In Need of Major HELP. Wife will appreciate.

[tdemulling]

I am buying diamond earrings for my wife''s 30th birthday. I have a budget of around $2,500. I would like opinions on the following. The first is from DiamondSafe. Not really sure how reputable these guys are, but there prices are pretty good. Maybe toooo good. Here is the GIA cert. for DiamondSafe http://www.diamondsafe.com/Diamond-Earrings-Build_2.asp?cid=278&setid=&a=1&type=1. These diamonds are 0.59 ct and I''s, SI2, which are apparently ideal cut. Depth 60% and Table 57%. I have been reading bad things about EGL DiamondSafe certs, but not sure if GIA certs are also bad. Price for this pair is $2,273 (loose diamonds only). The other diamonds are from Blue Nile, which it appears to me is more reputable. Here is a link to view these certs http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00143213&pid2=LD00369448&filter_id=6 These diamonds are .61 each in ct weight, but only very good in cut. Depth 63% and Table 56% one is I and the ther is H. One has faint flourescence. Both are SI2.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

 

[valeria101]

Well... there is no standard for the "ideal" and "very good" cut or what not. Each shop means something different for each so it is not very useful to comapre the "ideal" of one store with the other's "good". IMO, the difference between what is called "ideal" or "very good" varies allot from one place to the next...

I know this is not making things easier.


I woudn't call EGL "bad" and few dare call GIA "bad" since they pretty much set the standard anyway. There's a report comparing reports on several diamonds given by AGS, GIA and EGL (see the frontpage of Pricescope for a link). If that's the worst that can happen (one grade up or down between labs) that's not too bad, I think. Besides, EGL graded diamonds sell for a bit of discount versus the GIA graded already. So... it's not a rip off after all once you know what you get (and you do, obviously). Just IMO, of course.

One good thing about EGL reports is that they give a bit more information about how these diamonds are cut than GIA does (crown height and pavilion depth). So regardless of what a shop might call those diamonds ("ideal", "great" whatever) you can still make some sense of the numbers. It's not very straightforward, but some guesswork can be done.

Otherwise, I/SI2 sounds safe enough for earrings. It's always good to see the stones because (at least in picture) since SI2 may turn out visibly included. Clarity plots on lab reports help somewhat too if needs be.


Just my 0.2 worth. Hope some helps

 

[valeria101]

Couldn''t see the pair at Blue Nile (the link leads to the search page). 63% depth is a bit much...

Anyway, looking at prices the I/SI2 seem expensive to me. If nothing else, then for the little amount of detail that comes with the stones (no details about clarity...) the EGL tags and the fact that that some matching merchandise comes with all that for about the same amount on a quick Pricescope search

Those diamonds were about 5.3mm and I tried to match that. Two pairs or harts and arrows (or darn close - those without the brand) came up.

Here''s the two pairs:

the H&A I/J SI2, AGS reports (link)

and a slightly smaller pair I/SI1, AGS reports (link)

the settings come 100 or so...

This came from one shop. There must be other options too. Actually, these are about as precisely tuned cuts as they get and there is some premium for it. If cut quality matters less, there must be cheaper stuff out there. Blue Nile is big enough to afford keeping a premium for their name... these smaller guys don''t.

 

[tdemulling]

Thanks Valerie, You were very helpful. I appreciate your time.