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Looking for some advice - some basic questions

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Baylor830

Rough_Rock
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Dec 3, 2009
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Hello all,

I plan on purchasing an engagement ring in the upcoming month or 2 and I''m looking for a little help. First let me say that I have been browsing these forums for a few weeks now trying to learn as much as possible and the community here seems to be fantastic. This website is doing a GREAT job. So I finally decided to create an account and ask a few questions.

I have never purchased a diamond before so this is a very new thing for me, but as I stated earlier I have been doing some research so I have a grasp on some things. My girlfriend and I went into a B&M store a week or 2 back so that we can see what she likes. Plus, I wanted to see the size and color etc differences in person, because reading about them online and seeing them for yourself is completely different.

She definitely wants a princess cut and to her size is more important that quality. For instance there were 2 diamonds in particular that we looked at (sorry I don''t have the specs) and one of them was a .94 CT E color that I thought looked fantastic for like $5400 (yeah I know, expensive compared to an online retailer) and a 1.26 CT H for about the same price. The 1.26 CT she liked more because it was bigger (duh) and to her she said she couldn''t notice a difference. Oh btw, these were both EGL, which I have since learned is probably less strict about their grading policies.

I figure I can get a diamond bigger than these and much better quality for about the same price if I go through an online website. However, what do you think about taking GIA, EGL Etc reports of diamonds found online to try to negotiate or "price match" at a B&M? There is a jeweler in the area that I would probably prefer to go through if I can get a good deal because my girlfriend would feel better have the lifetime warranty, cleanings and all that stuff at a place that is driving distance for her. Not to mention they have great 0% APR financing deals.

So my questions:

1) Could someone link a diamond or 2 that you would recommend for a girl with a size > quality mentality. I''d preferably like to get something bigger than the 1.24 CT as a surprise but would like to stay below $8,000 if possible.

2) What do you think about taking specific data and diamond reports to a local jeweler for haggling? Any opinions on this?

3) Any other thoughts? Everyone here is much more knowledgeable in this area than I am so any feedback is appreciated.


Thanks again in advance!
 
There you go. Size, quality and budget.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6759/

EGL, depends on the lab, USA labs are on par on color and clarity, other locations are worse. GIA/AGS are the top tier lab for color and clarity. Only AGS grades cut performance of Princess, so if you do not know what you are doing, AGS0 princess is the safest best. Else buy yourself an ASET scope, learn how to use it and go hunting. :)

No way for haggling on this stone as the stone is in-house by GOG. No other vendor has access to it.
 
Date: 12/3/2009 2:37:10 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
There you go. Size, quality and budget.


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6759/


EGL, depends on the lab, USA labs are on par on color and clarity, other locations are worse. GIA/AGS are the top tier lab for color and clarity. Only AGS grades cut performance of Princess, so if you do not know what you are doing, AGS0 princess is the safest best. Else buy yourself an ASET scope, learn how to use it and go hunting. :)


No way for haggling on this stone as the stone is in-house by GOG. No other vendor has access to it.
Click to expand...


OMG NICE !!!



You generally are not going to have much success in the haggle with price-matching online vendors with B&M. It really is an apples to oranges thing so much that its often a non-starter.
As far as warranties, cleanings, etc. your PS vendors have outstanding warranties, trade up policies, and service. Just about any local B&M will happily inspect and clean any piece of jewelry you present for free.
 
Out of curiosity since I''m trying to learn as much as I can....What makes it such an apples to oranges thing?
 
Date: 12/4/2009 7:02:41 AM
Author: Baylor830
Out of curiosity since I''m trying to learn as much as I can....What makes it such an apples to oranges thing?
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Online vendors generally operate on much slimmer margins than brick and mortar stores so the prices of online are often considerably cheaper. Of course you can always try to negotiate with a b&m store, no harm in trying.
 
Date: 12/4/2009 7:02:41 AM
Author: Baylor830
Out of curiosity since I''m trying to learn as much as I can....What makes it such an apples to oranges thing?
Click to expand...

Try walking into your generic B&M with an ASET. I''d bet that 75% just have no clue what it is, the other 25% hide their diamonds and/or kick you out (and that''s being generous). All they care about is selling you a diamond, any diamond, so they can make money.

PS vendors, GOG in particular, take the opposite approach... they care about educating you, then selling you the RIGHT diamond. Yes, you''ll get an "education" at a B&M, but compare the amount of info available on GOG''s site and a B&M, and you''ll start getting the apples to oranges idea.

SC, awesome pick. Baylor, you''d do very well with that stone
1.gif
... heck, bring THAT into an average B&M and watch them ALL run to hide their stones
27.gif
 
Thanks for all of your input so far!

I definitely realize that some of these PS vendors have much better diamonds than any B&M, but I guess I don''t realize just how much better they are. I''ve never seen an ASET diamond in person let alone next to a regular diamond from a B&M. My girlfriend doesn''t know much about diamonds and doesn''t own any so when we went into the local jewelers she was blown away by a couple of them.
 
Date: 12/4/2009 10:16:35 AM
Author: Baylor830
Thanks for all of your input so far!

I definitely realize that some of these PS vendors have much better diamonds than any B&M, but I guess I don''t realize just how much better they are. I''ve never seen an ASET diamond in person let alone next to a regular diamond from a B&M. My girlfriend doesn''t know much about diamonds and doesn''t own any so when we went into the local jewelers she was blown away by a couple of them.
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If you have a Jareds locally, go and view some of their AGS0 Princess, this will give you an idea of how well cut stones look.
 
Date: 12/4/2009 10:16:35 AM
Author: Baylor830
I''ve never seen an ASET diamond in person let alone next to a regular diamond from a B&M.
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err... ASET is a cut evaluation tool. Most stores won''t know what it is, those that do will want to hide their diamonds because they know how generally awful they''ll prove to be. Contrast with, say, GOG who uses ASET as a selling tool to show exactly how good their diamonds are.

Just wait and see what happens when you give her an ideal cut ... it''ll be worth it
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Now that you mention that Tony, I knew that. I have so many new acronyms in my head they are all getting jumbled. When you mentioned ASET earlier I was thinking AGS0.
 
Anyone else have any specific diamonds they would recommend? Just trying to get everyone's opinion.

BTW, for any other newbies out there, I have found this to be the best ASET/Ideal Scope information:
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance
 
Baylor, you might also check out www.whiteflash.com for AGS certified princess cuts.

Just as an FYI though, if your girlfriend is a size person, princess cuts face up much smaller than their round counterparts. As an example, an ideal cut 1 carat round is about 6.5mm. A princess cut of that carat weight might be only 5.5mm.
 
Well the ring that SC suggested is no longer available. That didn''t last long!
7.gif


Does anyone else have any diamonds they might suggest? Also, as far as that diamond that swinggirl suggested, does it seem like even on the report that it has a lot of inclusions? Obviously as an S1 is going to have some, and I know the true test will be if it''s eye-clean, but it seems like thats quite a few on a report. Am I wrong?

Thanks!
 
Date: 12/7/2009 7:53:40 AM
Author: Baylor830
Well the ring that SC suggested is no longer available. That didn''t last long!
7.gif


Does anyone else have any diamonds they might suggest? Also, as far as that diamond that swinggirl suggested, does it seem like even on the report that it has a lot of inclusions? Obviously as an S1 is going to have some, and I know the true test will be if it''s eye-clean, but it seems like thats quite a few on a report. Am I wrong?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Its a very busy time of year and diamonds sales are busy, make sure to reserve a stone if you are seriously interested in it.
 
Date: 12/7/2009 2:17:51 PM
Author: Baylor830
Out of curiosity how does the ASET on this WF diamond compare to the one on GOG that SC linked?
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/Whiteflash-ACA-Princess-cut-diamond-2230986.htm#
EDT:
This is the GOG diamond:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6519/
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I would take either. They are both hand picked by the vendors. The GOG is a little less expensive and that would sway me. I am not sure about the white in the ASET and you might want to have a conversation with Jon at GOG about what that means.
 
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