Looking for advice on an upgrade

[AllyD]

Hi. I''m fairly new to this site, but I love it already. I enjoy seeing all the beautiful rings on here. So here are my questions. I''m in the market for an upgrade. I currently have a princess cut solitare that I love. The stone is great, but I''d like it a little bit bigger. Below are my stats to my ring now

1.06 carat
5.58 X 5.58 X 4.07mm
G Color
VS2 clarity
72.9% total depth
72% Table size
slightly thick to very thick girdle
Cutlet: none
Polish: very good
Symmetry: very good
Fluorescence: none

So, with all that, I''m looking for 1.5 up to a 2, no bigger. But what should I look for in terms of a better diamond. I realize D is the best color and IF is fantastic, but I want to be realistic to have a wonderful diamond, but not spend a huge fortune. My price range can''t exceed 12K. Can anyone give me some good advice when looking for a fantabulous princess cut diamond.

Attached is a picture of it, but it''s not the best. The stone is gorgeous and I get compliments on it all the time. I will try for a better picture later.

 

[AllyD]

Really... no advice from anyone? I just want to know what I should be looking for to get a great princess cut diamond. I realize fancy cut stones are different than RB. Please... even send me some links to good diamonds. THANKS!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/13/2010 6:58:58 AM
Author: AllyD
Really... no advice from anyone? I just want to know what I should be looking for to get a great princess cut diamond. I realize fancy cut stones are different than RB. Please... even send me some links to good diamonds. THANKS!

Hi Ally!

Sorry, I only just saw this!

What I would do is work with a vendor that has AGS0 cut grade Princess and hand selected GIA graded Princess also with all the images and info provided that you need in order to make an informed choice. This should get you much closer to the bullseye of finding a well cut Princess you will love.

Some suggestions,

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2174180.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7013/

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2270395.htm

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=232

 

[AllyD]

Thank you... can you tell me from looking at my current ring stats if we made a good purchase? I mean from the outside the ring looks beautiful, but I''d like an experts opinion if we made a good first choice. Any comments are welcome.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/13/2010 8:22:20 AM
Author: AllyD
Thank you... can you tell me from looking at my current ring stats if we made a good purchase? I mean from the outside the ring looks beautiful, but I''d like an experts opinion if we made a good first choice. Any comments are welcome.

It looks like a pretty stone Ally but I can''t tell much by the basic numbers and the photo unfortunately.

 

[AllyD]

What about Fluorescence? Currently mine doesn''t have any. I was told that a princess shouldn''t have any. Is that correct? What does it do if it has it as opposed to not having it?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/13/2010 9:29:38 AM
Author: AllyD
What about Fluorescence? Currently mine doesn't have any. I was told that a princess shouldn't have any. Is that correct? What does it do if it has it as opposed to not having it?

Fluorescence is a matter of taste and that isn't true that a Princess or any diamond shouldn't have any, it depends on the buyer. Faint or medium blue won't have much of an impact, strong or very strong blue can rarely make a stone look cloudy in some lights but this is rare and a trusted vendor can always inspect the stone for you and advise. Fluorescence has its fans, myself included as we enjoy the bluish glow that strong blue fluorescence can show.

Read more on fluorescence here from the Pricescope Tutorial.

 

[AllyD]

Lorelei... thanks so much for the advice and your comments, I really appreciate it. This is a great site!!!!!

Do you think that it is possible to find a nice stone that is at least a G or higher and nothing under a VS2 that is 1.5 or larger with a 12K budget, or is that pushing it?

Not sure if I''m pushing the envelope here... a girl can dream right?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/13/2010 11:44:18 AM
Author: AllyD
Lorelei... thanks so much for the advice and your comments, I really appreciate it. This is a great site!!!!!

Do you think that it is possible to find a nice stone that is at least a G or higher and nothing under a VS2 that is 1.5 or larger with a 12K budget, or is that pushing it?

Not sure if I'm pushing the envelope here... a girl can dream right?

You are most welcome, glad you like us and find us helpful!!

I will take another look for you, what matters the most to you, colour or clarity? If you want to keep to a higher colour then going for SI clarity might help us achieve the size you want, or if clarity matters more then a lower colour might help us get that, would you be prepared to compromise a bit if you want the very best cut?

Here are some I found, request an ASET image for each from James Allen if you are seriously interested in any of these,

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1294837.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1279073.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1288008.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1271435.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1288015.asp

 

[AllyD]

That''s a good question. I mean I guess cut should be number 1, right? Then from there, probably clarity... that''s a tough one... you stumped me... LOL! Help, anyone...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/13/2010 12:09:50 PM
Author: AllyD
That''s a good question. I mean I guess cut should be number 1, right? Then from there, probably clarity... that''s a tough one... you stumped me... LOL! Help, anyone...

Don''t worry, check out some of the selections I posted above as I was editing my post, see what you think of those, it is possible one of them could be a good fit for you.

 

[Dreamer_D]

What lab graded your present diamond? I am trying to get a feel for your current color standard.

 

[AllyD]

The stone is GIA certified... I have the paperwork at home. From what Lorelei sent me, I like these two so far. It looks like the G VSI has less inclusions, well just looking at the paperwork but they are both ranked VS1. My ring which is a G VS2 has one slight feather in the corner and it was ranked VS2. Not sure how they decide between a VS1 and VS2


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1279073.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1288015.asp

 

[AllyD]

Does anyone have any comments, thoughts, suggestions?

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think we need more input from you to really narrow the field. Budget is good to know, but within that there are a million carat, color, and clarity combos! What is your priority? Size? Color? Do you need an eye clean stone (SI) or do you need a mind clean stone (VS or higher)?

Are you sure you don''t want an RB?

It would be nice to have two different cuts if you are keeping your original stone!

 

[AllyD]

Hi Dreamer... I would trade my original stone in to get the upgrade, unless I win the lottery, then not needed!

But I do love my princess. My WB is also an eternity band princess cut with sapphires and diamonds. So I want to keep the same look.

I guess I want something bigger, but have the beautiful look to it... so probably CUT and then clarity???? Thoughts??? So mind clean over eye clean... but is there a HUGE difference?

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 4/13/2010 8:10:42 PM
Author: AllyD
I guess I want something bigger, but have the beautiful look to it... so probably CUT and then clarity???? Thoughts??? So mind clean over eye clean... but is there a HUGE difference?

If you want mind clean over eye-clean, you will have to pay for it. With a limited budget, that means a smaller stone, everything else being equal.

What about your color requirement?

 

[AllyD]

Right now I have a G, VS2, size 1.06. I''d like at least a 1.5 or bigger, but budget being at 12K not much more... so you think that an F at least VS is possible or even better?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/13/2010 8:47:36 PM
Author: AllyD
Right now I have a G, VS2, size 1.06. I''d like at least a 1.5 or bigger, but budget being at 12K not much more... so you think that an F at least VS is possible or even better?

Yes absolutely, some of the diamonds I posted above are F VS or higher.

 

[Sizzle]

Date: 4/13/2010 8:10:42 PM
Author: AllyD
Hi Dreamer... I would trade my original stone in to get the upgrade, unless I win the lottery, then not needed!

But I do love my princess. My WB is also an eternity band princess cut with sapphires and diamonds. So I want to keep the same look.

I guess I want something bigger, but have the beautiful look to it... so probably CUT and then clarity???? Thoughts??? So mind clean over eye clean... but is there a HUGE difference?

I think it might help if you tell us what vendor you plan to trade your diamond in with? Most vendors are not goind to accept someone else''s diamond.

 

[AllyD]

Well I would trade it in with the jeweler we bought it from originally. He said he''d take back any stone and give us what we paid for it... So I can either get a bigger stone from him or use one of these great online places I see people getting great stones from at some great prices. I guess I''m just a little hesitant buying a stone online. But reading others stories, I guess you get over it and it all seems to work out well...

 

[yssie]

Date: 4/14/2010 3:49:47 PM
Author: AllyD
Well I would trade it in with the jeweler we bought it from originally. He said he''d take back any stone and give us what we paid for it... So I can either get a bigger stone from him or use one of these great online places I see people getting great stones from at some great prices. I guess I''m just a little hesitant buying a stone online. But reading others stories, I guess you get over it and it all seems to work out well...

yes, PS vendors exist in a veritable fishbowl. They get tons of great reviews because they earn them, and when they screw up something like a million potential customers know about it, so it''s to their benefit to provide quality goods and services

 

[AllyD]

I''m adding a better picture of my wedding set. Even though I still want to upgrade my ER... it was fun posing the rings in candy!