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I am no longer window shopping, I am REALLY shopping!

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mintve

Brilliant_Rock
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A few of my past posts have expressed my attempts to sell my FF on the idea of buying online. its been a hard sell, and he is still not 100% sold, but we have come to a compromise. I will be looking at some B&M here in Atlanta including Shane Co, Solomon Bros and Union Diamond, but I will also be looking for the perfect stone online from WF or GOG. My FF told me that if my dream stone is from an online vendor and we have it sent to an appraiser and it all checks out and I still love it once I see it in person, then we are golden. The only caveat is that if the stone I love is online, he is not comfortable putting down his own money for the initial payment. He said, if I am, then I can pay the wire transfer and if I keep the stone, then he will pay me for it. Despite what I have told his about GOG and WF, he is still very weary of spending that much online. I know its not the most romantic way to buy a stone, but it is our compromise and it enables me to broaden my search for the perfect stone.
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we have a budget of about $7000 total. I would like to reserve $1500-$2000 for a Leon Mege or Mark Morrell solitaire. So, that leaves me about $5000-$5500 give or take a bit for the stone. I am looking for about 1 carat AGS ideal or GIA excellent. I will go down to an SI1 if its eye clean and will go to an I if it faces up nice and white.

I think I will email the folks at WF and Jon at GOG to see if they can help. I will go check out the local B&M this weekend.
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I am sure I will be posting lots of questions about specific stones in the near future. Oh, and if you see any that you think are spectacular and fit tthe bill, please let me know
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thanks diamondseeker!

With the WF ones, is it best to ask them if they are eye clean? I like how GOG has the photos showing the inclusions and when its eye lcean, they specifically say its eye clean.

This is all so exciting ;)
 
Sure, I''d always ask about eye cleaness and what kind of inclusions they are. Some SI1''s are better than others (closer to VS2) so I''d certainly let that help me narrow them down. It certainly is exciting!!! I am so glad he is letting you look with these vendors because we KNOW you can get a fabulous stone this way! If your BF only understood that there are hundreds of us on here who have done it (more than once!) with zero problems! It looks like you''ll be able to get close to 1.10, too!
 
YAY! Way to give him the hard sell!

And hey-I picked out my own diamond and designed the custom setting myself...the only thing my fiance did is pay and propose!
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I got a couple of snide remarks about that not being "romantic" from a coworker/jealous frenemy type, and you know what I told her? I said "Actually, I think it''s very romantic because I''m getting *exactly* what I want!" I meant it, too!
 
Date: 1/1/2008 9:33:26 PM
Author: thing2of2
YAY! Way to give him the hard sell!

And hey-I picked out my own diamond and designed the custom setting myself...the only thing my fiance did is pay and propose!
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I got a couple of snide remarks about that not being ''romantic'' from a coworker/jealous frenemy type, and you know what I told her? I said ''Actually, I think it''s very romantic because I''m getting *exactly* what I want!'' I meant it, too!
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I know what you mean! My BF tells me that none of the wives of his friends are obsessed w/ diamonds like me. but, they did not do theyr research, the accepted what they were given. most of his friends bought from the mall or overpaid at tiffany. Now that I have done my reserach, i do not want settle for anything less than what I will love. its much like my search for him! I knew what I wanted in man and I did not settle on the fist man I found, I kept searching until I found what I was looking for and fell for him :)
 
Date: 1/1/2008 9:55:16 PM
Author: mintve
Date: 1/1/2008 9:33:26 PM
Author: thing2of2

YAY! Way to give him the hard sell!

And hey-I picked out my own diamond and designed the custom setting myself...the only thing my fiance did is pay and propose!
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I got a couple of snide remarks about that not being ''romantic'' from a coworker/jealous frenemy type, and you know what I told her? I said ''Actually, I think it''s very romantic because I''m getting *exactly* what I want!'' I meant it, too!
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I know what you mean! My BF tells me that none of the wives of his friends are obsessed w/ diamonds like me. but, they did not do theyr research, the accepted what they were given. most of his friends bought from the mall or overpaid at tiffany. Now that I have done my reserach, i do not want settle for anything less than what I will love. its much like my search for him! I knew what I wanted in man and I did not settle on the fist man I found, I kept searching until I found what I was looking for and fell for him :)
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So true! Most of us on PS are just not the type to accept what''s given to us-we want the best we can get! (And in the case of diamonds and other material things, we want the best we can get for the best price we can get!)
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Good work on the convincing!
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You may also want to keep your eye on WF''s Expert Selection stones. I bought one and could not be happier. I have heard that they are often stones that juuuust missed the mark for ACA. They are an excellent value; mine looked just like an ACA from the top but had slightly crooked hearts on the bottom. I thought that was a fair (and invisible to the naked eye) trade off!

Here is one that is in your budget, just over 1 ct and an H. Here is another.
 
Mintve,

Congrats.

I can''t seem to get the search by cut db to sort by price...but both Diamondseeker and BigDiamonds look like they''ve presented favorable options.

Further...wanted to say that you may be able to get coordination between your internet vendor and your appraiser...so the diamond is sent, but you make no payment unless you select the diamond...except for your ordinary fees to the appraiser. Just something to consider. From the list under resources at the upper right, I see there''s a couple independent appraisers near you...and so, for example, this guy looks like he might be helpful (though it''s only by the description...I don''t know either of them).

Regards,
 
Date: 1/1/2008 11:05:45 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Mintve,

Congrats.

I can''t seem to get the search by cut db to sort by price...but both Diamondseeker and BigDiamonds look like they''ve presented favorable options.

Further...wanted to say that you may be able to get coordination between your internet vendor and your appraiser...so the diamond is sent, but you make no payment unless you select the diamond...except for your ordinary fees to the appraiser. Just something to consider. From the list under resources at the upper right, I see there''s a couple independent appraisers near you...and so, for example, this guy looks like he might be helpful (though it''s only by the description...I don''t know either of them).

Regards,
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Thanks RegularGuy. I was wondering about that as an option. That would be the most ideal situation! Thanks!
 
All right for finally really shopping. I like the diamonds diamondseeker found for you. I will be excited to see your ring.
 
Date: 1/1/2008 9:08:34 PM
Author: mintve
thanks diamondseeker!

With the WF ones, is it best to ask them if they are eye clean? I like how GOG has the photos showing the inclusions and when its eye lcean, they specifically say its eye clean.

This is all so exciting ;)
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mintve, where are you seeing this info posted on each diamond? I''ve looked at hundreds of diamonds there, and only recall 1 or 2 actually having this stated about them. And I''m assuming that was only because in looking at it, one would assume it definitely wasn''t.
 
Date: 1/2/2008 9:33:10 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/1/2008 9:08:34 PM
Author: mintve
thanks diamondseeker!

With the WF ones, is it best to ask them if they are eye clean? I like how GOG has the photos showing the inclusions and when its eye lcean, they specifically say its eye clean.

This is all so exciting ;)
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mintve, where are you seeing this info posted on each diamond? I''ve looked at hundreds of diamonds there, and only recall 1 or 2 actually having this stated about them. And I''m assuming that was only because in looking at it, one would assume it definitely wasn''t.
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Ellen-

In my experience, it only states its eye clean if it is in fact eye clean. I saw a few stones a few weeks ago that were Si1 and labeled as "eye clean". I do not think they have an eye clean or not eye celan markation on every SI1 stone. I guess that means there are not very many eye clean SI1''s??
 
Date: 1/2/2008 9:48:52 AM
Author: mintve

Ellen-

In my experience, it only states its eye clean if it is in fact eye clean. I saw a few stones a few weeks ago that were Si1 and labeled as ''eye clean''. I do not think they have an eye clean or not eye celan markation on every SI1 stone. I guess that means there are not very many eye clean SI1''s??
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My "guess" would be there are many, if not most, but the ones noted are like the ones I referred to earlier, in that they may appear to the observer as definitely being not. I''ll put in a question to GOG so we can see what''s up. I am curious.
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Date: 1/2/2008 9:48:52 AM
Author: mintve

Date: 1/2/2008 9:33:10 AM
Author: Ellen

mintve, where are you seeing this info posted on each diamond? I''ve looked at hundreds of diamonds there, and only recall 1 or 2 actually having this stated about them. And I''m assuming that was only because in looking at it, one would assume it definitely wasn''t.
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Ellen-

In my experience, it only states its eye clean if it is in fact eye clean. I saw a few stones a few weeks ago that were Si1 and labeled as ''eye clean''. I do not think they have an eye clean or not eye celan markation on every SI1 stone. I guess that means there are not very many eye clean SI1''s??
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Mintve, I think that''s an erroneous guess.

Many folks here have bought SI1 stones from GOG, and most are indeed eyeclean......and the same is true of WF.
 
Date: 1/2/2008 10:11:49 AM
Author: aljdewey

Mintve, I think that''s an erroneous guess.

Many folks here have bought SI1 stones from GOG, and most are indeed eyeclean......and the same is true of WF.
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Agreed.
 
Ellen-

That would be excellent! I would love to find an eye celan SI1. Its good to know there are plenty of them out there!!! THANKS!!!
 
I second the Expert Selection sentiment! I have a FABULOUS stone (if I do say so myself
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) from WF ES. My FI was able to strech his budget a little and I got a gorgeous 1.22ct AGS0 G/SI1 (eyeclean!!) round diamond.

And boy does it SPARKLE! Keep you eye out- I''m sure now that the holidays are over WF and GOG and others will be replenishing their stock with even more beautiful diamonds!!

Good luck!
 
Date: 1/2/2008 10:39:01 AM
Author: mintve
Ellen-

That would be excellent! I would love to find an eye celan SI1. Its good to know there are plenty of them out there!!! THANKS!!!
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No problem, and you''re welcome.

Jon said just about every SI on their site is eyeclean. Why a few have notations is for the reason I guessed at, because when people look at these photomicrographs, they can be a little deceiving, because people will generally look at them and assume they will see what the microscope sees, when in fact that''s not the case 99% of the time.

So when his assistant is putting up the info, he may occasionally make a note on a stone that it is indeed eyeclean, when the pic could possibly lead the observer to believe it wouldn''t be. This does not imply their other SI''s arent eyeclean, and if there is ever a question on clarity or eyecleanliness, don''t hesitate to call, they''ll be happy to give their honest assessment.



And I know from looking at many, many inclusion plots, you simply cannot tell on even the worst looking ones if they are or aren''t eyeclean, they just don''t tell the whole picture. Alj has, I believe several SI2 stones that are totally eyeclean. That''s not to say every one will be, but they are out there.
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So there ya go, happy hunting!
 
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