Help picking ring

[outlier]

Hello,

I''m looking to buy an engagement ring pretty soon, but I''m kinda new to this stuff, so any help would be greatly appreciated

. I''ve read through a lot of pages on this site (great site, btw), and here''s what I''ve narrowed it down to:

- 1 ct, Ideal cut, H/I colour, SI1/SI2 clarity

For example, I''m looking at the following diamond (http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00474031&keyword_search_value=LD00474031)

One question I had was - can I tell if it is "eye clean" by looking at the markings on the diagram from the GIA report? Does the diamond from the link look like it is eye clean? Plus, any suggestions or comments on the above diamond would be greatly welcome.

Thanks for your help.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

No, you can''t tell on a GIA cert if the diamond is eye clean, and an SI2 is risky. I''d only buy an SI2 from a vendor who has the stone in-house like Good Old Gold, White Flash, some of James Allen''s, Winfields, etc. Those guys can look at the diamonds they have and tell you what they look like. You''ll also find some of their prices to be better than Blue Nle, from the comparisons I have done.

 

[Sundial]

I agree with Diamondseeker that if I were going to purchase an SI1 or SI2 clarity stone online I would want to buy from a vendor who carries in-house inventory and can eyeball the diamond for me to make sure that it is eye clean. If you find one it can be a real value though. Why pay for what you can''t see?

 

[Regular Guy]

Triple that...consider one Lorelei and I recommended here, which is not virtually represented. But still, do check with them. Classically, they describe their own SI 2s as "eye cleanish."

 

[outlier]

Thanks for the replies! I looked at the WF site, and I noticed I couldn''t seach on cut. Are all the diamonds they have ideal or above ideal cut? Regular Guy - I took a look at the diamond you recommended - on the cert it says - surface graining not shown, and additional clouds not shown. Should this be of concern? Or should I trust that the WF guys have looked at it and that it isn''t noticeable.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JulieN]

You can search ACAs, or click on the link under Diamonds for Expert Selection.

Some SI2s and I1s here: http://www.winkjones.com/specials/sa_diamonds.php

 

[diamondlove]

hey Outlier,

Not ALL of WF''s stones are ideal cut but they are if it''s what they call ''A Cut Above'' which is their brand of H&A stones and if the certificate (GIA or AGS) say it''s ''Excellent'' Cut or ''Ideal'' Cut, respectively. If you look at the whiteflash site (whiteflash.com) also search under expert selection bc they are good buys oftentimes bc WF narrows the selection down.

The best way for you really is to go up to the Prices tab on this page and click on ''search by cut'' and also check ''inhouse'' stones bc that way the vendor will be able to tell you if it''s eyeclean or not. If you do want a stone that is not inhouse you can ask the vendor to call it in and then tell you whether it is eye clean.

hope that helps,

DL

 

[Regular Guy]

Outlier, you asked: "Are all the diamonds they have ideal or above ideal cut?" Maybe it depends on what the meaning of is, is...

Date: 8/6/2006 11:37:10 PM
Author: diamondlove
hey Outlier,

Not ALL of WF's stones are ideal cut but they are if it's what they call 'A Cut Above' which is their brand of H&A stones and if the certificate (GIA or AGS) say it's 'Excellent' Cut or 'Ideal' Cut, respectively.

Many readers here are less trustful of GIA's new definition of GIA's excellent cut as reliably most desirable.

Classically, AGS "created" the concept of ideal, the aspects defining ideal had been associated with both their certificate and assigned proportions, and now that they've re-defined standards for their own AGS0, many here believe they've come close to optimizing a believable set of standards for ideal.

The best way for you really is to go up to the Prices tab on this page and click on 'search by cut' and also check 'inhouse' stones bc that way the vendor will be able to tell you if it's eyeclean or not.

That method is how I identified this one. It's based on beginning with Garry Holloway's idea of "ideal cut," essentially meaning, given the right conditions, it could be expected to perform well. Garry reviews the AGS current formula as similar to his own, and you can largely see that as you see the coordinates for them he'd plotted when you run the HCA. As diamondlove said, virtually all of WF's ACA's fit this standard, and probably most of their expert selections do, too. But, rather than just trusting WF by their brand, with the search by cut db here, you can use it's constraints to pre-screen your selections, first.

But...do use the folks at WF to look at this diamond. Silk purses cannot be made into sous ears. That is, though an SI2 is not a sous ear, by definition, it will have flaws. You should ask them about them, and see how they do or don't conform to your own constraints. And, of course, see for yourself, too. You've got 10 days once you get it to send it back.

P.S. Outlier, JulieN, are you related in some way? (I see a resemblence.)

 

[outlier]

I've decided to get the one that Regular Guy and Lorelei recommended (Expert Selection 1.03ct, I, SI2, Ex, Ex) (Thanks!). I talked to someone from WF and asked if it was eyeclean - they said there was a black inclusion that is visible looking at it close up on a side view, but that it was eyeclean looking from the top. I don't mind the inclusion if its only visible from the side. Is this a good deal? (it's listed for 4180) The GIA cert had additional comments of (surface graining not shown, additional clouds not shown).

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/round-ideal-cut-cut-diamond-2045516.htm

Thanks to all.

P.S. - Nope not related to JulieN, not sure who she is?

 

[Regular Guy]

Outlier,

Just look at that smile...there's got to be a common relative somewhere...

Best of wishes!

 

[JulieN]

(: awesome