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Need advice on a Center Stone

biltritewave

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
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

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
2,568
biltritewave|1319656161|3048154 said:
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.
 

0-0-0

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
1,257
The H VS1 looks promising. Ask JA for IS image to confirm? I would pass on the others, likely to show leakage.
 

crbl999

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
562
Ditto the H VS1...request IS image.
 

biltritewave

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
IS image?

not sure what that is but I just requested it.
 

0-0-0

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
1,257
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

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
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

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
9,667
biltritewave|1319735434|3048793 said:
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

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
So having JA ship directly to the Jeweler making the ring is safe/acceptable?
 

slg47

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
9,667
biltritewave|1319739348|3048841 said:
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

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
If I am not a home owner, what is the best way to get insurance on it?
 

slg47

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
9,667
many people have used Jewelers Mutual...I would give them a call.
 

biltritewave

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
I got the ImageScope. Please let me know what you think

1423447id%20(1).jpg
 

crbl999

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
562
Looks good to me.
 

biltritewave

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
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

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
562
Approximate diameters for those are 7.5, 7.8, and 8. The 1.92 has an appropriate diameter for a well cut stone.
 

biltritewave

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
So how can something be rated as an excellent cut and rank so low on the HCA? I requested the Idealscope to see
 

rubybeth

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
2,568
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

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
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

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
9,667
is this the mounting fee and shipping fee? how will they ship?
 

biltritewave

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
17
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

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
2,568
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

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
9,667
rubybeth|1320000786|3050491 said:
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.
 
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