JA:
"We've also had this diamond inspected by one of our graduate gemologists and I have some great feedback to share with you! Your diamond is exceptionally bright and has excellent fire, brilliance, and scintillation! It has a higher/whiter "G" color and faces perfectly eye clean. It has an excellent cut and I have no doubts that you'll find it to look beautiful in any setting."

My worry though is the inclusion which is clearly visible at the center of the stone (10 o'clock position).
Again, your thoughts and opinions are highly appreciated!
 
So I contacted JA to evaluate the stone for eye cleanliness from 6 inches away and from the side and they said NO, they won't do it!
Also added that I should be looking at VS stones if clarity is a concern.
I found it a little inconsiderate and unaccomodating after reading your posts about them doing a great job at evaluating your stone. :(sad
 
^they ticked me off on a couple of things, too. Although I got an IS image, I really wanted an ASET too, just to compare and see for myself. They repeatedly told me they couldn't do it and it was only offered for fancy cuts (which is what the ASET is made for, I agree, but every other vendor offers it without hesitation). I'm not sure if the sales reps and the GG's are in the same physical building (I hear JA and the people that have their stones are within walking distance of each other), but it seems like once they snap a shot of the stone (live pic and IS) then they send it back and won't go back to get further information.

Thus, I really don't see why they can't evaluate the stone from the side in the first place. I see the inclusion you're talking about at 10, but the inclusion doesn't seem so bad in the live pic. Plus the stone is super magnified too. Perhaps it will be ok? Is it offered at a really good price? At least you can view it with your own eyes for 60 days if you get it. What will you do? :?:

BTW, the IS image looks good!
 
leslava|1338950813|3210109 said:
So I contacted JA to evaluate the stone for eye cleanliness from 6 inches away and from the side and they said NO, they won't do it!:(sad
Click to expand...


Good lord. Call them back, ask to speak to a supervisor. They will do it for you.
 
TitanCi said:
^they ticked me off on a couple of things, too. Although I got an IS image, I really wanted an ASET too, just to compare and see for myself. They repeatedly told me they couldn't do it and it was only offered for fancy cuts (which is what the ASET is made for, I agree, but every other vendor offers it without hesitation). I'm not sure if the sales reps and the GG's are in the same physical building (I hear JA and the people that have their stones are within walking distance of each other), but it seems like once they snap a shot of the stone (live pic and IS) then they send it back and won't go back to get further information.

Thus, I really don't see why they can't evaluate the stone from the side in the first place. I see the inclusion you're talking about at 10, but the inclusion doesn't seem so bad in the live pic. Plus the stone is super magnified too. Perhaps it will be ok? Is it offered at a really good price? At least you can view it with your own eyes for 60 days if you get it. What will you do? :?:

BTW, the IS image looks good!
Click to expand...

The diamond pricescope price is $3450. Do you think its a good deal?
I have 60 days to evaluate so if I don't like it I can always return.. I might purchase the stone tonight!
 
More from JA:

I was informed that you contacted the customer service department inquiring whether the inclusions are visible from the side yesterday. While the gemologists traditionally do not comment on the visibility of inclusions from the side, I contacted the gemologist who provided the feedback and she said that the inclusion is small but is visible from the side. Since inclusions are much easier to see from the side, this is the kind of feedback I expected we would get. By definition, it's almost certain that inclusions in an SI1 diamond will be visible from the side.

The gemologist did confirm that the diamond is eye clean and is a great option. Since the majority of people who see the diamond will only ever see it from the face up position, it's likely that only people who you allow to inspect the diamond closely from other angles will ever have the chance of finding it.
 
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