My girlfriend''s big diamond heart

[wwwang]

Yes it does look similar. WF has good pictures. However I have concern of their 10day return policy. It is too harsh. Most others have 30 day return so to allow a good trial. I should be allowed a reasonable period of time to commit to such a big purchase.

 

[wwwang]

Actually WF does not sell for less. The bluenile link I posted is a set of setting and band, while WF''s is only the setting. BN sells the setting alone for less. $150 less for whitegold, $250 less for plat.
http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=6708&page=1&show_all_pages=0&col=3&row=1&pos=3&set_shape=
http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=4905&page=4&show_all_pages=0&col=1&row=2&pos=4&set_shape=

 

[Ellen]

wang, just a heads up, BN won''t sell their settings seperately. You''d have to buy the diamond from them also.

Also, if you haven''t spoken with anyone at WF yet, call and speak with Lesley, she''s great to work with. Ask her if it would be possible to extend the viewing time a bit, I''m pretty sure she''d work with you.

 

[solange]

I bought my ring from Whiteflash. As I understood it, you must notify them within ten days if you are returning the stone. I do not know what their policy is about extending the return period but I do not believe that they have to receive it within ten days.
Also, Whiteflash, GOG, and many other Pricescope vendors do not drop ship. If they do not have the stone in their inventory, they will send for it, inspect it and discuss it with you at length. They also have upgrade policies.
I am not sure that Blue Nile provides these services. Vendors that drop ship without actually inspecting the stone they are sending you tend to be a little less expensive but I believe that having an expert such as Jonathan at GOG or Brian at Whiteflash inspect the stone before it is shipped is a very valuable service.

 

[snuggles1]

Date: 11/1/2007 9:23:30 AM
Author: solange
Also, Whiteflash, GOG, and many other Pricescope vendors do not drop ship. If they do not have the stone in their inventory, they will send for it, inspect it and discuss it with you at length. They also have upgrade policies.

I am not sure that Blue Nile provides these services. Vendors that drop ship without actually inspecting the stone they are sending you tend to be a little less expensive but I believe that having an expert such as Jonathan at GOG or Brian at Whiteflash inspect the stone before it is shipped is a very valuable service.

I think BN is a drop shipper but I could be wrong---that is prob the reason why they have a 30 day policy, so you have enough time to have it appraised independently. So you factor in the price for the stone to be looked at, or possibly the price of several stones to be looked at, it could easily set you back several hundred if you go somewhere where there are no experts to screen it first.

 

[solange]

I believe GOG gives you the choice of having the stone drop shipped from the dealer or having it sent to them for inspection at an additional cost. This would not apply to stones that are already in their inventory.
Also, when comparing settings, pictures are not good comparisons. A setting may look very similar but a lot depends on the workmanship, quality of the stones and weight of metal.

 

[wwwang]

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?track=diamond_comparison&elem=img&pid=LD01026061&filter_id=0

This seems to be a good one. Usually I don''t find anything above 2.5ct can be bought with less than 35k, giving my harsh criteria of F, VS2, ideal cut. But it''s bluenile, I can''t get them to do ideal scope.
The good thing is, she now knows the hassel of selecting the perfect ring, and shows me some respect.

 

[wwwang]

Here is the GIA cert.

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 11/1/2007 8:38:22 PM
Author: wwwang
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?track=diamond_comparison&elem=img&pid=LD01026061&filter_id=0

This seems to be a good one. Usually I don't find anything above 2.5ct can be bought with less than 35k, giving my harsh criteria of F, VS2, ideal cut. But it's bluenile, I can't get them to do ideal scope.
The good thing is, she now knows the hassel of selecting the perfect ring, and shows me some respect.

Sweet! I also have an F VS2 with med blue fluor. I think it is the sweet spot for a nice diamond. This one has good HCA numbers, with the x inside the white box. To tell for sure, you'll have to order it.

I hope she will show you some respect when you are spending $35K!

 

[wwwang]

Question 1: Where to buy?
I would understand that an expert can tell the difference between 2 stones of the same GIA cut grade. But what is the possibility, that an expert, hired by a jeweler, to find a GIA excellent cut to be inferior to a GIA very good cut?
Whiteflash offered 2 stones, 2.4ct range, GIA very good cut, priced 34k-36k. A 2.5ct with GIA excellent cut at WF should be priced more than 40k. I just can''t be convinced that at the same price of 34k, a 2.56ct excellent cut from BN could be not as good as a 2.4--ct very good cut from WF.

Question 2: How important is the 61% rule?
This BN 2.56ct meets all the requirements in Fred''s PQS (proportion question sheet) with the single exception of total depth. Fred would disqualify any stone with total depth beyond 61%, while this stone is 61.4%. I found a few GOG heart and arrow diamonds have depth more than 61%, usually slightly. Is this 61% rule so important? Fred said a round diamond with more than 61% depth is "a car without engine".
Two other imperfections are the slightly thick girdle and medium blue fluo, I guess both are quite acceptable.

Q3:
Fred recommended to get the setting from the same diamond vendor, would anybody disagree?

Well, it seems I am close to make my mind .... goth it''s potentially a 36k mistake to make.

 

[fansynancy]

I just completed my search and bought a diamond yesterday. I got a lot of excellent advice from people on this site. In fact, if I had listened to LynnB and others on the first day I would have saved myself a lot of time. In the end, I had 3 stones that were "contenders" sent to an independent appraiser in Philadelphia. Until I did this I could not "pull the trigger" and wire $$ to a vendor. I spent a lot of money on my stone. So are you. I think it''s well worth it to spend a smidge extra and KNOW that you have made a wise purchase. You will have a written appraisal assuring you of the value of your diamond.

I understand that your future fiancee is not interested in learning more about the stones, but until she knows more about them she will not be able to fully appreciate what you are buying her. That is not about you or the respect you deserve. That is about her.

You need to feel good about the purchase you make and sleep at night knowing for sure that you have not been ripped off. Get the stones to an appraiser. You will always have the paperwork to back you up. You''ll need it for the insurance company anyway.

Nancy

 

[Ellen]

Date: 11/2/2007 11:42:32 AM
Author: wwwang
Question 1: Where to buy?
I would understand that an expert can tell the difference between 2 stones of the same GIA cut grade. But what is the possibility, that an expert, hired by a jeweler, to find a GIA excellent cut to be inferior to a GIA very good cut?
Whiteflash offered 2 stones, 2.4ct range, GIA very good cut, priced 34k-36k. A 2.5ct with GIA excellent cut at WF should be priced more than 40k. I just can't be convinced that at the same price of 34k, a 2.56ct excellent cut from BN could be not as good as a 2.4--ct very good cut from WF.

Question 2: How important is the 61% rule?
This BN 2.56ct meets all the requirements in Fred's PQS (proportion question sheet) with the single exception of total depth. Fred would disqualify any stone with total depth beyond 61%, while this stone is 61.4%. I found a few GOG heart and arrow diamonds have depth more than 61%, usually slightly. Is this 61% rule so important? Fred said a round diamond with more than 61% depth is 'a car without engine'.
Two other imperfections are the slightly thick girdle and medium blue fluo, I guess both are quite acceptable.

Q3:
Fred recommended to get the setting from the same diamond vendor, would anybody disagree?

Well, it seems I am close to make my mind .... goth it's potentially a 36k mistake to make.

1. This thread may help your enquiry. To answer your question, I'd buy where ever there is a good return policy. And maybe get the top two contenders together at an appraiser as has been suggested. For this kind of purchaese, it seems a small price to pay.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-did-i-pick-a-gia-vg-cut-over-a-gia-exc-cut-am-i-nuts.67659/


2. Forget Fred, and do a search on here for him, which will answer you asking why? right about now.

There is NOTHING wrong with depths deeper than 61. Period. (of course, too deep, and you start losing a bit of spread)

Nothing wrong with slightly thick girdle, but again, you'll lose a bit of spread. Med. Fluor is fine, even strong can be fine.


3. It does make it easier and cheaper to get the setting from the same place as the diamond, but it's not absolutely necessary. Lots of people get the two at different places.


That BN stone looks like a real contender....If it were me, I'd take one from WF and the BN, have them sent to an appraiser, and pick the one you like best.

 

[solange]

I see that the stone you were interested in at Blue Nile is no longer available. Did you buy it? If so, best of luck.

 

[HappyAnniversary]

Some people have flown to the vendor and made a day/weekend trip so they could see things in person. (Your girlfriend might not be as sensitive to color as she thinks--especially when she can see excellent cuts and consistennt color grading--and can see what she could get in different price ranges) You could make a holiday of it--have fun--and get a mini-vaction out of it. You have to make an appointment, of course, but the memories of picking it out would be "priceless".

Oh, and I bought my diamond and setting from Whiteflash (great result, I love mine, considerably smaller than you are thinking about, but no less loved!) and asked for extra time to evaluate and they did, so some things may be negotiable. Don''t assume anything about any vendor unless you personally ask them.

I would hate to think about buyng so much diamond and not comparing several to find the one you fall in love with. And I am definately in the category of not wanting such a big diamond that I am afraid people will want to follow me home and rob me for it (that was done to someone I know), so I vote for smaller, anyway.

Good luck--have fun--congrats for your engagement and what a lucky girl to have a man who wants to be smart about buying that sparkler!

 

[Beacon]

Date: 10/30/2007 9:12:50 PM
Author: wwwang
Thanks for all the very helpful messages. I know I will have to go through the hell of few days, or a few weeks. You guys really make me feel not alone.
After a little reasoning talk now she agreed on less than 2.5ct. My concern is also safety - won''t a huge sparkling diamond make you the target?
Yes she insisted on F since she can see the yellow in G in the store.
Question:
Among ideal, premium, excellent, and select ideal cut, which one is the best?
Thanks again.
Bill

Yes and no. I think you need to pay attention when you are wearing a large stone but that goes for ANY stone. Let''s be real, a crook will mug you for a one carat as much as for a 3 carat. In fact, they''ll go after a simple gold chain if they can. It''s all about if they have the opportunity. Insure the ring and don''t wear it in places where you might be uncomfortable. Other than that don''t worry.

 

[susi]

I thought I had a better pic of my diamond, but it's not to be found. Until we bought this stone I would not have believed that excellent cut would be this good....even with all the hype, the posts, the advertisements.....I was stubborn and went into the purchase as much on faith as knowledge ( not much ) and certainly with no experience.... except that I had had several stones that just didn't please me in the area of light return.

This is an Hearts on Fire, 3.17 I color SI 1 and it is the prettiest stone I've ever seen. It's a headlight set in a simple plat mount and when I look at other stones I always use this one to compare them with....none have ever matched it.

When you look at it in real life you see nothing but blazing white.....

My point is.....whatever size/weight color you select.....is personal preference, of course, but do go for the best cut with a stone that will knock her socks off.....

 

[wwwang]

Very pretty. One concern was if a 2.5ct may become unproportionally big and too flashy with her 4.5 finger size. Yours is even bigger, and still looks very elegant. May I know your finger size, Susi, if possible?