Looking to purchase, is this a good deal? - please advise soonest. tks

[pepomint]

I am going to put a deposit down on a ring, but need to know if it's a good deal.
I have the GIA cert, but can not obtain a Sarin report from seller. Should be ok, but would like to plug in numbers on the Holloway Cut Advisor. Anyway...here are the specs.

Round Brilliant
E color
6.89 x 6.94 x 4.15 mm
1.20 carat
Depth: 60.0%
Table: 61.0%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Polish: Good
Sym: Good
Clarity: VS2
Flour: None
Flaws can not be seen on the table.
Asking price is $7800
Will be set in white gold with channel set.

Is this a good deal?
One store was going to sell something like this for $12500.
Althought on the GIA report there were a lot more flaws in the table area.
What I'm worried about is the polish and symmetry is only Good.
So, that is why I'm skeptical about it being a good deal.
If the Polish and Symmetry were EX or VG, then I'd be more quick to make the decision.
Also, is the table too big? It is outside the range.
I did see the diamond and with the naked eye and being just the average person, it does sparkle.

Please advise soonest.
Thank you all so much for your insightful help.

~ Pepomint

 

[Kaleigh]

The table is a little big, what is the color of the stone??

 

[pepomint]

haha...totally forgot to put the color.
This is an E Color Stone

 

[Kaleigh]

As long as the polish and symmetry are good I wouldn't be worried. I would worry more about the flaws on the table.

 

[pepomint]

thanks for your advise kaleigh.
so sym and polish with a good rating is okay?
what do you think about the price?
How come the GIA cert doesn''t say if the cut is ideal or not? Thanks.
____

 

[Kaleigh]

As long as sym and polish is good you're fine, anything below that is not ok. I still want to know about the flaws on the table??

 

[pepomint]

the flaws on the $7800 ring is not too noticeable.
It''s on the outter edge of the table which can be easily covered up by the prongs.
The GIA report says there are feathers, clouds, and natural.
Additional clouds are not shown.

The seller said when he priced it using the Rapaport.
He used the G color to price it. He will honor it, but if he shows me more stones, it''s not gonna be this good of a deal.

My concern is I don''t want to pass this opportunity up if $7800 is really a good deal.
I did some search here and with Mondera, Blue Nile, Dirt Cheap Diamonds, about the same would be $9000.
Although the sym / pol / table are a little better on paper.

Thanks for your comments and helping me decide.

I''m going to look at one this Saturday.
E color, VS2, 1.21, should get a copy of the GIA report tomorrow faxed to me. He said he''s selling it at $8200.

your take on these prices?
____

 

[Dancing Fire]

pepomint

when looking at GIA stones, ask the vendor if he/she can get you a sarin report.

 

[pepomint]

the dealer said he is unable to get the Sarin report.

 

[dastewar]

Date: 5/11/2005 1:34:01 PM
Author:pepomint
I am going to put a deposit down on a ring, but need to know if it''s a good deal.
I have the GIA cert, but can not obtain a Sarin report from seller. Should be ok, but would like to plug in numbers on the Holloway Cut Advisor. Anyway...here are the specs.

Round Brilliant
E color
6.89 x 6.94 x 4.15 mm
1.20 carat
Depth: 60.0%
Table: 61.0%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Polish: Good
Sym: Good
Clarity: VS2
Flour: None
Flaws can not be seen on the table.
Asking price is $7800
Will be set in white gold with channel set.

Is this a good deal?
One store was going to sell something like this for $12500.
Althought on the GIA report there were a lot more flaws in the table area.
What I''m worried about is the polish and symmetry is only Good.
So, that is why I''m skeptical about it being a good deal.
If the Polish and Symmetry were EX or VG, then I''d be more quick to make the decision.
Also, is the table too big? It is outside the range.
I did see the diamond and with the naked eye and being just the average person, it does sparkle.

Please advise soonest.
Thank you all so much for your insightful help.

~ Pepomint

Although someone indicated that good is fine enough for polish & symmetry, I think you should try to get some more opinions. I doubt that many stones make it to market with a poor in either category, so Good/Good is probably as low as it gets...and that may or may not be sufficient (my guess is you want to aim higher if you can).

 

[Jimbo34]

The table size determines the amount of brilliance, or white light, the diamond will reflect.If the table is too large or too small it will negatively affect how light reflects up from the surface of the stone.


Jimbo34

 

[Regular Guy]

My opinion...there are lots of fish in the sea. Buy wisely, cause really, why not. There''s little downside in taking care, and a way big potential upside.

 

[pepomint]

Thanks everyone for your insight and taking the time to post.
Buying a diamond is no easy task and kind of exhausted from all the research cuz there's just so much info out there.

I think I'm going to narrow it down to these 3 choices.

Need some help in choosing a stone.

1. Round Brilliant, GIA cert, VS2, E color, 1.19 carat
Polish - good
Sym - good
Depth - 60.0%
Table - 61.0%
Girdle - thn - slthk, faceted
Meas - 6.89 - 6.94 x 4.16mm
Culet - none
Flour - none
B&M price - $7800


2. Round Ideal Cut, AGS cert, VS2, E color, 1.024 carats
Polish - Excellent
Sym - Excellent
Depth - 61.3%
Table - 55%
Girdle - thn - slthk, faceted
Crown - 34.9
Pav - 40.8
Culet - pointed
Flou - none
Online Vendor Price - $8799


3. Round Brilliant, GIA Cert, VS2, E color, 1.21 carat
Polish - good
Sym - very good
Depth - 59%
Table - 57%
Girldle - Thin to medium
Culet - pointed
Flou - none
B&M price - $8200


A few questions
1. I like number 1 cuz it's the cheapest. $7800, but what makes me hesitate is the table is not within proportions. Also the sym and polish are only good. I've read places where people recommend no lower than very good.


2. I like #2, but is it worth the extra money?
I've seen #1 and I will see #3 on saturday.


3. GIA certs, is it not good to buy a diamond that has the cert from 1999 or like 2000? Does that mean the diamond has been around too long?

Any comments on my 3 selections?
I may end up getting the $7800 one and 10 years from now trade up for a better quality stone when I have more money.

Do you think I'm able to negotiate the price even lower to say $7000??

~Pepomint

 

[MissAva]

You didn''t list the sizes of the second two stones...

 

[pepomint]

Oops, I must have accidentally deleted it.
It's 1.024 carats. But the AGS report is dated 1999, is this bad?

doh!!!

i realized I didn't put the size for all stones.
I've updated it.

More expert opinions please. Thank you.

~Pepomint

 

[NoonersMom]

Pepomint....I agree with Ira/Regular Guy....take great care & don''t rush your decision. Without additional numbers on 1 & 3 it''s difficult to determine their performance. #1''s table seems a bit large for the depth, but again, that depends on the crown & pavillion measurements.

Another option might be to invest in an idealscope. This will instantly give you feedback on the quality of the stone....especially in the categories of symmetry & light return.

 

[jigri2003]

It would be nice to see the measurements on the last 2 stones. Too bad you can''t get Sarins on the B&M stones. I will say that I personally don''t think you need to compromise at all for the price you are willing to pay, especially if you are willing to go with an F color (no difference at all visibly from what I have seen in the very recent past from E color on multiple stones) and eye-clean SI1 instead of VS2.

Here''s a great option from the cut quality search with F SI1 and A Cut Above H&A with 6.8mm diameter for $7168 all in:

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-5579904

If you are set on VS2, how about this? An expert selection F VS2 6.81 diameter for $7800:

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-5196601

You don''t need to go with WF, but it seems clear that you have the ability to get from many online vendors a great cut along with a colorless diamond of a real good size if you are willing to move down an unnoticeable grade in color. Of course, many here might even encourage you to look at G colors, but that might be unacceptable to you if you or your SO are real sensitive to any tint of yellow at all (I know mine turned out to be!

)

 

[pepomint]

Thanks NoonersMom.

They''re not able to get a Sarin Report for me.
Is there any place where I can rent an Idealscope or buy one for this weekend?

 

[valeria101]

Date: 5/13/2005 6:05:34 PM
Author: pepomint

Is there any place where I can rent an Idealscope or buy one for this weekend?

No idea about that, but between those and this below I'd bet the only difference that shows is glaring brilliance delivered by that cut

1.2cts F Si1 for 8k (link). I have no idea why this isn't "VS2"...

Edited to add:
Now I see the other hints about Whiteflash... I really just looke for a diamond with proper pictures and stats. And WF has that. This is not a WF forum ! 'Guess they'd wish

 

[pepomint]

I did a search on Idealscope purchase here and online. I guess I need to order it. Anyone in the Southern California area who can let me borrow one for the weekend?

Thanks for all your tips.
I'm a stickler for E color, VS2, and 1.19 - 1.25 carat, no culet, no flour.
Yeah, no more than say $8000.

I'll let you guys know how I do this weekend.
Any add'l tips would be great.

~Pepomint

 

[jigri2003]

Good luck, Pepomint!

Let us know how it goes. Hope you get lucky with your specs, but the searches here seem to indicate it''s going to be tough to get such a GIA/AGS stone within ideal cut proportions for much less than the $8799 stone above. Yet another WF product, no?!

 

[baltneu]

Pep
If you buy from one of the online vendor on this site, they can include an Idealscope for your use, they have generous return policies if not satisfied with the diamond. An independent appraisal will be needed, also. Best of luck.
ps. my best advice, take your time. I remember looking for a house, losing it in the bidding process and being very dissapointed because it was the perfect house, but soon enough, another came along and was thrilled we let the first one go, sometimes things work out for the best. Same with diamonds, there are lots of them out there, no shortage, some get very attached to "that" diamond, that is up to you. Again, best of luck.