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About2ask

About2ask

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
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52
Hey everyone! My name is Patrick and I have just started to look at rings for my girlfriend of 3 years. I don''t plan on doing any proposing until Spring, maybe. Of course I want to get her the best I possibly could afford (+/- $5,000). She is a classic woman with great taste, and she comes from a wealthy family. I have been doing my research and "The Leo" caught my eye (because of course, the Kay salesperson). As much as they say that it is the "best diamond on the market," the reviews on here seem to say otherwise. What are your thoughts on this one? ...

[could you please go to this site: http://theleodiamond.com/Diamonds.asp and type # 753745]

This diamond is priced at $6200. In the beginning of December, Kay is having a sale of 13% (do they have these sales all the time?) off all Leo''s which would bring this down significantly. I haven''t been anywhere else because I am afraid of having the local jeweler over-price me (or are they good about that?). Any advice will be awesome! Thanks you guys!

For those that cannot visit the site, here are a few specs:

Shape/Cut: Round Mod. Brill.Cut
Measurement: 6.35-6.42 x 3.93
Weight: .99
Color: G
Clarity: SI(2)
Polish/Symmetry: Very Good/Good
Treatment: None
 
Hi and welcome to pricescope! I love your screen name. About Leos...

I had a deposit on one but got it back when I realized it wasn;t quite what I wanted. Leo diamonds tend to be cut deeper, and face up smaller than other diamonds. I know the ones I looked at did anyway, but I''m not sure about yours and it''s measurements. Probably someone will chime in. The symmetry only being "good" would bother me though. Leos have extra facets, and the sales pitch is that they sparkle more because of that. In reality, they don''t sparkle more, they just have a different kind of sparkle. The flashes of light you get from a Leo are smaller, like pin-point fire. The flashes you get from a great hearts and arrows diamond are bigger. Hearts and arrows diamonds don''t have any extra facets, they take the regular facets and perfect them, so you get beautiful patterning and great light return. Personally, I much prefer a classic hearts and arrows over the Leo. I wouldn''t openly criticize anyone''s Leo diamond if they were happy with it, but I would surely not call them the best diamonds on the market either. Have you looked into Hearts and Arrows at all?
 
And here is a page with several similar options. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-906726.htm

I had my so-so cut diamond recut into an AGS Ideal by this company and they are wonderful!!!!!! I can't recommend them enough! I'll post a picture of my diamond for reference.

EDIT: I just realized the page I linked wasn't the right one. But you can go to the website and do a search. There are also several other great vendors that come highly recommended here. This is just the only one I've dealt with and they are wonderful all around.

arrows5abc.JPG
 
Also, my diamond is an H, borderline I. If you get a diamond with a really great cut, the lower colors will look absolutely white and that can save you some money! Sorry for the overload of info, hope this was helpful!
 
Wow, thank you Kelli for all of that information. The only, and I mean only, thing keeping me from getting a diamond online is the fact that I cannot physically see the diamond before purchase. Is there a way I could see it if I could ship it to a certain store?

Oh, and what about financing or warranty? I am still in college so I don't have that kind of cash, I'd need to finance or open a new account.
 
Date: 11/20/2008 2:19:13 AM
Author: About2ask
Wow, thank you Kelli for all of that information. The only, and I mean only, thing keeping me from getting a diamond online is the fact that I cannot physically see the diamond before purchase. Is there a way I could see it if I could ship it to a certain store?

Oh, and what about financing or warranty? I am still in college so I don't have that kind of cash, I'd need to finance or open a new account.
Click to expand...
Welcome!

You could certainly have a diamond shipped to an appraiser near you if you were purchasing online so you could see if beforehand. Here is a tool that you can use to find an appraiser in your area.

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx
 
Date: 11/20/2008 2:19:13 AM
Author: About2ask
Wow, thank you Kelli for all of that information. The only, and I mean only, thing keeping me from getting a diamond online is the fact that I cannot physically see the diamond before purchase. Is there a way I could see it if I could ship it to a certain store?

Oh, and what about financing or warranty? I am still in college so I don''t have that kind of cash, I''d need to finance or open a new account.
Click to expand...
I totally understand where you''re coming from. But to be quite honest, if you were to go with an ACA from WF or a hearts and arrows from GoodOldGold (or another very reliable vendor) you really don''t need to worry about seeing it first, as they''ve already been selected as outstanding performers. Go to some jewelry stores and check out some Hearts on Fire diamonds. They are VERY comparable to ACA''s and other hearts and arrows stones, but they have a HUGE premium that you won''t pay online. If you double check that it''s eye-clean to your standards and make sure you find out your comfort level with color, you''re good to go. You also have a return policy so you can return it if you don''t like what you see, and to be honest I can''t think of any instances where where people weren''t satisfied with their round ACAs or AGS-0s, unless it was an eye-clean issue. As Lorelei said though, even if you must see it first, it is definitely worth sending to a local appraiser. I think you''ll be more than satisfied!
 
Date: 11/20/2008 11:42:22 AM
Author: Kelli

Date: 11/20/2008 1:59:52 AM
Author: swingirl
And if you can drop down a bit in color here is something to consider.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1445153.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4763/

Kelli, your stone is gorgeous!!!

I don''t think there are too many happy owners of the Leo stone on PS.
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Thanks swingirl! Love these stones you posted:)
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Ditto! Kelli - I have to say it again also, your diamond is stunning!
 
Date: 11/20/2008 2:48:48 AM
Author: Lorelei
Date: 11/20/2008 2:19:13 AM

Author: About2ask

Wow, thank you Kelli for all of that information. The only, and I mean only, thing keeping me from getting a diamond online is the fact that I cannot physically see the diamond before purchase. Is there a way I could see it if I could ship it to a certain store?


Oh, and what about financing or warranty? I am still in college so I don''t have that kind of cash, I''d need to finance or open a new account.
Click to expand...

Welcome!


You could certainly have a diamond shipped to an appraiser near you if you were purchasing online so you could see if beforehand. Here is a tool that you can use to find an appraiser in your area.


https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx
Click to expand...

This is a great option as the cost savings from buying online is considerable and so is important if you are just starting out!
 
Thanks again Lorelei!
9.gif
I''ve had it for a while now but I still can''t resist posting it every chance I get. I''m just so happy with it!
1.gif
 
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