Need Advice

[Alex NY]

Hello all,

This is my first post, and Im sure it's no different than most 1st posts on here.

I've done my research for the most part but not being an expert or having any previous experince from purchasing loose diamonds I would like to know what others think.

I've been to a couple of places in NYC such as Deebers, and Lockes. Every place was offering me a .78ct set in platnium for $6,000 - $7,500. Im really looking for a 1.ct but those were way over $10,000.

Now I stumbbled across this website diamonds.com and the they have a 1ct with the same specs as the .78 I was being sold at Lockes and at Debeers for half the price.

So my question is do you think it seems to good for the price? Or have the shops in NYC been trying to get one over on me.

(from diamonds.com)
Diamond DetailsLot #: 9979441
At A Glance
Shape: Princess
Carat Size: 1.00carats
Color: H
Clarity: SI1
Cut: Excellent
Details
Depth: 72.7%
Table: 76.0%
Girdle: THIN to THIN
Culet: NONE
Polish: VERY GOOD
Symmetry: GOOD
Flourescence: NONE
Measurements: 5.94x5.54x4.03mm
Grading Report #: 15067984
Price: $3,423


Thanks in Advance

 

[belle]

hey alex! welcome to ps

if you are not able to see the diamond in person prior to purchase, it would be extremely helpful to get at least an idealscope image and some natural photos of it. that said, the table on that particular diamond is on the ''big'' side and i''m not a fan of thin-thin girdles on princess cut stones... you are just asking for trouble.

 

[Alex NY]

Hi belle,

Thanks for the reply.

I guess to sum up most of my questions is it realistic think I can buy a decent 1ct for about 4k?

Debeers was selling a Half Carat, SI2, H Color for $4,000 my girlfriend loves that setting but she thinks that the half carat for that price is too expensive.

Alex

 

[belle]

i think it is very reasonable to expect to get something around 1ct. for 4k. i would look just under 1ct. to avoid the huge premium that is placed on those carat markers. you can do a search using the ''pricescope your diamond'' tool at the top of the page. be sure to select ''in house'' or ''cut quality search'' to narrow down your search to what is readily available.

 

[Alex NY]

Great! Thanks,

The only thing I liked about Lockes is that they said if I bring in a diamond they would create a custom setting for me. So that''s the route Im trying to take, get a 1ct and just have them do the setting.

-Alex

 

[belle]

Date: 5/18/2006 4:35:00 PM
Author: Alex NY
Great! Thanks,

The only thing I liked about Lockes is that they said if I bring in a diamond they would create a custom setting for me. So that''s the route Im trying to take, get a 1ct and just have them do the setting.

-Alex

cool! i hope you find exactly what you are looking for!

 

[JulieN]

1 ct 4K, you''re looking at H SI1, ideal cut.

 

[Alex NY]

Cool, I wasnt sure if I could get a 1ct with those specs for 4K.

Like I mentioned the places I went to were offering me a half carat or a .78 with those specs for about $6,000.

 

[JulieN]

This is what I might do.

There are three stones here:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00900737
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00400241
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00400233

There's something I don't like about each one; the first has a slt th-thick girdle and large-ish table, the second has nice proportions but a 1 for light performance, the third has a high crown and medium blue flour (I'm just not a blue person, but some people love it.) Anyway, you have to buy the diamond, not the paper. You should ask BN if they're eye-clean. If it's not, it gets tossed. If you have a high limit credit card, I'd buy all of them and then pick the one I like best. If you want a second opinion, take it to an appraiser (or take your two favorite to an appraiser.) At about 4K each, it's better than that 3/4 ct, 6K deal, right?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Alex, just to give you some more to look at, I put .95-1.05 cts. in on the GoodOldGold site and came up with 19 princess diamonds:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondResults.php?shape=2&ctMin=.95&ctMax=1.1&inHouse=1&resultsColumns=268451855

They range roughly from $3000-$7000. GOG has a wealth of information about cut, color, clarity, etc., too.

 

[Alex NY]

That's true, thanks for the help.


cool, thanks for that other site, I'll check it now.