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Help with choosing a diamond between these 2- First time buying

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firstrock

Rough_Rock
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Jun 16, 2008
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DH wants to buy me a diamond for our 5th anniversary. I have been reading all and every post on pricescope and finally came down to 2 stones I liked.

Our budget is around

3k(stone+setting) and I am looking into 0.70 to 0.74 for that range. I want a simple band. I might get a wedding band a little later on. I have a yellow gold setting now and am looking into platinum with a 4 prong setting.

I finally decided on ordering from jamesallen.com

Which one do you guys think is better?
Choice 1 - E SI1 0.74 CT
Choice 2 - G VS2 0.74 CT

The only issue with the second one is it''s almost close to $3700 which is teeny bit over what I want to spend.
I read form pricescope that SI1 is not bad because you still cannot see the inclusions.

thanks so so much.
 
The links that you provided aren't showing any diamonds
33.gif
 
Very strange. Those links are taking me to the ring and the setting. Let me try again



Here are the links again

G VS2 0.74

E SI1 0.74
 
Date: 6/16/2008 1:10:01 PM
Author: firstrock
Very strange. Those links are taking me to the ring and the setting. Let me try again



Here are the links again

G VS2 0.74

E SI1 0.74
Click to expand...
Welcome firstrock!

Unfortunately, I would advise passing on both of these. They are both cut deep which means they may look small for their weight, but also they are what we call steep deeps. This means the crown and pavilion angles may not be a good combo being steep and deep, and as a result the diamonds can look dark and leak light - leading to less sparkle. If you like, we could perhaps find some alternatives for you from James Allen? Can you give us more info on your colour and clarity preferences, budget for diamond and setting, and carat weight you would like please?

SI clarity can be an excellent choice, you just need to check with the vendor that the diamond is eyeclean to your specifications. A good vendor such as James Allen will be able to advise.
 
Thanks so much. See I knew I should post here :). I picked James Allen because I read so many good things, liked their search feature and was able to find thing in my budget.

My budget is around 3000 (not to exceed $3500). I am looking for osmething around 0.70 to 0.75 carat size.

Color and clarity. Well here is the story. I almost picked out a 0.50 carat platinum knife edge ring from costco for 2200 including tax. Theys aid it had a color of I or better and quality of VS2 or better. However, I have to spend 200 more on getting it from size 7 to size 5 and also i didn''t know about JA at that time.

So after reading lot of pricescope threads I gathered I can come down on my clarity till SI2 but should keep the color in D to H range. SO that''s what I am thinking. let me know if I am wrong. I am open to any suggestions you guys can offer. Also, i went to a jeweler and she suggested I not go below G for color since it''s a ring and not ear rings:).

Budget: 3k
Setting: platinum 4 prong (seems 4-prong is little less than 6 prong)
Color - D to H
Clarity - nothing below SI2 or even SI1 (if i can find something)
 
This one looks nice:

.722, F, SI1 AGS Ideal $2701 wire

ETA: With a platinum 4 or 6 prong (they're both the same price, so you can choose which you prefer), it'd put you slightly over budget at ~$3300:

6-Prong Tiffany Platinum
 
Hi EBree,

Thanks for your suggestions. The cuts for the one you showed is good? I know teeny bit about color and clarity but not totally about the cut :)
 

Ebree thats a stunner!!!!


FR, your requirements sound fine, just a thought, there are many happy PSers who have even I and J colour diamonds which are plenty white for them, maybe if you get out to view some diamonds in person, you could try to see these colour grades in person. Make sure if so, that the diamonds are similarly lab graded ( GIA or AGS), similar size, shape and cut quality to get a truer picture.

 
Date: 6/16/2008 1:27:03 PM
Author: firstrock
Hi EBree,

Thanks for your suggestions. The cuts for the one you showed is good? I know teeny bit about color and clarity but not totally about the cut :)
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FR, that is a gorgeous diamond Ebree posted, the cut is excellent - no worries!
 
now i have to read more about whiteflash :).
 
So I see that White Flash has a category called "A cut above". Can I get something there from my price range by going down a bit on color and clarity.

also do they give PS discount?
 
Date: 6/16/2008 2:06:06 PM
Author: firstrock
So I see that White Flash has a category called ''A cut above''. Can I get something there from my price range by going down a bit on color and clarity.

also do they give PS discount?
Click to expand...
Yes, here are some examples. The PS discount you obtain by paying by bank wire, so you would need to check with WF regarding the discounted price.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636721.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636723.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-912911.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-912930.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-912931.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-912922.htm#

Quite a few to be going on with!!
 
The link to H is same as the I.
 
damn it. I am soo not working right today am i :). I am probably just blinded by the bling I see on this site ;)

Here is the link

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-912922.htm
 
Alright, the first stone is a little bit of a shallow pavilion, combined with the painting...hmm. Not sure. Ask WF what the Light Performance grade was...it doesn't look too bad, though.

The I...ask WF to check if the IS and ASET really belong to that stone. It seems a bit leakier than the angles suggest, and Sarin says PA ranges from 40.8 to 40.9, but there is green in the table reflection, so it's possible that the images don't belong to that stone.

The H is nice. Is it eye-clean?
 
Date: 6/16/2008 2:59:30 PM
Author: JulieN






Alright, the first stone is a little bit of a shallow pavilion, combined with the painting...hmm. Not sure. Ask WF what the Light Performance grade was...it doesn't look too bad, though.

The I...ask WF to check if the IS and ASET really belong to that stone. It seems a bit leakier than the angles suggest, and Sarin says PA ranges from 40.8 to 40.9, but there is green in the table reflection, so it's possible that the images don't belong to that stone.

The H is nice. Is it eye-clean?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't have thought there would be any issue with the F SI diamond, it looks to be a stunning diamond with an excellent cut to me. I would think that the very slightly shallow PA is fine in this case, and also WF wouldn't have any diamonds in ES with undesirable visual properties from any painting that may have been done.
1.gif


FR - the H also looks to be a lovely diamond!
 
I have some stone''s I think will be great for you:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1177481.asp $2,940 PS price, looks eye-clean (need to confirm), ask for Idealscope and Sarin report, you''ll have all the info you''ll need

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1177475.asp $3,190 PS prices, looks eye-clean (ditto all the rest), this stone will get you much more spread for your $$$$.

I''ve purchased from both JamesAllen and WF and am happy with both. I recommend buying H or I color stones that are ideal because they face up completely white and there is really no hint of yellow noticeable from side viewing when set. BTW, I got my fiance a 1.5 carat Ideal cut I-SI from jamesallen. SUPER HAPPY! :D
 
Looks like H or I is good choices too. Is SI2 too bad to pick? I saw an SI2 in a B&M store and i couldn''t see the inclusions for the life of me :)
 
Joe, the issue with the rings you suggested (they are lovely though) is they bring the total close to 4k with a platinum bad. I actually went form a 2k budget to 3k ;). I really don''t want to push it to 4k :p
 
Date: 6/16/2008 3:22:24 PM
Author: firstrock
Looks like H or I is good choices too. Is SI2 too bad to pick? I saw an SI2 in a B&M store and i couldn't see the inclusions for the life of me :)
Click to expand...
SI2 can be an excellent choice if the cut is good, as some are indeed eyeclean, you just need a trusted vendor to advise you if the SI2 in question is eyeclean to your standards. SI clarities are not created equal and each need evaluating for 'eyecleanliness' individually by a vendor who can actually see the diamond.
 
I will ask WF about the H diamond - to see if it''s eye-clean. from the idealscope image they provided of the diamond, I can see some inclusions to the left of the diamond.

It''s def. a good piece in my budget range :) and sinc eyou guys said cut is good too I am feeling comfortable a bit.
 
I found this link in another thread.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1047604.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

is that a good cut
 
Date: 6/16/2008 3:28:22 PM
Author: firstrock
I will ask WF about the H diamond - to see if it's eye-clean. from the idealscope image they provided of the diamond, I can see some inclusions to the left of the diamond.

It's def. a good piece in my budget range :) and sinc eyou guys said cut is good too I am feeling comfortable a bit.
Click to expand...
The pics are greatly magnified, so there is a decent chance it will be eyeclean, also you can't judge a diamond in reality from these images. But WF are very used to dealing with advising clients on whether a diamond is eyeclean to their requirements or not, and will be able to advise you whether this diamond is eyeclean and therefore suitable for you.

The diamond from JA you linked above could be a nice diamond if eyeclean, JA will be able to tell you if it is or not.
 
I don''t think that E-SI2 is eye-clean. There is a huge inclusion under the table that is not clear.
 
Date: 6/16/2008 4:22:55 PM
Author: JoeNewbie11
I don''t think that E-SI2 is eye-clean. There is a huge inclusion under the table that is not clear.
Click to expand...
You really can''t tell by these images Joe, JA will be able to advise if the diamond is eyeclean or isn''t, as to assume a diamond won''t be eyeclean from these images may mean you could miss out on a potentially gorgeous diamond, so it is always best to check with a vendor who has the diamond in hand.
 
Date: 6/16/2008 4:22:55 PM
Author: JoeNewbie11
I don't think that E-SI2 is eye-clean. There is a huge inclusion under the table that is not clear.
Click to expand...
i dont know that i'd trust the whole eye clean thing. id go VS2 and not worry about it imho. shouldnt be any possibility at that grade...as long as GIA or AGS. SI1 might work, but if that inclusion doesnt look good i wouldnt get it.

id also go F or G in color. also look at the diameter measurements, its actually going to be more important than carat b/c some diamonds hide their weight in the bottom or undesirable places.

these are just my recommendations, im not a gemologist or i dont know as much as some of these folks.

there's a cut calculator on the gemappraisers site that is helpful as well. so you might want to plug in percentages and see how well the diamond is cut. i wouldnt obsess over the cut but i'd try to get close to the suggested ranges for good cuts. if its cut well it will reflect light and sparkle so the cut is important, prob more important than the other c's.

Good luck!
 
Again,

thank you guys. I have been emailing back and forth with WF.

here is the response i got for the H diamond. i asked them if it was eye clean. here is the diamond

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Diamond_Details.aspx?idno=912922

"Eye-clean depends on whose eyes you are using. In this case we do not
use my eyes. The diamond is eye-clean to me but we have a young lady in
our office that has very good eyesight that can see a light inclusion in
the diamond up close (8") from her eyes. There are no dark or black
inclusions in the diamond and she said it is eye-clean at the usual 19"
when looking at it."
 
wow, 19" is the usual? that's more than fingertip to elbow for me. 19" sounds acceptable, though.

what did they say about the images on the I?
 
I am waiting for their response on I. I didn''t ask them about that stone earlier.

What is usual then? sorry, i don''t know much about the usual distance :)
 
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