Evening All,
First of all thanks to EVERYONE for pitching in.. I've been through so many colors/clarities and carat weights.. cuts.. vendors.. but I've narrowed it down to two stones. The setting will be this in platinum -
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/vatche-engagement-ring-49.html
And is carried by both GOG and Crafted by Infinity
The two stones are below.. with the pros and cons.. both get incredible HCA ratings... and its a color vs clarity trade off.. both vendors have solid buy back policies (insurance down the road for my partner and I) of 75% and 80% respectively and cut grade as far as I can see from all information is very similar. Let me know your thoughts!
Diamond 1 - 1.54 H/VS2 - $15,700 (incl. 3% discount for buying setting) - $17,900 incl. setting in Plat
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-54ct-h-vs2-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html
Pros -
1. VS2 is mindclean for me... looking at images there is just a single fine white feather.. near the centre.. which I think due to it being so centralised will be very very hard to see. Have seen a video from Rhino and cant see it at all... at all! which is important for me.
2. MUCH closer to my original budget of $16k... a little over.. but manageable
3. A solid size.. she has 4.25 size finger so this is a super ideal cut grade should look plenty big
4. H color on a platinum setting from all I've read is a fine color.. and with no side stones should face up white with almost no color tint
Cons
1. Color - I want the WOW color... the 'lightbulb' bright stone and I feel this might not give me that (vs a F)
2. Not the 80% buyback as offered by Crafted By Infinity
3. No 'Name brand' recognition such as offered by CBI
Diamond 2 - 1.53 F/SI1 - $17,900 - Incl setting (15% discount on setting with stone - $19,770
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=1337
Pros
1. F Color - Mindclean in terms of whiteness.. I know she is somewhat color sensitive... and getting the F straight of the bat I know we'll have something that no one else has.. very few have an F.
2. F Color - We'll probably look at resetting this into a replica of the Cartier 1895 Setting.. except with hearts and arrows sidestone in the next 2-3years... and I know the F will POP more off the setting with F-G color side stones
3. Same size as the H.. a good size for her finger
4. Solid 80% buyback from Wink with tesimonials on people who have actually used it in the past.. as well as the brand of CBI which is kinda cool
Cons
1. Pushes the budget out even further.. very close to $20k (4-5k over original budget or 25%)
2. SI1 - Looks good on the chart but awaiting report from Wink on the eye clean ness of the stone... and where the inclusions are. They seem in good places.. but impossible to know until I see video and his report.
Please let me know your thoughts.. and what you would do. I guess end of the day this isn't the stone she necessarily HAS to keep forever (with the amazing policies offered by both GOG and Wink @ HP Diamonds) but she is somewhat sentimental so has voiced her opinion of not wanting to upgrade.. so this could be the forever stone.
With that in mind as well.. let me know what you think! Thanks guys!
First of all thanks to EVERYONE for pitching in.. I've been through so many colors/clarities and carat weights.. cuts.. vendors.. but I've narrowed it down to two stones. The setting will be this in platinum -
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/vatche-engagement-ring-49.html
And is carried by both GOG and Crafted by Infinity
The two stones are below.. with the pros and cons.. both get incredible HCA ratings... and its a color vs clarity trade off.. both vendors have solid buy back policies (insurance down the road for my partner and I) of 75% and 80% respectively and cut grade as far as I can see from all information is very similar. Let me know your thoughts!
Diamond 1 - 1.54 H/VS2 - $15,700 (incl. 3% discount for buying setting) - $17,900 incl. setting in Plat
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-54ct-h-vs2-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html
Pros -
1. VS2 is mindclean for me... looking at images there is just a single fine white feather.. near the centre.. which I think due to it being so centralised will be very very hard to see. Have seen a video from Rhino and cant see it at all... at all! which is important for me.
2. MUCH closer to my original budget of $16k... a little over.. but manageable
3. A solid size.. she has 4.25 size finger so this is a super ideal cut grade should look plenty big
4. H color on a platinum setting from all I've read is a fine color.. and with no side stones should face up white with almost no color tint
Cons
1. Color - I want the WOW color... the 'lightbulb' bright stone and I feel this might not give me that (vs a F)
2. Not the 80% buyback as offered by Crafted By Infinity
3. No 'Name brand' recognition such as offered by CBI
Diamond 2 - 1.53 F/SI1 - $17,900 - Incl setting (15% discount on setting with stone - $19,770
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=1337
Pros
1. F Color - Mindclean in terms of whiteness.. I know she is somewhat color sensitive... and getting the F straight of the bat I know we'll have something that no one else has.. very few have an F.
2. F Color - We'll probably look at resetting this into a replica of the Cartier 1895 Setting.. except with hearts and arrows sidestone in the next 2-3years... and I know the F will POP more off the setting with F-G color side stones
3. Same size as the H.. a good size for her finger
4. Solid 80% buyback from Wink with tesimonials on people who have actually used it in the past.. as well as the brand of CBI which is kinda cool
Cons
1. Pushes the budget out even further.. very close to $20k (4-5k over original budget or 25%)
2. SI1 - Looks good on the chart but awaiting report from Wink on the eye clean ness of the stone... and where the inclusions are. They seem in good places.. but impossible to know until I see video and his report.
Please let me know your thoughts.. and what you would do. I guess end of the day this isn't the stone she necessarily HAS to keep forever (with the amazing policies offered by both GOG and Wink @ HP Diamonds) but she is somewhat sentimental so has voiced her opinion of not wanting to upgrade.. so this could be the forever stone.
With that in mind as well.. let me know what you think! Thanks guys!
300x240.png)