Help Please!!!! Which one of these stones?!?!

[Phil34]

Hey all,

I''m new on the board, and let me say I''m so happy to have found this site before I actually bought a stone. I''ve learned a lot, still... now I''m only about half as daunted as before!

I''ve done a bunch of searches and have come up with a few prospects, but I can use some second (and third and fourth and... ) opinions. What do people think of these:

1)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.70
Color: I
Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.64-7.73-4.64
Depth: 60.4%
Table:58%
Crown Hgt: 15%
Pav. Depth: 43%
Girdle: Thin to Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Price: $4,513

Linky: http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=56928319


2)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.51
Color: D
Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.34-7.42-4.50
Depth: 60.4%
Table:59%
Crown Hgt: 14%
Pav. Depth: 43%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Cut: Premium
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent
Price: $5,205

Linky: http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=57052834

3)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.56
Color: F
Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.38-7.42-4.50
Depth: 61.4%
Table:59%
Crown Hgt: 15%
Pav. Depth: 42%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Cut: Premium
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Price: $5,897

Linky: http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=51193510

4)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.65
Color: J
Clarity: VS1
Measurements: 7.48-7.56-4.68
Depth: 62.2%
Table:57%
Crown Hgt: 15%
Pav. Depth: 43%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Cut: Ideal
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent
Price: $5,438

Linky: http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=56857090

(Cert isn''t on the site, but Abazias sent it and I''ll post it as soon as I figure out how)

5)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.5
Color: E
Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.17-7.23-4.60
Depth: 63.8%
Table:58%
Crown Hgt: 15%
Pav. Depth: 44%
Girdle: Medium
Culet: None
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Good to Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Price: $5,175

Linky: http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=56856688

Specific question on this one: The cert says the following under Comments: "TOLKOWSKY IDEAL CUT" - The proportions of this diamond are within tolerance of those proposed by Marcel Tolkowsky, as the ideal balance between brilliance and dispersion." However, this one only graded 5.2 on the Holloway Cut Adviser. What???

(Cert isn''t on the site, but Abazias sent it and I''ll post it as soon as I figure out how)

6)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.7
Color: E
Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.67-7.61-4.74
Depth: 62.0%
Table:55%
Crown Hgt: 16%
Pav. Depth: 43%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Cut: "Excellent Ideal Cut"
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Price: $5,675

Linky: http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1012/v.cgi?stock=9010850&_s=1012&_p=sdf348gd743&_c=&_fs=1&prestock=

7)

Round
Cert: EGL
Weight: 1.53
Color: D
Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.49-7.31-4.59
Depth: 62.0%
Table:54%
Crown Hgt: 15%
Pav. Depth: 43%
Girdle: Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Cut: "Tolkowsky Ideal Cut"
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Price: $4,064 (Why so cheap????)

Linky: http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1012/v.cgi?stock=9010849&_s=1012&_p=sdf348gd743&_c=&_fs=1&prestock=&_ln=ps

So that''s what I have. I''ve heard that EGL is more lenient with its gradings and I could live with that on most of these stones given where they are starting stones. Any and all thoughts on the stones or experiences with Abazian or USA Certed very very welcome.

Once I narrow it down a bit what more should I ask the sellers to see in terms of photos and what should I be looking in them?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Phil and welcome!

Ok I looked through your selections, firstly I would eliminate #'s 3 and 5. The third didn't score as well as the others on the cut advisor, the 5th is too deep for my liking. It is also what we call a steep deep which indicates with this diamond that it will leak light to a significant extent and not be an attractive diamond. As to the comments on the report, the diamond may fulfil whatever criteria EGL use for their Tolkowsky proportioned diamonds, but this is no guarantee of a well cut stone. Also EGL use percents rather than angles for the crown and pavilion measurements so if the vendor could run a Sarin report on your final contenders then this would give more detailed measurements of the diamonds, also if they could supply Idealscope images that would be of great benefit.

Further info on Tolkowsky - http://diamonds.pricescope.com/tolk.asp

You can proceed with the others by finding out which EGL labs graded these diamonds firstly. EGL USA are said to be the strongest of the EGL labs, so it is important to know which lab such as EGL Israel, Antwerp, Europe etc. Then once we know which EGL labs, then check which are eyeclean to your standards by asking the vendor to call in your selected diamond/s to inspect them for you if necessary.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/10/2009 5:57:11 AM
Author: Lorelei
Hi Phil and welcome!

Ok I looked through your selections, firstly I would eliminate #''s 3 and 5. The third didn''t score as well as the others on the cut advisor, the 5th is too deep for my liking. It is also what we call a steep deep which indicates with this diamond that it will leak light to a significant extent and not be an attractive diamond. As to the comments on the report, the diamond may fulfil whatever criteria EGL use for their Tolkowsky proportioned diamonds, but this is no guarantee of a well cut stone. Also EGL use percents rather than angles for the crown and pavilion measurements so if the vendor could run a Sarin report on your final contenders then this would give more detailed measurements of the diamonds, also if they could supply Idealscope images that would be of great benefit.

Further info on Tolkowsky - http://diamonds.pricescope.com/tolk.asp

You can proceed with the others by finding out which EGL labs graded these diamonds firstly. EGL USA are said to be the strongest of the EGL labs, so it is important to know which lab such as EGL Israel, Antwerp, Europe etc. Then once we know which EGL labs, then check which are eyeclean to your standards by asking the vendor to call in your selected diamond/s to inspect them for you if necessary.

All but the first one are listed Israel, and I suspect that was just a mistake and the first one is also. That''s all I''ve ever seen from Abazias.

Phil, as Lorelei stated, EGL USA is the strictest of the EGL labs. Stones graded from Israel are rarely what they are reported to be. It is not uncommon for them to be 1-2 (and sometimes more) color/clarity grades off. So an SI2 could easily be SI3/I1-2. That is not going to be eyeclean, almost assuredly. And at that level, it could very well influence light return/performance.

I would recommend trying again, and if you can''t find any ELG USA stones, go for possibly a smaller stone with a lower color level. G is safe at almost any size, and in a very well cut stone (and cut is key to it''s beauty) you can even go down lower and still have a stone look very white. That will help lower the cost, which will go up by looking at GIA and AGS stones, so it will help balance things out.

 

[Phil34]

Yes, they seem to be EGL Isr. and I''ve heard the warnings, but I figured that for the stones starting at D-E they''d still be ok even if they are 2-3 grades off. No? I guess if they''re way off SI2 it''d be a problem, but I thought I''d have the vendor check on that.

My gf has her heart set on something around 1.5 ct and I''m having a hard time finding something good and non-EGL around that range that is also in my budget ($6k for the stone)

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/10/2009 10:56:30 AM
Author: Phil34
Yes, they seem to be EGL Isr. and I''ve heard the warnings, but I figured that for the stones starting at D-E they''d still be ok even if they are 2-3 grades off. No? I guess if they''re way off SI2 it''d be a problem, but I thought I''d have the vendor check on that.

My gf has her heart set on something around 1.5 ct and I''m having a hard time finding something good and non-EGL around that range that is also in my budget ($6k for the stone)

Right, that part isn''t the problem, as much as the clarity is. I understand your gal wanting size, and to get that, no, you won''t be able to do it with GIA/AGS stones.

If you want to go with one of these, I would recommend taking whatever one you decide on to an idependant appraiser, that is one who does not sell jewelry. They will be the one to give a totally unbiased opinion of the stone.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/10/2009 11:12:58 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/10/2009 10:56:30 AM
Author: Phil34
Yes, they seem to be EGL Isr. and I''ve heard the warnings, but I figured that for the stones starting at D-E they''d still be ok even if they are 2-3 grades off. No? I guess if they''re way off SI2 it''d be a problem, but I thought I''d have the vendor check on that.

My gf has her heart set on something around 1.5 ct and I''m having a hard time finding something good and non-EGL around that range that is also in my budget ($6k for the stone)

Right, that part isn''t the problem, as much as the clarity is. I understand your gal wanting size, and to get that, no, you won''t be able to do it with GIA/AGS stones.

If you want to go with one of these, I would recommend taking whatever one you decide on to an idependant appraiser, that is one who does not sell jewelry. They will be the one to give a totally unbiased opinion of the stone.

Ditto

 

[Phil34]

Thanks. For Abazias at least their FAQ says the following:

"If you would like to view the diamond prior to purchase you may choose from one of our two options. We can send the diamond to an accredited appraiser in your area for appraisal. With this method you are responsible for the examination fees of that appraiser. Should you decide to purchase the diamond we will release it to you for pick up from the appraiser''s office. If you decide not to purchase the diamond you are responsible for the shipping fees of approximately $80; shipping fees vary based on the value of the diamond. Please contact a Diamond Specialist for an exact value."

So, I could do that. Anyone have recommendations for an appraiser in or near Boston?

 

[Lorelei]

You can use this tool at the bottom to find an appraiser in your area, however Jeff Averbrook is in the Boston area I believe, he is a fantastic guy who posts here so if he is closeby I would recommend you contact him.


Jeff Averbook
GG, NAJA, AIN
Metro Jewelry Appraisers
121 Mystic Ave. Suite 2 Rear
Medford, MA 02155
Ph: 781-306-0099
www.metrojewelryappraisers.com


https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx