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Help Selecting Princess Cuts

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taking_the_plunge

Rough_Rock
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Jan 25, 2007
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As my screen name would suggest, I''ll be making a major purchase here shortly. Thought I had a decent idea of what I wanted until I started reading some threads on here and realized there was a ton more to learn. Did some more research and have narrowed down what I''m looking for.

Princess Cut - 1.5 - 1.8 carats (but ideally in the 1.65-1.85 range)
VS2 or Higher
G or better

The piece I was overlooking was cut and from doing some reading I''ve realized that''s the most important.

I have picked out several stones below based on my new, albeit still very limited knowledge and wanted to get your opinions.

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&context=&rb_flow_type=&rb_action_type_id=&item_id=AA313424

http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-183717.htm

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&context=&rb_flow_type=&rb_action_type_id=&item_id=AA315011

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&context=&rb_flow_type=&rb_action_type_id=&item_id=AA262570

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-196921.htm

As for my next steps once I select a stone, I plan on asking for idealscope/ACET image as well as Sarin report. Also, plan on having the stone appraised locally.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Thanks Julie, I will take a look. Ideally looking for something VS2 or better in clarity.
 
Thats a very nice stone. On the small end of my range but looks nice. I''ve seen a lot of talk on here about Whiteflash, GOG, Union but never Excel, what is their reputation? I go back and forth to NYC quite a bit so it''s possible I could stop in and visit.
 
Union Diamond: But i'm pretty sure most of their stones are virtual, and I'd rather have it called in by a vendor that will provide Ideal Scope pictures.

Excel has some personality disagreements with Pricescope, but as diamond guys, they're alright. Lots of happy customers with great stones.
 
Hi taking_the_plunge,

If you''re still considering Quest, I posted in my thread about them. Since you''re near NYC (not too far from NoVA), I''d consider asking them to help source your center stone. In my case, I found that jewelers (such as Quest) have more resources than we as consumers do. So, they can help you find exactly what you want and is in your price range.

Just a suggestion.
 
Date: 1/27/2007 8:10:23 PM
Author: taking_the_plunge
Thanks Julie, I will take a look. Ideally looking for something VS2 or better in clarity.
Click to expand...
Just curious? Why do you specify VS2? What is the magic of that designation?

Wink, who thinks cut is THE most important factor.

P.S. This an actual curious question, I am not denegrating your choice in any way, I really want to hear what is in your mind as a consumer.
 
Hi Wink...this is Marian aka risingsun. I spoke with you on Friday about my sapphire. I also have "magic" numbers that matter to me. Mine are G VS2 as my bottom line. Since I joined PS, I've learned that cut is the most important factor in choosing a stone. I watched one of Leonid's videos about how the jewelry industry has given the consumer certain parameters to ask for/expect in their diamonds. It has to do with a level of security/confidence in buying a stone. That concept of "mind clean," that I learned about the forums, is driving this for me. When I first starting looking at a HOF, the jeweler showed me a beautiful stone. When he told me it was an H S11, I immediately went off it. It wasn't any less beautiful--or expensive
6.gif
--but I just didn't feel comfortable anymore. Purely an emotional response
37.gif
 
Thank you! That is a good answer and provides me with a lot of information. I appreciate your response and for understanding the basis of my question.

Wink
 
Wink -

Personally, peace of mind/emotional. I was using this as a starting point for looking at diamonds over the internet. Certainly, seeing a stone makes all the difference and I wouldn't turn down a great SI etc. just b/c of the designation.
 
If you decide to call Quest, there was also an H/SI2 (totally eye clean) that I was considering along with my stone. It was really gorgeous. I saw that you were looking for a G colored stone or better, but the H faced up really white and was very white from the sides as well. I couldn''t tell the difference between a G and the H (and I am a color sensitive person).

I don''t know how color sensitive you and your GF are, but there was an I/SI2 which was totally eye clean and *sparkly* as well. The price was sweet too, which made the decision that much harder. If I wasn''t a color sensitive gal, I totally would have bought the I/SI2. It really *sparkled*!!

BTW - both of these stones were AGS0.
 
Thanks for all your input, I''m going to give a call over to Quest and set up an appointment.

In the meantime, I keep coming back and looking at this stone:

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/46020.html

I have e-mailed excel and asked for cert and scope images.

Should I be concerned about the L/W on this? 6.43x6.34? Seems a little less symmetrical.
 
Date: 1/30/2007 8:39:05 AM
Author: taking_the_plunge

Should I be concerned about the L/W on this? 6.43x6.34? Seems a little less symmetrical.
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no need for concern at all. 1:1.01 it will be very square looking to your eye.
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Date: 1/30/2007 8:58:53 AM
Author: taking_the_plunge
Thanks Belle.

Additionally, I saw this on Excel''s website: http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/28505.html

All the images/scope reports are available. I would post, but not familiar with how to link pictures into my thread.

Any help with interpretting the IS report http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/28505.html# would be appreciated, I''m stil new to this.
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actually, the image looks pretty good. i''m just not a fan of those round tables they put on a square diamond.
40.gif
 
IS photo...





Photos of Diamond...





Cut Analysis Report...


 
I think the IS image looks good -- contrasy black and white, not too much of either. Small table, which some prefer. If you could ask for an ASET image, that could tell you a lot more about the light performance.

I see it's an H/IF -- IMO, it's a bit overkill. I think you could find an H/VS2 for less, and it would not be a noticeable difference, even if you did have a loupe attached to your eye, unless maybe you were Richard Sherwood or Martin Fuller.
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http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-183717.htm# (H/VS2, $10,699 w/ PS discount)
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-78233.htm (H/VS1, $9770 w/ PS discount and KILLER IS image)

A good contender from Quest: http://www.questjewelers.com/diamonds.cfm?cmd=stoneDetails&number=216466&cut=Premium (sorry, no images)
 
I totally agree on the IF being overkill, certainly was more than I was looking for.

Both of the stones you posted are very nice, in fact, I think the 1.655 was listed in my original post in this thread.

Here is the IS for the 1.655:

IS_AGS-7965601.jpg


Here is the IS for the 1.525:

IS_AGS-7608502.jpg


Both seem very symmetrical in image, but to be honest, what else should I be looking for?
 
the idealscope image on the 1.65 looks awesome.

eta: the aset is perfect too!
 
Both have pretty great ASET images...

ASET for 1.655...lots of dispersed red = good light return

/images/site/d_lost.jpg


ASET for 1.525...dispersed blue = scintillation

/images/site/d_lost.jpg
 
I''m guessing this just indicates the need to see stones in person. My first reaction is, "well stone 2 is better b/c of scintillation" but I know that''s a very naive response.

I was originally looking for a slightly larger stone, 1.75 ct. so the 1.655 appeals a little more.

My only other concern was that both seem to have inclusions on the face, but I''m guessing I could call WF and speak to a rep.

When ordering a diamond from WF (or others), who generally sets the stone? As I mentioned before, I know what setting I want, just didn''t know how to make the connection between diamond and setting.

Thanks for everyone''s help. Amazed at how willing folks are to lend a hand and be patient with newcomers.
 
plunge: I wouldn''t worry too much about the inclusions on the table. We''re talking about a couple of pintpoints, and I wasn''t able to ID them on the 40x image. Note that since this is a VS2, you''ll be hard-pressed to see anything with the naked eye. It''s a beauty!

I have a SI princess from WF and it''s totally eye-clean. Using my jewelers loupe, I can only pick up a feather down near a corner (which is great for ID-ing my stone!)

I''m not sure about your setting question. DH bought both my stone and setting from them, so they did it all.

GOOD LUCK!
 
Date: 1/30/2007 10:55:35 AM
Author: taking_the_plunge
I'm guessing this just indicates the need to see stones in person. My first reaction is, 'well stone 2 is better b/c of scintillation' but I know that's a very naive response.

I was originally looking for a slightly larger stone, 1.75 ct. so the 1.655 appeals a little more.

My only other concern was that both seem to have inclusions on the face, but I'm guessing I could call WF and speak to a rep.

When ordering a diamond from WF (or others), who generally sets the stone? As I mentioned before, I know what setting I want, just didn't know how to make the connection between diamond and setting.

Thanks for everyone's help. Amazed at how willing folks are to lend a hand and be patient with newcomers.
Click to expand...
actually blue in the aset image doesn't directly correlate to scintillation. the blue indicates areas of contrast (specific angle) which may enhance the effect of scintillation. both diamonds will have scintillation but the effects may be perceptible in different ways.
here is a good thread showing the differences https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/john-q-follow-up-question-on-princess-aset.56914/

as for inclusions, yes call and ask. they will be perfectly honest about any inclusions.

the best situation for setting the stone would be to have the vendor set it, that way you are covered if anything happens to it.
 
So if you had to pick between the 2 stones, what would your choice be?
 
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