Help with 1.01 Princess Cut

[datdat]

Hi all,

I have just signed up to this site to try and get some help with my purchase of an engagement ring online. I am based in London , England and am looking at purchasing a ring from a site named 77Diamonds.

I have seen a stone on there with the following spec -

- Princess Cut
- 1.01 Carat
- G colour
- VS2 clarity
- 5.52 - 5.43 - 3.91 measurements
- 72% depth
- 72% table
- Excellent polish, symmetry and cut
- Ratio 1.02

Can anyone tell me if this sounds like a good stone? Does it sound like something of good value and something that would have good sparkle and fire?

The cost for that diamond inc taxes is £3,013.38.

I would appreciate any help, as I am nervous to buy online!

Thanks

David

 

[datdat]

Oh and PS. it has a GIA cert

 

[jet2ks]

Hi datdat, welcome to PS.

With princess and other fancy shapes, the numbers alone are just not enough to make a decision. Numbers can be cause to reject a stone, but not select one, as there are too many other variables with these shapes.

The best way to buy a princess online is to go through a vendor that has photos and ASET images available. Without these images the diamond is just a roll of the dice. GIA does not grade cut for princess, so any description of excellent or ideal for a GIA graded stone is only the vendor's description and they can call it anything they want.

You have a couple other options to find a good princess diamond, as well. Look for AGS graded stones that carry an ideal rating for cut and performance (AGS0)--these will have not only been graded for proportion, but also for perfromance (AGS is the only major lab with princess cut grades). As you are in London, I would also suggest scheduling an appointment with Indira Marchant at www.bestdiamonds.co.uk , who carries Crafted by Infinity princess, which are some of the top performing diamonds anywhere.

 

[datdat]

Thank you very much for your help.

This complicates it for me as I thought I was all set by choosing a GIA Princess cut! Doh!

Ok I will do my best to look for AGS and photos online.

Thanks again!

 

[jet2ks]

GIA is fine, as long as you have access to photos and ASET.

Here are some good sites to get you started--these all post images and ASET images for their in-house diamonds

www.goodoldgold.com

www.whiteflash.com

www.craftedbyinfinity.com (Any of these diamonds can be called in by Dr. Marchant so you don't have the import taxes & fees)

Additionally, these vendors can provide ASET upon request (most limit the number of images to three diamonds per customer)

www.jamesallen.com

www.exceldiamonds.com

www.idjewelryonline.com

www.uniondiamond.com

 

[Aulie]

Looking at the table and depth percentages, which is a good indicator of light reflection, the stone seems to be abnormaly well priced, I would definitely go for it.

Nothing beats looking at the real thing. An ASET description will give an idea but actually looking at the diamond is a much better idea. Some of the online jewellers offer the service to come and see them, so you should ask them if you can view the stone.

 

[datdat]

Thank you all for your views.

I have an appointment to view the stone tonight, as it is located in London which is lucky! If it looks good then I am going to go for it! Fingers crossed.

They are offering a nice setting for around £450 too, platinum , called Delicacy. This is it, what do people think?

http://www.77diamonds.com/classic_rings.html

If you expand the Classic menu, it is the last one along , named Delicacy (1477)

Thanks again!

 

[jet2ks]

The setting is lovely. Very classic and will never be out of style.

When looking at a the diamond in person, make sure to get it out of the display lighting into more realistic everyday situations, such as daylight and fluorescent. A great way to separate a really well cut, top performing stone from an average one is to put them in a low light situation, such as under the counter or a table.

Things to look for in a princess are:

Girdle thickness--ideally the girdle should be in the thin to slightly thick or medium to thick range. If the grading report shows very thin or worse, extremely thin this can make the diamond more prone to chipping, especially if these spots are near the corners. Ask to see the grading report--they should either have the original report or at the very least a photocopy available for you to view.

Patterning--is the pattern of scintillation (sparkle) evenly distributed around the stone, or are there hot spots in some places and other areas that never seem to light up? Tilt the stone back and forth about 15 degrees and see if there are any "dead zones" that never produce a flash of light.

Edge to edge brightness--does it carry the brightness clear out the tips of the corners and the edges? In a poorly cut stone, the center can be bright and the edges a little dull, while a top cut will be more even.

Center brightness--sometimes a poorly to average cut stone will have the opposite of above. The edges will be bright, but the center will not. This often occurs as a ring around the edge of the table. Look at the corners of the table area, if they are not as bright as the rest of the stone, the diamond is not a top performer.

When checking for brightness, this is when the low light area is really helpful. The usual reaction of someone who doesn't buy diamonds frequently is "Oooh, pretty!" You have to get past that stage and evaluate the diamond carefully and dispassionately before spending your hard-earned money.

Hope this helps and best of luck.

 

[datdat]

Thank you so much again for the wonderful help!

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 1/29/2010 11:31:57 AM
Author: datdat
Thank you so much again for the wonderful help!

You are very welcome. Please let us know how everything goes.