Is this a good deal?

[firsttimelasttime]

Im looking at a diamond and I want some opinion on it. My girlfriend prefers quality to size. My budget is around $8k for the stone.

This diamond was quoted to me at $7,800 from someone I trust. I think there's prob some room in the price too.

GIA Cert is attached - specs below

______________________________________________

ROUND BRILLIANT

Measurements: 7.06 - 7.09 x 4.22 mm
Carat Weight: 1.25 carat
Color Grade: H
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Very Good
PROPORTIONS

Depth: 59.6%
Table: 59%
Crown Angle: 29.5°
Crown Height: 11.5%
Pavilion Angle: 42.2°
Pavilion Depth: 45.0%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None
FINISH

Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None

 

[JulieN]

This is even worse than the last one. Sorry to be blunt.

Tell your jeweler you are looking for a GIA EX/EX/EX (cut/polish/symmetry) with a pavilion angle between 40.6 and 41.

 

[firsttimelasttime]

I appreciate your blunt feedback. Why is the pavilion angle so important?? You were very specific as to the range of angle. Does that angle change with the carat weight?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, that one is worse! I wrote this to you yesterday:

Here are proportions that usually will fall within GIA Excellent cut and AGS Ideal cut:

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle: 34-35.0

pavilion angle: 40.6-41.0

girdle: thin, medium, slightly thick

Stick with GIS Excellent cut (or AGS Ideal) only if you want a quality stone. GIA Ex is a wide category, and we even will prefer the better ones within it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Here are some examples of ideal cut stones if she really values high quality over size:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2762650.htm ($8120 pricescope/wire price)

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2696773.htm ($8410 ")

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2762641.htm ($8546 ")

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I appreciate your blunt feedback. Why is the pavilion angle so important?? You were very specific as to the range of angle. Does that angle change with the carat weight?

No, the range of angles does not change with carat weight. The diameter will change.

 

[JulieN]

the orientation of the pavilion directs the light that enters the diamond. Think of a mirror: even minor imperfections distorts the image. This principle lets us have fun in a house of mirrors at the fair but should be more carefully applied with diamonds.

 

[firsttimelasttime]

My jeweler just emailed me this one. Its ex-ex-ex 1.08ct, G, VS2. It seems to have a crown and pavilion angle within the range of what I'm told is acceptable. It comes up as a 1.3 in the HCA tool. Its quoted to me at $8,300.

I havent seen it yet, but the cert shows a big cloud in the center of the face.

CERT ATTACHED

Thoughts?

____________
ROUND BRILLIANT

Measurements: 6.61 - 6.66 x 4.05 mm
Carat Weight: 1.08 carat
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
PROPORTIONS

Depth: 61.0%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star Length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None
FINISH

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
COMMENTS

Additional clouds are not shown.

 

[JulieN]

VS2 cloud should be eye-clean, but he can call the owner of the stone and ask if it is eye-clean. If it is, ask your jeweler to bring it in for you to see. BTW that is considered a small cloud.

 

[firsttimelasttime]

Ok, Im hoping this will be my last one. This stone was quoted to me at $9,300. I realize the pavilion and crown angles are not perfect. Is this a good value for this stone?

cert attached:

ROUND BRILLIANT

Measurements: 6.70 - 6.73 x 4.20 mm
Carat Weight: 1.16 carat
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
PROPORTIONS

Depth: 62.5%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 36.0°
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41.0°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None
FINISH

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
COMMENTS

Additional clouds are not show

 

[JulieN]

Go with the 1.08! None of the others are "warm" enough to look into further.

 

[firsttimelasttime]

ok, thats what Im going to do. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[SB621]

Is there a reason you are going with your local jeweler instead of buying online. I still think you are paying too much.

 

[firsttimelasttime]

Is buying online safe and competitive? I've seen some stones on Blue Nile that I think are a good value. Is buying on Blue Nile the equivalent of paying bust out retail? The local jeweler always makes me believe Im paying less than retail. I realize thats a bit of a hustle obviously.

Do you recommend buying online?

 

[bunnycat]

Is buying online safe and competitive? I've seen some stones on Blue Nile that I think are a good value. Is buying on Blue Nile the equivalent of paying bust out retail? The local jeweler always makes me believe Im paying less than retail. I realize thats a bit of a hustle obviously.

Do you recommend buying online?

You might ponder a few questions when thinking about in store purchasing versus online.

Does the jeweler have a return policy? (Most diamonds are going to look sparkley in the tricky store lighting, so you need to see it away from the store lights to look for problems.) Are you planning on having it appraised and checked out by an independent party who can give you an unbiased opinion of the quality of the stone?

It's been my experience that in general, stores aren't out to educate you on what a nice diamond looks like, or really care if you get one that performs well. They are out for the sell. That being said, the 1.08 looks like it could be nice from the numbers but look how much you had to do to even get them to get something decent in to look at.

You could enter the same parameters in some of the online vendors databases and see what price comparisons come up. You can check for yourself that the major vendors here have great return policies so you can check out a stone first before committing to it. Some of them will even spot you the return shipping if you have to return it. (We bought mine online and looked at some from a couple of different vendors. Returns were not an issue.)

James Allen posts images of many of the diamonds they have access to so you can take a preliminary look at the actual stone. So does Whiteflash, Brian Gavin Diamonds and Good Old gold. The last 3 often post Idealscope images and other performance related information on the stones too. (You have to request it at James Allen.)