looking for ideal princess

[altamurl]

Hi guys,

I am shopping for a small (0.5 carat) but ideal princess cut diamond. I''ve done my homework a bit, and here are my current criteria:

budget: $3000 (stone only)
carat: 0.5-0.6
cut: ideal
clarity: IF-VVS2
color: D-E
fluorescence: none
culet: none
polish: ideal-very good
symmetry: ideal-very good

I''ve read the AGA charts for an ideal princess:
table: 62-68%
crown height: 10-15%
depth: 64-75%

My questions are these: Can I buy a good diamond merely by finding a stone with specs within these ranges? Will any combination of specs within these ranges work? If all three numbers are close to the middle of these ranges, is that best?

Thanks!

 

[Regular Guy]

1) Consider buying AGS0 (search and read broadly on this board why)...
2) spend less...

Welcome to Pricescope...

 

[JulieN]

Mmm, I'm going to suggest a 2-chevron:
.52 E VVS1 $2210 http://www.winkjones.com/specials/diamonds.php
.55 F VVS2 $1887 http://www.diamondexpert.com/diamonds_infinity_browse.html

As to your questions, the answers are no, no, and no.

An ideal princess, here and now, means an AGS Ideal.

 

[altamurl]

ok, i''ve read about the AGS 0 grading for cut quality.

I did some searching, and here are a few that I found at Whiteflash. Please let me know what you think:

http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-21984.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-159849.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-159857.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-160450.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-160446.htm

They are all around 0.5 carat, E-F, VVS1-VVS2 stones.

I can''t really tell the difference at this point.

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[JulieN]

ACA''s are 3 chevron.

Both Whiteflash and Infinity are very well known for their premium crafted stones.

Theoretically, I have some preference for a 2-chevron in this size, but you might want to see for yourself.

 

[altamurl]

sorry ... but 2 chevron vs 3 chevron? I''m not even sure what you are talking about?

And why do you have a preference "in this size"?

Thanks

 

[JulieN]

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/29/1/Grading-the-Princess-Cut.aspx
It is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Read what you can, pages 1 and 3 are relevent to this discussion, and if you don't understand something, it's ok, there's no test on it.

A half carat stone is, as you say, small. You get smaller flashes from a small stone than from a big stone. And generally speaking, the more facets you put on a stone, the smaller the flashes of light will be. So a 2-chevron, which has less facets than a 3-chevron, will give you bolder, though less frequent, flashes. The reason why I suggest a 2-chevron is because it would theoretically counteract, so to speak, the smaller size, so that you would actually get flashes from your stone instead of more of a "shimmery" effect.

 

[altamurl]

Ok, I think I understand the 2 vs 3 chevron thing now. But ... I really like the sleek legato solitaire setting on he WF site, so I think I may go with them.
So, I think that I like this stone best of the 5 that I listed earlier. Does the idealscope pic look good? And does the culet matter much in a stone of this size?

Am I generally being too picky about specs in this size stone? My girlfriend doesnt want a big rock, but I want a perfect one ... just for principle''s sake.

Thanks!

. Report: AGS
. Shape: A Cut Above Princess
. Carat: 0.547
. Depth %: 72.9
. Table %: 70.3
. Crown Angle: 41.7
. Crown %: 11.7
. Pavilion Angle: 39.7
. Pavilion %: 58.7
. Girdle: Thin to Medium
. Measurements: 4.52-4.45X3.24
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

IdealScope pic
http://www.whiteflash.com/pimg/IdealScope/IS_AGS-7544708.jpg

 

[JulieN]

Mmm, well, either you can pick one (somewhat randomly...) or Whiteflash can pick one for you?

I think they'd say....they all look the same. I'd definitely call Whiteflash about it...at least, it would be educational.

 

[jaz464]

Date: 3/6/2007 7:24:39 PM
Author: altamurl

Am I generally being too picky about specs in this size stone? My girlfriend doesnt want a big rock, but I want a perfect one ... just for principle's sake.

Since you asked, yes I believe you are. By choosing a diamond with a super cut, F-H in color, and VS2-SI1 (with absolutely no visible inclusions) you can get closer to a .70 carat. With an eye clean SI1 you will see no difference from a VVS diamond with the naked eye. So why pay the extra money? That is by no means a "big rock" but a size that I do think your GF will appreciate. Princesses don't always face up the biggest; rounds look bigger in the same carat weight. So yes, I would relax your criteria a bit.

 

[altamurl]

Haha ... well thanks for your honesty ...

But really, she told me 0.5 carat. A bunch of her friends have this size, and she even thinks that 0.5 carat is kinda big. My gf and I both work in laboratories, and so she really doesnt want a big stone jutting out from her hand because that would be a pain to get latex gloves on top of ... not to mention that it might slice up her gloves.

I really wanted to get a blitzed out setting with pave stones and all, but again ... she just wants a solitaire. So, I decided to max out the specs on the stone. This is my only chance to buy her an engagement ring, and so I want it to be perfect, if she doesnt want big (relatively) and glitzy.

Thanks!

 

[WinkHPD]

You are doing VERY well by actually listening to your wife to be, so many men don''t, it just makes the post marriage training period longer. My own took somewhere around twenty years, but the results were well worth it as we will celebrate 34 years this August.

Good luck with your search, you have several great alternatives available to you here and you have been given some great advice about where to learn more.

Wink