Need advice on a Center Stone

[biltritewave]

I am coming close to making a decision and wanted to see if any of the experts or armchair experts had an opinion as between these 5 center stone possibilities. I am looking to add the ring to a white gold setting with a halo around the center stone. The Micro pave are g/h diamonds. Please let me know what you think.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1423447.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1430207.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1423668.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1426440.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1392734.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

 

[rubybeth]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1392734.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I'm by no means an expert, but I'd scrap the above stone from the running if you want the hearts & arrows look.

 

[thbmok]

The H VS1 looks promising. Ask JA for IS image to confirm? I would pass on the others, likely to show leakage.

 

[crbl999]

Ditto the H VS1...request IS image.

 

[biltritewave]

IS image?

not sure what that is but I just requested it.

 

[thbmok]

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_reference_chart.asp

 

[biltritewave]

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_reference_chart.asp

really interesting. I will post the picture here when I get it. Is that a good value? From the picture that JA has, its definitely one of the nicer ones I have seen in that price range and size but I am definitely not an expert.

 

[thbmok]

GOG has a nice video on the topic too if you are interested: http://vimeo.com/12497725

As far as pricing is concerned, JA is one of the most competitive IMO and a well cut 1.92 ct is hard to find. $/ct goes up by ~30% once it hits 2 ct.

 

[biltritewave]

I have yet to get the image but will post when I get it.

Does anyone else have an opinion on the diamonds up there or if there are other better options out there?

Also, I had a logistically question for people who have done this before.

If i am getting a setting made in California or NY (TBD), ordering the diamond from JA, and live in the south. What is the best plan for getting everything "together"? I assume I don't want to just ship the diamond from JA to the ring maker or is that what people usually do? Is it better to ship the setting to me and have someone put them together near me? Are there people that do that in a day or two turnaround? Or do I need to send it to the ring maker, and if so, how does one send an expensive item like that without it costing $$$$$ in insurance?

The ring maker has said it will take 3-4 weeks and I am trying to have the completed item in hand to do it over Thanksgiving, so any advice on this would be appreciated.

 

[slg47]

I have yet to get the image but will post when I get it.

Does anyone else have an opinion on the diamonds up there or if there are other better options out there?

Also, I had a logistically question for people who have done this before.

If i am getting a setting made in California or NY (TBD), ordering the diamond from JA, and live in the south. What is the best plan for getting everything "together"? I assume I don't want to just ship the diamond from JA to the ring maker or is that what people usually do? Is it better to ship the setting to me and have someone put them together near me? Are there people that do that in a day or two turnaround? Or do I need to send it to the ring maker, and if so, how does one send an expensive item like that without it costing $$$$$ in insurance?

The ring maker has said it will take 3-4 weeks and I am trying to have the completed item in hand to do it over Thanksgiving, so any advice on this would be appreciated.

I would get the ring maker to set the stone. You can see if JA will ship it or you can get it shipped to you and send it USPS registered/insured mail (depending on value...I think they will only insure up to a certain amount)

 

[biltritewave]

So having JA ship directly to the Jeweler making the ring is safe/acceptable?

 

[slg47]

So having JA ship directly to the Jeweler making the ring is safe/acceptable?

actually you should probably get it shipped to you first so you can get an appraisal for insurance during the setting process...check with your insurance about what you need.

 

[biltritewave]

If I am not a home owner, what is the best way to get insurance on it?

 

[slg47]

many people have used Jewelers Mutual...I would give them a call.

 

[biltritewave]

I got the ImageScope. Please let me know what you think

 

[crbl999]

Looks good to me.

 

[biltritewave]

Is there any tool to find out what the average diameter is for a 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 ct diamond. Is this diameter bigger, smaller, or about average for its weight?

 

[crbl999]

Approximate diameters for those are 7.5, 7.8, and 8. The 1.92 has an appropriate diameter for a well cut stone.

 

[biltritewave]

Is this one better than the 1.92 or at least comparable. They are about 1000 dollars difference in price. From the image online, it seems clean to me but again, I am a total newbie.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1423668.asp

 

[crbl999]

Is this one better than the 1.92 or at least comparable. They are about 1000 dollars difference in price. From the image online, it seems clean to me but again, I am a total newbie.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1423668.asp

The 2.06 I SI1 scores 5.7 on the HCA so I would pass on that stone.

 

[biltritewave]

So how can something be rated as an excellent cut and rank so low on the HCA? I requested the Idealscope to see

 

[slg47]

So how can something be rated as an excellent cut and rank so low on the HCA? I requested the Idealscope to see

this article might help
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/laboratory_cut_grades_what_report_doesn%E2%80%99t_show

 

[rubybeth]

by biltritewave » 28 Oct 2011 14:46
So how can something be rated as an excellent cut and rank so low on the HCA? I requested the Idealscope to see

It's an excellent cut vs. an ideal cut.

Ideal: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1423447.asp

Excellent: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1423668.asp (in this stone, I can see the inclusion in the lower left of the image, probably could be covered with a prong but if not, might not be eye-clean, would have to ask)

 

[biltritewave]

So I think I am going with the 1.92. I am ordering the setting from someone, shipping the stone to them and having them set it and ship it back to me. They estimated that setting the stone and shipping it back insured would be 500 dollars? That seemed high to me but I don't know. Is that a reasonable cost?

 

[slg47]

is this the mounting fee and shipping fee? how will they ship?

 

[biltritewave]

I told her I was under a tight timeline so I think that is shipping 2 day. Total cost of diamond plus setting is ~25K so I imagine insurance will cost something. Yes, that is for mounting the stone.

So is that high or an accurate cost?

 

[rubybeth]

I would ask how much of the $500 is for the actual work of mounting the diamond and how much is shipping/insurance. I've had a stone set in a ring for $30, so $500 seems like a lot to me, but mine was done locally so no shipping, and I didn't bother to have the loose stone insured during the setting process since it was a low value item.

 

[slg47]

I would ask how much of the $500 is for the actual work of mounting the diamond and how much is shipping/insurance. I've had a stone set in a ring for $30, so $500 seems like a lot to me, but mine was done locally so no shipping, and I didn't bother to have the loose stone insured during the setting process since it was a low value item.

$30 seems really low for setting. For a stone of your size I think $150-$200 would be reasonable.