Help needed from Experts

[tyty333]

Here's a 1.52 K SI1 at JA - with 1.0 HCA - with medium blue fluor:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1483703.asp

$7400 with PS discount

So it's possible, but you won't get the brightest, whitest 1.5 out there.

This K looks really nice...I'd snatch that one up in a heartbeat! You do know that a well cut stone with
good light return will look whiter/brighter than a highter color (say an H) that is not well cut.

how about comparing to a H I1?

Ken...the point is about the cut. A better cut stone will usually show less color than a badly cut stone of a higher color.

 

[webdiva]

Here's another 1.6 ct SI2 K color for $6900 - but from Good old Gold - you can see in picture #2 in comparison with 2 other diamonds that it's a little less white but still reads as "white".
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/9433/

It's VERY difficult to find an eye clean I1- which you can see on JamesAllen.com by searching all the I1s. That K I posted may be your best bet right now, unless you ask IDJewelry to help in your search for an eye clean, high color I1.

 

[orbaya]

Hey! that's good to know, that you can sense a shift in her!!! I'm hoping there is more to come, but its a great start that she's at least opening up to maaaaayyyybeeeee not getting something that isn't manageable on your budget. Bursting bubbles suck... but its better than starting out in debt with a lifetime of unrealistic expectations ahead.

Keep up the good work - keep talking to her and stick within your budget. There maybe a magical moment where suddenly, she just "GETS IT" and realizes she's been too demanding. I hope so!!

Yay for you!!!

haha... i certainly hope so... but meanwhile, i wanna get the best i can afford for her...

Then buy that K at James Allen, for crying out loud! At least call and talk to them and get their opinions on it and have them put it on hold while you think it over. There are people out in PS land that lurk and will snap up stones from under people. The flouro should make the K appear whiter.

 

[Enerchi]

Yes, ken, do that. Call James Allen and talk it over. Get their take on eye clean. Put it on hold.

 

[Christina...]

sorry if I missed it, but did you say how you felt about a pre-owned diamond?

 

[angietime]

ok, i didn't have the patience to read all of the comments, but the first diamond certificate with twining whisps looks definitely EYE CLEAN!...First of all you have FT fluorescence instead of medium, and the whisps look like clear hairs which is the BEST SI2 you should look for.

additionally, I see the crown angle is the PERFECT 35.5degrees, the small 58 table makes it much more attractive than an open table, and the measurements are still ideal as the depth is 62.4% still under 63.3%.

I used to work for a diamond dealer, and this would be the stone I would have loved to memo to customers!

That being said, my K color cushion does not appear to be a K. If you consider the metal you'll be mounting it in, white metals show the color as the truely are, and yellow and rose gold hide them. So if she's a fan of the different metals and you wanted to two tone the ring, nobody would see it.

Also, I once had the pleasure of seeing a 2.41ct N color VVS1 with EX VG EX gia grading. This stone was on FIRE, but my boss got so impatient he sold it for the same price he bought it for and my heart sank because I felt like now another diamond broker gets all the glory meanwhile the men out there trying to find a diamond this beautiful can't see it In any case, don't get so hung up on color or ct, look at mm sizes. if its 7.25mm or bigger, get a 1.44ct or something! Price is WAY more affordable.

 

[Amys Bling]

Here's a 1.52 K SI1 at JA - with 1.0 HCA - with medium blue fluor:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1483703.asp

$7400 with PS discount

So it's possible, but you won't get the brightest, whitest 1.5 out there.

This K looks really nice...I'd snatch that one up in a heartbeat! You do know that a well cut stone with
good light return will look whiter/brighter than a highter color (say an H) that is not well cut.

how about comparing to a H I1?

Ken...the point is about the cut. A better cut stone will usually show less color than a badly cut stone of a higher color.

Yes!! A poorly cut H will look duller and more tinted than an excellent or ideal cut K. You would end up with a way nicer stone if you went with an excellent cut SI1 K in the 1.35 range then a poorly cut H 1.5 I1 which will be more lifeless, more tinted, and possibly even smaller in diameter because of
the poor cut.

 

[mandasand]

Well, with a 60 day return policy and LiFETIME warranty and lifetime upgrade policy, you really should not need to ask for more time. But, ask your JA rep about being overseas and making sure if you're not happy you can send it back. You should be able to make a decision within 60 days, even if it takes a week to get to you!!

The 4-letter is BRAT, but I can be one too...not when it comes to my dear, sweet, brave honey's money, however. I would never demand anything from him monetarily. I do demand his time and attention...that's worth more to me than any material item. But I certainly am not complaining in that department!

 

[KeN3]

Then buy that K at James Allen, for crying out loud! At least call and talk to them and get their opinions on it and have them put it on hold while you think it over. There are people out in PS land that lurk and will snap up stones from under people. The flouro should make the K appear whiter.

Yes, ken, do that. Call James Allen and talk it over. Get their take on eye clean. Put it on hold.

lots of replies when i was asleep... guess i'm really in a different timezone from most of u all..

really appreciate all the care & concern!!

ok, just emailed them... does JA provide IS images? hmm....

 

[KeN3]

sorry if I missed it, but did you say how you felt about a pre-owned diamond?

i'm quite ok on a pre-owned piece, but i'm from overseas, so i really dunno how to get about it online for pre-owned pieces...

the pre-owned market on my side isn't cheap either.. a new 1.5ct IGI I color ExExEx H&A is going at $12k in my country... a pre-owned piece isn't really cheap either...

 

[KeN3]

ok, i didn't have the patience to read all of the comments, but the first diamond certificate with twining whisps looks definitely EYE CLEAN!...First of all you have FT fluorescence instead of medium, and the whisps look like clear hairs which is the BEST SI2 you should look for.

additionally, I see the crown angle is the PERFECT 35.5degrees, the small 58 table makes it much more attractive than an open table, and the measurements are still ideal as the depth is 62.4% still under 63.3%.

I used to work for a diamond dealer, and this would be the stone I would have loved to memo to customers!

That being said, my K color cushion does not appear to be a K. If you consider the metal you'll be mounting it in, white metals show the color as the truely are, and yellow and rose gold hide them. So if she's a fan of the different metals and you wanted to two tone the ring, nobody would see it.

Also, I once had the pleasure of seeing a 2.41ct N color VVS1 with EX VG EX gia grading. This stone was on FIRE, but my boss got so impatient he sold it for the same price he bought it for and my heart sank because I felt like now another diamond broker gets all the glory meanwhile the men out there trying to find a diamond this beautiful can't see it In any case, don't get so hung up on color or ct, look at mm sizes. if its 7.25mm or bigger, get a 1.44ct or something! Price is WAY more affordable.

the price of this piece is actually well within my budget... but the HCA score of it is pretty high (3.7) and the diameter is it pretty small for its ct size..

 

[KeN3]

Well, with a 60 day return policy and LiFETIME warranty and lifetime upgrade policy, you really should not need to ask for more time. But, ask your JA rep about being overseas and making sure if you're not happy you can send it back. You should be able to make a decision within 60 days, even if it takes a week to get to you!!

The 4-letter is BRAT, but I can be one too...not when it comes to my dear, sweet, brave honey's money, however. I would never demand anything from him monetarily. I do demand his time and attention...that's worth more to me than any material item. But I certainly am not complaining in that department!

haha... my gf can be quite a terror...

she demands all 3 from me... haha... i'm solely all hers...

 

[KeN3]

i think by now i've went through almost all of the online vendors' inventries... lol..

here's a piece that 1 short-listed as well:

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=2136009179&weight=1.6

HCA score of 0.8!!

1.6ct!!

Remarks from vendor:

Our jewelers had inspected for another customer and mentioned that the stone is eye-clean to the untrained eye, though if you are looking to find the inclusions or someone with a trained eye is observing the stone the inclusions could possibly be visible.

hmm... anyway, it's the same price as the JA K SI1 piece...

 

[Enerchi]

...and maybe the fluorescence will make it appear whiter... Could be a contender!

 

[KeN3]

...and maybe the fluorescence will make it appear whiter... Could be a contender!

same sentiments... have asked if they have any actual or IS images... wee bit out of my proposed budget...

 

[KeN3]

You're going to have to compromise on cut, and it sounds like your girlfriend will be okay on that. What I would do is look for the best 60-60 cut diamond you can find. Look for a GIA I or J, or IGI E - G, and try to stick with SI1 and SI2 clarity if possible. 60/60 cut diamonds tend to look larger for their carat weight (which is a plus in your situation) and there are some decent VG 60/60 cut diamonds out there. Better a 60/60 VG or G cut than a steep/deep VG or G cut, in my mind, if you've got to compromise on cut. You might want to give ID Jewelry a call and see what they can do for you. I'm not sure if the other vendors who are typically recommended here could get you the price you're looking for, even in a VG, and ID Jewelry is located in the diamond district in NY so they have easy access to diamond suppliers, and their prices are very competitive.

ETA: Here's one from James Allen that is a K color, SI2 clarity, with decent proportions, in your budget. You can see that something is going to have to give to get the carat weight she wants. This same stone could be graded 2 or 3 color grades higher by IGI, so you'd believe you'd be getting a H or an I. There are no bargains in diamonds. I'd actually consider taking a look at this one in person; JA has a good return policy. You'll know when you see it if it's too tinted or if the inclusions are eye-visible.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI2-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1463368.asp

thanks Lula for your input & advice..

yup, that's what i'm focusing now the GIA I J & IGI F G... so far sticking to the SI1 & 2s, but i'm venturing out to the I1s for GIA... so far nothing good turned out yet..

unfortuantely, the return policy affects me quite abit as i'm based overseas, so shipping is gonna be quite a problem.. hoping to clear everything in the 1st try..

I'm consdering this piece now:

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=1146044305&weight=1.5

the feedback from the vender is as follows:

Diamond has green shade.
As a "J" color it is on weaker side.
Small black inclusion in the table as well as in the crown.
Few small white inclusions in the crown.
Inclusions are not easily visible with naked eyes.
Diamond is OK.

This piece has a HCA score of 1.4, so that really caught my eye...

You're welcome. I can see that you are getting the hang of this! This stone has potential; cut looks good. I'm a bit concerned about what the vendor says about color -- diamonds can have a grey or brown or yellow tint to them. I owned a G color stone that looked grey to me and I did not like it at all. I have owned a J with a brown tint to it that was lovely. I've never seen a stone with a green tint to it, so I am not sure what effect that would have on the stone in various lighting conditions, e.g., fluorescent. Can you ask the vendor what he means by a "weak" J?

Feedback from vendor on the above:

The diamond has green shade, which would mean, it appears green with naked eye when looked face up.

Also "J" color is on weaker side would mean that it is more towards "K" color than "J" .

the price for this piece is $6907..

 

[Amys Bling]

i think by now i've went through almost all of the online vendors' inventries... lol..

here's a piece that 1 short-listed as well:

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=2136009179&weight=1.6

HCA score of 0.8!!

1.6ct!!

Remarks from vendor:

Our jewelers had inspected for another customer and mentioned that the stone is eye-clean to the untrained eye, though if you are looking to find the inclusions or someone with a trained eye is observing the stone the inclusions could possibly be visible.

hmm... anyway, it's the same price as the JA K SI1 piece...

I think this one is your best bet, as long as the flouro combined with the clarity doesnt have any hazy or milky effects...

 

[angietime]

look if Tiffany and Co can sell medium blue, you can buy med blue too...Really doubt you'll see a haze with a medium, that's mostly only in strong or very strong fluorescence situations.

 

[KeN3]

I think this one is your best bet, as long as the flouro combined with the clarity doesnt have any hazy or milky effects...

look if Tiffany and Co can sell medium blue, you can buy med blue too...Really doubt you'll see a haze with a medium, that's mostly only in strong or very strong fluorescence situations.

checking with vendor about the haze part.. cos few of my earlier short-listed pieces were hazy/milky..

i think the medium fluor will do the diamond some gd.. hopefully will look whiter... lol..

 

[mandasand]

Get the Ideal Scope and ASET images from the one you found and have JA evaluate the K stone and send you ASET and IS images. Perhaps have them recommend 2 or 3 other diamonds and have them send those images as well. Sometimes it can be daunting going through their HUGE inventory and they should be able to help you.

 

[KeN3]

Get the Ideal Scope and ASET images from the one you found and have JA evaluate the K stone and send you ASET and IS images. Perhaps have them recommend 2 or 3 other diamonds and have them send those images as well. Sometimes it can be daunting going through their HUGE inventory and they should be able to help you.

requested... awaiting their replies...

definately going through the inventory is daunting.. been doing it for the last 8 days or so... esp since getting the HCA calculator, i've been keying in & checking their various diamond scores.. i've gone through so many that i've ended up writing them down into a note-book... my last count is 50 pieces & still increasing... that's of cos excluding those whose HCA scores are too high & I ignore them... haha...

think at the end of this exercise, i can be half an expert... just joking... but really it's tiring... lol... sometimes to the extend that i just wonder why i can't walk in to a retail shop & buy off hand.. *sobz* no $$....

 

[diamondseeker2006]

i think by now i've went through almost all of the online vendors' inventries... lol..

here's a piece that 1 short-listed as well:

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=2136009179&weight=1.6

HCA score of 0.8!!

1.6ct!!

Remarks from vendor:

Our jewelers had inspected for another customer and mentioned that the stone is eye-clean to the untrained eye, though if you are looking to find the inclusions or someone with a trained eye is observing the stone the inclusions could possibly be visible.

hmm... anyway, it's the same price as the JA K SI1 piece...

I think this one is your best bet, as long as the flouro combined with the clarity doesnt have any hazy or milky effects...

This is the best posted so far, and medium blue fluoro is not an issue. It is a positive in a J color stone.

Ken, it is hard for me to understand how thousands of dollars were just spent on a watch when all that money could have gone toward a great diamond. I just worry a little about how you're going to meet all her demands in the future.

 

[Christina...]

Keeping my fingers crossed that the JA stone works out for you. You've done amazingly well keeping your focus on the job at hand, even with the unsolicited advice we have given you regarding your relationship and finances! Have you decided how the diamond will be set? I haven't read that list of demands yet! Just teasing you Ken! I'll be anxiously awaiting JAs feedback!

 

[KeN3]

This is the best posted so far, and medium blue fluoro is not an issue. It is a positive in a J color stone.

Ken, it is hard for me to understand how thousands of dollars were just spent on a watch when all that money could have gone toward a great diamond. I just worry a little about how you're going to meet all her demands in the future.

still waiting for vendor's reply... hope that they are not too pissed with me... just realised i exchanged 40 mails with 1 particular vendor, 24 mails with another... soon they are gonna ban my email...

i'm somewhat gulity on the watch as i'm wearing 1 myself & was actually watch shopping for myself... ended up the diamond studded dial caught her eye & the rest is history... she got her watch, i skipped mine...

anyway, told her that this should be the last of her "demands" but the actual next big cost'll be the actual wedding... sweating buckets over the thought of it... lol...

 

[KeN3]

Keeping my fingers crossed that the JA stone works out for you. You've done amazingly well keeping your focus on the job at hand, even with the unsolicited advice we have given you regarding your relationship and finances! Have you decided how the diamond will be set? I haven't read that list of demands yet! Just teasing you Ken! I'll be anxiously awaiting JAs feedback!

i have 4 short-listed pieces so far... 1 each from B2C, JA, Solomon Bros & BN.. awaiting replies from them on my pieces... & then i will list it out for u all to see & recommend with the prices as well... lol...

as for setting, my plan is for a simple classic solitaire setting... though i'm toying with the idea on 14k or 18 white gold... 14k cos of the cheaper pricing or 18k cos it's more of the norm in my side of the world (though i don't think the 1.5ct is the norm... was at the retail shop looking the other day & the salelady was telling me she usually get requests for 0.5ct or 1ct... )

well, prodding on.....

 

[KeN3]

ok... Ladies & Gents, i got my IS images from JA.. took them 1 day to get me the images... pretty fast & efficient..

anyway, here's the results:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1483703.asp

1.52ct, K, SI1, HCA = 1.0



Comments: Diamond 1483703 (1.52crt K SI1) didn't impress the gemologist as much because its light performance is a little weaker and it has a warmer "K" color.

Cost = $7530

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1499676.asp

1.51ct, J, SI1. HCA = 1.5



Comments: You'll be happy to hear that diamond 1499676 (1.51crt J SI1) has very nice light performance and a gorgeous cut. Its inclusions blend well and it will appear eye clean to the average eye, making it a great value! Lastly, it has a true "J" color and, as expected, it appears the whitest of the bunch. This is our gemologists favorite option and I am confident you'll be very pleased with it when you see it in person.

Cost = $8590

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1459660.asp

1.5ct, K, SI1. HCA = 5.3



Comments: Diamond 1459660 (1.50crt K SI1) is also very bright and has comparable light performance to diamond 1499676. It's idealscope image would lead you to believe that this diamond has some light leakage under the table but when you see the diamond in person, you will see that the image is misleading. It faces eye clean and has a true "K" color.

Cost: $7380


Well guys, now i dunno which to consider.... BN & B2C hasn't gotten back to me about the diamonds I short-listed...

pls give your comments...

 

[mandasand]

I would pick diamond 1499676, if the $8500 is in your budget...If they recommend it, the diamond is probably your best bet!

 

[webdiva]

I would pick diamond 1499676, if the $8500 is in your budget...If they recommend it, the diamond is probably your best bet!

Ditto!

 

[Enerchi]

Good work ken. I'd pick #2. The others arent recommended as highly by the gemologist.

BUT!!!

It's almost $1600 OVER your budget!! AND you don't have a setting yet! So.... I'd keep looking, DON'T go over budget, and find something in the 1.3/1.4 range that will keep you on target.

You've heard enough of our comments on your gf demands that you know how many of us feel. Every time you acquiesce to a demand, it just makes it more acceptable for her to push the limits, the next time. Stick to your original $7K - this diamond is way over budget.

 

[Laila619]

That last one is really leaky. You can easily see it in the regular, close up picture and in the Idealscope. Pass, it's a steep deep.

The other two are very nice though.