Is this a good diamond? Specs inside

[shortee78]

Hi, I posted these specs under another thread, but thought I would repost the specs so I can get more opinions on the diamond. Is the price too high, fair, or a steal? Unfortunately, I didn''t jot down all the specs, but what I do know, I posted below. PS''ers opinions are appreciated.

I saw this diamond in real life, and in both inside the jewelry store AND outside on an overcast day, the I color looked about the same whiteness as my current F color diamond. Or maybe I''m not as color sensitive as I thought I was My husband was ready to just buy the diamond that day, but I waffled and said I need to do more research (I really wanted to plug the numbers into the HCA. I''m such a nerd!). I wish the numbers didn''t matter so much to me, because the diamond was really beautiful in person. And to be honest, no one in my real life cares about diamond specs - it''s just that days of researching on PS might have skewed my thinking - does that make sense? Oh, and in case anyone wonders, I don''t really care if it''s a H&A diamond, I just want it be fabulous and sparkly!

Lab: GIA
Carat - 1.51
Color - I
Clarity - SI1
Cut Grade - EX
depth % - 60.8
table % - 59
crown angle - 35
pavilion angle - 40.8
polish and symmetry grades - Polish = VG, Sym = VG
girdle thickness - Unknown
fluorescence if applicable - Unknown
diameter measurement- 7.37 - 7.39 x Unknown mm

Price was about $8450 even.
When I chugged it into the Holloway Cut Advisor, it gave me VG/VG/VG/VG with 2.0.

 

[arjunajane]

Shortee, you said you've seen this stone IRL, both in natural light and in the store - honestly hon, this assessment by you and your partner is a much better judge than the HCA. You've probably heard this before, but the HCA is intended to be used to "weed out" bad performers that you can't see IRL, not to actually select or make the final word on a diamond.
Of course, we are all nerds ! and love to know all the angles etc, but what did your **eyes** tell you? Was it firey and full of life and sparkle? Did it "make your heart sing"?

Going just by the numbers, you could get a tighter cut, but you yourself said you're not necessarily after a strict H&A - so, if you love it, buy it

If you're not sure, then maybe keep looking..its great though that you're open to choosing an I colour - they represent great value imho, and like you, I am not all that colour sensitive. Infact, I prefer the H/I/J range

I'm sorry i can't recall from your previous thread - are you intent on buying strictly from a B&M store? Or have you considered a combined online/real life store such as WF or GOG..?

With re to the price, it actually seems quite fair for a B&M - a quick PS search shows ~$7500 for a simliar specs in H&A cut - of course, you could do slightly better on price online, but I'm sure you're aware of that

 

[addiction]

Date: 5/27/2008 9:06:12 AM
Author:shortee78
Hi, I posted these specs under another thread, but thought I would repost the specs so I can get more opinions on the diamond. Is the price too high, fair, or a steal? Unfortunately, I didn''t jot down all the specs, but what I do know, I posted below. PS''ers opinions are appreciated.


I saw this diamond in real life, and in both inside the jewelry store AND outside on an overcast day, the I color looked about the same whiteness as my current F color diamond. Or maybe I''m not as color sensitive as I thought I was My husband was ready to just buy the diamond that day, but I waffled and said I need to do more research (I really wanted to plug the numbers into the HCA. I''m such a nerd!). I wish the numbers didn''t matter so much to me, because the diamond was really beautiful in person. And to be honest, no one in my real life cares about diamond specs - it''s just that days of researching on PS might have skewed my thinking - does that make sense? Oh, and in case anyone wonders, I don''t really care if it''s a H&A diamond, I just want it be fabulous and sparkly!


Lab: GIA

Carat - 1.51

Color - I

Clarity - SI1

Cut Grade - EX

depth % - 60.8

table % - 59

crown angle - 35

pavilion angle - 40.8

polish and symmetry grades - Polish = VG, Sym = VG

girdle thickness - Unknown

fluorescence if applicable - Unknown

diameter measurement- 7.37 - 7.39 x Unknown mm


Price was about $8450 even.

When I chugged it into the Holloway Cut Advisor, it gave me VG/VG/VG/VG with 2.0.

this is the exact reason why we need some standardized pricing, people are asking if the price is fair....

if you do a search right here on PS, the full search returned 398 diamonds 1.5-1.51 I SI1 and the price goes from $4,980 to $11,127.

there are 3 comparable diamonds based on depth and table:


1.50 I SI1 59% 61% EGL tk no gd vg ft 7.35-7.27-4.31 $6640* UnionDiamond
1.51 I SI1 58.7% 60% EGL - no gd vg ft 7.44x7.41x4.36 $5246*SP USA Certed Diamonds
1.51 I SI1 58.7% 60% EGL - no gd vg ft 7.44-7.41x4.36 $5371*SP Abazias


please keep in mind though that the ones returned by the search are EGL and are probably a bit inferior to your stone, hence the "small" difference.

While your stone is 2 HCA, if you search by cut, you come across this:

1.50 H VS1 3.2-VG
vg-gd-gd-vg 0 61.7% 55% 34.5° 41.2° n-m-f no ex ex no 7.37-7.45x4.57 GIA $12855 NiceIce.com

a color grade and clarity better, but 3.2HCA and 50% more expensive...... so how much is your''s worth????

 

[shortee78]

Date: 5/27/2008 9:16:51 AM
Author: arjunajane
Shortee, you said you''ve seen this stone IRL, both in natural light and in the store - honestly hon, this assessment by you and your partner is a much better judge than the HCA. You''ve probably heard this before, but the HCA is intended to be used to ''weed out'' bad performers that you can''t see IRL, not to actually select or make the final word on a diamond.
Of course, we are all nerds ! and love to know all the angles etc, but what did your **eyes** tell you? Was it firey and full of life and sparkle? Did it ''make your heart sing''?

Going just by the numbers, you could get a tighter cut, but you yourself said you''re not necessarily after a strict H&A - so, if you love it, buy it

If you''re not sure, then maybe keep looking..its great though that you''re open to choosing an I colour - they represent great value imho, and like you, I am not all that colour sensitive. Infact, I prefer the H/I/J range

I''m sorry i can''t recall from your previous thread - are you intent on buying strictly from a B&M store? Or have you considered a combined online/real life store such as WF or GOG..?

With re to the price, it actually seems quite fair for a B&M - a quick PS search shows ~$7500 for a simliar specs in H&A cut - of course, you could do slightly better on price online, but I''m sure you''re aware of that

Hi again! I''m not 100% intent from buying from a B&M store (and to clarify, I live in Southern California so the "B&M" store is actually a stall in the jewelry district, LOL. I don''t know if that makes it better or worse, LOL). I would definitely consider an online store but the problem is that I have a diamond that I want to trade-in, and I don''t know if online vendors would accept trade-ins of a diamond that I did not purchase from them. I know GOG does have a consignment program, but it seems like such a hassle to me (but this is based on no experience whatsoever). So my thought is that if I can get a decent/fair price from a B&M or jewelry district store AND they accept trade-ins, then I''m more likely to purchase from them.

I did however find icestore.com, which is a PS vendor, and they have a store in LA, so I might have to drop them a visit sometime soon!

 

[shortee78]

Date: 5/27/2008 9:38:00 AM
Author: addiction

Date: 5/27/2008 9:06:12 AM
Author:shortee78
Hi, I posted these specs under another thread, but thought I would repost the specs so I can get more opinions on the diamond. Is the price too high, fair, or a steal? Unfortunately, I didn''t jot down all the specs, but what I do know, I posted below. PS''ers opinions are appreciated.


I saw this diamond in real life, and in both inside the jewelry store AND outside on an overcast day, the I color looked about the same whiteness as my current F color diamond. Or maybe I''m not as color sensitive as I thought I was My husband was ready to just buy the diamond that day, but I waffled and said I need to do more research (I really wanted to plug the numbers into the HCA. I''m such a nerd!). I wish the numbers didn''t matter so much to me, because the diamond was really beautiful in person. And to be honest, no one in my real life cares about diamond specs - it''s just that days of researching on PS might have skewed my thinking - does that make sense? Oh, and in case anyone wonders, I don''t really care if it''s a H&A diamond, I just want it be fabulous and sparkly!


Lab: GIA

Carat - 1.51

Color - I

Clarity - SI1

Cut Grade - EX

depth % - 60.8

table % - 59

crown angle - 35

pavilion angle - 40.8

polish and symmetry grades - Polish = VG, Sym = VG

girdle thickness - Unknown

fluorescence if applicable - Unknown

diameter measurement- 7.37 - 7.39 x Unknown mm


Price was about $8450 even.

When I chugged it into the Holloway Cut Advisor, it gave me VG/VG/VG/VG with 2.0.

this is the exact reason why we need some standardized pricing, people are asking if the price is fair....

if you do a search right here on PS, the full search returned 398 diamonds 1.5-1.51 I SI1 and the price goes from $4,980 to $11,127.

there are 3 comparable diamonds based on depth and table:


1.50 I SI1 59% 61% EGL tk no gd vg ft 7.35-7.27-4.31 $6640* UnionDiamond
1.51 I SI1 58.7% 60% EGL - no gd vg ft 7.44x7.41x4.36 $5246*SP USA Certed Diamonds
1.51 I SI1 58.7% 60% EGL - no gd vg ft 7.44-7.41x4.36 $5371*SP Abazias


please keep in mind though that the ones returned by the search are EGL and are probably a bit inferior to your stone, hence the ''small'' difference.

While your stone is 2 HCA, if you search by cut, you come across this:

1.50 H VS1 3.2-VG
vg-gd-gd-vg 0 61.7% 55% 34.5° 41.2° n-m-f no ex ex no 7.37-7.45x4.57 GIA $12855 NiceIce.com

a color grade and clarity better, but 3.2HCA and 50% more expensive...... so how much is your''s worth????

Hi, thanks for your response! Very thorough

I did the PS search after your posting, and three diamonds you have listed for $6640, $5246, and $5371 seem to have the table and depth percentages swapped (or am I incorrect?). I would hate to think that my husband almost bought a diamond that''s only worth ~$5000-6000 and pay $8450 for it.

Also, the niceice.com stone you posted is a grade higher in color, two grades higher in clarity, and is EX for both polish and symmetry. If I had a higher budget, I would love that stone! Unfortunately, I have to find the right balance for my budget. Too bad I can''t win the Lotto (but if i did, then heck, I''m going for a 2ct!)

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 5/27/2008 9:38:00 AM
Author: addiction

Date: 5/27/2008 9:06:12 AM
Author:shortee78
Hi, I posted these specs under another thread, but thought I would repost the specs so I can get more opinions on the diamond. Is the price too high, fair, or a steal? Unfortunately, I didn''t jot down all the specs, but what I do know, I posted below. PS''ers opinions are appreciated.


I saw this diamond in real life, and in both inside the jewelry store AND outside on an overcast day, the I color looked about the same whiteness as my current F color diamond. Or maybe I''m not as color sensitive as I thought I was My husband was ready to just buy the diamond that day, but I waffled and said I need to do more research (I really wanted to plug the numbers into the HCA. I''m such a nerd!). I wish the numbers didn''t matter so much to me, because the diamond was really beautiful in person. And to be honest, no one in my real life cares about diamond specs - it''s just that days of researching on PS might have skewed my thinking - does that make sense? Oh, and in case anyone wonders, I don''t really care if it''s a H&A diamond, I just want it be fabulous and sparkly!


Lab: GIA

Carat - 1.51

Color - I

Clarity - SI1

Cut Grade - EX

depth % - 60.8

table % - 59

crown angle - 35

pavilion angle - 40.8

polish and symmetry grades - Polish = VG, Sym = VG

girdle thickness - Unknown

fluorescence if applicable - Unknown

diameter measurement- 7.37 - 7.39 x Unknown mm


Price was about $8450 even.

When I chugged it into the Holloway Cut Advisor, it gave me VG/VG/VG/VG with 2.0.

this is the exact reason why we need some standardized pricing, people are asking if the price is fair....

if you do a search right here on PS, the full search returned 398 diamonds 1.5-1.51 I SI1 and the price goes from $4,980 to $11,127.

there are 3 comparable diamonds based on depth and table:


1.50 I SI1 59% 61% EGL tk no gd vg ft 7.35-7.27-4.31 $6640* UnionDiamond
1.51 I SI1 58.7% 60% EGL - no gd vg ft 7.44x7.41x4.36 $5246*SP USA Certed Diamonds
1.51 I SI1 58.7% 60% EGL - no gd vg ft 7.44-7.41x4.36 $5371*SP Abazias


please keep in mind though that the ones returned by the search are EGL and are probably a bit inferior to your stone, hence the ''small'' difference.

While your stone is 2 HCA, if you search by cut, you come across this:

1.50 H VS1 3.2-VG
vg-gd-gd-vg 0 61.7% 55% 34.5° 41.2° n-m-f no ex ex no 7.37-7.45x4.57 GIA $12855 NiceIce.com

a color grade and clarity better, but 3.2HCA and 50% more expensive...... so how much is your''s worth????

Addiction, I understand your point, but I''m really not sure that the thread of a new mbr who is seeking help and some clear answers is the right place to make it - it is really just confusing and not that helpful. Chances are shortee is not even aware of your thread or argument - has she contributed there?
just my 0.02c.