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how many stones to look at before deciding?

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allygirl

allygirl

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jul 19, 2006
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Can anyone give me any idea of just how many stones at one time a jeweler will show/get for one to see? I have looked at about 6 so far, I think one of the 6 is the really close to what I am looking for, but am not 100% sure. If the measurements were a little larger....Should I request to see more? Do jewelers generally expect to have to call in more to make a sale?
 
I looked at many in different stores. Somewhere around 20 or so stones to get an idea of what I wanted.

I only looked at 4 superideals, narrowed those down to 2, and made the choice.

I found that the more I looked at stones the more I began to like each one in a different way. If you found a stone that fits the mark, then buy it and be happy. If you have any reservations then keep looking. You do not want to regret the decision, but also do not want "paralysis by analysis".
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you will know it when you see it.
 
I went to a couple local jewelers who carried Ideal cut stones to get an idea for what appealed to my eyes. I didn''t look at the certs for the numbers until after I saw them and chose what I prefered on the angle combo''s. I also wanted to check my tolerance for color and clarity. I knew I wanted an AGS000 stone. I called up my vendor, told him what I wanted and he had a stone that met my specs requirements. I trust his eyes completely and bought the stone...still haven''t seen it myself and may or may not do so before I have it set.
 
Mrssalvo---

Did you see my post ? I saw a lazarre 1.258 g si1. I could hardly see the clouds on the diamond under micro.

it measure 6.88 x 6.94 x 4.30.

That is the one thing holding me back..Many people said it should be 7 at least.
 
Date: 8/19/2006 3:49:19 PM
Author: allygirl
Mrssalvo---


Did you see my post ? I saw a lazarre 1.258 g si1. I could hardly see the clouds on the diamond under micro.


it measure 6.88 x 6.94 x 4.30.


That is the one thing holding me back..Many people said it should be 7 at least.
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it probably is slightly deeper than most folks like to go around here because you do loose a tiny bit of diameter. Do you know the depth %? I would probably have a harder time paying the extra for the branding but if you saw the stone and love it, it could be a winner. you''re wearing a diamond, not a piece of paper
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Mrssalvo---

I do not know the depth. I suppose that would be the key as to whether or not to buy this stone. It is an AGS000, I know that. Would that indicate the depth? SO, you can''t tell if those measurements are decent without the depth??? I''ll have to ask the jeweler again!

They also showed me a beautiful 1.57 but did not have the certificate on hand. They''re working on getting it. I did see the number inscribed on the diamond and the diamond itself looked beautiful (it was not a lazarre though).
 
If it''s and AGS000 i''m sure it''s gorgeous and a winner, it pretty much insure''s you''re not getting a "dog."
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62.2. Depth is not a bad thing. AGS 0 means that the proportions "work," so it is sort of like HCA. Don't get hung up on a number.
 
i don''t necessarily agree you will know when it''s the one...it''s easy to overthink things so that when you might see the one you might not really know it''s the one kinda thing. like wedding dress shopping. anyhow, the stone isn''t too deep, i don''t particularly like stones over 62 but it''s a preference thing because i don''t like losing spread. a 1.25c should be 7mm whereas this one is more like 6.9mm average, so you are losing some visual diameter so it looks a little smaller, but that''s not necessarily a ''bad'' thing. if you LOVED the stone and it''s an AGS0 that''s branded ideal that says something. at least you definitely know it''s not a dog!

in terms of how many to see before deciding, that''s totally personal. i don''t know who would have said 7 is the right #. i think we saw 4-5 when we were looking originally, but since then i have bought a handful of stones and seen a ton more in person, and each one has it''s own different personality. for me it''s what speaks to you that fits certain criteria! good luck!!
 
Julie N--

SO, are you saying that I don''t need to know the depth and I''m pretty safe with this one since it''s an AGS000?
 
Mara--

What I meant by 7 was not to see 7 stones, but that people recommended the measurement being at least 7.

What exactly is a "dog" in diamond terms?

SO, final thoughts?? Is this a good pick or do I need more info first? I really don''t know just how much smaller it will look due to the 6.9...
 
No, I''m saying that certain proportions necessitate a higher depth. And maybe you LIKE /those/ proportions, and not proportions that would make a stone have a 60.5-61.5 depth.
 
oh got it now..ha ha re: the 7. yes this stone faces up a bit smaller but nothing earth shattering.

a dog just means an ugly stone.
 
I thought picking out the setting was going to be tough. The diamond is actually the hard part! I wish that I already had one but then again , I''d have to worry about whether or not the jeweler would set it due to the insurance value. Anyway, thanks for the help!
 
Well when I was looking at stones we went to reputable B & M, and they showed us about 4 stones.....2 that stood out for me. I really didn''t like it because when I was looking in the case I saw some that I was interested in. I knew my stuff and they seemed ok to me. When we met with the person in their little cube she asked us all the questions and went and picked out herself what she thought we would like. It''s an ok system and works great if you don''t really know what your looking for but I found it frustrating, and I didn''t like being able not to compare. We ended up getting our stone from James Allen, who was nice enough to let us stop by and look at the stone that I was interested in online. When we got there he had also pulled another stone for us to look at for comparison purposes, that he thought I would like. Both were really close in size and actually the 2nd one was a bit better in clarity and color than mine, but my hubby and I just like mine better :)
 
I don''t think this can be answered with a numerical answer.

I believe what you''ve seen is really the proper answer. You need to see some woofers, average stones, a variety of clarity grades, a variety of color grades, and a variety of cut grades.

I think it is also wise to look at the ultimate best as well. I think it is very difficult to make the compromises intelligently, unless either you''ve seen it with your eyes, or through that of an expert''s eyes.

Even the ultimate cut grade of stones varies.... such as GIA excellents or even AGS 0 cut grade stones. One needs to understand that some grades are a bit broad in nature. But unless you''ve seen the ultimate best ones, it is darn difficult to assess where the stone that is in one desired budget falls in the general nature of things.

The ability of one''s eyes to factually and accurate see and separate the best from the very best is VITALLY imporant too. Differences that are great differenes to the gemologist''s eyes may not be discernable at all with consumer eyes. In many instances, those who are even in the business, are not able to discern this. I also know a few professionals in the business who DON''T want to see or acknowledge the differences.

As a habit I go into retail jewelry stores, where I am not known, and let salespeople go through their "pitch" with me. Often I am shown some pretty lousy stones, and asked: "Isn''t this a great stone?" Most consumers being asked that question would probably answer "Yes" - or " I don''t know- but if you say so, I guess it is." ( Note: the sales person never says it is, he or she just asks you ( a pretty "clever" sales tactic). Many times it''s the blind leading the blind.

Over the past 26 years that I''ve been doing this, even with wholesalers, I can count on ONE HAND how many times the seller has told me " Knowing your standards, this really isn''t up to what you''d want". 99999.9% of the time, I am told how beautiful the cut of the stone their showing me is, even if in my opinion it sits up on its back paws, and barks at me.

In one of the older PBS specials about diamonds there is a scene filmed that I"ll never forget. In it is the legendary Bill Goldberg and the managing director of Harry Winston''s. Goldberg is being show two D Internally Flawless stones about 20 carats each. One is a pear shape and one is an squarish emerald cut. The Winston director tells Goldberg how perfect the "make" is for both stones. As Goldberg holds each stone in his fingers, each one has a table facet so large, they should have put a RED H with a circle around it.

Hopefully those who are B&M shopping to learn reach retailers that have some integrity in their presentations. Otherwise, you really aren''t seeing the whole picture, or learning well.


So it really isn''t how many you see, it is that you''ve seen enough to be able to discern the differences, and that you''ve been guided properly by an ethical sales person without an agenda.

Rockdoc
 
Date: 8/19/2006 9:48:16 PM
Author: RockDoc

... an ethical sales person without an agenda.


Rockdoc
Click to expand...

Let me know when you find such a creature. I'd like to add a few pieces to my collection and this is the person I'm going to get them from, LOL!

(Not all discounting any of the excellent points you made RockDoc, I just chuckled at this one remark!
21.gif
)
 
Date: 8/19/2006 9:55:29 PM
Author: Dee*Jay

Date: 8/19/2006 9:48:16 PM
Author: RockDoc

... an ethical sales person without an agenda.


Rockdoc
Click to expand...

Let me know when you find such a creature. I''d like to add a few pieces to my collection and this is the person I''m going to get them from, LOL!

(Not all discounting any of the points you made, RockDoc, I just chuckled at this one remark!
21.gif
)
Click to expand...

At the risk of sounding self promoting, you could always take the "Pit Bull" option.


This is the option where you take an expert such as

Neil, Marty, Richard Sherwood, Nancy Stacy, Cynthia Konney, Jeff, Dave Atlas, or me ( sorry if I leave any experts out of the list ) shopping with you.

Granted it will be pricey, but you''ll have a "front view seat" to watch one of us CHEW UP any sales person that earns that distinction. Might even be as entertaining as a Mike Tyson ear biting event. ( Just another note: On one of the trade forums I''ve been known as "FANG")

Maybe I am speaking out of turn for the others, but we love to be taken to the Caribbean or Europe or other such entertaining places .

I''ve read an article that was about two people who did buy some rather pricey jewelry items, and they took their own gemologist with them on these trips.

Even more so, I know I''m pretty ''entertaining'' in court as an expert.

Rockdoc
 
RockDock - I was just laughing at the idea of MOST people who get paid based on sales having any sort of discussion about their product without an *agenda*, LOL.

But as for the "Pit Bull option" -- I'd love to see it in person! Are you busy next week? I'd like to take you with me while I consider a few pieces. Nothing as exotic as you'd prefer I'm afraid; just a stroll through the Wabash Diamond District. Let me know what day is good for you.
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Date: 8/19/2006 10:12:28 PM
Author: Dee*Jay
RockDock - I was just laughing at the idea of MOST people who get paid based on sales having any sort of discussion about their product without an *agenda*, LOL.

But as for the ''Pit Bull option'' -- I''d love to see it in person! Are you busy next week? I''d like to take you with me while I consider a few pieces. Nothing as exotic as you''d prefer I''m afraid; just a stroll through the Wabash Diamond District. Let me know what day is good for you.
9.gif
Click to expand...
On the serious side:

Wabash is in Chicago isn''t it? If so, you could engage the services of Richard Drucker. He has a good reputation, and possibly may be of a good help to you. At least you wouldn''t have the expense of hotel and flight with him, cause he local to there.

Rockdoc
 
Mrssalvo-----

the depth on that stone that we were discussing last night is 62.2% that was the SI1 1.25

the other was vs2 1.26 and was 62.5% depth

the 1.57 was a vs2 and had a depth of 60.5% (I don''t have the measurements yet)

Any more thoughts on these??
 
How much premium are you paying for the Lazare stone? If you don''t mind, what is the price? Lazare stones are cut for beauty. They were pioneers in regards to fine makes. Unless there standards have gone down, you can not go wrong in regards to cut.

As Mara said, the drawback to a deeper stone is that the surface area you see will be diminished. It''s not going to be dramatic with a 62.2 depth. Some may prefer a deeper stone as it gives the stone - well - depth - kinda like an aging wine.

I''d be curious as to all the specs on the 1.52 stone - including price difference. You might be paying about the same as the 1.2 lazare stone. But, the cut of the stone may or may not be as good.
 
The Lazarre was around 9,800 for the 1.26.

The 1.57 is a gvs2 1.573ct ags ideal 0, polish, symmetry, proportion (clearlyan older certificate from AGS). The measurements are 7.49 x 7.54 x 4.36 ...60.7% depth. 14,400
 
Mrssalvo--

I finally have the specifics

table 53.8%
depth 62.2%
crown 15.5%
pav 43.2%

GSI1 1.25 ct

6.88 x 6.94 x 4.30
 
Date: 8/19/2006 1:51:36 PM
Author:allygirl
Can anyone give me any idea of just how many stones at one time a jeweler will show/get for one to see? I have looked at about 6 so far, I think one of the 6 is the really close to what I am looking for, but am not 100% sure. If the measurements were a little larger....Should I request to see more? Do jewelers generally expect to have to call in more to make a sale?
Click to expand...
I don''t know the answer to your question... but I will say that if you''re not 100% sure, don''t buy it! lol
 
Date: 8/19/2006 3:49:19 PM
Author: allygirl
Mrssalvo---

Did you see my post ? I saw a lazarre 1.258 g si1. I could hardly see the clouds on the diamond under micro.

it measure 6.88 x 6.94 x 4.30.

That is the one thing holding me back..Many people said it should be 7 at least.
Click to expand...
six hundredths of a millimeter? or twelve hundredths on the other side?

yeah I''m just as picky but from my objective stance it seems irrelevant... but I''m sure I''d be doing the *same* thing... I have it in my head that I need at least 8mm spread in length (and whatever width) and when I look at anything even 7.99 I think, oh that''s not enough! LOL
<~ dork!!
 
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