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Hoping To Avoid Buyer's Remorse, Please Help!

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ShinySparklyMagpie

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 5, 2018
Messages
10
So glad to have found this site before I go through with the purchase of a ring I have in mind. Would much appreciate your advice! The little I know about buying diamonds comes from what I've learned/read over the last couple of weeks.

I have a particular diamond in mind, but I ran the HCA score on it this evening and it scored badly: 5.6 indicating the following: Light Return: Good, Fire: Fair, Scintillation: Fair and Spread: Very Good.

The diamond is 3.01 Carat, Color F, Clarity SI1 . It measures 9.10 - 9.19 x 5.72 mm

The GIA report shows: Cut Grade: Excellent, Polish: Excellent, Symmetry: Very Good, Fluorescence: Faint

From the info I've read online, it appears the table is a bit wider than what is normally preferred. I've attached a graph of the diamond from the GIA report and two photos. The larger diamond seen on the pinky finger in the photos below is the 3.01 diamond I'm considering purchasing. The other ring was a setting I was considering. The setting will probably be very similar but slightly bigger/better quality diamonds in the band. I took these photos with my cell phone and the clarity seems to have been greatly reduced when I uploaded them.

I'm worried about purchasing this diamond after seeing the HCA report. It comes across bright in person, but I'm not sure it has enough fire/scintillation. I didn't have another similar size diamond to compare it to. Should I wait for a better diamond?

Not sure if it's okay to post the price here, but it compared similarly (and in some cases a bit better) to the prices I've seen online at the large online retailers for a similar Size, Cut, Color, Clarity, ring. The jewelry store where I would be purchasing it is a well-established store, been here for 30+ years and has excellent reviews online.

Appreciate your thoughts since I'm a complete newbie at this diamond shopping business, and frankly terrified of making a big mistake.

Report.JPG Diamond.jpg ring.jpg
 
I am sure we can find you better. What is your budget and preferred parameters? What are they charging you for this not great example?
 
Hi Magpie and welcome!

This is a commercial cut stone, nothing wrong with that unless you want the best cut you can get, people have different priorities but you'll find the proportions of this stone won't find favour here with those who prioritise cut quality.

The table size is not a huge issue, the biggest potential fly in the ointment is the pavilion angle, but we can't get the whole picture of how much of an issue it is just with the proportions on the report and we can't reliably judge from a photo unfortunately.

Are you decided you're definitely buying from this jeweller or are you open to buying online at all?
 
foxinsox said:
I am sure we can find you better. What is your budget and preferred parameters? What are they charging you for this not great example?
Click to expand...

I would like a 3 carat stone (larger is okay) D, E or F color, SI1 or higher clarity, either none or faint fluorescence and triple ex for cut, polish, and symmetry.
I'm trying to stay under $50,000 for the ring in total, so probably need to stay around 42-45,000 for the diamond, although I could probably stretch that a bit, if necessary.
This diamond is $44,800.
Last night I did a search here and found these possible candidates: https://bit.ly/2JfTm8j but not familiar with any of those particular jewelers. Appreciate any suggestions! I had hoped to purchase locally in case anything ever happened and the ring needed servicing, but maybe I shouldn't worry about that?
 
Lorelei said:
Hi Magpie and welcome!

This is a commercial cut stone, nothing wrong with that unless you want the best cut you can get, people have different priorities but you'll find the proportions of this stone won't find favour here with those who prioritise cut quality.

The table size is not a huge issue, the biggest potential fly in the ointment is the pavilion angle, but we can't get the whole picture of how much of an issue it is just with the proportions on the report and we can't reliably judge from a photo unfortunately.

Are you decided you're definitely buying from this jeweller or are you open to buying online at all?
Click to expand...

I definitely would like the best cut I can get. Didn't realize this was a badly cut stone since the GIA report showed Excellent for cut. I'm learning that you can't just go by the report...wish it was that easy.
The stone is eye clean. It's also nice and bright, which I do love, but not sure it has enough internal fire/sparkle.
 
The pavilion angle has a lot to do with the lack of sparkle you're seeing

Are you set on the color for any particular reason? You can get much better value dropping a bit to maybe a G without any real noticeable difference in color.

I wouldn't worry about purchasing locally - in fact most here would recommend not doing so because of the limited selection, lack of ASET/IS images, and the great reputation many of the online vendors recommended here have.
 
Lorelei said:
Hi Magpie and welcome!

This is a commercial cut stone, nothing wrong with that unless you want the best cut you can get, people have different priorities but you'll find the proportions of this stone won't find favour here with those who prioritise cut quality.

The table size is not a huge issue, the biggest potential fly in the ointment is the pavilion angle, but we can't get the whole picture of how much of an issue it is just with the proportions on the report and we can't reliably judge from a photo unfortunately.

Are you decided you're definitely buying from this jeweller or are you open to buying online at all?
Click to expand...

Oh, and I don't have to buy only from this jeweler. I did like the fact that they were local in case the ring ever needed servicing...and just for having it checked periodically. Purchasing online is a little scary, but I'm not totally closed off to that.
 
michael1601999 said:
The pavilion angle has a lot to do with the lack of sparkle you're seeing

Are you set on the color for any particular reason? You can get much better value dropping a bit to maybe a G without any real noticeable difference in color.

I wouldn't worry about purchasing locally - in fact most here would recommend not doing so because of the limited selection, lack of ASET/IS images, and the great reputation many of the online vendors recommended here have.
Click to expand...

I kinda got hung up on the D, E and F color after looking at a diamond in Tiffany & Co. The ones in my price range there were the lowest color they carry (an I) and I was not happy with how dark they were, even when we walked outside into the mall to look at the diamond underneath a skylight. It did have fire, though...and lots of sparkle...just a dark-looking diamond overall. That's when I started thinking I needed something in the top colorless range...D, E, F and started shopping elsewhere.
 
If you're willing to go to a G here are three contenders:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3719768

I know there's a lot going on with the picture but they're small and won't be seen by the naked eye. You get JA to have a gemologist inspect it to confirm its eye clean and the the clouds don't affect the clarity.
If you like it put it on hold and ask JA to provide you with ASET/Idealscope images as well to confirm

There's also this option from GOG:
https://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond...IA--SI1-diamond-stock-RB26212-cert-1273571324
They'll get you anything you need in terms of images and inspections

Finally here's a nice one from WF:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3959414.htm?source=pricescope
This one will give you a very different look with the smaller table you'll have fatter arrows than the other two
 
experts correct me if I'm wrong but "Darkness" shouldn't be attributable to color but rather cut. If it looks yellow that's one thing (although face up a well cut I stone will not look yellow). a G stone should show none of that whatsoever. So unless you absolutely positively need to have an "icy white" diamond at all possible lighting and angles you might find a lot more value down a few color grades with a great cut stone.
 
michael1601999 said:
If you're willing to go to a G here are three contenders:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3719768

I know there's a lot going on with the picture but they're small and won't be seen by the naked eye. You get JA to have a gemologist inspect it to confirm its eye clean and the the clouds don't affect the clarity.
If you like it put it on hold and ask JA to provide you with ASET/Idealscope images as well to confirm

There's also this option from GOG:
https://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond...IA--SI1-diamond-stock-RB26212-cert-1273571324
They'll get you anything you need in terms of images and inspections

Finally here's a nice one from WF:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3959414.htm?source=pricescope
This one will give you a very different look with the smaller table you'll have fatter arrows than the other two
Click to expand...

Thank you for those links, I will look at those!
 
michael1601999 said:
experts correct me if I'm wrong but "Darkness" shouldn't be attributable to color but rather cut. If it looks yellow that's one thing (although face up a well cut I stone will not look yellow). a G stone should show none of that whatsoever. So unless you absolutely positively need to have an "icy white" diamond at all possible lighting and angles you might find a lot more value down a few color grades with a great cut stone.
Click to expand...

That makes sense since I know that the color difference is the yellow/brown look you see down the color scale. I wonder what makes some diamonds appear more icy-white than others. I have to admit, I am somewhat attracted to that look...not sure why.
 
Just an update to let everyone know I decided against the diamond I had been considering due to the poor HCA score and the information you provided here about the pavilion angle. This has really been a learning experience.
Thanks again for your help with this, I feel I've made the right decision and will wait to purchase a better cut diamond.
 
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