Help with Brilliance & Knowledge

[KUMA1]

I am looking to get an engagement ring for my GF and am really overloaded with information. We have gone to a few jewelers to try and get a better understanding about color/cut/clarity and how it all comes together for a beautiful diamond. I was looking for a diamond & setting for around 10K. I found a setting that she likes with band on BlueNile but have a hard time with the diamond itself. She wants a diamond that has great brialliance/sparkle. I try and read up and understand all there is about cut/color/clarity and truely do not understand how low I can go and not sacrifice sparkle/brilliance. My undersatnding is that the cut is what reflects the light back out of the diamond so I would guess that part would be important. But when it comes to color and clarity......well that is where I need help. The ring itself is around $2000 so I am looking to spend about 7K-8K on the diamond in the 1.25-1.5 carat rang. Any good suggestions out there? We are simple folks that aren''t diamond experts (obviously) so we do not need to go around with the best of the best (although if I could afford it I would).

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome!

Cut is the most important C for a diamond's beauty, so that is most important!! Colour and clarity, you can drop to a G H I or even J for colour and down to an SI clarity if eyeclean( need to ask the vendor regarding this.)

It is easiest to stick to in house diamonds, that way the vendor can pull the diamond and look at it for you to help judge suitability. Many of the diamonds you see are on the cutting house databases and are known as virtual stones, these have to be called in by a vendor if interest is expressed, with often a charge to the client.

So stick to in house diamonds with available technologies such as Idealscope Images, ASET which help to determine light performance is the easiest way to go. You can contact vendors such as Whiteflash, Good old Gold, James Allen, Wink Jones etc, all of whom have a great rep here - tell them what you are looking for and they will help you to find a great diamond!

Basically, clarity and colour don't dictate a diamond's beauty so much ( unless the diamond is heavily included) the cut and craftmanship is what makes for the sparkle and performance, diamonds which are lower on the scale for colour and clarity with a great cut will look far more beautiful than a D IF which isn't well cut. Also stick to AGS0 and GIA Ex will make finding a lovely diamond easier.

This is a larger diamond, need to ask if eyeclean, beautiful cut.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3351/

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-273574.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2713/

 

[KUMA1]

Lorelei,

Thanks for the feedback. It helps when those who may have a little more hands on knowledge clear a few things up for you. Once again, thanks, especially for the links.

 

[Regular Guy]

Kuma1,

I might like this one, at $7952 wire priced.

See the search by cut db for getting a combination of selection, and advice.

In consideration of size, constraining for a) HCA under 2 (this db will do this for you if you ask only for "excellent), b) F - H, c) VS2 - SI1...none of this is definite, and if anything, it's a little conservative. One came up when I did this. (edited to add...well...there's this one, too but it's helpful additionally when they're verifiably in house, and when a premium like the branding that comes with an ACA is also available for a similar price, I tend to discount other options...but especially since it's both a G and also AGS...I probably shouldn't be so quick).

Regards,

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/6/2007 8:17:10 AM
Author:KUMA1
I am looking to get an engagement ring for my GF and am really overloaded with information. We have gone to a few jewelers to try and get a better understanding about color/cut/clarity and how it all comes together for a beautiful diamond. I was looking for a diamond & setting for around 10K. I found a setting that she likes with band on BlueNile but have a hard time with the diamond itself. She wants a diamond that has great brialliance/sparkle. I try and read up and understand all there is about cut/color/clarity and truely do not understand how low I can go and not sacrifice sparkle/brilliance. My undersatnding is that the cut is what reflects the light back out of the diamond so I would guess that part would be important. But when it comes to color and clarity......well that is where I need help. The ring itself is around $2000 so I am looking to spend about 7K-8K on the diamond in the 1.25-1.5 carat rang. Any good suggestions out there? We are simple folks that aren't diamond experts (obviously) so we do not need to go around with the best of the best (although if I could afford it I would).

Thanks in advance!

Just a word of caution. BN will not sell just a setting, to get it, you must purchase the stone there too.


I personally don't like BN just because they don't give enough info. I would rather buy from one of the vendors listed here. Could you find a similar setting somewhere else?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/6/2007 1:06:50 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 8/6/2007 8:17:10 AM
Author:KUMA1
I am looking to get an engagement ring for my GF and am really overloaded with information. We have gone to a few jewelers to try and get a better understanding about color/cut/clarity and how it all comes together for a beautiful diamond. I was looking for a diamond & setting for around 10K. I found a setting that she likes with band on BlueNile but have a hard time with the diamond itself. She wants a diamond that has great brialliance/sparkle. I try and read up and understand all there is about cut/color/clarity and truely do not understand how low I can go and not sacrifice sparkle/brilliance. My undersatnding is that the cut is what reflects the light back out of the diamond so I would guess that part would be important. But when it comes to color and clarity......well that is where I need help. The ring itself is around $2000 so I am looking to spend about 7K-8K on the diamond in the 1.25-1.5 carat rang. Any good suggestions out there? We are simple folks that aren''t diamond experts (obviously) so we do not need to go around with the best of the best (although if I could afford it I would).

Thanks in advance!

Just a word of caution. BN will not sell just a setting, to get it, you must purchase the stone there too.


I personally don''t like BN just because they don''t give enough info. I would rather buy from one of the vendors listed here. Could you find a similar setting somewhere else?

I didn''t realize that El, thanks for posting that info.

Kumai - you are most welcome!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/6/2007 1:22:55 PM
Author: Lorelei

I didn''t realize that El, thanks for posting that info.

No problemo.