Need diamond buying advice - Round Brilliant

[diamondenthusiast1]

Hi everyone. I am looking to buy an engagement ring. I have chosen a diamond (with my limited/newly acquired knowledge of the subject). I was hoping to get an opinion on value - price and quality of the diamond.

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-details/LD09651838

Also, Blue Nile doesn't say on their website if a diamond is Hearts & Arrows. By the specifications in the GIA Certificate (%s and °s) it looks like it is, but what do I know?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ac117]

Hi everyone. I am looking to buy an engagement ring. I have chosen a diamond (with my limited/newly acquired knowledge of the subject). I was hoping to get an opinion on value - price and quality of the diamond.

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-details/LD09651838

Also, Blue Nile doesn't say on their website if a diamond is Hearts & Arrows. By the specifications in the GIA Certificate (%s and °s) it looks like it is, but what do I know?

Thanks for your help.

BN's Astor Ideal diamonds seems to be quite overpriced. For that, I'd much rather buying from a super ideal vendor who have precision cut stones and provide all light return images. They could send you the stone and it would still be the same price if not less than the BN stone.

For example:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3988009.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3929342.htm
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/1.060-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104093730020

I also know CBI has 1 or 2 UK retailers that could obtain any of their stones for you to view in person and would include the VAT: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7904

 

[farrahlyn]

it is a GORGEOUS stone. However, i think that the BN Astor stones are just marked up too much. i would go for Whiteflash or Brian Gavin or High Performance Diamonds before a BN Astor. the settings at any of those are way nicer than BN offers as well. Plus you get a ridiculous amount of images on light return, H&A, etc.

 

[Gussie]

+1 on the Astor being overpriced. A super ideal vendor is a much better bang for your buck.

Not to mention the customer service and upgrade policies.

 

[diamondenthusiast1]

it is a GORGEOUS stone. However, i think that the BN Astor stones are just marked up too much. i would go for Whiteflash or Brian Gavin or High Performance Diamonds before a BN Astor. the settings at any of those are way nicer than BN offers as well. Plus you get a ridiculous amount of images on light return, H&A, etc.

Thanks, farrahlyn.

I'm UK based, so with Tax+Duty, the other options would be more expensive for me, unfortunately...

 

[ac117]

Thanks, farrahlyn.

I'm UK based, so with Tax+Duty, the other options would be more expensive for me, unfortunately...

Even with 25% allotted for tax & duty? The Astor stone says 7,760 pounds, which comes out to roughly $10,466 USD. The stones I found were ~$8500 so + 25% import fees = $10,625 USD

 

[diamondenthusiast1]

BN's Astor Ideal diamonds seems to be quite overpriced. For that, I'd much rather buying from a super ideal vendor who have precision cut stones and provide all light return images. They could send you the stone and it would still be the same price if not less than the BN stone.

For example:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3988009.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3929342.htm
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/1.060-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104093730020

I also know CBI has 1 or 2 UK retailers that could obtain any of their stones for you to view in person and would include the VAT: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7904

Even with 25% allotted for tax & duty? The Astor stone says 7,760 pounds, which comes out to roughly $10,466 USD. The stones I found were ~$8500 so + 25% import fees = $10,625 USD

Even with 25% allotted for tax & duty? The Astor stone says 7,760 pounds, which comes out to roughly $10,466 USD. The stones I found were ~$8500 so + 25% import fees = $10,625 USD

I always set the filter to VVS2+ when searching online and I never get these prices ... am I wrong in doing this? I do it because the three VS diamonds we've seen live through a 10x loupe (I know, only 3 - most likely not nearly enough to be able to confidently say that clarity is very important to us) have all had way too many and way too obvious inclusions for our liking.

If I could find a VVS2 diamond as beautiful as these 4 at the same price, I wouldn't think twice.

The fact that BN does not provide light return images makes me feel like I don't know what I'm buying. I requested that they send me these images earlier today, and I'm still waiting for them to confirm if it is at all possible.

And to make things worse, I'm on a tight deadline.

 

[ringo865]

Blue nile will not provide images. How about VS1 stones? You will not see anything in them, generally loupe clean. If inclusions don't affect light return, why pay for VVS. Mind clean, sure, it's a thing.

But if you need such high clarity, you will need to adjust your budget, size, or color. Do not compromise cut.

 

[ac117]

Agree with ringo - VS1 should satisfy your mind clean requirement. I included two VS1 recommendations that would be amazing. How do you both feel about color? It just pains me to see you spend the same as you could to get a super ideal, given the choice.

 

[diamondenthusiast1]

Blue nile will not provide images. How about VS1 stones? You will not see anything in them, generally loupe clean. If inclusions don't affect light return, why pay for VVS. Mind clean, sure, it's a thing.

But if you need such high clarity, you will need to adjust your budget, size, or color. Do not compromise cut.

Agree with ringo - VS1 should satisfy your mind clean requirement. I included two VS1 recommendations that would be amazing. How do you both feel about color? It just pains me to see you spend the same as you could to get a super ideal, given the choice.

I know, the cut has always been my priority (with clarity being a second). I guess I was fooled into thinking I was getting a super ideal H&A in this BN stone.

I don't want to go any lower than 1 carat and I don't think I am going any lower than G on the colour, so I guess I will have to compromise on price or clarity a bit. It will most likely be the price.

ac117, I really like this one that you suggested
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3929342.htm

What do you all think about this one, and which one would you all choose between the two (or maybe suggest a third option). It's a bit more expensive, but it is VVS2:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3968189.htm

Also, I am officially almost out of time (I need the ring by next Friday the very latest).
...Should have posted here much sooner.

 

[rockysalamander]

I know, the cut has always been my priority (with clarity being a second). I guess I was fooled into thinking I was getting a super ideal H&A in this BN stone.

I don't want to go any lower than 1 carat and I don't think I am going any lower than G on the colour, so I guess I will have to compromise on price or clarity a bit. It will most likely be the price.

ac117, I really like this one that you suggested
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3929342.htm

What do you all think about this one, and which one would you all choose between the two (or maybe suggest a third option). It's a bit more expensive, but it is VVS2:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3968189.htm

Also, I am officially almost out of time (I need the ring by next Friday the very latest).
...Should have posted here much sooner.

It's a great option given your preferences. I'd buy it today and get moving. Call WF and confirm your timeline. You may be best to choose a WF house settings as they likely have faster production ...I like the legato sleek.

 

[diamondenthusiast1]

It's a great option given your preferences. I'd buy it today and get moving. Call WF and confirm your timeline. You may be best to choose a WF house settings as they likely have faster production ...I like the legato sleek.

Done I'm expecting a call and email from them re turn-around time later this morning.

About the setting, we actually want a six prong pave. Their Platinum Cathedral French-Set is the closest to what we are looking for (simple ±2mm six prong pave). Ideally, we were looking for something that is not Cathedral, so unless they can mount a six prong head on a plain (non-cathedral) pave setting in time, we'll have to go with this one.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...set-eternity-diamond-engagement-ring-3589.htm

Thanks so much for your help.

Oh, and an update: BN emailed me that they can not provide any light performance images and they basically said (in a very long email) that I should blindly trust that their Astor diamonds have amazing cuts . I will end up paying more at Whiteflash, but I feel so much better about it.

 

[ac117]

Done I'm expecting a call and email from them re turn-around time later this morning.

About the setting, we actually want a six prong pave. Their Platinum Cathedral French-Set is the closest to what we are looking for (simple ±2mm six prong pave). Ideally, we were looking for something that is not Cathedral, so unless they can mount a six prong head on a plain (non-cathedral) pave setting in time, we'll have to go with this one.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...set-eternity-diamond-engagement-ring-3589.htm

Thanks so much for your help.

Oh, and an update: BN emailed me that they can not provide any light performance images and they basically said (in a very long email) that I should blindly trust that their Astor diamonds have amazing cuts . I will end up paying more at Whiteflash, but I feel so much better about it.

The VS1 would've saved you some money but at least you could afford a little more for the peace of mine of the VVS2 if that's what you really want!

For the setting, I much prefer this one which is bead set pave but I prefer the way the head is more integrated with the band without being a cathedral setting either: https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...yle-bead-set-diamond-engagement-ring-1006.htm

Another option if she likes knife edge: https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ife-edge-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-712.htm