Is there a catch with this diamond?

[errolg]

Hi,

I''ve been reading this forum/website a lot since discovering it last week when I decided I should propose to my girlfriend soon, and have now reached a stage where I''m making a decision about buying a diamond.

My girlfriend and I are going on holiday to Hawaii next Sunday (30th May) and I''m planning to propose while there. She isn''t a big jewelry fan, and has never worn a ring.. because of that, I''ve got no idea what size of ring to buy her, and I know she wants to choose the ring design herself anyway, so I''m intending to buy a loose diamond to propose with. We can go shopping together to find a setting for the diamond.

She''s not a very showy person, and I think she''d find a very large diamond more embarrassing than anything, so I''m looking for something in the 0.6-0.7 carat range.

Also, as I live in Tokyo and have read that diamonds are more expensive here, I''m looking to order over the internet instead.

I stumbled across this diamond which seemed just what I was looking for, from Whiteflash. The only problem is that the Sarin report says its girdle varies from 0.2-2.1%. Is this 0.2% dangerously low?

Does the diamond seem like a good buy overall? Full stats below (although the price as quoted on Pricescope is only $2960). You can access the Sarin report from the above website.

Item Code: AGS-4963301
Price: $3,115.35
Report: AGS
Shape: A Cut Above H&A
Carat: 0.698
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Depth: 60.6
Table: 55
Crown Angle: 34.9
Crown %: 15.5
Pavilion Angle: 40.7
Pavilion %: 42.7
Girdle: Thin to Medium
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 5.78-5.80X3.51



Any other recommendations in the 0.6 - 0.7 ct range, preferably an H&A ideal cut F-G colour and VS1 clarity (sorry if I''m being overly picky!)?

Unfortunately I don''t have much time, I need the diamond to arrive in Tokyo by next Friday at the latest (although I guess I could have it sent to the Hawaiian hotel instead, which would buy me an extra week..). Obviously I should have made this decision with a bit more time to spare, but hopefully it''s still possible to get a diamond in this timeframe.

Also, one final question... any opinions on whether it''d be better for me to propose with the ringless diamond, or with a cheap cubic zirconium ring instead (which I''d just use as a placeholder until she could choose her perfect ring). In other words, how important do you think an actual ring is during the proposal?

Thanks!
Errol

 

[Magnum]

The diamond looks like a good choice. Personally I would drop down in clarity to at least a VS2, if not a SI1, and I would drop down in color to at least a G, if not an H. To me, especially in the clarity department, you are paying for something that you can not see without a 10x loupe. I doubt you'd see any difference at all in a G/VS2 (or in some cases even H/SI1), except for a cheaper price or a bigger diamond for the money. But color/clarity is a personal preference, and if that's what color and clarity you're comfortable with, than that's what you should go with. As far as the girdle, the AGS report says the mininmum girdle is 0.9%, so there's definitely a discrepancy there. I'd ask someone at Whiteflash to go over that with you, and even if there is a spot on the girdle that's 0.2%, it may just be a very small part, and may not be an issue in regards to the durability of the diamond. That's something i would ask whiteflash about. Finally, being that you are in a rush, I think an ACA From whiteflash is a good way to go because it's pretty safe to say that one of their ACA stones will be an excellent performer, so you hopefully will be able to feel more comfortable knowing you're getting an excellent diamond, without as much time to consider the purchase. As far as the setting, I would have them set the diamond in a very generic ring so that you can use it to propose, and then have your fiancee pick out the setting later. It probably wouldn't cost very much at all, and might not cost anything especially if you go back to Whiteflash for the final setting. They actually have a really good selection of engagemnt ring settings. Best of luck in your proposal.

 

[valeria101]

Well... AGS says 0.9%-1.4% for the girdle, Sarin says 0.2% to 2.1%

I'd side with AGS on this one.

Otherwise:

0.7 E-VS2

0.63 D-VS1

0.67 F-VS1

And I have no reason to believe that either shop cannot deliver a diamond set in 'something'.

 

[Sheree]

I agree with Magnum. Have the diamond set in some generic not expensive ring. As a woman, I really do think that it would be much more special with an actual ring that she can wear. She may not normally wear rings but an engagement ring symbolizes something very special and she will proudly want to wear it! I know that I would. Just handing her a beautiful loose diamond just won't cut it, IMO.
Congratulations and good luck!

 

[aljdewey]

Hi, Errol: Welcome to PS.

The diamond looks beautiful....I'd tend to agree with the others and favor the AGS figures.

Regarding the proposal......instead of buying a cheap zirconium ring, I'd have the diamond set in an inexpensive setting (you can get an expensive Tiffany style Stuller settings from Whiteflash for about $80). This way, she can WEAR the diamond while she's looking for the setting she ultimately wants.

A girl wants to WEAR her diamond when she gets it!

Good luck!

 

[errolg]

Thanks for the responses, everybody. Very useful!

I've sent a mail off to Whiteflash asking about the AGS/Sarins discrepancy. Presuming there are no major problems, I guess I'll go for it, and also take the advice about using the cheap $80 (temporary) setting with the diamond.

The only problem is that I still have no idea what ring size she is. And as she has never worn a ring, neither does she...

I can't ask her to measure her ring finger without spoiling the surprise (I think she already suspects something...). Any suggestions?

I'm not even sure how to work out ring sizes, even if I were to somehow have a chance to measure her finger circumference while she sleeps (which is a little risky as she's a light sleeper)..

Thanks,
Errol

 

[laney]

Just a hint about ring size. If you do do it while she is sleeping - use a string.

Even dental floss if you can't find any. Put that around her finger and measure the length. Take it off - then mark it with a pen or something.

Then measure the "string" on a ring chart. That way you aren't trying to print a paper copy of a ring chart...

I think she won't feel a string..