Help Please - Good Diamond?

[Emodesto1]

Hi Everyone, I have been visiting the site for a month now trying to get educated on diamonds and this is my first post on the site. I am getting to the point where I am seriously starting to look into diamonds for an engagement ring. Thus far I have been to stores and not been thrilled with that they had to offer. I have been looking at diamonds on jamesallen.com (and other online shops) for the last week or so and there are a few promising items that I need advice on. I have spoken to the customer rep, and he seems to like the diamond, but I want to get some independent analysis on it.

Here is the diamond: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1301513.asp

Here is the setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-1908.asp

This is what their graduated gemologist said about the stone: "The diamond 1304513 (1.42ct I VS1) faces up far better in regards to both brilliance and color [in comparison to another diamond I have since dismissed]. The diamonds is completely eye-clean with no inclusions visible, even to the naked eye. It has a traditional square shape, impressive faceting providing a very lively appearance. This is one of those diamonds that seems to collect light from anywhere and project it back to you."

I voiced my concern over the fact that the girdle is "extremely thick" but they told me I should not be worried about it. I am not so sure.

I have also attached the ASET image for the diamond.

Overall, I am hoping to be able to get as beautiful diamond as I can in the 1.4-1.5 carat range and spend no more than $6500 on the diamond. This diamond that I am currently looking at can be had for ~$5,900 after the pricescope discount is applied. Is this a good deal or should I definitely keep looking?

Please let me know what you guys think. I need all the help I can get! Thanks a lot!

 

[slg47]

If you are sure that you want 1.4-1.5 on the size then I think this one looks pretty good in terms of maximizing your budget.

Also have you seen different colors in person? I think some people on the forums have mentioned that Jared has an AGSO princess line, if there is a Jared local to you perhaps you could compare different princess cut stones in person, and also look to see if you like the I color...

hopefully someone who knows more can help you out! also I like the setting you picked, I think it will be beautiful!

 

[Emodesto1]

Thanks for the reply. I have seen the different colors in person and I originally started off wanting as high a color as possible. The obvious problem is that it comes at a pretty premium. From what everyone keeps telling me, and I keep reading, the I color is hardly noticeable under normal conditions and when not placed next to other diamonds of higher color.

I am slightly worried that it will not look as white as I want it to, but the people from JA tell me that I don''t have anything to be worried about, and the picture seems to look pretty good. I know that JA offers a 30 day money back guarantee so if I was unhappy with it I would definitely not hesitate to send it back, it would just be disappointing to pull the trigger only to be unhappy with what I bought.

As for budget and carat size, my goal is to buy something as big as possible while getting a good solid diamond. I don''t require something that is going to look great on paper, but that 98% of the population will not be able to discern in person. This is why I decided to settle for something less in the color range. Assuming everything I keep reading is correct, it should still look really nice. While I am looking at this as something that I will most certainly upgrade in the future, I obviously want to get my moneys worth and be satisfied with the diamond.

Further help and advice is very much appreciated and, in fact, needed!

Thanks.


P.S. What do you guys honestly think about JA? I know that a lot of people have had success with them on here, but then I have people here locally in Austin telling me a lot of negative things about online dealers and the way the market works and how online dealers get the worst diamonds. It becomes difficult to know who to believe.

 

[slg47]

is this for an engagement ring?

here is another princess cut online that I found...slightly smaller

princess cut from WF

we bought locally but only because we found what we wanted in our price range. otherwise I would have for sure gone online because I think there is a better selection.

 

[Emodesto1]

Yep, it is for an engagement ring. Oooh that is a very nice diamond. Only concern is the size, I wish I could see the difference that those .2 carats would make. I can''t imagine it''s a huge difference, but seeing it in person would be nice.

Maybe someone will talk me down from this size kick and help me focus on something that will look almost as big and better in the setting?

I look forward to everyone''s assistance.

Thanks again.

 

[Emodesto1]

One bad thing I just noticed about Whiteflash is that they charge people who are in Texas 8.25% sales tax. JA would be no tax. That is a about a $500 dollar tax. Certainly something to consider.

 

[slg47]

most people on PS will advise you to go with the best cut since that is what determines how much the diamond sparkles...GOG has a lot of videos comparing different cut grades of princess cuts and you can really see a difference.

personally I would go with the one I posted because it is likely to be a superior cut being a WF ACA, it looks nice from the pictures, it is a higher color, and it is still a very nice size. however, some people want a bigger size...it''s really up to you and your personal preference

also I''m pretty sure you still have to pay a use tax (or are supposed to) if you buy online...someone wrote an article about this, maybe I can try to find it later.

 

[Emodesto1]

It is a beautiful diamond, I do agree with that. I wonder what the difference would be in presentation between the original one I showed and the one that you found.

Does anyone else have any advice on the first diamond that I linked to and the ASET images? Some more assistance would be very useful.

As far as the tax thing goes, from my brief research, if an online retailer has a physical presence in a particular state, such as a store, business office, or warehouse, it must collect sales tax from customers in that state. If a business does not have a physical presence in a state, it is not required to collect sales tax for sales into that state. This rule is derived from a 1992 Supreme Court decision. JA has a physical presence in MD and NY, hence the tax there. WF, in TX, hence the tax there.

Thanks you for being the only to provide some advice so far!

 

[slg47]

diamond comparison videos

here is the link to diamond comparison videos...you can really see the difference between a well cut stone and one that is a lesser cut...search ''princess''

maybe someone else can chime in but i''d certainly advise you to go with the WF ACA stone!

 

[yssie]

Date: 4/29/2010 5:02:15 PM
Author:Emodesto1
Hi Everyone, I have been visiting the site for a month now trying to get educated on diamonds and this is my first post on the site. I am getting to the point where I am seriously starting to look into diamonds for an engagement ring. Thus far I have been to stores and not been thrilled with that they had to offer. I have been looking at diamonds on jamesallen.com (and other online shops) for the last week or so and there are a few promising items that I need advice on. I have spoken to the customer rep, and he seems to like the diamond, but I want to get some independent analysis on it.

Here is the diamond: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1301513.asp

Here is the setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-1908.asp

This is what their graduated gemologist said about the stone: ''The diamond 1304513 (1.42ct I VS1) faces up far better in regards to both brilliance and color [in comparison to another diamond I have since dismissed]. The diamonds is completely eye-clean with no inclusions visible, even to the naked eye. It has a traditional square shape, impressive faceting providing a very lively appearance. This is one of those diamonds that seems to collect light from anywhere and project it back to you.''

I voiced my concern over the fact that the girdle is ''extremely thick'' but they told me I should not be worried about it. I am not so sure.

I have also attached the ASET image for the diamond.

Overall, I am hoping to be able to get as beautiful diamond as I can in the 1.4-1.5 carat range and spend no more than $6500 on the diamond. This diamond that I am currently looking at can be had for ~$5,900 after the pricescope discount is applied. Is this a good deal or should I definitely keep looking?

Please let me know what you guys think. I need all the help I can get! Thanks a lot!

That''s what the green in the ASET means - it''s collecting light not just from the top but from an angle to the top, too, which means that it''s that much more succeptible to low-light conditions, coloured walls, etc. This is why more red is preferable.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 4/30/2010 6:17:53 PM
Author: yssie
That''s what the green in the ASET means - it''s collecting light not just from the top but from an angle to the top, too, which means that it''s that much more succeptible to low-light conditions, coloured walls, etc. This is why more red is preferable.

Which implies that in direct lighting conditions, the stone will appear less lively.

 

[yssie]

Date: 4/30/2010 6:35:38 PM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 4/30/2010 6:17:53 PM
Author: yssie
That's what the green in the ASET means - it's collecting light not just from the top but from an angle to the top, too, which means that it's that much more succeptible to low-light conditions, coloured walls, etc. This is why more red is preferable.

Which implies that in direct lighting conditions, the stone will appear less lively.

Yes, that's what I mean.



Even if you angle the stone and keep it that way, since there are an infinite number of surrounding angles but only one direction normal to the table.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Since you said you weren''t concerned with how the diamond looks on paper, just in real life...As far as your budget and wanting to max size, I think the JA will look very nice, sparkly, and white and definitely better than what you would likely get at a local chain jewelry store (not to affectionately called "maul stores" by most PSers).

The Whiteflash I think is a better diamond and will sparkle even more and be whiter, but you probably wouldn''t notice a difference unless they were side by side.

Eitherway, the ring will be beautiful.

 

[Emodesto1]

Thanks for all the input everyone, it is very helpful. I am heavily considering the whiteflash diamond now and another diamond here locally.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/30/2010 10:14:57 PM
Author: Emodesto1
Thanks for all the input everyone, it is very helpful. I am heavily considering the whiteflash diamond now and another diamond here locally.

Thanks again everyone.

Let us know how you get on, the WF diamond has a very fine cut so that one is a definite option.