Looking for guidance...

[alechope]

Hi, ye experts,
I''ve done quite a bit of reading and research, and am about to actually pick and buy a stone to go in a solitaire ring. I''d like to ask a couple of questions, then maybe get some advice / opinions on specific diamonds.

1) My girlfriend''s father works as a grader for GIA, so top quality is sort of necessary (though, of course, I''d want it anyway!). If I''m looking to spend ~$4000, I seem to be finding that I can get reasonably good cuts (from what little I know) at around 0.85-0.9 carats with reasonable (G-H) color. Is this reasonable? If so, I can put up some particular descriptions.

2) Are there any other internet retailers y''all would recommend beyond the ones linked to from pricescope? I''ve found good old gold and dirt cheap diamonds to be the most user friendly

3) Are there any advantages to buying from a local store, instead of an online dealer -- it seems that, with all the certification / sarin report stuff, that you can get pretty darn safe these days with these online retailers. Any dissenting opinions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[pqcollectibles]

Stick with CUT as your top priority. The better the CUT, the better the performance.

If you have to choose between CUT and color or clarity, drop the color and/or clarity. G/H/I/J colors are much more "budget" priced than D/E/F. SI1's and some SI2's can also yield better pricing. Depending on size, shape, color, and location of inclusions many SI1's and some SI2's are 100% eye clean.

CUT is the single most important factor to consider in the performance of any diamond.

Your budget is reasonable for a well CUT diamond in the size and color range you mentioned. Get crown and pavilion angles to plug into the HCA for screening purposes. The HCA will help guide you in weeding out poor performers.

 

[alechope]

Possibilities:

1)
0.87 carat
VS1 G color
6.11x6.14x3.78
56% table
61.8% depth
34.7 deg. crown
40.7 deg. pav.
$4410

2)
0.87 carat
S1 G
6.12x6.14x3.78
56% table
61.7% depth
34.7 deg. crown
40.7 deg. pav.
$3860

3)
0.92 carat
VS2 H
6.24x6.27x3.87
57% table
61.6% depth
34.2 deg. crown
40.9 deg. pav.
$4629


Also, could someone tell me how to get crown and pavilion information from, say, dirt cheap diamons? I don't know where to look. Thanks.

 

[stephcola]

Try Blue Nile. I just purchased a beautiful stone and the price was great. They have the best customer service and the most comprehensive and easy to navigate website. Everytime you call them you get an actual person . Each one I spoke to is nicer than the next. Try Steve at X7912. He was unbelievable!!!They have a 30 day return policy. I bought and returned a stone I wasn't crazy about - no problems. The new one is fabulous!

One of the best reasons to buy from Blue Nile is that they own their inventory. They can actually have one of their gemologist physically look at a stone for you without having to call it in from a wholesaler.

All the other online vendors were very helpful as well. Just pick someone with a great return policy. 30 days was very helpful for me because I got to live with it for awhile. I realized after some time that I wasn't crazy about the color. My new stone was a better color. Good luck.

 

[alechope]

Thanks for the tip about calling -- D'oh! I just forget to think about calling Internet places.

I'll try them today or tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[alechope]

One more question:
Is I color going to be noticable? It's looking like I can get a slightly nicer stone (a bit bigger and better-cut) with VS2 clarity if I'm willing to go down to I from H. So, in the balance of I color / VS2 clarity vs. H color / S1 clarity vs. smaller with H color / SV2 clarity or bigger with I color / S1 clarity, what do y'all recommend?

 

[canadiangrrl]

I'd drop the clarity to SI1 and up the colour to H. Nothing against an I stone - it's all a matter of personal preference - I just prefer stones with less body colour and am not overly concerned with clarity. An SI1 of this size should be eyeclean - make sure you have it inspected and/or appraised in order to be sure.

 

[pqcollectibles]

If you are looking Super Ideal and Ideal CUTS, I and J color diamonds will be no problem at all. Even set against white gold or platinum. There are more than a few pics of I and some J color diamonds in the "Show Me the Ring" portion of the Forum. Take a look! Throw in some blue Flour and you will get marvelous flashes of blue light as well!

I bought from White Flash. They were great to work with. I spoke with several other Vendors and all were very friendly and helpful. Just ask for the info you want. They will work to get it for you!

 

[alechope]

Canadiangrrl: eye clean S1s have what sort of inclusions that make them S1s? I'm curious. (ps Habemus ad Dominum!)

PQcollectables: thanks for the advice, and for the White Flash tip. I'm planning on spending a few hours calling around tomorrow. I'm leaning toward a higher color than is typically visible to make sure that the GIA-grader / father doesn't think I was skimping

 

[glitterata]

Are you planning to do the ask-the-father thing? Do you and her father get along? If so, you might ask his advice about what to look for.

(Of course, I can also imagine not wanting to future in-laws involved in what might seem like a very personal gift that marks a new, independent stage in their daughter's life.)

 

[Arlington]

----------------
On 10/23/2003 2:40:06 PM alechope wrote:

thanks for the advice, and for the White Flash tip. I'm planning on spending a few hours calling around tomorrow. I'm leaning toward a higher color than is typically visible to make sure that the GIA-grader / father doesn't think I was skimping

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

I would suggest contacting a couple of vendors who post on this board, explaing your situation and see what they would suggest. They may look at it as a fun challenge to get you set up with a great diamond in your price range that will knock daddy's socks off. I had good luck doing that with both both Good Old Gold and with Whiteflash. Both were very helpful in helping me make the right "choices". In the end I went with Whiteflash as they had a stone that fit my criteria to a 't'. There are many other helpful vendors on here, contact them and see what they can do for ya.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Mara]

Great choices! I would definitely go G/H SI to maximize size and cut on your budget. Be sure to focus on cut and whatever vendor you choose should be willing to support that search if you so decide (e.g. crown and pav angles and other information, closeups of the stone, reports, etc).




Since you note about quality, I don't know that I'd go I or J color just to get more size in this instance. G or H will be white but the I/J area is where it really starts to depend more heavily on how people perceive color. If you dont see it and she doesn't but her dad does (if he is a grader!), then I'd stay away from I or J and stick with no lower than H.




My two cents. My G stone is very white and I love it.




Good luck!

 

[canadiangrrl]

Clarity is graded from the face up position. The location, size, and number of inclusions will affect how the diamond is graded. And clarity grading is a subjective science at best - what I may judge as eyeclean, you may judge as being visibly included. Depends an awful lot on the acuity of your vision. And if you know where the inclusions are located (from the cert) they're going to be easier for you to find. I wouldn't worry too much about an SI1 in an RB of that size being eyeclean. I have not seen hundreds of diamonds, but I've seen quite a few round SI1's up close & personal, and I've never seen one that I wouldn't deem as being eyeclean.

Ps - Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro, my fellow R.C.

Edited because clarity is graded in the face up position, and I had it as being graded face down. Note to self - no more giving advice pre-coffee.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

I have a 1.55 SI-1, G & its COMPLETELY eye clean. All you can see are the beautiful arrows.

If you want more bang for your buck, SI-1, I is great. I'm colour sensative, if she is/you are, then perhaps you should look at H.
What I also would recommend you do is find a stone with a GIA cert. haha