Help me buy a princess diamond

[mikayehu]

OK, first thank you all so much for the great information on this site. After reading everything I could find on this site, I visited my first few jewelry stores and couldn’t how ignorant and misleading the sales people were. I actually had one lady tell me that a big black spot in the middle of the diamond was just a “birth mark” and contributed to the beauty and uniqueness of the stone

.

Anyway, I’m looking to buy a princess diamond in the next couple of weeks. My basic ranges are as follows:
Carat: ¾ carat (0.65-0.75)
Color: (G-I)—I just want it to look white set in platinum/white gold
Clarity: Eye clean—SI2 is just fine as long as it looks clean without magnification
Cut: Highest possible
Budget: $2500 for the diamond itself

I’d love to get an AGS0, but I’m not able to find one at the moment (I did see a few at GOG, but I don’t want to wait the 3-4 weeks it would take for Vatche to do the setting—Whiteflash has a similar setting that takes 7-10 days). Anyway, would you please help me choose a princess with great light return (if not AGS0, something that’s at least close)?

Here’s the first one WF suggested (http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-1226184.htm). The “good” symmetry made me not look at this originally, but since AGS0’s have been so illusive, I’m giving it another look. I'm attaching the Ideal-scope for this diamond (hopefully the attachment works).

What do you guys think of this one? Any red flags or general comments about the value and light return of this stone? Of course if you have any other suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[JulieN]

Looks very nice.

Which settingn have you picked?

 

[belle]

very nice! i think you''ve got a winner there.

 

[mikayehu]

Date: 8/14/2006 4:13:04 PM
Author: JulieN
Looks very nice.

Which settingn have you picked?

I think I''m going to go with the W-prong. My one concern is that it will be a little overpowering for a smaller stone. I know I''ve seen someplace on this site someone who posted their 3/4ish carat diamond in the W-prong and I thought it still looked great. It''s so difficult without seeing it on her finger (5.5 is her size).

I haven''t made a definite decision. She likes simple, classic jewelry, but she doesn''t like something quite as simple as a normal Tiffany setting.

Does anybody see any warning signals about the above-posted diamond. I''ve heard that "good" symmetry was OK as long as certain angles were in line. Can somebody explain why the "good" symmetry on the above stone is either OK or a possible deterrent. Again, thanks so much for your input.

 

[belle]

'good' symmetry in itself is not a problem. your eyes are not going to notice the difference between 'good' and 'very good' symmetry. as you mentioned, there are other factors to take into consideration and one of the most important ones is the idealscope image. the optical symmetry looks very good and there is very little leakage in this stone. it looks like everything you want and is within budget. if i were buying, i would definitely consider this diamond. it looks quite nice.

btw...i have the w-prong (3-stone version) and it is beautiful. the setting is very delicate in person and not over powering at all. i think it's a great choice!

 

[mikayehu]

Oh, here''s the Sarin as well. Honestly, these numbers mean almost nothing to me. This site has hammered into me the fact that with fancy shapes, the numbers alone are not "make or break," but is there anything I need to be aware of that looks odd in the Sarin? Finally, this has been asked a number of times, I know, but since I''m the one about to lay down the cash, I want to hear it again. If WF says its an eye-clean SI2, will I really not be able to tell it apart from, say, a VS1 (without magnification)? Are there any precationary steps I should take?

I would appreciate any further opinions on this stone. Again, thanks so much for your help.

 

[JulieN]

Is the girdle really VTN to TK? 3.4% (.17 mm) does not sound like very thin to me...

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 8/14/2006 7:00:59 PM
Author: JulieN

Is the girdle really VTN to TK? 3.4% (.17 mm) does not sound like very thin to me...

True.
The GIA report cited VTN to TK.
Our local scan shows 3.4 - 4.7% (STK-TK).

It's possible that the girdle is VTN in one tiny spot, perhaps near a corner, and our local scan did not pick it up (?) Here is a thread showing a situation like that (ETN however) where Sarin did pick it up.

I'll request another scan.

 

[mikayehu]

Thanks for looking into this, John. If there is indeed a "very thin" place on the girdle, I would love to know exactly where it is. Thanks.

One more question. I can see the IdealScope (which to my untrained eye, looks quite good), the GIA certificate, and the Sarin (the GIA and the Sarin both have numbers I'm not real fond of--larger than ideal depth, thick girdle [resulting in a slightly smaller stone]--but, hey, numbers aren't everything in fancies, right?). I also have WF's word that this SI2 stone is "eye clean." Is there any other information I should request prior to making a decision on this particular stone?

Thanks for all your help. You guys are great.

 

[mikayehu]

Just to update anybody following this thread, John was indeed correct. There is one small spot "adjacent to the beveled corner" that is VTN. I''m attaching the scan that John sent.

 

[mikayehu]

Well, I believe I''m going to decide on this stone tomorrow morning. My last great dilemma is whether to send this ring out to an independent appraiser. I have no desire to spend 5% of the price of the diamond on an appraisal that will likely just confirm everything said by the folks at WF. On the other hand, I''d love to have one more expert first-hand opinion. Anyway, please excuse the rambling. I guess I''m just a little nervous about actually deciding on a diamond.

Does anybody have any last-second opinions on the diamond. "Speak now or forever hold...."

 

[belle]

Date: 8/16/2006 1:03:42 AM
Author: mikayehu
Well, I believe I''m going to decide on this stone tomorrow morning. My last great dilemma is whether to send this ring out to an independent appraiser. I have no desire to spend 5% of the price of the diamond on an appraisal that will likely just confirm everything said by the folks at WF. On the other hand, I''d love to have one more expert first-hand opinion. Anyway, please excuse the rambling. I guess I''m just a little nervous about actually deciding on a diamond.

Does anybody have any last-second opinions on the diamond. ''Speak now or forever hold....''

no doubt, all of us have wrestled with that decision at some point...send to appraisers...don''t send...send...don''t send...

this is what i came away with.... for the diamond itself, i feel wf provides enough information that i did not need another seperate appraisal. between the independent letter of verification and the grading report, as well as the sarin and idealscope images, i felt confident in what i was getting. in your case, there is a question of durability on that v-thin spot. i would say that if you plan on insuring the ring, don''t even sweat it. if by some chance something were to happen to the stone in the future, you''re covered. if you don''t plan on insuring, then i would consider the seperate appraisal. you would get the outside opinion on potential durability issues and perhaps some peace of mind.
diamond decisions are hard!

good luck mikayehu