Long Story, Need Happy Endings

[blr66666]

Hi Everyone,

About a month ago, I purchased a pair of 2ct princess cut earrings (F Color, SI 1) from an online jewelry store. A few days after I got the earrings, I noticed a crack. I called them, they said no problem, it was probably my fault for cleaning the diamonds. They sent me another pair. I looked at it, and it did not look like an F color and it looked smaller than the 2 ct total weight. I contacted an appraiser, Carole Richbourg (she is wonderful!), and she confirmed that the earrings were H color and SI 2. I contacted the company again, and they claim that they were in a hurry and sent the wrong earrings. In the meantime, I found Pricescope, and started getting educated. I received the third pair of earrings, and I noticed that it looked like the first "cracked" earrings. Also, when you look at the diamond from underneath, you see flashes of pink fractures. Because of Pricescope, I was able to recognized a clarity enhanced diamond. I called them up and spoke with the sales girl, and she said that they do not sell clarity enhanced diamonds. The next day, I spoke with the other sales guy and he said that my earrings were clarity enhanced and that it was my fault I didn''t know it.

This was not on any of their paperwork nor on their website. He claims that it was. After much argument, he claims that he will refund my $ without charging me the 15% restocking fee. I am still waiting for the refund...

But now the happy ending part: I would like to purchase a 2 ct diamond earrings, probably an H color and SI clarity, but with an Ideal cut (Thanks Pricescope). I emailed with GoodOldGold, but they have not called me with anything. I also emailed Whiteflash. They said they can get me the Ready Set Go pair of earrings for $7560. I asked for the specifics and they said: H Color, SI Clarity, Table 62-68, Depth 64 to 75. This seems really general so I asked for more info and am waiting for it.

I guess my question are:
Do they generally give you more info if you buy a Ready Set Go pair or will I only get more info if I make my own pair?
Are there any stones that you guys will recommend?
Anyone out there have any complaints about Whiteflash, I have searched through the forums, but didn''t see any.
Anyone with a Ready Set Go earrings and are you happy with them?

I just don''t want to make a mistake. Thanks everyone.

Betty

 

[widget]

Hi, Betty...welcome!

I can''t answer any of your questions except to say that WF is generally very well thought of around here.

Mainly I want to say congrats for getting a refund and getting away from that dealer! Stories like yours make my blood boil

. I think selling CE diamonds without disclosure should be reported somewhere (after you cash your refund check, of course!)

Good luck in your search!
widget

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You''ll be better off choosing individual diamonds, IMO. If you do, then you can trade up later if you wish. But you can''t do that with the ready-set-go earrings, I don''t think. I''d choose diamonds from their Expert Selection, probably. You might want to call GOG in case there was an email problem. I''d imagine 1 ct. princess cuts would be pretty plentiful.

Glad you got out of the other situation!

 

[Kaleigh]

I''d buy the stones loose and build your own pair. Call GOG, ( FYI they are closed on Mondays ). Glad you got your money back and that you found PS!!!!

 

[Mara]

i would build your own earrings at that carat weight...then you have the option to upgrade. having seen WF's RSG earrings, they are lovely and the ones we saw showed arrow pattern and were beautifully cut. but you can't upgrade them if that is something you ever want to do. also i think they can give you more info than the general info that you were first given. see what they say.

HOWEVER, if you do want 1c H SI1/SI2 earrings, finding them individually with online vendors will be more like $9-10k than $7700 or whatever WF quoted you. so if the ES RSG earrings are close to ideal which i think they are pretty much ES earrings...and you don't think you want to upgrade, you may want to save the $2k to go that route. piecemealing may make sense but only if you can up your budget OR wait til the perfect set comes along. i looked on PS and found a 1.04 I SI2 with WF for $4000 but there was only one. and that's an I SI2. so H SI will be more pricey, there was a 1c H SI with GOG that was $6k.

i'd also see what other vendors have in stock too. so just to clarify, you got a princess set of earrings but are now looking for rounds? just want to make sure since in your post you said you had princesses but then started talking about getting new earrings and i don't think WF carries RSG princesses.

anyway what a fun project, and sorry to hear about your first bad experience....have fun shopping now!

 

[Rhino]

Date: 5/19/2006 2:18:24 PM
Author: Mara

there was a 1c H SI with GOG that was $6k.

??? I see an H VS1 for around 52xx on a wire but an H SI1 for 6k?!? You''re not tasting that excellent west coast wine now are you?

If so send some here!

 

[Mara]

Date: 5/19/2006 4:03:28 PM
Author: Rhino

Date: 5/19/2006 2:18:24 PM
Author: Mara

there was a 1c H SI with GOG that was $6k.

??? I see an H VS1 for around 52xx on a wire but an H SI1 for 6k?!? You''re not tasting that excellent west coast wine now are you?

If so send some here!

haha no i''m not sampling the wine YET..it''s too early over here!

I saw it on the PS link:
http://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=100&prc=6299

1.06 H SI1 for $6299.

 

[JulieN]

Mara...that''s a round.

 

[Mara]

Date: 5/19/2006 5:44:39 PM
Author: JulieN
Mara...that''s a round.

That is what I asked the original poster...the post confused me, she said she had princess cuts originally but then was looking at WF RSG which as far as I knew only came in rounds (but maybe now it''s princess too!)...anyway since she never clarified I was zoning out still thinking rounds I guess!

 

[JulieN]

Yup, they have RSG in PR. Must be the wine.

 

[Mara]

No, it''d be the iced tea...damn you guys must start drinking early!

 

[Gypsy]

*Shame faced* I was just looking over at my wine rack considering popping one open too. But you''re right... it''s still early.

Date: 5/19/2006 5:59:07 PM
Author: Mara
No, it''d be the iced tea...damn you guys must start drinking early!

 

[Rhino]

Date: 5/19/2006 5:59:07 PM
Author: Mara
No, it''d be the iced tea...damn you guys must start drinking early!

LMAO! ITS THE WEEKEND!

6PM TGIF!

 

[blr66666]

I am still looking for princess cuts. WF do have the Ready Set Go in Princess. I already have a pair of rounds in 1 carat total weight which I am hoping to turn into a ring? Not sure yet.

P.S. Unlike Mara, I had a great glass of wine with lunch today.

 

[Jelly]

The Ready Set Go earrings sound good unless you plan on upgrading and want it certificated.

Have you contacted Wink at Winfield''s? He has the "newly released AGS 0 cut grade for Princess cut diamonds." He can keep an eye out for you and hopefully find what you are looking for.
http://www.winkjones.com/specials/diamonds.php

 

[Rhino]

Hi Betty,

Unfortunately Ideal princess cuts (or even those with Ideal light performance) are not in abundance, particularly in matching pairs although I know we forwarded you a matching pair we have on hand. I know Tim is actively seeking a pair for ya and Lord willing we or whomever you have look for you will find a nice matching pair for you. Something you may want to consider too is if one vendor has 1 stone and another has a matching, one or the other could set them for you, whomever you want. Around these parts there is also Wink and Bill @ Icemine who also have Ideal princess cuts as well and are great guys too. Perhaps if one of us can''t find a perfect match, it may lie with 2 of us? We''re expecting a new updated inventory after the weekend so we''ll know more then but till then it''d be interesting if 2 matches can be located via this idea. Food for thought. Wait till you see the Ideals too ... they rock.

Kind regards,

 

[blr66666]

Hi Rhino,

Thanks for the idea. I saw a couple of stones that, I think, matched from different vendors, but what is the most important aspect in matching stones? Is it the measurements, or the color/clarity, or should the depth/table % be similar? Help! The more I learn the more confused I get.

 

[Rhino]

Date: 5/19/2006 10:15:35 PM
Author: blr66666
Hi Rhino,

Thanks for the idea. I saw a couple of stones that, I think, matched from different vendors, but what is the most important aspect in matching stones? Is it the measurements, or the color/clarity, or should the depth/table % be similar? Help! The more I learn the more confused I get.

1. Length/width ratio is close.
2. Actual length and width are close.
3. Number of chevrons on the pavilion. Since exploring the AGS Ideal princess cuts we are finding they are cut with various nuimbers of chevrons on the pavilion ranging from 2 chevrons and up to 4. I''d provide a graphic but I''m typing this out from home. 3 and 4 chevron ideal princess cuts look similar but there is a notable difference in appearance when you get to 2.
4. Tables as close as possible.
5. The clarities can be within a few grades, so long as they''re eye clean.
6. Since you are sticking with top cut qualities you can even consider colors within 1 or perhaps even 2 grades but I''d probably suggest a max of 1 grade to play safe. For example in studs you can easily mix an H with an I color and there will be no notable difference face up. Both will face up colorless. Same with an F and G or a G and an H.

The biggest factor affecting face up appearance between the 2 will be the cut, moreso than color or clarity.

Many times when people are selecting studs they try and get *too exacting* to the point where everything, even down to 1/100 of a degree is identical. It need not be so to get a great looking pair.

Other data is useful as well such as reflector images, 3D models, Sarin/Helium Reports etc. but the above will get you off to a good start. If we can see pictures or as much information as possible on each stone we can help see if they will be a good match. Also, don''t worry if one isn''t from us.

There''s plenty to go around for everyone and its a pleasure to be of help either way. I''d search and link you but as a participating vendor here I am prevented from linking to stones even if from other sites. There''s a great bunch of peeps here though who I''m sure will help. I''ll provide input on what I think. My only advice would be to search among vendors who stock the goods. It would be impossible to know if there''s a match from a "virtual inventory".

I''ll check here tomorrow for ya too Beth.

Kind regards,
Jonathan

 

[blr66666]

I just want to thank everyone for helping me and giving me ideas. Especially Tim & Rhino of Goodoldgold.com , they have been very helpful and I am learning alot.

 

[blr66666]

Which two would you pick if you want it to a) look as big as possible, and b) be square. With looking as big as possible the main criteria. Lastly, would an I stone look yellow with a white gold setting? Thanks for all your help.


Shape Wt. Clar Col Pol Sym Depth Table Leng Width Dept Lab Price
Princess 0.95 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 73.70 64.00 5.46 5.37 3.96 AGS $3,948.75

Princess 0.95 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 72.80 64.00 5.38 5.37 3.91 AGS $4,067.50

Princess 0.95 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 73.90 70.00 5.53 5.28 3.90 AGS $3,948.75

Princess 0.97 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 74.30 65.00 5.39 5.34 3.97 AGS $4,019.25

Princess 0.98 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 71.60 66.00 5.56 5.51 3.95 AGS $4,054.50

Princess 0.99 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 73.40 70.00 5.51 5.41 3.97 AGS $4,089.75

Princess 1.00 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 72.90 63.00 5.52 5.50 4.01 AGS $4,375.00

Princess 1.00 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 75.60 63.00 5.59 5.33 4.03 AGS $4,375.00

 

[diamondseeker2006]

How about these two (larger and close to the same size):

Princess 0.98 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 71.60 66.00 5.56 5.51 3.95 AGS $4,054.50

Princess 1.00 VS2 I Ideal Ideal 72.90 63.00 5.52 5.50 4.01 AGS $4,375.00

 

[blr66666]

Ok, how about these two? They are listed with WF as ideal cuts.

Shape Princess Princess
Carat 1.01 1.01
Color F F
Clarity SI1 SI1
Measurements 5.61-5.44X4.00 5.61-5.44X4.00
Table % 69 69
Depth % 73.5 73.5
Polish Excellent Excellent
Symmetry Very Good Very Good
Girdle M-STK M-STK
Culet None None
Fluorescence None None
Certificate GIA GIA
Sarin Report
IdealScope Report
Price $4,100.00 $4,175.00

 

[JulieN]

are you sure it's not the exact same stone twice?

If you're looking for inexpensive, then earring are a great place to skimp on color and clarity. (because those F SI1s...can't get AGS ideal for 4K)
I H
1.04 1.01
5.53-5.46 5.61-5.51
check if eyeclean "internal clouds that are not easily seen with the naked eye"

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2408714.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1980/

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Did you find those WF stones on the WF site? It does look like the same stone!

 

[blr66666]

I found the stones on the WF website and they have different stock# so it looks like two different stones.

 

[JulieN]

odds that they are different stones are ....slim to none.

Sometimes when the stones aren't in-house, things like that happen.

 

[blr66666]

Hi Everyone,

Well, here is the happy ending.

I just want to thank Jonathan (Rhino), Tim, Charles, and Christen (of GoodOldGold.com) for helping me finally find the earrings of my dreams. They rock!

They are about .96 points each, I color, Ideal Cut/Symetry/Polish.

 

[Carlotta]

WOW...those are nice earrings!!!

 

[Mexi]

They are stunning!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Betty,

They are beautiful! I think it is wonderful you realized the others were not good in time to return them and then get some really high quality ones! Unfortunately I bought my studs before finding PS, so now I am going to have to buy another pair!