Need advice on a stone

[Horse to Harley]

Hi all,

been learning and lurking here for a while. I value your opinions and I would like your thoughts on a stone please. Here is what I have so far!

1.34ct
SI1
H
GIA cut grade VG
Polish VG
Symmetry VG
Fluorescence N
Depth 61.3
Table 57
Crown angle 35.5
Pavilion angle 40.4
Girdle Medium to slightly thick Faceted
Culet N

Measurements: 7.06 - 7.10 x 4.34 mm

HCA score 0.8 I think this score is awesome if I did it right!

Comments: "additional clouds are not shown"

$ 6750.00

I hope to have the report tomorrow to see what and where the inclusions are. I don''t think I can get an ideal scope on it but I will ask. Also this is a diamond that will be bought online so I will not be able to see it with my eye. We want to put this on a wedding set that is 1.25 tw with a 5 stone wedding band and the Eg R will have 4 side stones 2 on each side. Any advice and thoughts you can give are greatly appreciated. Any questions I should ask? The rings and the stone will most likely come from the same vendor. Is an SI1 - H going to look good on 18k white gold? Do you think we should be looking at better clarity and color and less size? She wants size but it has to look awesome! The price is about the entire budget we have for a diamond.

Thanks all in advance!! H to H

 

[peridot83]

The numbers as you said are great. I think the color is fine, see my concern about the clarity below.

Hopefully, if the vendor can physically look at the stone, they should be able to do an idealscope for you. Vendors like Blue Nile, who cannot, it's because they are not looking at the physical stone..its all virtual inventory. This may be a concern since its SI1; they may not be able to tell you whether the stone is "eyeclean" or not if they're not looking at the physical stone (make sure you have your own definiton of eyeclean i.e. can you see the inclusions from a foot away? 6 inches?). ESPECIALLY if you're considering getting the stone without seeing any images yourself

Additionally, there may be a reason the GIA only gave it a Very Good; that's what would make me want an idealscope image before purchase. If that's not possible, maybe could you consider getting the diamond sent to you loose? So you can evaluate it get it appraised before feeling committed.

For me personally, if the stone is sent loose I feel more at ease about sending it back. If it's already in the setting, I would feel like eh...might as well deal with what I got.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome.

This could be a very attractive diamond by the info given, you could find a more tightly crafted cut if you want a true Superideal, but this rock should look great nevertheless. It is facing up slightly small, it should measure about 7.2m, but this is only slight. The comment clouds not shown is for the sake of completeness and isn't an issue. It would be good to ask about the inclusions - if the diamond is eyeclean and compare the vendor's definition of eyeclean to yours. Ask the size, colour, type, visibility and location of any inclusions. An Idealscope would be helpful but not absolutely essential. An H colour will look fine in white gold so no worries there. Your colour and clarity requirements are fine, no need to improve on them in my opinion, this is the best way to get extra size. Polish and symmetry - good and above are said to look the same to the untrained eye, so VGVG should be fine in my opinion. Not everyone wants a Superideal cut with all the trimmings with their diamond, the one you picked looks as if it could be a very good choice.

 

[Horse to Harley]

Thanks for the feedback,

this is really frustrating, it seems to be really hard to find diamonds that have great ratings and scores from both GIA and HCA? I find a diamond that is rated Excellent across the board from GIA and it scores a 3.8-4.5 on the HCA???? I sure am glad I have you guys (And gals

) as my private consultants!

So how do you think the price stacks up? Do you think I might be able to do a little better? Or maybe get a little more for my money? I''m really nervous buying a diamond over the Internet and spending this kind of cash and not being able to see it but I just don''t have much for options! The local jeweler has an "ideal cut SI1 H 1.23ct" not certified for $6000. They say they are GIA certified and buy their own diamond direct so no certificates......?

Anyway I blabbing. I hope to know more soon. H to H

 

[Lorelei]

You can plug in your specs with the search by cut feature at the top and see what similar are costing. Your specs are good to maximise bang for the buck, you could drop the colour to an I or J to increase size a bit, but this might not be the right choice for you. Another thing to consider is if the vendor you are considering has a trade in option, many more folk are choosing to upgrade their diamonds nowadays and not all vendors offer this option. Stay away from diamonds without a grading report, I don''t know what the jewellers mean by saying they are GIA " Certified", they might have GIA trained gemologists working for them but this is not the same as buying a diamond with a GIA grading report. Remember that a GIA or AGS report can greatly increase the value of a diamond, so there normally is a reason with other labs or no lab if a diamond doesn''t have a report, fine if you know what you are doing and don''t plan to resell, but not so good otherwise. Check carefully with the vendor that this diamond is eyeclean and that your definitions of eyeclean match. Also you can drop the clarity if you want to continue looking to an SI2, some can be eyeclean and great value for money.

 

[Ellen]

Hi Harley,

To be honest, I think you could do a little better. And I also wouldn''t buy a diamond over the internet without an IS image. It is risky.

The great thing is, you don''t have to! There are vendors that will/can get you the info you need.

I have found 3 choices for you, with IS images. All are great. Yes, they are a tad smaller, but you are getting a great stone, it is worth it. And really, the size difference is not huge.

Just thought I''d throw these out.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=1007249

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-78257.htm#

http://204.17.89.15/diamond/2812/

Not sure of the discount for JA, you can ask.

WF is 5% off ACA''s.

GOG is the bank wire price right below listed price.

 

[Lorelei]

Yep, those are good choices from Ellen. Much finer cuts than the one you are considering, also these vendors are well known, some have an upgrade policy and good return policy. Plus you can find pages of consumer experiences, so this should make your leap of faith with buying online much easier. It is a case of going for the proven performers with the ones El posted, or the possibly decent and larger performer which is also something of an unknown quantity with the original one.

 

[vsdiamondbrokers]

H to H,

I have been selling GIA-graded diamonds for over 9 years. I have litterally looked at thousands of GIA-graded stones in that time-span. I can only count two or three times where an SI1-grade diamond (from GIA) was not "eye-clean" -even to an experience person, with 20-20 vision, looking at diamonds. If you're leaning toward size, you've got a perfect diamond. Yes, the cut could be better (Excellent), the color and clarity could also be better, but for all intents and purposes your diamond will be very brilliant, absolutely white and I'd say 99.9% chance it's eye-clean.

 

[Horse to Harley]

Boy, thanks to all!!!

Thanks for those diamonds. But she has pretty much said she would like something 1.25ct, I'm not sure if anyone could tell but if that is what she wants...you get my drift! LOL

I think the vendor is good, they are a Pricescope vendor Angara. I know they are a little new but so far they seem pretty good. I'm waiting for the GIA report by e-mail. Of course it is not a diamond they have in stock but I'm thinking once you good folks see it you will be able to guide me even further. It seems like most of these vendors are good and reputable so I'm getting more comfortable with your help! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will have a good report. They will discount it to $6450 so that is a little better.

So I pretty much know to stay away from EGL stones, but you are saying that AGS are good? are they equal to GIA?

Thanks for all your help you are making this "almost" fun!

 

[Lorelei]

AGS are considered to be the premier lab for cut quality grading, GIA have only recently begun to grade for cut and if you do a search you will find many threads on this issue. GIA are however thought to be the strong lab for colour and clarity grading along with AGS. So these labs are the two big guns if you like. I am not that familiar with Angara, but I am sure they are a quality vendor and everyone has to start somewhere, I am not sure how long they have been in business. This is a virtual diamond listed on many vendor's databases from the cutting houses, which Angara will investigate for you. I don't know what their policy is regarding Idealscope images etc, but I would ask if they have any cut performance info. If this is a recent GIA report then it will have the crown and pavillion angles listed ( albeit rounded) however if it is a pre 2006 then it might not. We would have to see about a Sarin Report in that case, along with an IS image if possible. Other than that, it is a case of you see the diamond, you like it, then buy it, if not return it. I would think Angara would have a decent return policy, you would have to check. Also if your GF has made a point of saying that she would like at least 1.25 ct, then it is best to get at least that weight or more, you are lucky to have been given a good idea of what she wants!

 

[peridot83]

I would trust the HCA over the GIA system for now, since the GIA system is relatively new and not proven as well as the AGS system (I don't think anyone yet has selected a bunch of GIA ideals and done a study on their light regurn compared to the HCA or AGS0s....if they have please post the link!!). AGS0 H & A rounds are the only diamonds I could say you could buy without an idealscope image.

If you can, look at the diamonds Ellen suggested if in the end you can't get an idealscope from Angara. If Angara has the diamond in house, that's one thing, but keep in mind in general if it WASN'T in house, most vendors share the exact same inventory. So it makes a big difference if Angara calls it in, but will not do an idealscope, and whiteflash goodoldgold or others, who will do an idealscope if they have it in house or call it in.

Also, keep in mind that we're all pushing you towards trying to select out the like top 1% of diamonds out there . I highly doubt that this stone, with the numbers it has, will be a dud. But just keep in mind, that you don' t have to buy online without seeing if you don't want to .

 

[Horse to Harley]

I can''t believe all the help here...so cool!

Ok what about this one?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3103/

They don''t have an ideal but they might make one. it is in house. A little more money, a little smaller ctwt but measures about the same and has the old AGS ideal score and score an 1.0 on the HCA....just looking...opinions? Thanks again!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/8/2007 12:53:34 PM
Author: Horse to Harley
I can't believe all the help here...so cool!

Ok what about this one?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3103/

They don't have an ideal but they might make one. it is in house. A little more money, a little smaller ctwt but measures about the same and has the old AGS ideal score and score an 1.0 on the HCA....just looking...opinions? Thanks again!!!

That one looks very nice! Yum in fact

GOG and Jon is a great vendor, plus this diamond is eligible for lifetime trade up.

 

[peridot83]

I likey

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/8/2007 12:53:34 PM
Author: Horse to Harley
I can''t believe all the help here...so cool!

Ok what about this one?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3103/

They don''t have an ideal but they might make one. it is in house. A little more money, a little smaller ctwt but measures about the same and has the old AGS ideal score and score an 1.0 on the HCA....just looking...opinions? Thanks again!!!

Harley, what do you mean there?

This could be a really pretty stone. If you''re curious, you could have them put that one next to the other I picked out from there and they can take a pic of them, just to give you an idea...

 

[Horse to Harley]

So here is the Ideal scope on the GOG Diamond....and the consensus is?

 

[belle]

what are your top priorities?

did you try using the 'search by cut quality'? https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx
don't narrow your choices too much. g-i color and vs1-si2 clarity should give you a good range of options. you can refilter by price and look for stones in the 7mm range.

 

[kcoursolle]

The GOG stone has nice cut parameters, very little leakage, an awesome spread, cute small arrows. The downside is that the symmetry is a little off. However, this isn't going to be a large visual difference...I'm just evaluating the stone.

 

[Horse to Harley]

So how does the Ideal Scope look? It looks pretty good to me but being I have only seen about 2 in my life I really have no idea! I''m leaning to this stone now because there is way more information on it and GOG seem willing to provide services that most others don''t. They really don''t offer discounts to PS members they just offer a wire discount that a lot of other jewelers offer. I think I will opt for the credit card purchase for the added protection. Still their service and return policies are superior. I''m going to start looking for a setting! Thanks for all your help and keep your fingers crossed that I can put this together!

 

[Lorelei]

The IS looks fine, I think it could be a nice choice for you.

 

[Ellen]

Harley, as we've said, it's not a bad looking diamond, it's just not at the level most of us pickykins want.

If it were me personally, I'd pick the one I posted first from GOG over this one. The cut is better, and I'd rather have a smaller diamond with the best cut. But that's just me.

I'm going to try and put the IS images both in this post, and you can compare the difference. It really doesn't get much better than the IS on the first GOG stone (at bottom).

 

[Ellen]

Also, my ring came from GOG, you would have no problem wiring the money to get the discount. They are very honest.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/9/2007 11:38:45 AM
Author: Ellen
Harley, as we''ve said, it''s not a bad looking diamond, it''s just not at the level most of us pickykins want.

If it were me personally, I''d pick the one I posted first from GOG over this one. The cut is better, and I''d rather have a smaller diamond with the best cut. But that''s just me.

I''m going to try and put the IS images both in this post, and you can compare the difference. It really doesn''t get much better than the IS on the first GOG stone (at bottom).

That is well put Ellen, a good diamond but not the superlouper cut we normally see. However it is still probably a stunning stone and will outshine most you will see.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/9/2007 11:42:10 AM
Author: Lorelei

That is well put Ellen, a good diamond but not the superlouper cut we normally see. However it is still probably a stunning stone and will outshine most you will see.

Yes, it probably would.