Help with diamond choice for newbie

[setell]

Hi,

I''m new to this diamond purchasing thing and I have been trying to jam pack myself with info for the past few days. I got engaged a few days ago and is looking to exchange the ring my fiancee bought me. I have ~3 more weeks till I can still return it for a full refund. I guess one of the good things of buying from a retailer is their return policy if you''re not happy. I guess I''m lucky that my fiancee is totally ok with me returning the ring to get another one that I will love!! In fact he told me to return it as he knew he didn''t get what I wanted. So now my delemma is that I''m trying to find a ring I can gloat day and night over in a extremely tight timeline. I want to get the new ring before returning the current one.

I have looked at White Flash and James Allen. I live in Canada so shipping and duties is a problem but if I order it from JA it appears to be more friendly towards international purchases since I''m not comfortable with White Flash requiring a bank wire for all international orders.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1179509.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1150319.asp

I am trying to stay around ~$2000 USD for the diamond for a princess cut. I prefer ideal cut, VS1, F colour and $1000 for the band. I can''t afford too much more

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 5/7/2009 11:41:18 PM
Author:setell

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1179509.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1150319.asp

Just making the links clickable so it is easier to look at the diamonds.

EDT: From the pics, I am liking the second slightly better than the first. You might want to ask for IdealScope images for both. See what some others think.

 

[stone-cold11]

You are really limiting your scope with such high clarity and colorless grade. I presume that is the present stone''s grade? Maybe you should relax your parameter a bit, go to the G/H range and eye-clean SI1 and get a great cut princess and compare?

Just some suggestions.

 

[Lorelei]

They both have some potential, I would request Idealscope images as Jet suggests. Also if you wanted to work with Whiteflash I can assure you they are completely trustworthy and you can do a bank wire transfer with confidence to them, if of course you prefer not to then thats fine but I just wanted to let you know you could do so safely if you wished.

 

[setell]

Thanks for the suggestions. I requested the ideal scope images from JA and I should get it by Monday. I’m just learning about these images and hopefully I’ll figure it out sort of by then or else I will need to depend on you guys since I think I got a lot to learn. Thank god I got a degree in chemistry or else all these optical/refraction talk will be way over my head!!!

Stone-cold11, I know I’m limiting myself but my current stone is a VS2 where I can see the cloudiness with my naked eye near 2 of the prongs and I prefer to not be able to see it. My current diamond is a 0.55 carat round diamond with very good cut, F colour and VS2. I want to at least get myself a diamond where I can’t see the faults with my naked eye. I guess I’m a bit paranoid now that I’ve seen the flaw in a VS2. I do have to say though, considering my fiancée didn’t do research at all and bought the current ring at a B&M store it’s not bad (other than the insanely high price). I went to another store yesterday and some of the stones they have in stock are just terrible and the price they charge!!! I do want to stick to a F colour though as I like the current stones colour but I have been looking at G’s too but diamond size isn’t an issue with me. I will be content with a 0.55 carat too.

 

[jet2ks]

setell, is your current stone GIA or AGS certified? That would explain a lot, if the F VS2 rating is just from the jewler or from a less respected lab, the grades could easily be 2 or more grades off. Inclusions in a true VS2 should not visible with the naked eye.

 

[setell]

I just dug out the appraisal from my fiancee and it is from GS Laboratories and not GIA or AGS

No wonder I was wondering how you guys were ok with S1 when I saw stuff in VS2!!! I guess my current stone may not be a VS2. ''sigh'' quite disappointed right now. Guess I''ll expand my search and include VS2 then!!

I have been doing research online this weekend and have truly fallen in love with the cushion instead of the princess cut! A cushion is so beautiful! I wish I had a bigger budget to work with but I will be happy with what I can afford. It''s also a great shape since my fiancee hates the pointiness of a princess but he likes the cushion too! A shape we both like!!

What do you guys think of the cushions that JA has? I have looked at GoG, WF and others but not many has my budget and size which is min. 0.55 carat. I am going to request ideal scope images first thing tomorrow morning from JA. Thanks

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

 

[jet2ks]

I don't know enough about cushions to really comment on the finer points of your selections, but just wanted to suggest that you call Jon at GOG. He is highly respected on PS for his ability to find great cushions, and I just love his new chunky signature cushions. Just tell him a size and budget and turn him loose.

EDT: Keep in mind that there is a wide variation in cushion shape and appearance. Square or rectangular, some are more rounded or "pillowy", different faceting patterns. You will need to figure out what look you prefer. Here is a link with GOG's signature cushions if you want to see a chunkier look

http://www.vimeo.com/4383172

 

[Lorelei]

The 4th one from James Allen might be worth getting an Idealscope image for, but to be honest I am not loving any of those. Definitely second Jetskis with the GOG cushion suggestion.