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Need help looking for a diamond - $10k Budget

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cspear1

Rough_Rock
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Nov 30, 2011
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Hello PriceScopers,

I am looking to buy a diamond in the next 30 days, and have narrowed down the criteria, but just need a diamond. It will be set in a yellow gold setting. After all I have read, I will sink most of the money into the best cut possible. After the cut, here is where my preferences lie:

$10,000 budget for the diamond
1.3+ carat, princess cut
Prefer H color or better (unless you think otherwise)
Prefer VS2 or better (unless you think otherwise)
Eye Clean

I do live in Miami, I have been to the Seybold Building, and after speaking with Joseph Tenhagen (who came recommended per this site), I found a nice jeweler. Not necessarily going to buy from him, but he did say he could beat the online prices, if I printed them out and brought in the diamond of interest.

Thank you for any and all replies! Happy New Year!
 
hi cspear! i did a quick search on jamesallen and here's one that fit into your specs
1.71 H VS2 $10220 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1397593.asp

i'd suggest asking JA to do an idealscope to check the light return and performance of the diamond, and to confirm eye-cleaness on the stone

there's also this one from Whiteflash
1.296 H VS2 $7490 http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2690310.htm
they've done all the work already and have the idealscope which shows great light return and have confirmed its eye clean. it's also one of their A Cut Above diamonds which have absolutely ideal cut. but IMO i think investigating the JA stone could provide better value for money as its quite a substantial size difference there.
 
Marchesa,
Thanks. I actually got the ASET images from JA a few weeks ago. I don't think they are any good.
aset1.jpgaset2.jpg

I was hoping for a little larger than the WF one, but will look at it.
 
cspear1|1325793362|3095887 said:
Marchesa,
Thanks. I actually got the ASET images from JA a few weeks ago. I don't think they are any good.
aset1.jpgaset2.jpg

I was hoping for a little larger than the WF one, but will look at it.
Click to expand...

that ASET doesn't look good but not surprising...it didn't look that good in the picture.

here are a few...

11k
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2733361.htm

1.23 solasfera
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8960/

can your local jeweler call in some AGS0 princesses for you?
 
I like the two diamonds above. Would anyone recommend I scale back on the cut a little in order to go a little larger on the carats? If so, what diamonds would you then recommend?
 
I love sparkly things, so my personal preference is for slightly smaller but extremely lovely diamonds with excellent cuts so that they have more personality, rather than a larger diamond with poorer performance.

The important thing is if your SO has a specific size expectation, then we can work around the constraints of the budget to select the best performing stone in that size range.
 
i'm not a princess cut expert by any means so i'll leave the others to it. i know a little more about rounds ;)) good luck with your search!
 
Well, I found the same ones slg did, so there's just not a lot available right now with your particular specs. I would not sacrifice cut, though.
 
In regards to the GOG diamond, isn't a small table not a good thing with a princess cut. I have seen that many of GOG's diamonds have small tables. Why is that?

I prefer the dimensions of the 1.5 ct. JA diamond.

There is no size constraints by my girlfriend, she would be happy with any size diamond she would receive.

Anyone have any thoughts about either the GOG or JA diamond? Thanks!
 
Smaller tables are only 1 part of the total equation. More importantly are those table sizes in combination and relation to crown and pavilion angles in the princess cut. Small tables alone does not produce high optics. Seeing them side by side and you'd understand why I pick what I do. I have videos showing the why's behind the reasoning.

Regards,
Jonathan
 
Rhino - can you share those videos? What is your take on the above GOG and JA diamonds?
 
a link to the videos is in Rhino's signature :)
 
Cspear, maybe if you got an ASET for the JA stone, it would help. The WF one is the most expensive, the GOG one is an I, and the JA one is the biggest. Choices, choices....
 
Rhino - I appreciate the videos, I have actually seen several of yours before, I just didn't put 2 and 2 together. They are informative. I appreciate your input and actually check your website on almost a daily basis! Looking on your website, if I didn't go for a solasfera, what would be your next step down?

Has anyone on here bought any of GOG's solasfera princess cuts before? If so, what sold you on it over other diamonds you saw? Thank you!

JulieN - I have requested the ASET, it will be early next week before I get it.
 
OKay, it finally arrived. Here is the image of the JA diamond. Again, I am still learning, but I don't think this JA diamond ASET image looks very good.

What are your thoughts about it? THANKS!

aset%20123.jpg
 
it looks pretty good to me. I really think there's a problem with all James Allen ASETs, i don't think it's the diamond. Seen all their Asets and they all look dull and blurry.
 
I received their email and this is what they said...
"I have great news, our gemologist has determined that diamond 1392340 has very good fire and brilliance! It's perfectly eye clean and has a high G color performance that faces a gorgeous white."

Anyone have any other thoughts on their feedback about the diamond or is this a typical sales pitch?

Rhino- do you have any diamonds that are comparable to JA's? Thanks.
 
Yes. I generally do not purchase for stock ones like the above but I have easy access to them.
 
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