Help me pick out my engagement stone...

[FlightGuy]

Hi everyone!

I'm completely new here. I've been reading a number of posts, and I'm learning more and more. I've spent much of the past two weeks doing research online and visiting a LOT of jewelers, including a few "wholesalers" and private jewelers. I'm stretching my budget to an absolute max of $6500 for the ring and stone, and I'm going tomorrow to look at what may be a winner. I've settled on the idea that carat size and excellent cut are my first priorities, with color and clarity following behind.

The stone I'm seriously considering now is a GIA certified 1.33C I color SI2 Triple-Excellent Cut/Polish/Symmetry. Here are my real questions:

1) The stone has medium-blue fluorescence, which I'm told may actually be a good thing for an I-color. Is this correct?
2) The only marked inclusions are twinning wisps. I've read that these could be the "best" to have, since they tend to be clear and thin (like small little cracks I guess). Does this seem accurate? The GIA report shows 5, though none seem to be really long. Scary?
3) The stone is described to me as a "high-SI2" and "eye-clean." Terms to take with a grain of salt?
4) The report also states, "additional twinning wisps, internal graining, and external graining are not shown." Scary?

I'm doing a little bartering, but I'm essentially being offered the stone at $6200. Good price? Depend entirely on what I see?

For what it's worth, I played with the HCA thing and got a score of 2.6 on the stone.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks for indulging a newbie!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Hi everyone!

I'm completely new here. I've been reading a number of posts, and I'm learning more and more. I've spent much of the past two weeks doing research online and visiting a LOT of jewelers, including a few "wholesalers" and private jewelers. I'm stretching my budget to an absolute max of $6500 for the ring and stone, and I'm going tomorrow to look at what may be a winner. I've settled on the idea that carat size and excellent cut are my first priorities, with color and clarity following behind.

In other words "a retailer"...

 

[FlightGuy]

Hi everyone!

I'm completely new here. I've been reading a number of posts, and I'm learning more and more. I've spent much of the past two weeks doing research online and visiting a LOT of jewelers, including a few "wholesalers" and private jewelers. I'm stretching my budget to an absolute max of $6500 for the ring and stone, and I'm going tomorrow to look at what may be a winner. I've settled on the idea that carat size and excellent cut are my first priorities, with color and clarity following behind.

In other words "a retailer"...

Well, pretty much yes. I think his primary business is providing stones to private jewelers and others in the local area, as well as to dealers online. But yes, he sells to individuals through referrals.

 

[FlightGuy]

Update: Here is a picture.



Thoughts?

 

[JulieN]

too much tilt, can't see a darned thing.

 

[FlightGuy]

Yeah I thought something seemed off when I looked down into the culet in the middle. I'll see what I can get tomorrow when I actually see it. Thanks for the try though.

 

[FlightGuy]

I have one more question:

Looking at a GIA report on another stone (considering smaller with better clarity). It's a VS2 where the diagram only shows a few twinning wisps. However, the report says "additional twinning wisps, clouds, pinpoints, and surface graining not shown." Why would they not bother to include clouds on the diagram? Are there specific criteria in determining what inclusions are of enough significant to be shown on the diagram?

Just curious.

Thanks!

 

[JulieN]

Usually they are not factors in the grade, it would make the plot diagram look too dirty.

 

[FlightGuy]

Thanks Julie!

I looked at the stone today... and ended up making the commitment to buy it. It was perfectly eye clean, and I was really surprised how few, and how minor, the inclusions were for an SI2. Everything I saw looked like thin little wisps; there were no black dots or feathers that I could see even under magnification. Compared to the smaller SI1 I was looking at, this actually looked cleaner under magnification. It's .16 Carats bigger, and has a much better HCA score. I think the medium blue fluorescence is a small advantage to boot. At only $100 more, I had to take the plunge. Even though it's a stretch for my budget, I'm VERY happy with the value on this one. It was GIA triple excellent and AGS 0 on the cut. Price for stone, $6185. I don't think that can be beat.

Now I just have to set up a perfect plan for the proposal....

Thanks again!

 

[JulieN]

congrats

 

[FlightGuy]

Just thought I would share the final result, after she said "yes" of course . These were taken rather hastily with an iphone, so hopefully they are not too bad quality. Thanks again!

 

[Niel]

Looks stunning! So nice and large in her slender fingers.