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LookingForClarity

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
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Hello wonderful people of Pricescope!

Let me just start out by saying I have learned a ton by reading through this forum! However, I'm still a total noob when it comes to buying diamonds.
7.gif


Which is why I'm creating this post/topic.

You see, I'm about to buy my first engagement ring! :) (You've never heard this before have you?) Thus, I've been tearing through the websites, the mall stores and a local jeweler looking for the perfect ring.

To make a long story short, I think I've narrowed it down to a couple stones from James Allen. JA wins for me over BN because you can look at the actual diamond you are going to purchase.

So, let me get to the point finally. What I would like to ask of you guys is if someone is willing to look over the two choices I have and to let me know if I'm going to be getting a good diamond and a good deal for my money.

These are the two diamonds I am looking at.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/?cid=58&module=diamond&item=1091908

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-3717_design.asp?module=diamond&item=1196839

Are these links sufficient or do I need to post more info for you?

I also plan to email James Allen to request IdealScope images if they can provide them. That's something new I picked up for this forum! Wait, can you do that with a princess cut?


In my rookie mind these both look like great diamonds! They are at right about my price cap for the center stone. My max price is around $5,500 and I would still like to be able to spend between $500 and $1000 on the ring.

Let me just finish by saying that I appreciate any and all help I can get on this decision! Even if it is negative criticism!

Thanks in advance,

Nick
 
You can ask for idealscope images, but if they can provide ASET images those are better for princesses.

Any reason you want VVS2? It will look the same to the eye as an eyeclean VS2 or SI1, but the latter two will save you a LOT of money...just something to consider.
 
I''m not much more experienced than you. But having just purchased my diamond for my ering from Whiteflash I will say that you need an ASET to judge a princess. They are hard to judge with just numbers. Well impossible I guess. Your clarity is really high. Do you need it that high? I have an SI1 and it''s eyeclean. I chose to go up in color and get an F and go down in clarity. It will save you some $. You want the cut to be ideal. And here is where I get confused. Yours are graded Ideal by GIA? I just posted about this not too long ago. It''s my understanding that princess cuts can only be ideal from AGS and that GIA has no standard for this. So in light of that, I''d be looking for an AGS ideal princess stone. Someone else can advise if I''m correct. Maybe check out whiteflash?
 
Hi Nick and welcome!

I personally don't like the look of the first diamond very much, it could be the photo but it looks dark in some areas...The second looks much better so go ahead and ask for Idealscopes and more photos for both stones. ASET is preferred for fancy shapes but Idealscope can still be useful, JA should be able to supply these no problem. Also the first notes an extremely thin girdle, be careful with that and get JA to check should you get that one to make sure it isn't a durability issue, they will be able to advise.
 
Thanks so far guys! Man you are fast!

Well, to answer the first question:

I guess in my mind I''m looking for the best overall diamond for my money. Is the differernce in color that much between G and E?

In the end, I know I want to spend around $5500 for the ring in total. It''s not so much about saving money, it''s more about getting the best diamond I can for the money I can spend.

@Lorelie,

I like the second one better myself too!

I''m going to email them for the scope pictures in just a minute.
 
Date: 12/30/2008 1:31:39 PM
Author: LookingForClarity
Thanks so far guys! Man you are fast!

Well, to answer the first question:

I guess in my mind I'm looking for the best overall diamond for my money. Is the differernce in color that much between G and E?

In the end, I know I want to spend around $5500 for the ring in total. It's not so much about saving money, it's more about getting the best diamond I can for the money I can spend.

@Lorelie,

I like the second one better myself too!

I'm going to email them for the scope pictures in just a minute.
Click to expand...
LOL!
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As to difference in colour...I would say you probably wouldn't notice much if any difference between reliably graded E and G in a Princess of that size. It is cut which gives a diamond its beauty so I would much rather have a well cut G which is still extremely white than a mediocre or poor cut E.
 
In my humble opinion the best princess you can buy for the money is an AGS ideal cut stone. From there I''d work around on color and clarity. But just my opinion! I love my stone. Puts the other princess cuts I have seen to shame. Seriously.

Here is a good video for you on color: www.vimeo.com/2093560

Someone posted that for me and I loved it! It depends on how color sensitive you are as to the difference in a D and a G. I''m very color sensitive. My FI couldn''t tell much when watching that video till the lower end of the spectrum. :) You wouldn''t have to go D though! If I was spending your money I''d want the best cut I could get even if it is a G. So in regards to the stones you posted, I''d go looking for an AGS Ideal cut and lower my clarity. I can''t see a THING in my SI1 stone at all. And I''m extremely picky. . . extremely!
 
Date: 12/30/2008 1:39:48 PM
Author: LookingForClarity
Well, I did a little more digging and found this one as well. No image online though.


http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-3717_design.asp?module=diamond&item=1199059


I just emailed them about the other images now. Hope to hear from them soon.

On a side note, how is JA as a vendor? I just assumed as they were listed on this site that they are a trusted and reliable vendor.

Thanks again guys!
Click to expand...
No way to tell with Princess and other fancy shapes without pics and other images, so ask JA if they can get that info for this one also. They are a highly regarded vendor with an excellent rep here.
 
Great vid hoofbeats95! Thanks!

I did a little more looking and found one I''m interested in that has a higher color rating, E, and a lower clarity, VS1. The sysmetry is great as well. 1.03. Still looks like a great diamond for the money. They just don''t have a pic on their site of this particular stone. I emailed them for images.


http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-3717_design.asp?module=diamond&item=1199059


(I know, this is a double post of this particular diamond. sry)
 
From JA:

Nick,

Not a problem. I''ve gone ahead and placed both diamonds on hold for you. This will allow our diamond department to gather the magnified image, ideal scope images, and sarin reports for each diamond here within the next 48-hours (possibly sooner). To complete the request all that I would need is your phone number. As for ASET images, we would not be able to provide that simply because we do not have the necessary ASET equipment. I''ll be sure to follow-up with you again once I have obtained the requested information. In the meantime, please feel free to reply to this email or call me at the numbers listed below, and I will be happy to help. : )




Josh Cales
Sales Manager
JamesAllen.com



D: 240.379.8365
T: 877.826.9866
F: 301.631.1428
[email protected]



1291 Riverbend Way | Frederick, MD 21701 | USA




Are the images he is going to provide sufficient? Are the ASET images a deal breaker? Sarin report is new to me as well?
 
Josh is great so you are in good hands. IS is sufficient, ASET is preferred for fancy shapes but Idealscope is still useful. A Sarin report gives detailed measurements of the diamonds so is also good to have. IS basically will show any light leakage in the diamonds but it is best to take all the info into consideration when deciding.

Also Josh is very experienced and can help you select the best diamond, so use his skill and expertise!
 
Keep in mind that the better the cut the more white a lower color will be. As I''m sure you saw on the video when compared face up. :) I LOVE that video!
 
Ideal Scope 1196839

1196839 Ideal.jpg
 
Actual Image 1196839

1196839 Actual.jpg
 
Sarin Report 1196839

1196839 Sarin.jpg
 
Looks good!
 
Ideal Image 1199059

1199059 Ideal.jpg
 
Actuall Image 1199059

1199059 Actual.jpg
 
Sarin Report 1199059

1199059 Sarin.jpg
 
The first one is nicer than the second one.
 
I like the first one best.
 
VOTE: 1st one!
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First one! :)
 
Ya, I''m liking the one in the first image quite a bit myself!

However, I put in a request to look at some images of a couple others. I stepped up to an E in color and down to a VS1 in clarity. The previous two were G and VVS2. I''ll post them when i get them in.
 
Ditto everyone else...1196839 looks like a winner! G color should be more than sufficient for most people. I have an I color princess that's nice and white, and the ideal light return does help it face up whiter.

ETA: Hoofbeats and others...the video is great, but wouldn't it be even greater to see a similar video with princess cut diamonds...or better yet, princess and rounds compared to each other at different color gradings? We keep hearing that fancy cuts show color more than rounds, but I'd love to hear someone put their money where their mouth is!

ETA again: Spoke too soon...found one!
 
Thanks for the vid jstarfireb!

I have been struggling with whether to go with a higher grade color or not. Looking at that video I''m thinking that from G on it is pretty hard to tell the difference in color without being in a lab setting. I''m still looking at the other two diamonds though. I should have something back from JA later today or sometime tomorrow. I''ll post when I get them!

Thanks guys!

Nick
 
Date: 1/5/2009 3:42:41 PM
Author: LookingForClarity
Thanks for the vid jstarfireb!

I have been struggling with whether to go with a higher grade color or not. Looking at that video I''m thinking that from G on it is pretty hard to tell the difference in color without being in a lab setting. I''m still looking at the other two diamonds though. I should have something back from JA later today or sometime tomorrow. I''ll post when I get them!

Thanks guys!

Nick
Click to expand...
Would going to G actually allow you to get a larger diamond? There are big price jumps at certain ct. weights that sometime preclude such "trades". I notice you are right over the 1 ct. mark on the diamonds you are considering. For you to get a larger looking diamond you would need to probably hit about 1.20 and there are big $$ leaps associated with that. My point is that you may not need to agonize over the color issue too much since it may be moot (i.e., it won''t actually buy you more diamond). I personally think that you can safely go with G VS1 and be very happy you got excellent value for your money.
 
Magnified Image 1199058

Mag 1199058.jpg
 
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