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guel8

Rough_Rock
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Nov 13, 2006
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Hello all! My name is Miguel, and I am new to the site. I have never purchased a diamond before, but plan on making a purchase in the next few months. I have a budget of $6,000 and want to make the most of my money as I am sure we all do. I have been lurking through the site, and it seems that you all really know your stuff. I however am damn near clueless. Hopefully with your help, I can make a purchase that I feel confindent and happy about.

Here are a few questions I have:

How confident are you guys in purchasing a diamond online? Any reputalbe places in Chicago I should go look at?

Platinum vs White Gold, is Platinum really worth the extra money?

I have narrowed it down to Princess Cut or a Round diamond. Any pros and cons with the two?

What are some of the downfall with purchasing a diamond? Where do people get ripped off the most when it comes to purchasing a diamond?

I know I have some of the most general questions, but I would really appreciate some help. Thank You
 
check out Dimend Scaasi
 
Welcome
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!

Okay, many of us here buy online and would not go anywhere else. The prices are generally cheaper and the quality and information provided about the diamonds is greater. I can't recommend anywhere in Chicago, but as for online vendors, Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, and James Allen have too many positive recommendations to count.

WG vs platinum is a very popular question around here. Check out these threads for many pros and cons.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/white-gold-vs-platinum.45246/=

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/im-back-age-old-question-platinum-or-wg.33533/=

As for princess or round, do you know which she would prefer? They are entirely different. An excellent cut round will look bigger than a princess of the same weight and you can usually go down further in color in a round and it will still look very white. Rounds are also easier to buy online. Either way, cut is the most important thing to think about. Don't skimp there!

One downfall I can think of is that people don't educate themselves before they purchase. They go to their local mall store, where the diamonds are usually catagorized by carat, color, and clarity, (cut not even discussed) and pick something out without a lot of thought. The diamonds are often graded by IGI or a similar unreliable lab. Mall diamonds are so often of a poor quality and to top if off, they cost more than diamonds of super quality that you can find online. Customers are talked into buying some warranty that the store offers which is so often useless. Just insure your ring when you get it, as you will need to do anyway. And look for GIA or AGS certificates. They are the most reliable and trustworthy.

$6000 is a super budget. Once you know what shape you want to go with and the type of setting you want, the PSers here will suggest all kinds of great diamonds for you. Do you know what kind of setting she would like?
 
Thanks for the links! I know that my GF initially wanted a princess cut, but then ultimately saw a round diamond that see says looks great on her hand at the mall. This is why I chose these two for comparison. We have never really discussed her engagement ring in detail, because it would be more my choice just because of the surprise factor. She does however throw in hints sometimes. I also know that I want a paved setting. Heck, if round looks bigger we can go with that for now while I am still doing research. With my budget, I am probably looking at getting a 1 carat diamond. What do you guys recommend? How is bluenile.com vs the places you guys/girls posted? Thanks again!
 
a round will be bigger than a princess of same carat weight, but princess is cheaper, so it probably evens out the same.

rounds do lend themselves better to pave, I think.

I'd buy from Blue Nile if they had the stone I wanted. For stones other than rounds, it's important to have pictures, which Blue Nile doesn't provide.

Drawbacks to buying online is you can't see. Dimend Scaasi, for example, is an EightStar and Infinity retailer. EightStars display all red and black under the Ideal Scope. Infinity stones (and other traditionally cut stones) have little bits of leakage. You can't tell what your eyes prefer over the computer. Or, do you need a hearts and arrows "super ideal" or will regular "ideal" be fine? Color and clarity tolerances... you may find you have eagle eyes. Also some people value the emotional, romantic aspect, or having a place to go for maintenence.
 
Can I sacrifice anything with a round diamond? If I get a round cut with a good clarity, can I step down a little with the color?
 
If you''re looking for something that will look good and aren''t concerned with documented perfection, I would stay with a better color and drop down in clarity AS LONG as the diamond doesn''t have any inclusions that can be seen without a jewelers loop. I like round cuts better than princess because it sparkles a whole lot more. Cut is the most important C though (not in the princess/round/heart sense). Go with a GIA very good or Ideal cut and use the HCA on pricescope to check angles.

I bought my diamonds on blue nile.


Date: 11/13/2006 9:20:42 AM
Author: guel8
Can I sacrifice anything with a round diamond? If I get a round cut with a good clarity, can I step down a little with the color?
Click to expand...
 
A good cut will make it "face up" whiter.

VS2 and above is gravy. For 1 ct, SI1 is a good choice. SI2 is case by case basis.

D-G, most people can''t tell difference. H may look tinted to some people when loose, but ok when mounted. I and J are tipping points for lots of people, it seems.

Whether you get an F SI1 or an I VS1 is personal. Some people prefer very high color, some prefer high clarity. High color preference is more popular than high clarity.
 
Any good suggestions that fall within my budget?
 
6K for stone or stone and setting?

maximize size, color (about F) or clarity (VS)?
 
Stone and setting. Probably looking at 1 carat. I don''t think I can really go bigger with my budget and get some thing nice.
 
Though you have lots of options, and this is a tad above your stated budget, but not much compromise with this one, probably, and you can drive over and go see it, as well as compare it to lots of others in his shop. This way, you can go on line & local, both at the same time.

Hopefully.
 
Link goes to "build your own ring"
 
It does??? Damnit! I am not sure how to link it???

Here are the specs on it anyway.

Your Ring
This 18K White Gold Setting With Pavé-Set Diamonds (1/5 ct. tw.) has a 1.08 carat Round center diamond with Very Good-cut, F-color, and SI1-clarity. With this setting choice, the total carat weight of diamonds for your ring is 1.28.

Total Price: $6,062




What do you think?
 
I didn''t realize that Dimend Scaasi was in Chicago when you first posted it. I just might pay them a visit.
 
There are 3 VG 1.08 F SI1s on Blue Nile

The first has depth 58, table 63: table is too big.

Second one has a 63% depth: too deep.

Third has a 61.2 depth, 57 table: not loving the angles, plus the extremely thin girdle.
 

There are 3 VG 1.08 F SI1s on Blue Nile


The first has depth 58, table 63: table is too big.


Second one has a 63% depth: too deep.


Third has a 61.2 depth, 57 table: not loving the angles, plus the extremely thin girdle.


Sorry Julie, but what exactly does this mean? Table is too big? Too deep? When it comes to depth, I am really lost. Thanks again
 
Fish eye http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fisheye.asp I usually keep table <58. Up to 60 if someone is looking for a spready stone.

Depth I keep between 60-62. Up to 62.5 or 63 if someone wants a firey stone.

Second stone has depth of 63.7, actually.

These are the stones, yours was the first?
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00919067&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00124361&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00197861&filter_id=0
 
So you recommend the second and third one instead. I see what you mean now.
 
I''d prefer to pass on all 3.
 
Ahhh! Okay, back to the drawing board. What improvements could we make on the ones you chose?
 
I'm new to the game as well but with a very well cut diamond, I think you'd be happy with an H-colored diamond. I just purchased one similar to it and it was set in a 3-stone platinum band for my GF's e-ring. Whiteflash was really nice to work with. And with the ACA diamonds, there's a 5% discount.

Here's one:

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-78269.htm

And here's a G-colored:

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-49822.htm



You definately need to ask your WF rep, if either or both are eye-clean.
 
Thanks again for everyones help.
 
Hi Miguel,
First, Welcome. I know where you are coming from, I too have been "lurking" on the site for a while and I have been speaking up and asking the "dumb" questions ever since.
I dont want this to sound like some sort of support group,talk.
But, as a note I would suggest to really review the tools, resources, etc. and what is really great is that there are so many experts, it would be tough to stump them.

Good Luck!
 
Hi Miguel, try reading the tutorials under the knowledge section, I think it will help you understand about depth and table sizes - there are cut charts in there that will help you select. Did you look at the ones Julie recommended earlier in the thread? Julie recommended ones that you can get your setting with for under budget.
 
How does Dimend Scaasi measure of with some of these online sites? How reputable is GoodoldGold.com?
 
Date: 11/16/2006 9:12:13 PM
Author: guel8
How does Dimend Scaasi measure of with some of these online sites? How reputable is GoodoldGold.com?
Click to expand...
That''s sort of a million dollar question. Light as helium (joke; Jonathan at GOG uniquely invested in Helium apparatus for measuring the fine details of proportions.)

To me, while GOG is more of a known quantity, it would be worth a measurable amount to me to have a shop to go into any day of the week, and call my own. To be sure, Jon at GOG has a 30 day return policy. You could "give it your best shot" with GOG, bring it in to Dimend Scasi, and do your best to beat what you walk in with. I think that would be your best bet. Of course, if you can''t beat what you walk in with, well, that''s not a bad thing, either.
 
This is my opinion, having never shopped at either: Good Old Gold carries mostly hearts and arrows ideal rounds, some branded cuts for those seeking something different. They are a good option for the cautious Internet shopper who wants a fool-proof way of getting a great diamond and doesn't mind paying for security.

Dimend Scaasi carries hearts and arrows ideals as well as a some number of other premium stones (while premium to some means less than ideal, here it means well-cut.) Do you need hearts and arrows, excellent/ideal polish and symmetry? No, of course not, you can still get a smokin' beautiful stone. That is where you can realize significant cost savings that can translate into higher color, clarity, or size. An excellent chance for you to get hands-on education.

Both companies are well-regarded on PS for understanding the demand for beautiful stones at good prices and solid customer service.

And what Ira said is solid.
 
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