Help me compare apples and oranges

[taovandel]

I''m completely new to the diamond buying process. I''ve learned a lot just from reading the forums. I''ve been searching bluenile.com and have found a few diamonds that I really like. Still not sure about the setting though (I''ve been looking at the Ritani Butterfly but I''m not sure how it would look with the diamonds I''m thinking about). I''m a solitaire kinda girl but the pave diamonds are also starting to catch my eye the more and more that I look at them. So many choices! The main area I need help on is figuring out the depth and table. I''m not sure what numbers I should be looking for.

Here are the diamonds I''m looking at--any help is appreciated.

Princess
Price: $4,520
Carat weight: 1.22
Cut: Very Good
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 71.3%
Table %: 75%
Symmetry: Very good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Medium to thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 6.49 x 5.78 x 4.12 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.12


Asscher
Price: $4,265
Carat weight: 1.08
Cut: Very Good
Color: G
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 69.1%
Table %: 57%
Symmetry: Very good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Medium blue
Measurements: 5.77 x 5.54 x 3.83 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.04


Cushion
Price: $5,676
Carat weight: 1.27
Cut: Good
Color: I
Clarity: VVS2
Depth %: 69.2%
Table %: 58%
Symmetry: Good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Thick to extremely thick, faceted
Culet: Large
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.42 x 5.97 x 4.13 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.08


Radiant
Price: $4,857
Carat weight: 1.25
Cut: Very Good
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 66.1%
Table %: 73%
Symmetry: Very good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Medium to thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.80 x 5.87 x 3.88 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.16

Asscher
Price: $5,121
Carat weight: 1.24
Cut: Very Good
Color: I
Clarity: VS1
Depth %: 68.4%
Table %: 68%
Symmetry: Very good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Thick to very thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.90 x 5.85 x 4.00 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.01

Emerald
Price: $4,599
Carat weight: 1.26
Cut: Very Good
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 64.2%
Table %: 67%
Symmetry: Good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.65 x 5.72 x 3.67 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.16



I''m a size 6.5/7, and I always hear that the Emerald shape appears smaller--how would that size look on my finger size?

 

[Lorelei]

Fancy shapes can't be judged by the numbers alone, they need to be seen to be evaluated, so photographs are essential when buying online, along with ASET images if you can get them. To the best of my knowledge, if all of these diamonds are from BN, I don't think they offer photographs of their diamonds, so as to how these may look, we don't know...Cut is the KEY component which has the greatest influence on a diamond's beauty. These diamonds above may be virtual diamonds which are not in house, the vendors have to call the stones in if that is the case. Some other vendors have some diamonds as part of their in house inventory, and can advise you on each one, also very often the cut analysis has been done for you, plus detailed photographs of the diamonds. Also some of these vendors have a trade in policy, I don't know if this would ever be a consideration for you, but I thought it would be worth mentioning.
I would suggest trying to narrow down which shape you really want, all these square shapes have very different looks to each other. Once you have decided on which shape/s you want, then read up on how to best select the best cut diamond you can. Vendors such as Good old Gold, Whiteflash, Wink Jones, James Allen and Engagement Rings Direct often have in house diamonds and are experienced with fancy shapes. Also if you can, see if you can see some well cut diamonds in the shapes you are interested in, to get a better idea of which might suit you best.

Also your question about how an emerald cut would look on your finger, it would be best to see if you can look in person. Also it is crucial to get a well cut stone, not only for beauty, but so it looks the right face up size for it's weight.


Take your time and learn what to look for, I promise you it will be time well spent! Also although the numbers don't tell the whole story with fancy shapes, here are some charts you can use as a reference point for some of the shapes. But if you find a diamond which falls out of the suggested numbers which you love, then that is the main thing.

Suggested Princess Proportions

Emerald and Radiant Proportions

 

[taovandel]

Thank you for your answer. And yes you are correct BN does not provide pictures of the actual diamond (they have a stock picture they use).

I''m struggling on picking out which shape diamond I like the most. I''m leaning towards the Emerald or the Asscher. But like you said, I probably won''t be able to make a decision until I actually see it on my finger.

Any opinion on how any of these would look with the butterfly setting?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Something else to consider is your desired sparkle-factor. I originally got emerald cuts because I liked the shape, but didn''t think about the fact that the sparkle is very different in the step cuts. If you want a stone that you can stare at up close for hours and get lost in it, then ECs or asschers are great. These stones also send off broad flashed of light (white and colored) depending on the lighting environment. If you want a stone that will send off fire and be seen accross the room, then step cuts aren''t great. Check out good old gold''s web site. They have a bunch of videos that show some cuts "in action" and this may help you decide! Also, there are some square shaped cuts that have the same optics as rounds now, but they are square: the Princess of Hearts knocked my socks off in the videos, and so did the Square Hearts & Arrows. Check them out here:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/video/

Scroll down to see the "product comparison" videos. If you go with a fancy cut it is really important to get a vendor who really knows what they are doing and whom you trust to give their opinion about a stone b/c you can''t judge the stone from its numbers. The vendors that Lorelei mentioned are all reputable according the PSers.

As for settings, pick the stone you looooove THEN pick the best setting. Check out pearlmans: http://www.goodoldgold.com/video/ they have a zillion settings and apparently have amazing customer service and dicounts for PS members.

DD