My heads killing me!

[sprtn94]

So I''ve been surfing for days looking for a diamond for my gf''s ring. This is the second go round so I have the basic 4c''s down. This saved me as I was smart enough to buy the setting that she had fallen in love with yet pass on the .74, i color, SI1 diamond that the jeweler was offering for 6k.

I''ve been on Blue Nile, WF, JA etc. Seems like there are a lot of good stones in my price range, infact it is dizzying. Trying to stay under 3,500.00

Round
.90 range
F or G color
eye clean (Vs2?)
Cut and Dimensions? (Your the experts!)

Seems like everytime I pull up the grading report there is something of concern. Flouresence, Clouds, Crystals etc....
If any of the experts have a free moment and like to hunt diamonds, have at it.
Help!

 

[stone-cold11]

WoW! How many heads do you have???

You are not likely to find a well cut stone at F/G VS2 for that price and weight.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 10/7/2009 2:10:28 PM
Author:sprtn94
Seems like every time I pull up the grading report there is something of concern. Florescence, Clouds, Crystals etc....

You''re not likely to find a truly well cut, round brilliant ideal cut diamond in the 0.90 - 0.99 carat, F color, VS-2 clarity range for $3,500.00 but would be able to find some options within the lower edge of what you were contemplating spending with your local jeweler for that 0.74 carat, I color, SI-1 - so if that''s any consolation...

Minor inclusions such as small clouds (of pinpoint size diamond crystals by definition) and crystals are not "something of concern" in my professional opinion, in fact, they happen to be amongst my favorite types of inclusions since they are merely tiny crystals which were trapped within the larger diamond crystal as it formed. Work with a vendor who can provide you with an in-depth evaluation of the diamond and who can determine whether the cloud is minimal or extensive and whether the crystals are primarily translucent or dark, etc.

Fluorescence is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, a lot of people prefer diamonds with some blue fluorescence in them... And not just vendors like myself (the 2.25 carat which I wore in my wedding ring exhibited very strong blue) ask around and you''ll likely find quite a few independent gemologists who like diamonds with blue fluorescence - maybe there''s something to that

of course, negligible fluorescence is always a safe bet. It''s all a matter of personal preference, the trick is to look at enough diamonds before you buy to determine what your preferences happen to be.

 

[stone-cold11]

Either drop color or clarity or weight of the stone slightly and you will be in budget.

For example, 0.9c G SI1. If you are interested, check with JA if eye-clean and request for an Idealscope image.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1256306.asp

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 10/7/2009 2:13:55 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
WoW! How many heads do you have???

Great... Somehow by the time I completed my response to this thread, the lyrics from Cheap Trick''s ''the dream police'' got stuck in my head. Oh the pain

 

[sprtn94]

Great song, the first time you hear it

Got the message, bump up the spending budget and look for ideal cut.
Is there a big dif between a VS2 and a SI1, with the naked eye?

 

[sprtn94]

So..... ideal cut but SI1 and what's with the clouds statement on the cert?



http://www.adiamor.com/D-8821246.htm

Thanks again for any help you can provide

 

[stone-cold11]

If it is eye-clean, it is eye-clean, you won''t see the difference. There are eye-clean SI1 stones, just ask the vendor to confirm that it is eye-clean to your standard.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 10/7/2009 2:47:17 PM
Author: sprtn94
So..... ideal cut but SI1 and what''s with the clouds statement on the cert?

http://www.adiamor.com/D-8821246.htm

Thanks again for any help you can provide

Numbers look promising. The clouds statement means that there are many more small clouds scattered in the stone that are not grade setting but plotting it on the clarity plot would make the stone look much worse than it is. Probably is fine if it is eye-clean.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/7/2009 2:47:17 PM
Author: sprtn94
So..... ideal cut but SI1 and what's with the clouds statement on the cert?



http://www.adiamor.com/D-8821246.htm

Thanks again for any help you can provide

There is a grade setting cloud plotted that you will need to check out with the vendor or an appraiser that it isn't impacting performance. The "comment additional clouds not shown" normally means there isn't an issue and is just mentioned for completeness.

Ask this vendor if they can supply an Idealscope image for this diamond.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 10/8/2009 6:04:18 AM
Author: Lorelei

The ''comment additional clouds not shown'' normally means there isn''t an issue and is just mentioned for completeness.

Actually...

The comment ''additional clouds not shown'' indicates that additional clouds are present within the diamond which are not indicated on the plotting diagram.

It is usually used when the grader feels that the clouds are minimal in appearance and that indicating them on the plotting diagram would make the diamond appear to be more included than it actually is... Personally, I think it''s kind of a cop-out on the part of the grading laboratory, however it is common industry practice so I have to ''deal with it''...

Many of the diamond dealers here on PS provide detailed clarity photographs which provide a more accurate assessment of diamonds where ''clouds not shown'' is indicated on the plotting diagram. If a consumer is working with a vendor who does not provide these photographs automatically, they can probably obtain them by request and/or obtain them by working with an independent Gemologist / Appraiser who is capable of providing clarity photographs - refer to the Resources / Appraisers link at the top of this page...