Narrowing down my princess cut selection...finally.

[CPS]

I've been slogging through countless pages of information learning all about diamonds for a while now. I've learned quite a bit, particularly from this forum, and I think I have a handle on things. I wanted to ask a few questions and see if anyone here has any advice. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking for a princess cut in the $4,000 - $5,500 range. So far the best option I've found is this one:

PRINCESS CUT LINK

Based on what I've read, it seems to be a solid diamond. The size is nice and the color and clarity seem respectable. The depth is a bit higher than I'd like it to be, but the crown height and pavilion angles seem to be okay. Of course I'm far from an expert on diamonds and I can't make much of most of the information, so I was hoping I could get some advice.

The link I provided has most of the important information including the critical meausurements (in the Helium Report), a lightscope analysis, and a brilliancescope analysis.

Beyond some general comments on the diamond I have a few specific questions.

Should I have any qualms with the AGS certification rather than GIA?

How much will the depth of 74 affect the size of the diamond? If it's deep enough so that it won't appear much larger than a 1 ct. diamond, it's less appealing to me. I can get a high quality 1 ct. diamond for a lot cheaper but I'd like something that's noticeably bigger. Will the extra .24 ct. make that much of a difference on this diamond?

I've heard good things about GOG from this forum but I was wondering if anyone could specifically comment on their experience with the company.

Finally, does anyone have any recomendations for similar diamonds that I might have missed? I'd really like a nice cut and would be willing to sacrifice color and clarity (I'd be happy with a VS2 and a J) for size and a beautiful cut. I've looked all over but haven't found anything better. But if anyone has any comparable suggestions in mind in my price range, I'd love to hear about them.

Sorry for rambling on for so long. Again, I appreciate any help anyone can offer.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[MissAva]

AGS is just as good as GIA for diamond grading, you have nothing to worry about there. I have not bought from GOG but I have gone to visit them, I absolutely adored Jonathan, he made me feel at home and was very nice, no pressure. Several PSers have worked with GOG and I imagine they will chime in soon.
I am not sure about the face up size of the stone, I would ask Rhino aka Jonathan.
Personally I think the stone you have linked is really lovely! Yummy!
For those wondering the measurements are 5.86*5.84*4.32

So others can see what you were talking about. 1.24 I/VS1

 

[CPS]

Thanks for the quick reply and for taking the time to post the pics and measurements for me. I guess I should have done that from the start, but hey, it was my first post. Maybe by the time I make another 3,998 and catch up to your even 4,000 I''ll have this whole PS forum thing down cold. No one hold their breath though.

Chris
Digs the picture of Mat''s dog even more than the helpful advice.

 

[MissAva]

No worries. I am still here trying to learn as much as I can. I think your first post was quite nice. I just like pictures and often people will ask about ideal scope images, and for pictures of the stone in question. I posted the measurements so people could have them to compare to other stones. When I found other stones between the 1 and 1.24 range I also found a range of mesurements. I wish I could help more.

Oh and I am glad you like Ava, she is a hoot!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

nice diamond

 

[CPS]

Sure, I like Ava. Though I must admit I wouldn''t really want to be around her. No offense, but she''s got the crazy eyes. I bet she''s little but tough. She just looks like she''s going to go off on some rampage of miniature fury at any moment.

Chris
Still searching for diamonds.

 

[researcher]

Contrary to belief, a depth of 74% is now pretty low for the best princess cut diamonds. When I first started my search, people said that my stone was too deep--also 74%. But, the experts here said that was not the case, that my stone was an amazing cut and a better performer because of the depth. And just so you know, AGS graded princess cut stones are considered the best by many--especially if it''s an AGS-0 graded stone

My stone was graded by the GIA, but a year ago the AGS was not grading princesses. Anyway, I just wanted to say that your stone looks great and faces up much bigger than a 1ct princess (they say it has a length of approx. 5.6, and the human eye notices every .10 of a difference). I think this stone is beautiful and wouldn''t hesitate to buy from Jonathan

 

[CPS]

Thanks for the comments Researcher. That''s interesting to read that the human eye notices ever extra .1 increase. I figured there was probably some rule of thumb concerning that but wasn''t sure. I appreciated the comments about the depth as well. 74 never seemed way too deep for me, but I was a bit concerned since I value size.

Chris
Would like to hear any comments Rhino might have.

 

[MissAva]

Date: 10/20/2005 1:15:08 PM
Author: CPS
Sure, I like Ava. Though I must admit I wouldn''t really want to be around her. No offense, but she''s got the crazy eyes. I bet she''s little but tough. She just looks like she''s going to go off on some rampage of miniature fury at any moment.

Chris
Still searching for diamonds.

ROFL! She is a lap dog. Mostly she sits in my lap and sleeps, she wakes up for any sort of food event but that is about it. I always think she looks like she is laughing in that photo. Do you have any pets?

Oh and you could just try PMing Rhino/Jonathan or calling him. He might not see this thread or it might be considering advertising for him to comment.

 

[CPS]

So all your dog does is sleep all day and occasionally wake up for a food event? I'm liking this dog more and more. Sounds a lot like me...

Does anyone have Rhino's phone number or e-mail address? I have a few questions for him if I can reach him. I tried the contacts listed on the website, but no dice so far.

Chris

 

[decodelighted]

If you have AOL instant messenger, Good old old is on as
"gogquickquestion" I still have it on my buddy list from asking about Asschers.

 

[CPS]

Nice. Thank you. Hopefully I can catch Rhino or someone else on AIM sometime tomorrow. Having their AIM name should make things easier.

So, anyone have any more comments on this diamond or recommendations on another?

Chris
Thinks Tallulah also looks ready to attack in that picture. What is with the dogs at this forum?

 

[MissAva]

(516) 798-5151 ext. 2 This is the phone number they have listed on their web page. I do not know who will pick up though. Sorry! Contact GOG Information I think the stone is very lovely. But you have be the one to decide if it fits your budget and what not....what sort of setting are you considering.

And yes for the most part she is a sleepy dog. Unless you have diet coke or chedder cheese, then all bets are off.

 

[CPS]

Thanks. I''ll try to get ahold of someone later when I get a chance.

As for settings, I''m going to stick with something simple. Probably just a white gold cathedral style setting with square arms. I''d like to have some Tiffany prongs or something else that shows off the diamond more, but I might go with V prongs to protect the diamond more if I have to.

Chris
Of course that''s all assuming I ever actually find a diamond to buy...

 

[Kaleigh]

Good luck and let us know what they say.

 

[CPS]

I''d like to thank everyone for the help but I wound up buying a diamond from a local jeweler today. One of our closest family friends has a small jewelery shop but hadn''t been able to locate anything that I really liked. But today she brought in a 1.02 ct. J/VS1 princess with a beautiful cut. I was willing to go the online route, but it was reassuring being able to see the actual diamond and know that it had excellent sparkle, brilliance, and fire. Plus, she let me have it for $3,000 and gave me a good deal on a platinum setting, so I don''t think I can complain. Now I just need to wait for it to be set and then ask the girl.

Chris
Will pop the question on one knee on Christmas Eve, cliches be damned.

 

[Kaleigh]

Good for you, so glad you found a gorgeous stone and got a good deal. You''ll be a CEP, Christmas Eve proposer. Good luck and please post pics when you can, we''d love to see it.

 

[Shay37]

Congrats on finding a beautiful stone. Please take pics of it for us, and hand pics are mandatory around here don''t ya know. Good luck on the process and let us know how it goes.

shay

 

[CPS]

Oh, and I had one more thing to add. I was looking at the diamond I had linked to earlier and noticed that the price seemed off. The deal always seemed unusually good to me. Then I also noticed that the actual price is below the cash discounted price, which doesn''t make a whole lot of sense. One of the two prices has to be incorrect, and I''m thinking it''s the $5,500 price.

I just wanted to bring it to GOG''s attention so that they can check it out and make sure they don''t falsely get anyone''s hopes up.

Chris
Knows that this is a forum about diamonds but still thinks it''s a damn shame that there''s nary a thread about Rocky to be found in the entire RockyTalky thread.

 

[Kaleigh]

 

[Shay37]

Ouch, he''s right. The bank wire price is higher than the price. Is something off? Yes, a typo would be my guess.

shay

 

[CPS]

I''m going to be a CEP? There''s a *name* for it? Oh hell. I was fine with conforming to a typical cliche before, but if it''s so trite that there''s actually a designation for such hackneyed antics I might have to rethink this whole thing. Next thing you know I''ll be wearing clothes from the Gap, singing John Mayer songs, saying American Idol is the best show on television, and generally falling into every cliche in the book. Perhaps I should just break away from the norm now while I still have a chance. Maybe I can propose to my girlfriend at a monster truck rally and then take her out to a mystery theater dinner to celebrate. At least it would be original.

As for pics, I don''t think anyone will be seeing them anytime soon. For one thing, my girlfriend''s fingers are about 8,000 miles away from me at the moment. So if you''re going to see any ring on finger pics, you''d have to settle for seeing the ring on my sausage-like fingers. And trust me, no one wants that. I don''t know why, but I have some unwieldy fingers. I''m fairly fit for the most part, but for some reason I have some beastly digits. I recently learned that such finger types are referred to as "spatulas," which isn''t a very flattering term for any body part. I can bend just the tips to right angles though, so I still think they''re pretty slick.

Chris
Sadly enough does not have anything against CEPs, the Gap, John Mayer, or American Idol.

*sigh*

 

[belle]

congratulations on your purchase chris and best of luck on the proposal.

 

[Kaleigh]

OMG NO, there was a guy here a year ago who''s name was CEP, christmas eve proposer. That''s what I was referring to. Sorry, if I confused you. he was a really great guy. Really!!!

 

[MissAva]

Date: 10/21/2005 7:46:17 PM
Author: CPS
I''m going to be a CEP? There''s a *name* for it? Oh hell. I was fine with conforming to a typical cliche before, but if it''s so trite that there''s actually a designation for such hackneyed antics I might have to rethink this whole thing. Next thing you know I''ll be wearing clothes from the Gap, singing John Mayer songs, saying American Idol is the best show on television, and generally falling into every cliche in the book. Perhaps I should just break away from the norm now while I still have a chance. Maybe I can propose to my girlfriend at a monster truck rally and then take her out to a mystery theater dinner to celebrate. At least it would be original.

As for pics, I don''t think anyone will be seeing them anytime soon. For one thing, my girlfriend''s fingers are about 8,000 miles away from me at the moment. So if you''re going to see any ring on finger pics, you''d have to settle for seeing the ring on my sausage-like fingers. And trust me, no one wants that. I don''t know why, but I have some unwieldy fingers. I''m fairly fit for the most part, but for some reason I have some beastly digits. I recently learned that such finger types are referred to as ''spatulas,'' which isn''t a very flattering term for any body part. I can bend just the tips to right angles though, so I still think they''re pretty slick.

Chris
Sadly enough does not have anything against CEPs, the Gap, John Mayer, or American Idol.

*sigh*

Okay I am not a fan of John Mayer, American Idol, or Monster Truck ralleys. But I love the idea of taking her to a mystery theater dinner and having the proposal incorperated. I think that would be fantastic.