I need advice-am buying the diamond tomorrow. Help, PLEASE.

[detta]

I have sent for a few diamonds and need to make my decision before they send them back tomorrow. I suppose I could get them back, however I have found this whole search exhausting and would really like to be done AND have a ring I love!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!

Stone 1:
emerald 6.38 x 8.32 x 4.43
carat 2.13
cut premium
color g
vs1
length/width ratio: 1.3 ( I didn''t mind this)
depth 69.4
table 70.0
sy v good
pol v good
girdle thin-med
cutlet non flour none
gia inscibed price 15,800. Beautiful stone. I would have to purchase two .7 matching stones for the side seperately and the ring all set would be about $20000.

stone number two is already set:
emerald cut
8.8 x 7.11 x 4.41
2.4 carats
depth 62.0
table 65.0
thin to med girdle
cutlet small
polish v good
symm good
clarity vs1
color K!!
fl none
gia stone but not inscribed price $19,500

The second stone is set with two emeralds on the side k vs1 .7 each.
Let me say I am a color "SNOB". I have never bought a stone that was less than a G color, so I can''t believe I am even considering a K! However, the set stone is an "ideal" cut and quite frankly looks like a G/H to me. Is this possible, or am I fooling myself? I really consider myself an "expert" on color, if nothing else and it REALLY does look like a G-H. I even held it up to some Fs and you could definitely see a slight tinge of yellow, but it was compensated by the ideal cut. I really love the ring.
So what do you think, guys. I am really desperate for a few responses. Please, please!! Thanks. Detta

 

[pulp_princess]

I'm not a cut expert (don't know where those guys are hiding!) but it sounds like you really like #2. Can you possibly compare these stones together? Is there anything that you can get to measure light return or send it away for an independent appraisal? In the end, you have to be happy with it, so pick the stone that stands out to you. That's also a serious price tag so take as much time as you like and don't feel pressured by the vendor. Sorry I wasn't able to help more on the cut. Perhaps you could PM DBOF or Rhino on emerald cut measurements? Or maybe something about emerald cuts is already posted on PS and will turn up in a search? Good luck!

 

[Rhino]

Sorry... I'm not as familiar with emerald cuts as I am with rounds and square modified brilliants. Emerald cuts we inspect and analyse on a stone for stone basis. When we're calling them in for clients there are certain aspects we look for in the measurements but that is no guarantee as we must physically inspect the stone and run our optical analysis on it before we can give a green light on any given stone.

Regards,
Rhino

 

[valeria101]

I had a few dozen emerald cuts passing through my hands. According to this experience: YOU HAVE NO CHOICE at all. The first stone is clearly superior: the color does make a diference, and, even if now you may favor a K over a G (!?) in the rush to see the ring, the diference is as big as it gets as among diamond shades. Besides, it is uncommon to see an emerald cut with 'very good' simetry, while 'very good polish' is more common. The symetry of the stone leads to more uniform light return. I know it would take a little more time to get your ring using the loose stones, but, by all means, it will be worth it!

About the 'ideal cut' part: this is far less substantial for an emerald cut than a brilliant cut (square or round). So, most honest jewelers will evaluate emerald cuts on their apearance and light return rather than prescribed proportions. Yes, there are some prefered ratios and depths, but your stones pass all the checks. Then comes the price: it seems that the two rings will end up costing just about the same amount. So, you can have a ring with colorless diamonds (G is a colorless grade, right?) or a ring with 'near colorless' ones or nearly the same weight for the same price...

About the aparence of the color (G vs. K): comparing the color of a mounted diamond with an unmouted one is not very representative. TO BE CONTINUED

 

[valeria101]

... Besides, the K will looK whiter in a white gold seting.

CONCLUSION: you can go for the best and best priced with the first option. Not too many shoppers may have the occasion not to choose one over the other! A G will always have a no excuse 'pedigree' a K will not. Go for it. And then, you can choose your own setting, right! Good Luck!


PS: The G stone has 'no culet' while the K has one. If you wander wether this is important, I can say a very definite NO. Why? because the experts in the field say so: small diferences in facet patern are just that, 'small'. There is a thread around here about samll aditional facets...

OK, enough said, Have a great ring!

 

[detta]

I did put a $1000 deposit down on the second stone. I feel awful. I do hope he'll give me my money back. Any experience with this? I have a good friend who has spent A LOT of money with him, maybe he'll take that into account and be nice to me!

 

[Giangi]

Why are you feeling awful? Both stones are very nice yet different candidates. Since prices are about the same, I think you have to choose between size and color. Not many people will notice the difference etween two nicely cut emeralds.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 9/6/2003 2:45:34 PM Giangi wrote:

Why are you feeling awful? Both stones are very nice yet different candidates. Since prices are about the same, I think you have to choose between size and color. Not many people will notice the difference etween two nicely cut emeralds.

----------------

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not wording this correctly; but, I would imagine the emeralds compliment & pull color from the K stone.

I believe the poster said this K stone ring appealed to him. Buy the one that speaks to you.

 

[detta]

Thanks to all that responded!!! I chose the smaller stone in the better color (G). I called the jeweler and he was very courteous and said he would give me refund. Again, thanks for the advice. I am going to put in another post about the side stones just to bug everyone further!!

 

[valeria101]

Hi!

Can't wait to hear about the sides!

 

[diamondsman]

These are my rules from having been in the diamond business for 30 years.(these are just my opinons)
The best cuts on ec. diamonds are:
1)1:1.35-1.50 in ratio, width -length.
2)if the mounting is white gold or platinum , don't buy anything below I color.
3)If it is yellow gold you can go as low as M color with flour. as it enhances the face up of the stone.
4)on a resale or an upgrade in the future the better colors are much more desirable,for the one who is buying/trading it from you.(unless it is fancy yellows)


those are the basic rules. there are more rules as far as the depth ,table, crown %. etc..,but those you have to see the actual stone.

just my 2 cents

good luck