shape
carat
color
clarity

Looking for advice

matt315

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
3
My wife and I are looking for a diamond that will make her mother happy. Big and sparkly are important, color really is not. We would be happy down in the L-N range even--it's going on an Asian finger so yellower won't be a problem at all. Ideally we could keep it under $3k, but my wife also cares that it is a good deal. We have been recommended to look for enhanced diamonds by some friends who have a couple nice ones that fit our general goals. I haven't seen anything about enhanced diamonds on here yet--how do people perceive those?

On the inclusion front, SI2 or maybe even I1 is fine, but we don't know how much that will affect the overall sparkliness.

We aren't particularly looking for resale value--just trying to make sure we don't overpay. If we want something more in the future we would just buy another at a higher price.

In the end, apparent size matters more than actual size (hoping to find an ideal cut with a larger diameter).

Known targets:
Cut: Brilliant round ideal
Size: 1.5ct +
Color: H or worse
Inclusions: SI1 or worse
Price: ideally under $3k, but honestly quite flexible

Thanks in advance for all your advice and recommendations. From all the stuff I've read here so far, everybody seems really nice.
 

tyty333

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
27,198
Hi Matt,
You are not going to get anywhere near 1.5 carat in a well cut round brilliant for $3k. You might try looking at
pre-loved rings on Diamondbistro.com or loupetroop.com. Your other option is to look at OECs (they are round but
have a different faceting pattern). You can look at mydiamondzone on ebay to see what he has. Sometimes he
has round brilliants too.

We dont recommend enhanced stones because they can eventually lose their enhancement if not taken care of properly.

It's a shame that you have to please your MIL instead of just getting something nice in your budget. Personally, I think
you should put your foot down and let her know that it's not about her or you may be setting yourself up to "satisfying"
MIL wants for the next 40+ years.

Good luck. Let us know if we can help you with anything.

tyty333

Edit...
http://diamondbistro.com/category/215/Loose-natural-Diamonds/listings/48120/Ethereal-Glowy-152-I-SI1-oec-75mmx73mm.html
https://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-diamond/red-weekend-sale-1-dot-33-chunky-white-facing-j-si1-oec
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
3k for 1.5 carat isn't going to happen. You'll be lucky to get a carat.

Your expectations are so unrealistic that it really isn't worth trying to post stones for you, I'm sorry. Come back when you have adjusted your expectations to reality and/or increase your budget. Then we can help you more.
 

matt315

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
3
Pinto--that's a great looking diamond. A little better than I was hoping for in some of the stats, but still really nice. Thanks for the link.

Tyty--those kinds of links are exactly what I was looking for. That ethereal glowy is really close to what I was looking for. Thanks for reading through an seeing that my budget is pretty flexible. Re: the MIL, yea, I wasn't planning to buy a diamond at all, but--she's going to buy me a Cadillac in return (Asian gift-giving traditions, apparently), so it's not nearly as bad as you might think.
As for the enhancement--we are willing to take care of it, that's not a problem. A couple friends have some very nice enhanced and the price was right. Since this isn't really an investment stone, we were thinking enhanced was probably a better way to go to get what we are looking for within our intended budget.

Gypsy--I expected more after reading through this forum for awhile. Why even reply? I set my basic parameters and my "hopeful" budget, but said that we were quite flexible when it came to budget.

Overall, thanks guys! I'll look through those sites a bit more and come back if I need any help with a particular stone.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,033
matt315|1472389593|4070846 said:
Pinto--that's a great looking diamond. A little better than I was hoping for in some of the stats, but still really nice. Thanks for the link.

Tyty--those kinds of links are exactly what I was looking for. That ethereal glowy is really close to what I was looking for. Thanks for reading through an seeing that my budget is pretty flexible. Re: the MIL, yea, I wasn't planning to buy a diamond at all, but--she's going to buy me a Cadillac in return (Asian gift-giving traditions, apparently), so it's not nearly as bad as you might think.
As for the enhancement--we are willing to take care of it, that's not a problem. A couple friends have some very nice enhanced and the price was right. Since this isn't really an investment stone, we were thinking enhanced was probably a better way to go to get what we are looking for within our intended budget.

Gypsy--I expected more after reading through this forum for awhile. Why even reply? I set my basic parameters and my "hopeful" budget, but said that we were quite flexible when it came to budget.

Overall, thanks guys! I'll look through those sites a bit more and come back if I need any help with a particular stone.

I think the issue with enhanced stones is that even if it seems like a "deal" at the time, they end up not being worth the risk since the enhancement can be "undone". Especially with certain types of enhancement I've heard that they can "revert" back somewhat easily. So I think in the end it's usually better to just pay for something stable (even some SI2s can be mostly eye-clean, and rare I1s have inclusions that can be covered with prongs, etc). So I'd recommend looking into 2nd hand stones in order to get the best "bang" for your buck.

Another question is: are you willing to consider a non-white diamond? I know you said color isn't an issue, but what about a "champagne" colored stone? Here's an example: http://www.leibish.com/champagne-diamonds/fancy-brown-round-14448,,, but these stones are kind of a love/hate thing. Some love and others don't. I'm strongly in the "love" category haha, but that's just me :)

Diamondsbylauren has some like this as well that I think are gorgeous:
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-brown-diamond-115ct-fancy-brown-yellow-si1-round-brilliant-beautiful-cut-r5414
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-brown-diamond-108ct-fancy-yellow-brown-si1-round-brilliant-diamond-gia-r7072
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-yellow-diamond-102ct-w-x-si1-round-brilliant-diamond-gia-r7033

EDIT to add some others from JBG (not quite 1.5 ct)
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-05-round-brilliant-gia-qr-vs2#.V8NUDGXK1ds
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-09ct-oecut-diamond-gia-s-t-vvs2#.V8NUF2XK1ds
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-28ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-m-vs1#.V8NUOGXK1ds

Also, Gypsy is a longtime poster here who has helped countless people find rings/stones. She's just expressing that your budget isn't going to get you 1.5 carats.
 

shaggy1

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Aug 19, 2016
Messages
146
How flexible is your budget? Can you double it? Can you go to 5000?

I would also caution you against enhanced stones. While the one your friends have might look good now, chances are the enhancements will fade within months or a year and then the stone will look like frozen spit on a setting.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
We aren't miracle workers. We operate in reality.

You posted a 3k budget for something that costs a minimum of double that.

You say your budget is "quite flexible". I have no idea what that means. What do YOU consider quite flexible? I don't consider 6-8k (which is what a K 1.4-1.5 ct costs you) from a 3k budget "flexible". That's double your original budget or more.

I stated that we would be happy to help you if you posted a realistic budget. All you had to do was actually GIVE US A REALISTIC BUDGET. Not tell us that you expect "better." I expect better too. I expect our posters to do minimum research on what their budget buys them before posting . But we don't always get what we want, now do we? If I could snap my fingers and get 8K stones for 3K I wouldn't be posting here. I'd be on a beach in Tahiti, where I would live full time with my staff of 5 full time retainers. :lol:


All MRBs with crown angles over 35 need an idealscope. If there is no way to get one, cross it off your list. Anything below VS1 with twinning wisps needs to be examined by a gemologist for transparency and haziness issues.

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-41ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-k-vs1#.V8O99a3FFS0
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-55ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-l-vs1#.V8O-NK3FFS0
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-k-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-82924
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.25-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-50185
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1976834
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1978859
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.56-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1869513
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-867534
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.56-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1869513

Those are you choices. Do you due diligence and get the idealscopes necessary and make sure anything with wisps needs to be checked for transparency.

Personally, I'd call IDJ and have them screen stones for you if you want lower clarity. I would not use a drop shipper for anything with wisps.
 

shaggy1

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Aug 19, 2016
Messages
146
Gypsy said:
Personally, I'd call IDJ and have them screen stones for you if you want lower clarity. I would not use a drop shipper for anything with wisps.

That's a great idea, especially since OP is interested in lower clarity and colors, which are generally difficult to buy online.
 

matt315

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
3
Just to update you all, I ended up going with a Brian Gavin Cape for around $4,500. Beautiful, beautiful ideal cut. VS2, but the idealscope looks like a VVS1. Not quite the weight I was looking for, but just under 7x7, so basically the size we wanted.

Thanks for all the advice!
 

tyty333

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
27,198
matt315|1475242177|4082336 said:
Just to update you all, I ended up going with a Brian Gavin Cape for around $4,500. Beautiful, beautiful ideal cut. VS2, but the idealscope looks like a VVS1. Not quite the weight I was looking for, but just under 7x7, so basically the size we wanted.

Thanks for all the advice!

Excellent...you got a well cut stone that should have really nice light return! A lot of people really like the buttery warmth of
a lower color. Glad you were able to find a quality stone.
 
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top