Help with comparing 2 diamonds

[diamondnewbieky]

Diamond newbie here and wanted to get some opinions on a couple engagement diamonds from a local jeweler that we looked at this weekend (We saw both diamonds in person and she really liked both of them):

1) 1.14ct G/SI2 (GIA Excellent, Excellent, Excellent) Round ~$8,400
2) 1.51ct cushion cut, IF, H. No AGA or GIA certification but accompanied by " IJO exclusive certification" ~ $9,200
Is there any other options to get the cushion cut appraised to make sure the diamond is worth what we pay for it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Niel]

Diamond newbie here and wanted to get some opinions on a couple engagement diamonds from a local jeweler that we looked at this weekend (We saw both diamonds in person and she really liked both of them):

1) 1.14ct G/SI2 (GIA Excellent, Excellent, Excellent) Round ~$8,400
2) 1.51ct cushion cut, IF, H. No AGA or GIA certification but accompanied by " IJO exclusive certification" ~ $9,200
Is there any other options to get the cushion cut appraised to make sure the diamond is worth what we pay for it?

Thanks in advance!

I cant comment. For the round we would want the angles from the GIA cert.
For the cushion, the info provides no info on the cut. I have no idea what an ijo cert is which makes me believe its not worth much.

If I had to choose from the info you provided it would be the round as it comes with the gia cert, and the cushion is really a question mark

 

[diamondnewbieky]

Sorry for the lack of information - I will get all the detailed information for the GIA certified diamond.

 

[tyty333]

Ditto what Niel said...

Hi diamondnewbieky,

You havent given us enough information to get you an opinion.

You can run the round stone through the HCA tool here...
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

and for the cushion, we need pictures and aset images. Also, you really need to stick to GIA or AGS graded stones. Other grades
are lenient and you may not be getting what you are paying for.

tyty333

 

[Niel]

Sorry for the lack of information - I will get all the detailed information for the GIA certified diamond.

Don't be sorry.

When you're first starting of, it's easy to glaze over the certs and the details of the cut, as I mean, that's only one of the four Cs, so how important could it be?

But the more you read the more you learn that cut is a very important part.

 

[tyty333]

BTW, are these US prices? Because from what I am seeing on James Allen that round is over priced.

Edit...and the cushion looks like it is priced to low to be an H/IF 1.5 so it probably isn't compared to AGS and GIA.

 

[diamondnewbieky]

Yeah those are the starting prices in U.S. dollars

If she really liked the cushion is getting a diamond appraised worth anything or should we just set our eyes on a GIA or AGA certified diamond?

Thanks for all your help and responses, this is a new process for me!

 

[Niel]

Yeah those are the starting prices in U.S. dollars

If she really liked the cushion is getting a diamond appraised worth anything or should we just set our eyes on a GIA or AGA certified diamond?

Thanks for all your help and responses, this is a new process for me!

A round and a cushion are very different looks. Which did she prefer?

And personally I'd probably not bother with getting a cert. You can get a nice cushion from call sorts of vendors, and will provide performance information. I'd do that over sending a stone to get a cert.

Eta* unless for some reason there was something unique or special about that ring.

 

[diamondnewbieky]

Today was actually the first time that she looked at the cushion cut diamond. She liked the uniqueness of the diamond and probably because it was much larger in size.

For what it is worth, here is the organization that the "certification" for the cushion cut would come with... http://www.ijo.com/content.asp?pl=1&contentid=32

Also, when dealing with local jewelers how much are diamonds typically marked up? What would you guess percentage wise you could usually negotiate off?

Thanks

 

[Niel]

Today was actually the first time that she looked at the cushion cut diamond. She liked the uniqueness of the diamond and probably because it was much larger in size.

For what it is worth, here is the organization that the "certification" for the cushion cut would come with... http://www.ijo.com/content.asp?pl=1&contentid=32

Also, when dealing with local jewelers how much are diamonds typically marked up? What would you guess percentage wise you could usually negotiate off?

Thanks

Every jeweler is different. Its hard to say.