Looking for the best online source for a loose diamond

[wrinklyshirt]

I am new to the forum but have been researching and viewing old posts for sometime now. Thanks for all the useful topics so far. With that said It is time for me to find that special rock. I love the setting designed by Mark Morrell so am likely to go for that. I would love some direction for finding that perfect stone online and if there are any other settings that are simiar to Mark's (simple and timeless solitares). Thx for the help.

Specs I'm looking for:

round H&A
.75-.90ct
I-F
ex-ideal
vs2-vvs2

*cut is most important

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Welcome! I did a search for G-I VS2 in your size range and came up with these 3 stones:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8284/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8697/

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2677731.htm

I'd need to know your stone budget to know if you want to go to higher color or clarity. I have bought diamonds from both Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash and can tell you that they stock very high quality stones!

 

[Gypsy]

Have you checked out Mark's pricing? Just want to make sure you have budgeted.

 

[whalerman]

I bought a VS2 G color GIA and AGS cert .75 round (triple ideal) from B2C Jewelers. Great service and great pricing. Followed up with a matching set of side stones. Ricky did exactly what he said he was going to do.

Many of the stones you see on the search here are the SAME stones, different pricing. Just check the GIA report numbers. pricing varies. the stone is the same.

 

[footshooter5]

+1 for what diamondseeker said. I see you're looking up to VVS2, but to be realistic, as long as the stone is eye clean, and the inclusion aren't going to be detrimental to the integrity of the stone, there's no reason to pay a premium for a VVS2 stone...unless you absolutely have to have it, and you have super human vision (after all, eye clean to one person isn't necessarily eye clean to another).

And many of the stones that online vendors have aren't all the same - if you do a search for a stone that's "in house", the vendor will physically have possession of the stone - this is a great way for you to have them compare several stones for you and give you their honest opinion.

-Gayan

 

[denverappraiser]

You're asking the right question. Most of your concerns revolve around the price and confidence that you’ll get what you expect. It’s an important question, and I dare say if you do it well the second part, that of finding a good diamond is enormously easier. Here are a few thought:

Pricescope advertisers. These folks have been vetted before the admins would sell them an ad and you can be confident that they are all legitimate businesses. It’s not that all legitimate jewelers advertise here but all who advertise here are legitimate businesses.

Pricescope and other online recommendations. You’ll notice that certain vendors get a lot of discussion and others get hardly a mention. Some of this has to do with the dynamics of how the sites work but a lot of it has to do with enthusiasm by their prior customers who genuinely want to share their experiences. That’s a good sign.

Read their websites, especially the ‘terms and conditions’ and ‘return policy’ types of pages. The same actually holds for local stores. If they don’t have a website where they post their rules they should have them available to you in writing at the store. If they won’t tell you in a clear and specific way what the rules of doing business with them are, walk away. While we're at it, 'no refunds' is a deal killer no matter what the prices are.

Get a ‘feel’ for how the work by talking to them on the phone, emailing them, reading blog posts written by them, visiting their stores and the like. Good communication and trustworthiness are the top keys to a successful relationship with your jeweler and you learn a lot just by talking to them.

Check the BBB, ripoffreport, ivouch, Google and other online sources for referrals and slams. There are scams in this arena but mostly it works pretty well. It helps if they have a long history and it’s a red flag if they don’t show up at all. While you’re at it, Google up the names of the owners and any obvious misspellings of their company name.

Friends, neighbors and coworkers may have things to say about where they’ve successfully (or unsuccessfully) shopped. Ask.

 

[wrinklyshirt]

Thank you all for your advice/responses. From my limited experience looking at lots of images online I feel that VS1 is the lowest I wish to go as there seems to be alot more Inclusions with VS2 and lower. I dont know if you would be able to see them with the naked eye but after seeing them in images it bothers me enough not to purchase. silly I know but I will just have to pay a bit more. I have narrowed my search perameters.

.8-.85
Vs1-VVs2
F-H
ex ex ex
H&A (potentially)

I have found a couple from white flash that might work but still not a hundred percent. I find the images, ideal scope and certs. have helped narrow the search but have found it hard to search with cheaper companies that dont provide these options.

I realize that Marks rings are a bit more costly than others but I havent found anything as nice in my opinion. I have budgetted for it but will have to go with a smaller stone because of it. I find he is a bit slow responding to emails. I hope this is not the case with his service.

Thanks again for your imput.