IGI or GIA? a few questions from a newbie!!

[cookster 106]

I am having many dilemma''s with buying a stone for my gf''s engagement ring. I have spoken to a couple of online vendors and they have both said different things.

One said that I should be looking at a D colour and forget everything else.

The other said that I could go down to a G and VS1 as long as the cut is excellent or very good.

I have looked through the tutorial on here and thought that I had it sussed but now I am confused - one of the ladies I spoke to said that I wouldn''t be able to tell the difference between a D and a G and also that I wouldn''t see a difference between the pavilion and crown angles.

She also said that it didn''t matter who certified the diamond as they all had the same standards anyway.

I have a choice between 3 stones so far. If yanyone could have a look that would be wonderful -

IGI F5C49941 0.51ct - £1640.00 - G VS1

IGI F1M17440 0.51ct - £1460.00 - G VS2

GIA7102151623 0.40ct - £1365.00 - G VVS2

The third option to me is the better looking diamond but I cannot see the certificates from IGI on my browser.

I am desperate to make the right choice here...

The difference in price is not an issue but the look of the ring is - they all will have the same setting.

Thanks for any help that you can give......

 

[jewelerman]

i would go GIA...IGI in my experiance is much more leanient/off on their grading.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Just eliminate IGI and focus on GIA Excellent cut or AGS Ideal Cut. Then it is easier to sort out the best stones from the good stones. What country are you trying to buy from?

In addition, G and VS1 and VS2 is totally fine in an excellent cut stone. It will appear very white unless you are in a room where the colors are being reflected by the stone, and that will happen with any color diamond.

 

[cookster 106]

I am based in the UK so it is easiest to buy in GBP rather than in the states in USD. I am finding trouble in locating suppliers in the UK as if I buy from the US there are all sorts of sales taxes and the shipping of the stone is horrendously priced.

I have only found two suppliers in the UK does anyone know of any other trustworthy suppliers that can be gone through.

Blue Nile is one of these - the problem is they do not do a compass setting that my GF really likes.

365-diamond is the other but they do not have a list of their available stones?

What I would prefer is the ability to find m own stone. pay in GBP and be able to purchase on a credit card as then I am protected rather than using a bank transfer.

any suggestions I would be grateful for...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''d probably start a new thread asking for UK diamond vendors. Could you buy from Blue Nile UK and then have a local jeweler set the stone?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/19/2009 12:25:33 PM
Author: cookster 106
I am based in the UK so it is easiest to buy in GBP rather than in the states in USD. I am finding trouble in locating suppliers in the UK as if I buy from the US there are all sorts of sales taxes and the shipping of the stone is horrendously priced.

I have only found two suppliers in the UK does anyone know of any other trustworthy suppliers that can be gone through.

Blue Nile is one of these - the problem is they do not do a compass setting that my GF really likes.

365-diamond is the other but they do not have a list of their available stones?

What I would prefer is the ability to find m own stone. pay in GBP and be able to purchase on a credit card as then I am protected rather than using a bank transfer.

any suggestions I would be grateful for...

Ditto DS.

Also try here www.bestdiamonds.co.uk and speak to Dr Indira Marchant, she is an expert and a very nice lady who also posts here, so see what she can find for you.

 

[Kelli]

I''m sorry to say it sounds like you''ve been given some really bad information. All labs do NOT grade the same, and you do NOT need to look at D and nothing else. You absolutely WILL see differences in crown and pavilion angles, so if you want a really sparkly diamond you need to get all the specs and run them thru the HCA.

If you let us know your budget, there are lots of people here who would love to help you pick the best diamond you can. And just for reference on the whole "nothing but D color" thing, here is my beautifully cut H VS2.

 

[glitterata]

Many people on this board (including me) have been very happy with Crafted by Infinity diamonds. There''s a dealer in London who carries them (and also posts on this board). They are graded by AGS, which has stricter standards for its cut grade than any other lab. It''s also strict on color and clarity.

Here''s her contact info:

Contact Ms Indira Marchant
Company Best Diamonds at Design by Indigo
Address 2 Royal Exchange
London London EC3V 3DG
United Kingdom

Telephone + 44 208 8685210
Fax +
Cell +
Website http://www.bestdiamonds.co.uk/

 

[Pandora II]

It''s also impossible to get loose stone insurance in the UK (believe me I have tried).

That means if you buy the stone from one vendor and have it set by another you will not be insured should the stone be damaged in the setting process. It only happens to 1% or less of stones, but worth considering as the jeweller will not take liability.

Another UK vendor that I have heard good things about is Diamond Geezer - shame about the TERRIBLE name that they really should change as I''m sure it puts a lot of people off.

Anyway, they did an e-ring for my BIL at Christmas and although I haven''t seen the GIA report yet, it looked extremely nice and when I grilled my BIL I was impressed with the advice they had given him.

He went in wanting a D IF and they convinced him that a G or H and a VS2 would be perfect (which is what I had told him as well).

One of the UK ladies on the Coloured Stone forum has settings made by them and gave them a good write up.

 

[cookster 106]

Ideally my budget is around £1500.00.

I was looking at the below - the diamond was from Blue Nile but they do not do a compass setting that my gf really wants. Being a non expert and after looking through the tutorial this looked that it would provide VG value for money and a very good sparkle???


Would anyone have any ideas or suggestions regarding this?

round brilliant
0.40ct
G
VVS2
excellent cut
clarity - needle, pinpoint
Polish - excellent
cut - excellent
fluorescence - none
depth - 60.9
table - 57
pavilion angle - 41
crown angle - 34
culet - none
girdle - medium faceted

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2009 4:40:21 AM
Author: cookster 106
Ideally my budget is around £1500.00.

I was looking at the below - the diamond was from Blue Nile but they do not do a compass setting that my gf really wants. Being a non expert and after looking through the tutorial this looked that it would provide VG value for money and a very good sparkle???


Would anyone have any ideas or suggestions regarding this?

round brilliant
0.40ct
G
VVS2
excellent cut
clarity - needle, pinpoint
Polish - excellent
cut - excellent
fluorescence - none
depth - 60.9
table - 57
pavilion angle - 41
crown angle - 34
culet - none
girdle - medium faceted

It has potential, do you have the link to the grading report? You may be aware that you could drop the clarity to VS without any visual sacrifice, but this is a personal preference!

 

[cookster 106]

Thanks for the advice regarding UK online vendors. spoke to Luke from diamondgeezer and have agreed to purchase the following stone -
round
0.4ct
F
VVS2
Excellent cut
Depth 62.6
Table 55
crown angle 34
Pavilion angle 41.4
medium to slightly thick faceted girdle
culet none
polish - excellent
symmetry - excellent
Fluorescence - none
clarity characteristics - surface graining, needle cloud
£1190.00 with platinum compass setting

Let me know what you think?

Thanks to everyone for all their help

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2009 6:17:02 AM
Author: cookster 106
Thanks for the advice regarding UK online vendors. spoke to Luke from diamondgeezer and have agreed to purchase the following stone -
round
0.4ct
F
VVS2
Excellent cut
Depth 62.6
Table 55
crown angle 34
Pavilion angle 41.4
medium to slightly thick faceted girdle
culet none
polish - excellent
symmetry - excellent
Fluorescence - none
clarity characteristics - surface graining, needle cloud
£1190.00 with platinum compass setting

Let me know what you think?

Thanks to everyone for all their help

Its a bit deeper than I prefer and I would also like to see the pavilion angle between 40.6 - 41 with that crown angle, what about the diamond you posted first?

 

[cookster 106]

The guy couldn''t get it. Gave him the GIA cert no but he couldn''t get it. 30 day money back guarantee though and insured post back is only £6.80 so if it is not how it should be then I can do that. Have just compared these specs with those at other online sites and the price is very good in comparison.

 

[Rockdiamond]

For sure you should buy where you feel most comfortable.
BUT- buying a diamond from a US seller should not encompass all the shipping problems you mentioned.....


In fact many UK buyers have found better deals by buying from US based sellers- even after shipping and taxes are taken into consideration.