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DjScibbity

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
4
OK, this is a bit overwhelming as I am a newbie to diamonds. I always like to research things before I buy them, but had no idea (well, I had a slight idea) that this would be so complicated. I just began looking a few weeks ago and have read about the 4C's via this forum as well as the good old gold site. I understand that cut is very important, but since my girl likes Princess cut diamonds, it seems to make things a bit more complicated. Im wanting to maximize my diamond/ring value while keeping within budget. I am not opposed to buying used/estate diamonds/settings, but I do not know where to look besides craigslist and ebay (both of which I am very skeptical buying from). SO, Im hoping y'all can help. Here are my requirements/desires:

Length of time: Planning on proposing in early May
Stone Type: Princess (as of now - GF may change mind if she sees something "pretty")
Size: Biggest I can get within my budget (hoping for .7-1.0 carat)
Color: J is fine
Clarity: SI1 is fine
Fluorescence: not sure, not as important
Cut: Hoping for Ideal/Excellent. This is the one I dont want to skimp on. I want high brilliance and not necessarily just an "ideal" cut. Seems that with Princess cuts, the brilliance isnt guaranteed with an ideal/excellent...help educate me
Polish: not sure. Very good or excellent?
New/Used: I honestly dont mind buying a "used" diamond or ring - please point me in the right direction.
Setting: This one will likely be trickier. She likes white gold in the channel type settings I think. She likes a wider band so that there is material between the edge of the ring and the diamonds that line the side of the channel (if that makes sense). She also seems to like the style with the large princess stone centered between two smaller princess stones.
Price: Im hoping to stay within the $3k-4k range (including setting/stone) if this is possible.

Please let me know if I left anything out.

A little about the girl: She is a very petite Asian girl (100 lbs) with very small fingers (wears a size 3 ring I believe). A huge rock would look kind of ridiculous on her hence acceptance toward the .7-.8 carat size (center stone), though bigger is always better up to a point.

Thank you all for your help in advance.
 
Here are some preowned ones that I found:

The GIA Certificate # for the first one is 6117807897
It is an ideal cut .72 carat diamond, E, SI1 in a .20 carat setting. The seller is asking $2900 but I emailed him and he said he would sell the lowest $2500.

princess1.jpg

The next one is a G,VVS1, 1.04 carat diamond in a Tacori Setting. The GIA certificate # is 6107898106. The seller is asking $4500 but I am sure you can negotiate

princess2.jpg

let me know if your interested and ill send you a link to the postings!
 
Personally for princess cuts, I prefer Good Old Gold, as they seem to have lots of really pretty ones (and this is coming from someone whose least-favorite shape is princess). Also their search feature is really easy to use. And a tip - if it says call for price, click to reserve it and it will put it in your cart, where you can see the price. You have to complete further steps to actually reserve it.

Here is my favorite:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9085/ - 0.96ct I VS1, $3,421

They have this setting, which I think sounds like what you want?
http://www.goodoldgold.com/images/settings/Vatche%20Files%20w%203%20view%20large%20file/136%20PRINCESS%20DOUBLE%20U%20PRONG%20W%20CHANNEL/136%20princess%20double%203%20view%20large.jpg
I would guess this setting is a little out of budget with the previous diamond, though I don't know the price.

If you go with a three-stone, with a larger princess center and two smaller princess sidestones, I think you will have to either find it used or increase your budget. A word of warning about buying used is that if the seller is an individual, you will likely not be able to get really good pictures of the diamond or see an ASET image. I would be very cautious about this if cut and sparkliness are your main concern, because I've seen SO many dead-looking princess diamonds. So if you buy used, be sure you have a good return period. If you are considering this option, you can buy an ASET kit for just about a hundred dollars here, and I would definitely suggest that for judging the light return of the stone. Also get a loupe so you can look for inclusions, and find a good appraiser in your area who you could have look at it.
 
Thanks Berry - May I ask where you found those rings? Id like to see the second one a bit better (the pic is very small). What do I look for in a princess cut in terms of proportions. All I know is that the table should be smaller than the depth, but what else provides good brilliance?

Distracts: That setting is very nice and I do think she would like it. It doesnt have to two smaller stones on the sides of the larger one, but the channel lined with stones is very nice (and that is exactly what I meant about the wide channel).

This is going to be a LONG search, so please keep the replies coming. Thanks everyone
 
DjScibbity|1326921176|3106111 said:
What do I look for in a princess cut in terms of proportions. All I know is that the table should be smaller than the depth, but what else provides good brilliance?
Click to expand...

In my opinion, one of the best ways to judge brilliance in a fancy cut (other than seeing the stone in person in a variety of lighting conditions) is to use the ASET images/tool. I linked to where you can buy it in my post, and that website also has a LOT of information on interpreting what you see. Here is an example:
http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_reference_chart_ASET.asp
In a princess, you want to see lots of red and green, a tiny bit of blue, and as little white as possible (preferably none, though a bit around the edges is usually expected). Red means the stone is redirecting light that came straight from above at you, and green means that it is redirecting light that comes in at an angle. This is what you want, since redirecting the light back at you is what makes a stone sparkly. Too much blue and white in the ASET means it is not redirecting light back at you, and this will make those areas of the stone look dead and dull.

Both GOG and Whiteflash provide ASET images of their stones. I believe James Allen will provide them for up to three stones for you for free, and after that there is a fee. I don't know about other sites.

I don't know that there are standardized proportions for princess cuts. There may be, since AGS grades princess cut quality, but I don't know what they are. I'm also not sure who sells AGS ideal princesses. I'm sure someone else will chime in, though.
 
I would call Yekutiel at ID and tell him you are a princescoper and ask them what they could come up with in your budget with the styles she likes.

He just did a princess cut ring for another pricescoper, different style, but I think it turned out gorgeous, and has such presence and he got it for 2300 :love:

Here is the link:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/2-5k-budget-e-ring-halo.169824/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/2-5k-budget-e-ring-halo.169824/page-2[/URL]

ID
http://idjewelryonline.com/index.php
 
UPDATE:
OK, after doing some looking with the girlfriend at local jewelers, she has decided that she likes filigree style settings (with small diamonds on the setting). She doesnt really care what shape stone she gets (either round brilliant, princess, or other square modified type). Id like to go around 1.0 carat with a excellent cut (color and clarity are less important, but I want it eye clean). Im upping my budget to $6,000 max as I want something nice (and will do what I can to save to meet that).

Here are a few links of settings she likes, but these all come with stones (and crappy ones at that). It would be great if y'all could help me find a similar type setting (with or without the center stone). Thanks again!

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg2567al.htm

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg2567am.htm

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg2814t.htm

http://www.topazery.com/antique-jewelry-item-rg2814al.htm
 
DjScibbity|1326915707|3106022 said:
A little about the girl: She is a very petite Asian girl (100 lbs) with very small fingers (wears a size 3 ring I believe). A huge rock would look kind of ridiculous on her hence acceptance toward the .7-.8 carat size (center stone), though bigger is always better up to a point.

Thank you all for your help in advance.
Click to expand...

I, too, am petite (90 lbs, size 4.25 ring) and absolutely believe that there is no such thing as "too big" when it comes to a beautiful piece of jewelry! :wink2: Make sure you check with her to make sure she doesn't feel the same way as I do and may be expecting something different than what you envision. It helps, too, to try on different sizes to determine what she thinks will look best on her hand - both shape and size-wise!
 
Here are some options:

Diamond:
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=637688

Setting:
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/engagement-rings/diamond-engagement-ring/Channel-Set-Diamond-Ring-With-Scroll-Work-333.htm

Diamond: I would also request asset images if you are interested

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1456918.asp

If she likes the antique look here is a cushion that has an antique flare, I would also ask for asset images if you are interested
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1450240.asp

Setting:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/Engraved-Princess-Cut-Ring.html


More ideas again these are antique cushions, I would call to see if the SI2 is eyeclean:

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/9089/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/9027/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8865/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8864/

Possible settings?
http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7999W44JJ

http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7531W44JJ

http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7529W44JJ

http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7444W44JJ

They have tons of styles to choose from and GOG carries them they also carry beverley K and tacori which might have some settings within budget
 
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