Is this worth buying?

[Frenchcut]

You can use the search function on Pricescope that will give you an idea of what is possible with your budget (use the advance option and limit yourself to in-house stones, other stones are "virtual" meaning that the seller has not seen them in person).

You should also visit some B&M jewellers to compare various qualities of stones (cut, color, clarity...ask them to show you certified stones), that will help you decide what you like.

Then you may also choose to buy from a high end jeweller, with that kind of budget you could easily find a gorgeous ring at Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would personally contact someone like Jonathan Weingarten at Good Old Gold in NY to have him attempt to find and call some stones in for you. Did you see the stone I linked above listed on eternity diamonds site? Well that is a virtual list from a diamond supplier and many vendors can likely access that stone and check it out for you. Jonathan runs tests on even the ones certed at excellent cut to be sure they really are. I'll give you an example to show you all the information you can get. Plus he will video as well.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8856/

 

[jerrysinclair]

Ok, thank you. I just thought that in shops everything is overpriced.
Will keep looking.
Thank you all.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ok, thank you. I just thought that in shops everything is overpriced.
Will keep looking.
Thank you all.

In most shops that would be true. But vendors doing internet sales often have a smaller profit margin because of the volume they do. The prices you were quoted weren't doing you any favors, either.

 

[maplefemme]

Ok, thank you. I just thought that in shops everything is overpriced.
Will keep looking.
Thank you all.

You have a very healthy budget at $150,000... where do your priorities lie?
You seem to place priority on quality and also getting a deal, sure, no one wants to overspend for something they can get at a better price, but it's a more complex choice than that.
With such a substantial purchase I want a vendor with a solid reputation, ethics, honesty, knowledge, and I am willing to pay for that because to me it's the big picture that matters.
I want a top quality diamond from a vendor who can back up that quality with conclusive evidence.
I must trust that vendor, not because he's a friend of someone I know and promises to do me a favour, I don't want favours, favours are rarely that, this is a business.
You mentioned wanting at least 70% back for upgrades from a vendor, well Jonathan at Good Old Gold (that Diamondseeker just suggested) has a lifetime trade up for upgrades and you'll get 100% back towards your upgrade with them.
I'd be very confident in dealing Jonathan, he's proven that he'd meet all of my requirements, especially for a substantial International purchase.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Crown angle too steep would be my guess Garry- but I'm not schooled on the numerical boundaries of GIA's EX cut grade, and don't want to take the time to look it up- so it is just a guess
David the girdle thikness is noted as 4% which is generally allowed in GIA's Ex cut grade (up to 4/5%), but in the case where the stone has deepish proportions they seem to have a rule to drop the grade because of this. You can check it with the Facetware on the site i mentioned above. Interestingly David on this 61%Table 60.4% shallow angled crown diamond http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1394165.asp gIA have allowed a 4.5% girdle thickness.

Interesting Garry- The stone you link to above has a far more shallow crown..so in essence, the steep crown angle combined with the girdle knocked the stone out of EX cut grade- sounds like I was at least partially correct
Also- Garry you must have some amazing diamonds for them to "get" light- in my experience diamonds use the light that comes to them- and some light will come through the girdle and pavilion if given the chance.
Better cut diamonds use the available light better- on that much I think we agree. Which is why hCA weeds out the better cut diamonds David. It is arguably a bit strict on steepish deepish stones but I have yet to hear that a person bought a stone with a good HCA and no silly sym or polish issues that they were unhappy with.

With regards to that statement Garry:
How many times have we seen someone buy an EX cut grade- based on visual cues, from a legit seller- only to have their confidence shaken for no other reason than HCA knocked it- no visual problems whatsoever.

I don't recall many posts complaining about a visual "problem" on many GIA EX cut grades.


Jerry- by all means speak to other vendors.
I would ask specifically about buy back and trade up policies- they've all got limitations, and buying big ticket item a seller needs to bring in ( as opposed to one from stock) might be such a case.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Crown angle too steep would be my guess Garry- but I'm not schooled on the numerical boundaries of GIA's EX cut grade, and don't want to take the time to look it up- so it is just a guess
David the girdle thikness is noted as 4% which is generally allowed in GIA's Ex cut grade (up to 4/5%), but in the case where the stone has deepish proportions they seem to have a rule to drop the grade because of this. You can check it with the Facetware on the site i mentioned above. Interestingly David on this 61%Table 60.4% shallow angled crown diamond http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1394165.asp gIA have allowed a 4.5% girdle thickness.

Interesting Garry- The stone you link to above has a far more shallow crown..so in essence, the steep crown angle combined with the girdle knocked the stone out of EX cut grade- sounds like I was at least partially correct
Also- Garry you must have some amazing diamonds for them to "get" light- in my experience diamonds use the light that comes to them- and some light will come through the girdle and pavilion if given the chance.
Better cut diamonds use the available light better- on that much I think we agree. Which is why hCA weeds out the better cut diamonds David. It is arguably a bit strict on steepish deepish stones but I have yet to hear that a person bought a stone with a good HCA and no silly sym or polish issues that they were unhappy with.

With regards to that statement Garry:
How many times have we seen someone buy an EX cut grade- based on visual cues, from a legit seller- only to have their confidence shaken for no other reason than HCA knocked it- no visual problems whatsoever.
no visual difference in whose opinion David? There have been hundreds of stories where hCA helped people avoid stones that are common in the GIA Ex cut proportion range that are not as good as others.
I don't recall many posts complaining about a visual "problem" on many GIA EX cut grades. None so blind as those who can not read


Jerry- by all means speak to other vendors.
I would ask specifically about buy back and trade up policies- they've all got limitations, and buying big ticket item a seller needs to bring in ( as opposed to one from stock) might be such a case.

 

[jerrysinclair]

Ok. Going to London, and Antwerp to see some diamonds.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Good luck, Jerry! You are going to be in a risky situation, so I hope you won't buy before posting the numbers on here.