Looking for ALECHOP

[aljdewey]

Hey, sorry it looks like your thread fractured into a bunch of different debates.




I (and I''m sure others) would still like to try and help you narrow down the field, if you haven''t run screaming into the night yet.

 

[alechope]

Ha!!
Yeah, man -- I just got busy, and when I returned .... !
What an eruption.

I'm currently taking a step back, as I didn't find any of the stones I previously listed to be really grabbing me. So, I've taken up with another vendor to get some more options (I never got the H and A pictures of the VS2 / I stone from the previous thread yet).

My two main options at the moment are (drum roll please...)

a VS2 / I, 0.931 ct. stone, with....
6.22x6.29x3.87
Table %56
Depth %61.9
Crown%34.3
Pavilion%40.6
Gridle 1.4 / 2.4 %
No Flurorescence
$4050

pictures to follow...

 

[alechope]

lightscope...

 

[alechope]

arrows..

 

[alechope]

hearts.

 

[alechope]

And another, which looks nice but sorta scrapes at the top of my price range:

I / VVS 2, 0.95 ct.
6.37x6.39
Table % 55
Depth % 61.1
Crown % 15.2
Pavilion % 43.0
$4526

(VERY similar hearts, arrows, etc ... to the other stone)

 

[Giangi]

The 0.931 I/VS 2 looks very pretty to me! Great proportions, crisp H&A images and the lightscope is great too! Sounds like a real winner... The I color should face up pretty white with such a great cut. Also, very important, it's within your budget parameters!

Since I recognized the site that offers this 0.931, I had a look at their inventory.

I hope you don't mind me doing that. This I/VS 2 was one of the best in your price and size range... But the following one is really close... 1.014 J/SI 1 ... Whatcha think?

 

[aljdewey]

Alechope: I think you've found a winner in the I, VS2 stone! It's a great price and looks to be well-cut. The symmetry in the H&A looks spot on from the pics, and it looks to score well on the HCA too (I didn't check it, just based on the #s)

I honestly don't think it's worth breaking your budget for the .95 stone....you're getting the same color, a clarity improvement that won't be visible to the unaided eye, and it's considerably more expensive. I personally can't see the point of paying the $500 premium for the VVS when you won't see it. (Also, the data for the VVS stone is percentages and not angles....which tend to be less accurate on the HCA).

 

[Mara]

I too like the I/VS2..that's a great Lightscope image! I would NOT pay more just to up the clarity to VVS, esp not $500 esp when the color is still I and you noted that the images look pretty much the same. Stick with the I/VS and pocket that extra $500 for a setting or something similar.




Nice images and good eye. Very discriminating!

Let us know what you decide..and apologies for the fact that your other post became a madhouse.

 

[pqcollectibles]

Eeeewwwwww, I like the pics of this one!

It is a VERY clean VS2. No inclusions visible in the scope pics. Def no need to pay the premium for VVS here.

 

[alechope]

Yeah, I'm excited about this one too.

So, next question: what's the deal with settings? I like the simple, classic tiffany-style settings (and already have heard various folks weigh in on whether four or six prongs are preferred), but there is a wide range of prices on them. Superbcerts, for instance, sells their tiffany for $650, while others sell them for as little as $80. So, let me just say I'm confused. The cost of that amount of gold isn't that much, so it must mainly be the work -- which raises the question: is it worth the extra money to get a more expensive setting?

What have people experienced? Did you find that the cheap ones looked it? Or did you blow hundreds of dollars for a setting you couldn't distinguish from the ones at the mall?

 

[alechope]

BTW,
I'm pretty much decided on this .93 ct I VS2 stone; going under .9 ct for better color that will be indetectable, especially in a yellow gold setting, which was my other option ... well, I just can't bring myself to do it.

I know that the size difference between .93 and, say, .89 cts is virtually indetectable, but there's that all-important psychological difference.

Any last minute dissenters to this decision? Speak now, or forever hold your peace.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

----------------
On 11/1/2003 1:16:34 PM alechope wrote:





BTW,
I'm pretty much decided on this .93 ct I VS2 stone; going under .9 ct for better color that will be indetectable, especially in a yellow gold setting, which was my other option ... well, I just can't bring myself to do it.

I know that the size difference between .93 and, say, .89 cts is virtually indetectable, but there's that all-important psychological difference.

Any last minute dissenters to this decision? Speak now, or forever hold your peace.

----------------

Alchope,

You have indeed found a magnificent stone and outstanding vendor. Go with your gut and get the I/vs2. You will be surprised on how it faces up..especially because it has been cut within strict ideal proportions. I think if you placed the stone in platinum you might be hard pressed to notice the subtle color hue....

With the setting keep a couple things in mind.

If you were to line up 10 tiffany style look alike setting's 9 which were $80.00 and one which was $650.00 I think you would be surprised that you would be able to tell the difference of the quality, craftmanship, and attention to detail which went into the $650.00 model. Yes, quality does come with a high price tag, but rest assured the materials and quality control that went into the piece are far superior than the $80.00 model....Think about it like sticking a high performance engine in a rusted out pinto....

Showcasing your diamond in a setting which is of high quality should give you the piece of mind that you are receiving great quality control and workmanship in a piece which no doubt comes with a higher price tag....

-Just my 2 cents.........

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Good Lord, that stone's a beauty.

 

[alechope]

----------------
On 11/1/2003 3:32:14 PM *Colored Gemstone Nut* wrote:

----------------

On 11/1/2003 1:16:34 PM alechope wrote:





BTW,

I'm pretty much decided on this .93 ct I VS2 stone; going under .9 ct for better color that will be indetectable, especially in a yellow gold setting, which was my other option ... well, I just can't bring myself to do it.

I know that the size difference between .93 and, say, .89 cts is virtually indetectable, but there's that all-important psychological difference.


Any last minute dissenters to this decision? Speak now, or forever hold your peace.

----------------

Alchope,

You have indeed found a magnificent stone and outstanding vendor. Go with your gut and get the I/vs2. You will be surprised on how it faces up..especially because it has been cut within strict ideal proportions. I think if you placed the stone in platinum you might be hard pressed to notice the subtle color hue....

With the setting keep a couple things in mind.

If you were to line up 10 tiffany style look alike setting's 9 which were $80.00 and one which was $650.00 I think you would be surprised that you would be able to tell the difference of the quality, craftmanship, and attention to detail which went into the $650.00 model. Yes, quality does come with a high price tag, but rest assured the materials and quality control that went into the piece are far superior than the $80.00 model....Think about it like sticking a high performance engine in a rusted out pinto....

Showcasing your diamond in a setting which is of high quality should give you the piece of mind that you are receiving great quality control and workmanship in a piece which no doubt comes with a higher price tag....

-Just my 2 cents.........

----------------

I can see what you're saying ... and what I think I'll do is get a cheapish setting, then let my girlfriend pick another setting herself; I can do the diamond picking myself -- she doesn't know for sure when I'm going to buy the ring -- but if I'm going to pay a few hundred dollars for a very nice setting, then I probably ought to make sure it's one she'll like -- what do you think?

 

[valeria101]

Great stone (I, VS2), so, if you are comfortable with the price (it seems the incorporate some premium of sorts) nothing should stop you! It seems that you are getting what you are paying for: meaning top stone for top price. But this is OK, right?

 

[aljdewey]

Alechope, you've made a great decision! This I stone will face up WHITE.




Good advice from Josh, too....pointless to get a top-shelf diamond and stick it in a mediocre setting. I think you're RIGHT ON TARGET in choosing an inexpensive, plain temp setting and letting her choose the permanent one.




Sounds like you're there, bud! Great job......make SURE you post pics for us!

 

[pqcollectibles]

I heard an old saying once. The guy should pick the stone and the gal should pick the setting. Sounds like you got the right idea!

You picked a great diamond, she'll be tickled pink with the proposal, and get a shopping spree to boot!

Now that's a plan!

Oh, and the color,.... Your I should look great in white gold or platinum. Prob the only way you'll see a dif is if you were to put it side by side, loose against a comparable CUT diamond at least 2 steps higher in color. I saw a .85 carat J against a .766 H and the only dif was in the body. The J had just a touch more "body" to it than the H. Not "ew yuck" yellow. Just a bit of warmth.

 

[alechope]

----------------
On 11/1/2003 8:06:09 PM valeria101 wrote:



Great stone (I, VS2), so, if you are comfortable with the price (it seems the incorporate some premium of sorts) nothing should stop you! It seems that you are getting what you are paying for: meaning top stone for top price. But this is OK, right?

----------------

Ah, yes -- I know it's a premium -- and you probably missed my first round of posts, wherein I explain why: my girlfriend's father is a GIA gem grader! So ... I have a more discerning set of eyes to please (which is why I hesitated at first on even the I color, but couldn't justify a higher-priced stone with color neither I nor my girlfriend would be able to see in the yellow gold she wants (that much I know about her desires!), even if it might look yellow to him.

)

Thanks for the commments!
And yes, I'll post pictures if / when I can!

 

[Mara]

Congratulations!! The stone sounds lovely and I'm sure will be beautiful - discriminating eye!! Can't wait to see pictures!