James Allen?

[RoyalFB]

Is this a well known, respected vendor? I have listed the stone I am looking at below. Is this a nice stone/good value in your opinion?? Thanks for any input you could offer.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1130956.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

P.S. There is a pricescope discount of about $350 from the listed price...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

James Allen is a reliable vendor. I am not sure about the stone...it looks good to me, but it does not actually have the AGS ideal lab certificate. So a princess expert will have to help you with that part!

 

[RoyalFB]

Should all ideal cut stones have an AGS lab certificate?

 

[RoyalFB]

Is that separate from the GIA report?

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 1/2/2008 6:54:04 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
James Allen is a reliable vendor. I am not sure about the stone...it looks good to me, but it does not actually have the AGS ideal lab certificate. So a princess expert will have to help you with that part!

Ditto that. Sans AGS cert...I would at least definitely ask him for an IS image of it. And, while you''re at it...ask him for an ASET image, too. It can''t hurt to ask.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 1/2/2008 6:57:54 PM
Author: RoyalFB
Should all ideal cut stones have an AGS lab certificate?

AGS is the only grading lab that grades princess stones "ideal". What we sometimes see on here is diamond vendors labelling a stone as "ideal" based on it's favorable features, but that does not mean it would make the AGS Ideal grade. It might, though. There's nothing wrong at all about GIA...you just don't have quite as much info as you would if it was graded by AGS. That said, I have rounds by both GIA and AGS, so don't worry about that part! You just need some more info to make a decision.

 

[RoyalFB]

I just called and they said they don''t have any of that information... Should I order, have it checked by an independent appraiser, and send it back if it''s not up to par? Or would you just recommend buying with all of that info up front?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Go look at the two stones I just linked you on your other thread first. The JA stone is not as square as the WF stones.

 

[carabella]

We bought my engagement ring and wedding band through James Allen. Both were custom...I have something similar to the Jessica Simpson set (three stone pear with shared prong eternity band). Jim and Jennifer were great to work with and we will totally buy from James Allen again.