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Need help choosing a RD under $4000

A

andrewj

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Messages
9
Hi all,

Firstly I'm so lucky to stumble onto this community! i have spent the last 4 hours sifting through the knowledge center and loads of posts soaking it all up :)

I'm on the hunt for a round diamond, my budget is about $3500-$4000 (about a 0.75 ct)
I have found these 2 stones on BGD website, same carat, same clarity, colour is 1 shade apart and they both have low HCA scores (1.1 and 1.5) yet the prices vary by almost $800. Is the cheaper diamond better value?

I'm still trying to get my head around the idealscope and what is a good looking diamond, but to me the cheaper one looks cleaner and has less light leakage?

$4344 http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.756-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104052884005
$3580 http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.753-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065051


What am i missing here?

Also, if anyone would be willing to suggest anything nicer for under $4000? I'm all ears :)

I looking forward to hearing your replies!

Andrew
 
There is a color difference and a price difference between an F and G colored stone. That accounts for a lot of price difference.

I think they are both very well cut stones; if you want to discuss particular nuances between stones, give Brian a call. He'll be happy to go over the stones with you and give you his expert opinion. He may, after talking with you and finding your preferences, recommend another stone that he has as well.
 
When you are dealing with the signature stones, they are all top cut quality so that is not even an issue. All you have to do is balance your color and clarity and size within your budget. My preference is G color in AGS graded stones.

If you are willing to go to $4300 (like the F stone), I do see that WhiteFlash has a .82 G SI1 at $4357.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2812699.htm
 
I would spend less on the setting and get this one even if you are splurging on your budget ...this one is definitely worth splurging on IMO as with the consensus of other PSr's:

"Yes, I was going to suggest the same one as Gypsy...the Brian Gavin Blue ...love the blue flour. and this one faces up larger. Very nice stone. I think it is within your budget just under $4500. G VS 1 with strong blue florescence."

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.855-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104059901017#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/3/
 
I've actually been browsing through RDs for a potential pendant, and found a lovely stone from Blue Nile.

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-i-color-si1-clarity_LD02706653

HCA < 2, and moreover, the numbers of the various %s fall in the range of ACAs. Some awesome person earlier mentioned that there are 3% cashback programs online (fatwallet.com I believe?), which shaves off from the total. You basically get the spread of a 1.0 ct. Yeah, yeah, you can't see ASETS or Idealoscopes from BN, but they do have a great return policy.
 
Wow did not expect so many replies! thank you all for your input

I do like the Blue color in the diamonds, i have done a search and slowly sifting through the results reading up on them.
Few things I'm worried about though.

1) I'm buying from Australia so i don't have the luxury of seeing the diamond before buying and I'm not sure if my partner will like the blue as much as myself.
2) Will the blue devalue the diamond when i get it appraised in Australia as fluorescent are frowned upon?
3) The Blue seems a lucky dip, i could take a punt on one with low-med fluorescent but end up with something that's blue in sunlight all the time!

The BG Blue seem cheaper than equivalent size in H&A, is the cut as good? will it sparkle just as nice?

Thanks again!
 
The cut is fantastic. The only reason that that the blue stones aren't in the signature line is because they don't put stones with fluorescence in the signature line. Yes, the stone will be valued lower than the same stone with no fluorescence. It is dumb that some people are against it because I think they ought to cost MORE! But regardless, since you are in Australia, I would perhaps recommend going with one of the other stones since you are uncertain about the fluorescence. I will tell you that mine has strong blue and I never see it unless I shine a UV light on it. Even in sunlight, the affect is soooo subtle. It isn't like the stone really turns pure blue!

My next choice after that one is this:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2812699.htm

I'd go over .80 if you can.
 
andrewj|1344131391|3246142 said:
Wow did not expect so many replies! thank you all for your input

I do like the Blue color in the diamonds, i have done a search and slowly sifting through the results reading up on them.
Few things I'm worried about though.

1) I'm buying from Australia so i don't have the luxury of seeing the diamond before buying and I'm not sure if my partner will like the blue as much as myself.
2) Will the blue devalue the diamond when i get it appraised in Australia as fluorescent are frowned upon?
3) The Blue seems a lucky dip, i could take a punt on one with low-med fluorescent but end up with something that's blue in sunlight all the time!

The BG Blue seem cheaper than equivalent size in H&A, is the cut as good? will it sparkle just as nice?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Andrew - it's not really blue, it just shows fluorescence under UV light. Many women have a stone with fluor and don't even know it! I just helps it face up whiter. A diamond is not an investment, so nothing will "devalue" it. :) You will insure your stone for replacement value. And yes, it will sparkle just as nice! :)
 
So i emailed BGD to get some reassurance the strong blue fluor won't show up most of the time :twirl: they sound like a great diamond, can still see the hearts and arrows apparently.

Before i get to carried away with choosing the diamond i have decided to get my setting sorted.
My partner seems to love this one

http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=3290

I have emailed BDG to see how much it would approx. cost to get a replica of this ring made
I have also emailed the vendor above to see if i can buy the setting on its own.

Fingers crossed one of them come in at a reasonable price.
How much would you expect to pay for some custom work like that?
 
BGD can execute that and do it much better than what you see there, thankfully. As for how much it costs-- it depends on what metal you want. But take a look at their solitaire settings and see what they are running, this will be in the same ballpark.
 
2617-03i.jpg

So i got all my quotes back on the above ring.

antiqueengagementrings.com came in at the cheapest at $575 for 14kt white gold.
Whiteflash was next cheapest at a little more than double that price
Brian Gavin came in at more than 3 times the first quote.

I know I'm either going to go with either Whiteflash or Brian Gavin it just depends who can provide the best 0.7+ G SI1 H&A diamond :) for the best price.
I can't find anything in my prince range on their websites at the moment so i will probably leave it a couple of weeks till they stock up on more diamonds.

I would have jumped at the ring posted earlier for $3580 but it has since sold :(
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.753-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065051

Do you think the quotes posted above are fair?
I searched for hours and hours and those 2 seem to come up trumps as far as quality and value go.
 
Thank you!
I'm a little bit hesitant about the I color.
I was set on G but have decided to stretch to H if the right stone popped up.

What do think about these 2? i have asked for an idealscope on BDG as it only has aset image.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...ls/0.766-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-104060183028

or

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782679.htm

The dimensions are so similar I'm considering the 0.723 stone because of the cleaner Symmetry and G color.
Will have to wait till tomorrow when Brian Gavin sends the Idealscopes of the first one through :)
 
Ended up going with the BDG 0.766 H SI1
So far the sales rep and Lesley have been very helpful.
Will post pictures once the setting is complete :)

Ideal scope came through, looks good to me! Lesley has assured me it's eye clean.

untitled_5.jpg
 
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