Hello everyone,
I've been actively searching for my engagement ring/stone for 2 months. My fiance's budget is $5000, which means that I am looking for a center stone of approximately $3500 (assuming a white gold pave-set ring will cost around $1400-$1500).
I am trying to stick as closely to the budget as possible, and after reading for weeks I came to what I thought was achievable within $3500: 0.85-.9 carat RB, F-H color, Ideal/Excellent cut, Si1 clarity (GIA).
I went to a diamond broker and told him my requirements. He told me that, with my restricted budget, I would do better looking at EGL diamonds over GIA.
I am very aware that EGL (Europe) has a poor reputation and should be avoided, but the broker said if you aim for perfection in EGL it will fall into acceptable parameters of GIA. He is offering me the following stone at $3600:
Carat: 0.91
Color: D
Cut: Excellent, H&A
Clarity: SI1
Measurements: 6.19-6.30 mm
I've attached the grading report he sent me for more details.
I saw the diamond in person and really liked it, and after seeing it under a loupe I am ok with the inclusions (his jeweler has assured me that it's "prongable").
My dilemma: is this stone worth $3600? I know that cut is the most important consideration, and on the HCA this diamond scores a 1.3 (using the crown/pavillion %s given). However, the 0.11 mm difference between minimum and maximum diameters really concerns me - can a stone that is out of round also be ideally cut? How much does this influence price?
I would really appreciate your collective guidance - thanks very much!
I've been actively searching for my engagement ring/stone for 2 months. My fiance's budget is $5000, which means that I am looking for a center stone of approximately $3500 (assuming a white gold pave-set ring will cost around $1400-$1500).
I am trying to stick as closely to the budget as possible, and after reading for weeks I came to what I thought was achievable within $3500: 0.85-.9 carat RB, F-H color, Ideal/Excellent cut, Si1 clarity (GIA).
I went to a diamond broker and told him my requirements. He told me that, with my restricted budget, I would do better looking at EGL diamonds over GIA.
I am very aware that EGL (Europe) has a poor reputation and should be avoided, but the broker said if you aim for perfection in EGL it will fall into acceptable parameters of GIA. He is offering me the following stone at $3600:
Carat: 0.91
Color: D
Cut: Excellent, H&A
Clarity: SI1
Measurements: 6.19-6.30 mm
I've attached the grading report he sent me for more details.
I saw the diamond in person and really liked it, and after seeing it under a loupe I am ok with the inclusions (his jeweler has assured me that it's "prongable").
My dilemma: is this stone worth $3600? I know that cut is the most important consideration, and on the HCA this diamond scores a 1.3 (using the crown/pavillion %s given). However, the 0.11 mm difference between minimum and maximum diameters really concerns me - can a stone that is out of round also be ideally cut? How much does this influence price?
I would really appreciate your collective guidance - thanks very much!
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