Looking for opions, Please help me choose (Newbie :)

[dolphin76]

Hi everybody. I've been lurking for awhile, and reading a ton of great stuff on this site. I've learned a lot and wondered if anyone would give an opinion on some diamonds I'm trying to decide between for an upcoming e-ring.

1. http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00974357

2. http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00418730

3. http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00972778

4. http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00336061

I'm having a tough time going back and forth between clarity and color... THey all seem pretty much the same to me!

Maybe I've just looked at too many!
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

 

[Ellen]

I like #2. Great value also!

 

[Regular Guy]

You may want to at least consider this one for $100 more, getting you not only an AGS cert like option #3, but one they''ve given triple 000 approval to.

 

[dolphin76]

Thanks for the comments so far. So basically, do these four stones look pretty similar to everyone else besides me? Is there anything about them I should not want?
Also, in your experience are most s1 stones "eye clean"? I'm sort of worried about that, too. IS there really a difference between GIA and AGS cert?
THANKS!

 

[Regular Guy]

Are you looking for a well cut stone as part of your criteria? Explicitly?

If color & clarity are main reference points, both AGS & GIA are fine.

On cut...lots has been said on this board. This thread, a bit early, is rather concise, and helpful (JohnQ at WF frequently is). A particular advantage of the 0 for light performance from AGS is their review of the stone for this specific characteristic.

On SI1...no, I don''t have much experience. But, I read on this board you have to see it. Also, I read on this board the folks at Blue Nile will not have seen it. They don''t have it...it''s virtual. Will they review it for you before sending it to you? I don''t know. Other vendors who advertise will do that...also, other vendors here will have many of their options on hand, and will have looked at them already. I see that at $2500 and particularly $2700, your options open up. I like Gs, but I read Hs are fine, and many are swell with J. VS2 is considered safe.

Hope some of this may help.

 

[aljdewey]

I like #2 as well - all the #s are spot on, and looks like a great stone.

I''m not as wild about the stone Ira suggested sheerly because of the depth; that would detract from spread.

Good luck!

 

[dolphin76]

Yes, I am looking for a well cut stone. That is my first consideration factor, without a doubt.

That''s one thing I''ve learned on this site - the importance of cut. So, my budget is pretty set, unfortunately, at $2400ish, and I wanted to start with an Ideal cut, then look at clarity, then color. I''m pretty sold on the idea that "G" and "H" are relatively comparable, and I realize that I''m not guaranteed an "eye clean" stone with S1... I might be willing to risk it though.
I guess what it boils down to is I feel like I''ve been looking at these stones too much and need another "pair of eyes", particularly the eyes of the folks here who obviously know what they''re talking about.
I really appreciate the feedback so far, so thanks everyone. Please continue to give your thoughts if you don''t mind. I will take all the advice I can get!

 

[Regular Guy]

Just one more to consider getting: a) G b) VS2, and c) 30 days. Still virtual, though.

P.S. (eta)...oww... but, it's $2394 based on wire pricing (and mentioning being seen on Pricescope).

P.P.S. Ostensibly, after bringing it in, and depending on how much time you have, Jim can not only look at it for you and comment, but he'd probably create an IS image for you, and people smarter than I can comment on that, too.

 

[dolphin76]

That is a great looking stone, Regular Guy. Thanks for the tip.

Does anyone have preferences between BN, JA, GOG and WF?

I''ve heard good things about all of them, but have been spending most of my time on BN.
Thanks

 

[Regular Guy]

fyi...

 

[dolphin76]

Thanks for the opinions, advice and links. I did end up going with #2, and am really excited about my choice.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00418730

i''m going to have the diamond set later this week, with a late august proposal date scheduled. Now, that I''ve actually made the purchase I hate to wait that long - I wanna give it to her now! haha. I''ll post pics after the diamond arrives and once it''s been put in the ring if anyone is interested.
Thanks again.

 

[Ellen]

You did good! And of COURSE we''re interested in pictures.

Good luck!

 

[dolphin76]

Well, the diamond came this morning. Here are a few pictures... i don''t really think they are very good. The light is obviously dark/orangish color and i just had a hard time getting good pictures! Do you think that''s a lot of color? It''s .70 H VS2 Ideal. The pictures were taken mostly in places with dark cabinets, floors, etc, and i could definitely tell the diamond looked way whiter outside or in my white kitchen. i am dropping it off to get set this week.

 

[JulieN]

you did well. looks white to me!

 

[Ellen]

dolphin, congrats again! Looks good. And yes, they will definitely pick up on their environment.

Now, we''ll be waiting for pics with the setting and hand shots.

 

[dolphin76]

here are some hand shots. i propsed last week .

 

[diamondfan]

beautiful...congrats to you both...

 

[kcoursolle]

Looks beautiful, wonderful job! It looks white to me too, btw lighting makes a big difference. In yellow lighting my f looks yellow, in a room with yellow walls it looks yellow too, you get the idea.