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Lab Grown Diamond Newbie - Help Needed

jBright

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jun 27, 2020
Messages
112
Hi All!!

This forum helped me so much in my own diamond search that I'm back for more!!!

This is my first venture into Lab Grown Diamonds.

My brother said his girlfriend wants a
  • 2.5 + oval lab grown diamond
  • eye clean
  • h +
  • diamond pave band
  • halo
The price he got in store was $12.5k.

I feel like we can do better!!! I would like to stay under $10k if possible.

I really do not have any knowledge on lab grown diamonds. Do they have reports? Is there one report I should lean towards more?

I also do not know anything about oval "patterns" like you do not want "mush" right? Lol

Any and all help with this is appreciated and needed.

TIA!!!
 
It can be done better but I am not an oval expert so I defer to others to find the stone. But props for helping your brother.

IGI reports are just fine. I don’t have any LGD with gia so can’t comment on them. I don’t know of other reputable labs for LGD reports. Don’t go with a seller-provided report or appraisal though.

I have a ring with pave from James Allen and so far the quality has held up. They have sales with 25% off settings every few months.
 
This seems very expensive to me. Have you looked at some of the online retailer’s? I would go up to a G if you can. From what I have seen of a lot of H lab diamond’s in fancy cuts, this is where you start seeing tint. If you have someone pre-screening the diamond for you, then it is probably okay.
 
Hi All!!

This forum helped me so much in my own diamond search that I'm back for more!!!

This is my first venture into Lab Grown Diamonds.

My brother said his girlfriend wants a
  • 2.5 + oval lab grown diamond
  • eye clean
  • h +
  • diamond pave band
  • halo
The price he got in store was $12.5k.

I feel like we can do better!!! I would like to stay under $10k if possible.

I really do not have any knowledge on lab grown diamonds. Do they have reports? Is there one report I should lean towards more?

I also do not know anything about oval "patterns" like you do not want "mush" right? Lol

Any and all help with this is appreciated and needed.

TIA!!!

Lots of us here and able and willing to help you out!

What metal for the setting?
 
Seems expensive to me, too. I don’t know the first thing about ovals, I’m sorry I won’t be much help. But I’ve found plenty of 2.5ct+ High color ovals on Clean Origin for $5-8k…
 
Here's a link to the PS diamond search engine for 2.5+ carat oval LGDs.

In conjunction, there are some additional great sellers that are active here on the forum.
Jon (Rhino) at Distinctive Gem and David (Rockdiamond) at Diamonds by Lauren, to name a couple.
 
With proper research ,I honestly believe the quoted price of $12k can be easily be beat by more than a few thousand dollars.1st and foremost "stay away from brick and mortar stores", the purchase will have to be online for the fairest prices. For example my wife's James Allen, lab grown engagement ring = 1.46ct round center stone ,triple exc, color E , vs2 clarity, hearts and arrows was $3200, which turned into $4500 after the platinum setting and .54tcw of loose stone built into it. We went to a certain name brand retailer afterwards and had the same ring quoted in lab grown fashion and guess what the price was?, You guessed it,$12k! https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=LTRHeHAzRUFuOWh0TEt2X0xWYlVCRnh3My0wR3Rn
 
WOW! Thanks everyone for your responses!! I'm sorry it took me awhile to respond - I wasn't getting the alerts!
This seems very expensive to me. Have you looked at some of the online retailer’s? I would go up to a G if you can. From what I have seen of a lot of H lab diamond’s in fancy cuts, this is where you start seeing tint. If you have someone pre-screening the diamond for you, then it is probably okay.
Thank you! So my suspicions are correct that that is a high price!

Lots of us here and able and willing to help you out!

What metal for the setting?
Thank you!! I would say white gold or platinum. But I'll ask my brother when he's away from his GF. Too afraid to text him without her finding out.

Seems expensive to me, too. I don’t know the first thing about ovals, I’m sorry I won’t be much help. But I’ve found plenty of 2.5ct+ High color ovals on Clean Origin for $5-8k…
Thank you!

& thank you to everyone else that has responded!
 

is this a good quality diamond? I found it on the list that @DejaWiz linked me :)


with this band?

those 2 together would be approx $9200. So much cheaper than 12k ;-).
 
Whoops. She likes a hidden halo not regular halo :). So something more like this:


Thanks all! Makes it under $9k!
 
Have a look at this 2.79ct E VS2 made with the HPHT method:

Here are the halo settings they offer:

Here is their cathedral style hidden halo:
 
Have a look at this 2.79ct E VS2 made with the HPHT method:

Here are the halo settings they offer:

Here is their cathedral style hidden halo:


Same stone that @DejaWiz linked, from Adiamor (should you like their settings - I myself do and I have 2 of them) I've never had an issue with Adiamor and their service is excellent.


They will price match another retailer.

Thank you @DejaWiz and @kb1gra - I asked an "expert" on rarecarat - and he said he might see a bowtie with this diamond? what are your thoughts. I have no experience in the Oval realm - so it's hard for me.

I’m not an expert in oval cuts by any means but I personally love this one!

Thank you @EClove ! Unfortunately this one is already sold!

I did get to talk to my brother over the holiday weekend - and he's set to propose SOON. I would love to get the biggest 2.5+ oval LGD, G+, no visible inclusions. I would LOVEEE to keep it under $10k (with the setting & all), so I think we have a budget of around $8500 for diamond.

Any and all suggestions would be LOVELY and so helpful.

Also - are there any grading differences between IGI and GCAL?

The rare carat guy sent me these 2 options:

2.51ct F VS2 Rare Carat Ideal Cut Oval Lab Grown Diamond

2.51ct E VS2 Rare Carat Ideal Cut Oval Lab Grown Diamond

THANK YOU!!
 
Thank you @DejaWiz and @kb1gra - I asked an "expert" on rarecarat - and he said he might see a bowtie with this diamond? what are your thoughts. I have no experience in the Oval realm - so it's hard for me.



Thank you @EClove ! Unfortunately this one is already sold!

I did get to talk to my brother over the holiday weekend - and he's set to propose SOON. I would love to get the biggest 2.5+ oval LGD, G+, no visible inclusions. I would LOVEEE to keep it under $10k (with the setting & all), so I think we have a budget of around $8500 for diamond.

Any and all suggestions would be LOVELY and so helpful.

Also - are there any grading differences between IGI and GCAL?

The rare carat guy sent me these 2 options:

2.51ct F VS2 Rare Carat Ideal Cut Oval Lab Grown Diamond

2.51ct E VS2 Rare Carat Ideal Cut Oval Lab Grown Diamond

THANK YOU!!

The 2.79 from AoJ/Adiamor above should not have a visible bow tie. It appears to be a very nice stone.
 
i've blown the budget. LOL. is this a beautiful LGD?


It's 3.00 - and wouldn't that be nice to say "this is 3 carats" lol

Here...HPHT 2.50 E VS1


Thank you @DejaWiz - do you like this 2.5 over the 2.79 previously sent?



This is the size difference between the 3.0 and the 2.79 - and probably a $1k-ish difference in price.

1640649767027.png
1640649784117.png
 
@jBright the 3.00 carat is an undisclosed blue nuance (Type IIb) and will have a slight turquoise tint to it.

If the 2.79 is still on the table as a possibility, then I'd lean towards it for the slightly bigger spread.
I found the 2.50 carat to stick to the new budget at $8500 max.
 
@jBright the 3.00 carat is an undisclosed blue nuance (Type IIb) and will have a slight turquoise tint to it.

If the 2.79 is still on the table as a possibility, then I'd lean towards it for the slightly bigger spread.
I found the 2.50 carat to stick to the new budget at $8500 max.

WOW. Thanks @DejaWiz - I'm not even sure what that means - but it doesn't sound good! That's why I leave it up to you experts to not steer me wrong. Greatly appreciate everyone's help here.

I've sent the 2.79 option to my brother and reached out for the price match :). Will keep you guys updated!!
 
WOW. Thanks @DejaWiz - I'm not even sure what that means - but it doesn't sound good! That's why I leave it up to you experts to not steer me wrong. Greatly appreciate everyone's help here.

I've sent the 2.79 option to my brother and reached out for the price match :). Will keep you guys updated!!

A Type IIb will have a distinctly unique look to it...web search Hope Diamond and you'll see what that's all about, although not nearly to the saturation and hue of the Hope Diamond.
If that is an appearance that your brother and his intended will *want* to have, then it would be OK to search for diamonds that have a trace of boron in the molecular structure. Please note that they will have to *want* and be perfectly fine with the light blue tint and absorption of yellow light.
 
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A Type IIb will have a distinctly unique look to it...web search Hope Diamond and you'll see what that's all about, although not nearly to the saturation and hue of the Hope Diamond.
If that is an appearance that your brother and his intended will *want* to have, then it would be OK to search for diamonds that have a trace of boron in the molecular structure. Please note that they will have to *want* and be perfectly fine with the light blue tint and absorption of yellow light.

Thank you :)!!! Appreciate all of your help and great knowledge!!
 
A Type IIb will have a distinctly unique look to it...web search Hope Diamond and you'll see what that's all about, although not nearly to the saturation and hue of the Hope Diamond.
If that is an appearance that your brother and his intended will *want* to have, then it would be OK to search for diamonds that have a trace of boron in the molecular structure. Please note that they will have to *want* and be perfectly fine with the light blue tint and absorption of yellow light.

Dejawiz-How can you tell there is undisclosed blue nuance on that 3ct.? Just trying to learn:read:
 
Dejawiz-How can you tell there is undisclosed blue nuance on that 3ct.? Just trying to learn:read:

If you look for the blue tint, you can see it from a variety of angles...and the tint is most noticable from the side profile out near the edges of the girdle.
The overall look of the diamond will usually have a steely-blue or steely-blue-gray appearance instead of icy white (for HPHTs in the colorless range, anyway).
Type IIb diamonds in the G and worse grades may, and usually do, have a notation of Blue Nuance or Faint Blue on the grading report (for IGI graded diamonds).
Once you see it, you can never un-see it...which is why I try to affirm that it is a look that the wearer *must* be perfectly fine with to avoid regret or grow to despise.

Screenshot_20211227-213518.png

Screenshot_20211227-213642.png
 
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Wow! Great observations on the stone itself! I had no idea....I was looking and magnifying the cert (before I just gave up and asked :lol: ) trying to see what clued you in-- and wondered if where it read "type II" under the comments, the fact that there was no "a" (type IIa) that it meant the presence of boron. Good eye Dejawiz! Thanks for the lesson :appl:
 
Wow! Great observations on the stone itself! I had no idea....I was looking and magnifying the cert (before I just gave up and asked :lol: ) trying to see what clued you in-- and wondered if where it read "type II" under the comments, the fact that there was no "a" (type IIa) that it meant the presence of boron. Good eye Dejawiz! Thanks for the lesson :appl:

You're welcome, @luvmysparklies !
I really wish all of the four primary labs that grade LGDs (GIA, AGS, IGI, and GCAL) actually did put the diamond type on every diamond that they grade, or at least for every Type IIb that they come across since it's a quick and easy electrical conductivity test.
 
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