I''ve been shopping around online and at B&M stores for an engagement ring and stone. I''m looking for a round, 0.8-1.2 range on a 3,500 to 4,000 budget for the diamond. I''ve mainly been looking at excellent cut diamonds and I am willing to sacrifice on color and clarity (gnerally looking around G/H/I, SI1/SI2) to get a well cut diamond around 1 carat. At B&M stores I''ve been able to find diamonds in this range, but with EGL certs that do not grade cut. Online cut quality/price has generally been much better, but I plan to have the diamond set in a simple solitaire and change later after shopping around with my girlfriend. If I buy a diamond and have it set in a solitaire at an online vendor won''t I have to either:
1. Give the ring up for several days to have it changed to a different ring at the same vendor.
2. Bring it to a B&M store, pay a fee to reset the stone and have an extra solitaire ring with no stone.
Given those choices would you recommend buying a stone online and having it set at a B&M store (but having to pay a fee to set the stone)?
I''d also love some advice on buying online; I''ve been looking at james allen because they have good prices and the cert/picture for most diamonds, with IS on request. I''ve noticed JA calls the cut on some stones "idea" even though it may have a GIA cert with very good or excellent, does anyone have experience with their criteria for an "idea" cut? I would love to buy through WF/GOG or another vendor known for top of the line cut quality, but I''m having trouble finding anything that fits my criteria and budget. Here are a few selections I''ve been looking at, please give me your opinion and any alternatives you think might work out, thank you in advance for your help!
1. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197428.asp
This looks pretty good for the price, to my eye.
$3,610
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 1.02
Cut: Ideal [Ideal based on JA criteria?]
Color: H
Clarity: SI2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.6%
Table: 57.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Strong
Measurements: 6.48*6.50*4.00
2. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5419/
This looks beautiful but is on the smaller end of what I''d like to find.
$3,161
Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 0.83ct
Color: H
Clarity: SI2
AGS Cut Grade: Ideal
AGS Light Performance: Ideal
Optical Symmetry: Superior
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None
Lab Report: AGS
Lab Report #: 8291606
In House: Yes
Width: 6.07mm
Length: 6.08mm
Depth: 3.73mm
Table Percentage: 55.49%
Depth Percentage: 61.48%
Crown Ú: 34.11‹
Pavilion Ú: 41.14‹
3. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1212709.asp
This busts my budget but looks like a very clean bigger diamond.
$4,590
Item Number: 1212709
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 1.15
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.9%
Table: 57.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.69*6.71*4.15
Once again thank you for any advice you can give!
Gabriel Lewis
1. Give the ring up for several days to have it changed to a different ring at the same vendor.
2. Bring it to a B&M store, pay a fee to reset the stone and have an extra solitaire ring with no stone.
Given those choices would you recommend buying a stone online and having it set at a B&M store (but having to pay a fee to set the stone)?
I''d also love some advice on buying online; I''ve been looking at james allen because they have good prices and the cert/picture for most diamonds, with IS on request. I''ve noticed JA calls the cut on some stones "idea" even though it may have a GIA cert with very good or excellent, does anyone have experience with their criteria for an "idea" cut? I would love to buy through WF/GOG or another vendor known for top of the line cut quality, but I''m having trouble finding anything that fits my criteria and budget. Here are a few selections I''ve been looking at, please give me your opinion and any alternatives you think might work out, thank you in advance for your help!
1. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197428.asp
This looks pretty good for the price, to my eye.
$3,610
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 1.02
Cut: Ideal [Ideal based on JA criteria?]
Color: H
Clarity: SI2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.6%
Table: 57.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Strong
Measurements: 6.48*6.50*4.00
2. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5419/
This looks beautiful but is on the smaller end of what I''d like to find.
$3,161
Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 0.83ct
Color: H
Clarity: SI2
AGS Cut Grade: Ideal
AGS Light Performance: Ideal
Optical Symmetry: Superior
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None
Lab Report: AGS
Lab Report #: 8291606
In House: Yes
Width: 6.07mm
Length: 6.08mm
Depth: 3.73mm
Table Percentage: 55.49%
Depth Percentage: 61.48%
Crown Ú: 34.11‹
Pavilion Ú: 41.14‹
3. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1212709.asp
This busts my budget but looks like a very clean bigger diamond.
$4,590
Item Number: 1212709
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 1.15
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.9%
Table: 57.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.69*6.71*4.15
Once again thank you for any advice you can give!
Gabriel Lewis
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