Need help finding a great one carat brilliant round diamond!

[sk11]

Hi all,

I am a newbie here and have been loooking for a one carat diamond for an engagement ring but have limited knowledge. After a not so pleasant experience with a B&M store, I was planning on buying it from Blue Nile. But after lurking around the forum here, it looks like I should consider Pricescope recommended vendors like Whiteflash, James Allen, GOG since they provide Idealscope and/or ASET images. Anyway, here is what I am looking for;

Shape: Brillant round
Size: 1carat
Cut: Best I can get
Color: G or H
Clarity: VS1, V2 or even SI1
Budget: $5-7k

*Based on those requirement, do you have any recommendations on the best quality diamond?*

I also have a couple of questions based on my previous research:

1. What is the differece between GIA and AGS certifications? Is one better than the other?
2. When I search for diamonds based on my listed requirements above (minus the budget), the results of diamonds ranges anywhere from $5k to $10k.
Generaly speaking, what are the biggest difference between those diamonds to cause such a big price discrepancy? And how can i decide which is the best value for me?

Thanks so much in advance for all of your help!!! Much appreciate it!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/18/2009 12:26:26 PM
Author:sk11
Hi all,

I am a newbie here and have been loooking for a one carat diamond for an engagement ring but have limited knowledge. After a not so pleasant experience with a B&M store, I was planning on buying it from Blue Nile. But after lurking around the forum here, it looks like I should consider Pricescope recommended vendors like Whiteflash, James Allen, GOG since they provide Idealscope and/or ASET images. Anyway, here is what I am looking for;

Shape: Brillant round
Size: 1carat
Cut: Best I can get
Color: G or H
Clarity: VS1, V2 or even SI1
Budget: $5-7k

*Based on those requirement, do you have any recommendations on the best quality diamond?*

I also have a couple of questions based on my previous research:

1. What is the differece between GIA and AGS certifications? Is one better than the other?
2. When I search for diamonds based on my listed requirements above (minus the budget), the results of diamonds ranges anywhere from $5k to $10k.
Generaly speaking, what are the biggest difference between those diamonds to cause such a big price discrepancy? And how can i decide which is the best value for me?

Thanks so much in advance for all of your help!!! Much appreciate it!

Welcome!

Before we start to search, is your budget just for the diamond or does it need to include the setting too?

As to your questions -

1) AGS are considered to be the most reliable lab for cut grading, GIA's cut grade is broad and can allow for less desirable proportion combos to receive the Excellent grade. Further info - http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

2) If you use the cut quality search, that will bring up in house diamonds which have the cut information listed, this will narrow things down for you.

3) As above. Also various factors can affect price such as grading lab, cut quality, colour, clarity, carat weight etc etc.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Many good choices with those specs:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5030/ (They have a couple more that are very similar that the pictures are not up yet)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844711.htm ($6537 w/ pricescope/wire discount)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848275.htm (5% off ")

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5355/


Just use this search tool and you''ll come up with many in-house stones. Put in excellent-excellent for cut and check AGS and GIA only for labs:

https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/18/2009 2:39:27 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Many good choices with those specs:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5030/ (They have a couple more that are very similar that the pictures are not up yet)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844711.htm ($6537 w/ pricescope/wire discount)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848275.htm (5% off '')

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5355/


Just use this search tool and you''ll come up with many in-house stones. Put in excellent-excellent for cut and check AGS and GIA only for labs:

https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx

Nice pix DS!

 

[sk11]

Thanks guys!!!! My budget is only for the diamond. I have already picked out my setting.

Based on my desired specs, would you guys recommend sacrificng a lower clarity grade for a higher color grade or vice versa for the best value?

For example, which one would be the best value?

1. H color, VS2 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844711.htm)

2. G color, S11 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848276.htm)

3. H color, S11 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844713.htm)

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/18/2009 5:45:44 PM
Author: sk11
Thanks guys!!!! My budget is only for the diamond. I have already picked out my setting.

Based on my desired specs, would you guys recommend sacrificng a lower clarity grade for a higher color grade or vice versa for the best value?

For example, which one would be the best value?

1. H color, VS2 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844711.htm)

2. G color, S11 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848276.htm)

3. H color, S11 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844713.htm)

Value is subjective, so I would suggest choosing the one which appeals to you the most and check the SI1 is eyeclean to your standards if you decide on that one.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/18/2009 5:45:44 PM
Author: sk11
Thanks guys!!!! My budget is only for the diamond. I have already picked out my setting.

Based on my desired specs, would you guys recommend sacrificng a lower clarity grade for a higher color grade or vice versa for the best value?

For example, which one would be the best value?

1. H color, VS2 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844711.htm)

2. G color, S11 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848276.htm)

3. H color, S11 clarity (http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1844713.htm)

I would go with either the G or H SI1, if eyeclean. That''s a nice range to be in, and what many would consider a good value. (though as Lorelei said, that can be somewhat individual) And for the very little difference in price, I''d personally shoot for the G first.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Just for a variety of opinions to prove that it is subjective

, I''ll say that VS2 was my cut-off for an e-ring stone. So of those three from WF, I would have only considered the H VS2. Yes, it is mostly a mental thing.

All ACA''s are fine, though. They are all top cut quality.

 

[swingirl]

My preference would be for the G. It''s only slightly more expensive than the H and I notice color more than inclusions. They are all beautiful stones

 

[LtlFirecracker]

The three stones you put up are all nice stones, there is no one stone that is a better value, it is personal preference. How eye clean do you want the stone? WF defines eye clean as top view only, so if your setting shows a lot of diamond in the profile, you might have some inclusions on the side. You need to clarify that with them. As for the color, they are not that far apart, it depends how color sensitive you are. On these well cut stones, if any color showed, it would only be on the profile view as well.