Marquise Selection Help

[Snicklefritz]

Hi all,

I am in the process of helping my FMIL pick out an upgrade ering - so it has to be a good one. Her taste is for a 1 carat marquise, G-H in color, preferably SI1, 1A cut range-ish. Her budget is around $4,500 to $4,700, but she may push it to $5,000 if she sees something she has to have. At present, the setting she likes costs $1130 Split Shank Setting ETA: So we have around $3500 or so for the diamond.

Here are some of the diamonds we are considering. None of them are in store so I can't even get the certs. I'd like help narrowing down our selection, so please point out any preliminary red flags you see, and I will then request certs:

1.08 H SI1


1.01 G SI1


BGD 1.01 G SI1

BGD 1.12 G SI1

THANKS!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/2/2010 9:42:46 AM
Author:Snicklefritz
Hi all,

I am in the process of helping my FMIL pick out an upgrade ering- so it better be a good one. Her taste is for a 1 carat marquise, G-H in color, preferably SI1, 1A cut range-ish. Her budget is around $4,500 to $4,700, but she may push it to $5,000 if she sees something she has to have. At present, the setting she likes costs $1130: Split Shank Setting

Here are some of the diamonds we are considering. None of them are in store. I'd like help narrowing down our selection, so please point out any preliminary red flags you see, and I will then request certs:

1.08 H SI1


1.01 G SI1


BGD 1.01 G SI1

BGD 1.12 G SI1

THANKS!!

Hi Snicklefritz

These diamonds aren't in house so they would have to be called in for analysis in order to learn anything about them, I think you will find the G SI1 is in fact the same diamond which is listed both with WF and BGD.

Would you like us to take a look around to see if we could make some suggestions for you? What sort of marquise does she want, a shorter chubbier type or more long and thin, or something in between?

 

[Snicklefritz]

Date: 4/2/2010 9:49:01 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 4/2/2010 9:42:46 AM

Author:Snicklefritz

Hi all,


I am in the process of helping my FMIL pick out an upgrade ering- so it better be a good one. Her taste is for a 1 carat marquise, G-H in color, preferably SI1, 1A cut range-ish. Her budget is around $4,500 to $4,700, but she may push it to $5,000 if she sees something she has to have. At present, the setting she likes costs $1130: Split Shank Setting


Here are some of the diamonds we are considering. None of them are in store. I''d like help narrowing down our selection, so please point out any preliminary red flags you see, and I will then request certs:


1.08 H SI1



1.01 G SI1



BGD 1.01 G SI1


BGD 1.12 G SI1


THANKS!!

Hi Snicklefritz


These diamonds aren''t in house so they would have to be called in for analysis in order to learn anything about them, I think you will find the G SI1 is in fact the same diamond which is listed both with WF and BGD.


Would you like us to take a look around to see if we could make some suggestions for you?

Whoops! Missed the double G SI1''s. Thanks Lorelei! I would truly appreciate any and all suggestions! I''m feeling the added pressure of needing to come up with the perfect stone because I want to please my FMIL.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/2/2010 9:53:27 AM
Author: Snicklefritz

Date: 4/2/2010 9:49:01 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 4/2/2010 9:42:46 AM

Author:Snicklefritz

Hi all,


I am in the process of helping my FMIL pick out an upgrade ering- so it better be a good one. Her taste is for a 1 carat marquise, G-H in color, preferably SI1, 1A cut range-ish. Her budget is around $4,500 to $4,700, but she may push it to $5,000 if she sees something she has to have. At present, the setting she likes costs $1130: Split Shank Setting


Here are some of the diamonds we are considering. None of them are in store. I'd like help narrowing down our selection, so please point out any preliminary red flags you see, and I will then request certs:


1.08 H SI1



1.01 G SI1



BGD 1.01 G SI1


BGD 1.12 G SI1


THANKS!!

Hi Snicklefritz


These diamonds aren't in house so they would have to be called in for analysis in order to learn anything about them, I think you will find the G SI1 is in fact the same diamond which is listed both with WF and BGD.


Would you like us to take a look around to see if we could make some suggestions for you?

Whoops! Missed the double G SI1's. Thanks Lorelei! I would truly appreciate any and all suggestions! I'm feeling the added pressure of needing to come up with the perfect stone because I want to please my FMIL.

I understand and you are welcome! Lets see what we can do to find her a nice marquise!

I had a look for you and found this one, request an ASET image if interested and check if it is eyeclean to your standards.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Premium-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1109252.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1285615.asp I colour but might be acceptable to her, check it is eyeclean and again request an ASET image, also check as it has grade making clouds that these aren't negatively impacting performance ( rare but best to check).

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Premium-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1186197.asp request ASET and check if eyeclean.

Also with any marquise, always check whether there is much of a bow tie to be seen by asking the vendor, you can't always completely get away from them but some elongated fancy shapes can show this effect more than others.

 

[Snicklefritz]

THANKS Lorelei! Those are good options. The first one you listed is stunning! I think it''s a contender. But, it is a touch deep and has a medium to very thick girdle so I worry about a loss in spread. Am I concerned over nothing? I''m having difficulty converting my brain from RB numbers and rules to fancy shape numbers and rules.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/2/2010 10:14:01 AM
Author: Snicklefritz
THANKS Lorelei! Those are good options. The first one you listed is stunning! I think it's a contender. But, it is a touch deep and has a medium to very thick girdle so I worry about a loss in spread. Am I concerned over nothing? I'm having difficulty converting my brain from RB numbers and rules to fancy shape numbers and rules.

I wouldn't worry too much, the AGS charts are only a guide and not a guarantee of beauty or cut quality, the depth in this case is absolutely fine and not deep at all for this type of shape - also depth isn't always related to spread in fancy shapes, there is a current thread on this topic which I have posted below in case you haven't seen it. Girdle could also be ok, sometimes the very thick parts are placed on the tips of marquise for protection, ask one of the gemologists to inspect it for you, they will be able to tell you more.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-depth-is-not-the-opposite-of-spread-in-a-fancy-shape.139459/

 

[Snicklefritz]

Date: 4/2/2010 10:19:05 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 4/2/2010 10:14:01 AM

Author: Snicklefritz

THANKS Lorelei! Those are good options. The first one you listed is stunning! I think it''s a contender. But, it is a touch deep and has a medium to very thick girdle so I worry about a loss in spread. Am I concerned over nothing? I''m having difficulty converting my brain from RB numbers and rules to fancy shape numbers and rules.

I wouldn''t worry too much, the AGS charts are only a guide and not a guarantee of beauty or cut quality, the depth in this case is absolutely fine and not deep at all for this type of shape - also depth isn''t always related to spread in fancy shapes, there is a current thread on this topic which I have posted below in case you haven''t seen it. Girdle could also be ok, sometimes the very thick parts are placed on the tips of marquise for protection, ask one of the gemologists to inspect it for you, they will be able to tell you more.


https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-depth-is-not-the-opposite-of-spread-in-a-fancy-shape.139459/

Wonderful! Thanks again! I think I will request an ASET and speak to a gemologist.

 

[oldminer]

The AGA charts are useful, but keeping yourself to the 1A specs will be highly unproductive and not what I would recommend doing. You will needlessly eliminate nearly every diamond and many of those eliminated would have scored 2B or higher with the AGA, not AGS, system and have potential to be everything anyone would want to select from. None of us know what you consider the most beautiful, but we call can agree that tools and charts may assist you to some extent in finding the perfect diamond within your budget and without any problematic faults by learning all you can about cut quality which includes both light performance and certain characteristics of durability and visual size. Of course color, clarity and carat weight remain important properties, too. I suggest you widen you parametric specs and look at more diamonds before deciding how to proceed.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Thanks oldminer! I''m totally on board with your thinking. In the few minutes that I have been perusing the diamonds that Lorelei suggested, I have found it very relieving to think outside the binds of the 1A cut standards. I have seen several marquise in person that are close to 1A/1B, but don''t quite make the grade, and they were truly gorgeous! It''s nice to know you can just go with your eye and a few simple guidelines sometimes.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/2/2010 10:32:27 AM
Author: oldminer
The AGA charts are useful, but keeping yourself to the 1A specs will be highly unproductive and not what I would recommend doing. You will needlessly eliminate nearly every diamond and many of those eliminated would have scored 2B or higher with the AGA, not AGS, system and have potential to be everything anyone would want to select from. None of us know what you consider the most beautiful, but we call can agree that tools and charts may assist you to some extent in finding the perfect diamond within your budget and without any problematic faults by learning all you can about cut quality which includes both light performance and certain characteristics of durability and visual size. Of course color, clarity and carat weight remain important properties, too. I suggest you widen you parametric specs and look at more diamonds before deciding how to proceed.

Yes that was a typo on my part.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Date: 4/2/2010 11:17:00 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 4/2/2010 10:32:27 AM

Author: oldminer

The AGA charts are useful, but keeping yourself to the 1A specs will be highly unproductive and not what I would recommend doing. You will needlessly eliminate nearly every diamond and many of those eliminated would have scored 2B or higher with the AGA, not AGS, system and have potential to be everything anyone would want to select from. None of us know what you consider the most beautiful, but we call can agree that tools and charts may assist you to some extent in finding the perfect diamond within your budget and without any problematic faults by learning all you can about cut quality which includes both light performance and certain characteristics of durability and visual size. Of course color, clarity and carat weight remain important properties, too. I suggest you widen you parametric specs and look at more diamonds before deciding how to proceed.

Yes that was a typo on my part.

No worries, I knew what you meant.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/2/2010 11:36:24 AM
Author: Snicklefritz

Date: 4/2/2010 11:17:00 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 4/2/2010 10:32:27 AM

Author: oldminer

The AGA charts are useful, but keeping yourself to the 1A specs will be highly unproductive and not what I would recommend doing. You will needlessly eliminate nearly every diamond and many of those eliminated would have scored 2B or higher with the AGA, not AGS, system and have potential to be everything anyone would want to select from. None of us know what you consider the most beautiful, but we call can agree that tools and charts may assist you to some extent in finding the perfect diamond within your budget and without any problematic faults by learning all you can about cut quality which includes both light performance and certain characteristics of durability and visual size. Of course color, clarity and carat weight remain important properties, too. I suggest you widen you parametric specs and look at more diamonds before deciding how to proceed.

Yes that was a typo on my part.

No worries, I knew what you meant.

Thanks my dear!