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Need Help Picking the right diamond

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khiyasu

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
56
Hi guys, I have been doing lots of research and lots of reading and about to pull the trigger on buying a diamond but have come down to 3 which I think I have identified as the better ones. Looking for something around the .75 carat princess cut, all GIA certified. I have the dimensions and proportions below. Please help me pick the one that you think is best and has the most sparkle! Thanks in advance!

All of them have Excellent Cut, Clarity and Polish
All of them have No Fluorescence
All of the are Square Modified Brilliant

Princess Cut #1:
0.72 carat
5.07 X 5.02 X 3.44 mm
F colour
VVS1 clarity
69% Table
68.5% Depth
Medium Girdle
Feather

Princess Cut #2:
0.73 carat
5.10 X 5.05 X 3.48 mm
E colour
VVS1 clarity
71% table
69% depth
Medium - Slightly Thick Girdle
Needle, Pinpoint, Feather, Cavity

Princess Cut #3:
.74 carat
5.10 X 5.09 X 3.47 mm
E colour
Internally Flawless clarity
70% table
68.1 depth
Slightly thick girdle
Minor details of Polish
 
Unfortunately there's not enough data for us to give an opinion. Especially with cuts other than round, we'll need to see magnified pictures and especially an ASET to be of any help. Just because it's a GIA Excellent cut doesn't mean its a top performing stone. Which vendor are you buying from?
 
Sooner or later someone will ask this question... is there a specific reason why you're going with such a high clarity? There's nothing wrong with that, but it's important to know that clarity does not affect sparkle, and anything past a VS2 will safely be eye clean (except for the rare exception in a VS2). You'd be paying for something you can't see. By going down in clarity, maybe in the VS category, you could either get a bigger stone, or save yourself a whole lot of money

Of course, if 'mind clean' is a priority to you, then I completely understand.

Just to compare with BGD, here's a princess I quite like. It still has a relatively high clarity and color (VS1, F)
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.781-f-vs1-princess-diamond-ags-104062403008

EDIT: I just noticed that the BGD stone is a larger ct weight, but faces up smaller. I'll defer to a PSer who's better with princess cuts
 
Hi Hawk25

Thanks for your reply. I was looking at buying from B2C Jewels website as their prices are better. I don't have a preference for clarity. I put it under the VS1 to Flawless range and most that came up were that. I'm not looking for a diamond that is too big. I think around the .75 size is what I'm looking for. I can afford to pay a bit more for colour or clarity but not necessary I guess.

I will try to get an ASET photo but its hit and miss cause not all diamonds on B2C have the ASET.
 
 
From what I understood, GIA doesn't give cut grades for cuts other than round. Therefore you're relying on B2C's own 'cut grades', which especially without pictures, is personally out of my comfort zone. Since you don't have a clarity preference, I suggest including VS2 and possibly even SI1 in your search. B2C's prices are certainly better, but it comes from the lack of information the other vendors provide, and the 'safety net' of branded stones like Whiteflash's ACA or BGD's Signature brand.

You have a few options. If your priority is to get the best performing stone possible for your budget, I'd suggest widening the vendor pool to include those like WF and BGD and their branded cuts. If you'd rather save some money and still get a great performing stone, we can help you search for one that's not branded. In both cases I'd recommend lowering the color/clarity

What's your budget?
 
The cut grades I got were from the GIA cert that they attach on their website but I guess if GIA doesn't grade them then those grades pretty much don't mean anything.

My budget was around $3,000. Anything lower is better. I think I'm okay with a slightly smaller cut too but I think around the .7 range is what I'm kinda looking for. Also, I'm in Canada so ideally a place that ships within Canada to reduce duties will help, but not end of the world.

Thanks so much.
 
Ah, a fellow Canadian! Don't worry, I know the woes of our taxes ;( . Most of the vendors are US based, but they don't charge any US taxes and there are no duties on loose stones or rings, so you'll only pay the taxes you would have if you bought locally (whatever your GST/PST/HST rate is in your province)

Is it possible you're mistaking the symmetry/polish as the cut grades on the GIA report? There's no cut grade category on the report itself.

In full disclosure, I'm not experienced with princess cuts like other PSers are, but I'm not particularly liking any of those ASETs. If you drop down to a VS2/SI1 I think you can get a better cut from other vendors.
 
That's pretty sweet. So I guess I would only have to pay for shipping?

Yeah the best price I can find so far locally is around $3,150 all in. So I guess that is my budget for now. So if I can find anything from the States at around that price + shipping only that would be great :)
 
Shipping plus taxes at the border (although shipping is usually free from most vendors). They'll convert the value of the diamond to Canadian prices, and then charge whatever your provincial tax rate is. If the vendor uses Fedex, and they'll charge a $10 fee to clear customs for you.
 
Ok gotcha. I'm guessing GST & PST then. Well I guess the prices are similar after taxes.. haha just need to find ones with the ASETs and post it on here.
 
If you pay by wire, after taxes it's right at your budget limit:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.761-g-si1-princess-diamond-ags-104062403009

It's worth either calling BGD or using their live chat to ask whether this stone is eye clean to your standards. Their standards are within 6-12 inches, face up position from the naked eye. Your definition may be 6 inches from all sides. That sounded silly when I first started shopping, but 6 inches from my eye is the limit to where I could focus on an object (not even comfortably), especially one that's 5mm in diameter

You're probably going to ask yourself why would you lower the clarity so much that you would even have to ask about eye cleanliness, when B2C has VVS1/IF stones for the same, if not lower price. It's all in the cut, and BGD signature stones have a reputation for great performing stones. They also use the AGS lab, who actually grades cut/light performance on fancy shapes like princess cuts. Hopefully another PSer comes by and gives another opinion
 
I think it becomes very clear when you compare the ASET images. The B2C jewels look fine in the center, but leak a lot of light near the corners. The BGD stone has red (optimal) light reflection all the way to the corners. I'd wager that if you lined up all the B2C stones next to the BGD, you could pick out the BGD every time.

Whiteflash also has very well-cut princess stones, though not very many in your size/price range. Here's one that's slightly smaller than the others:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2874873.htm

If you are intent on coming down in price or getting better color/clarity for your budget, James Allen also has some nice princess stones, though you have to ask for ASETs yourself. I'm also not familiar with their policy shipping to Canada.
 
IMO, JA usually has cheaper stones, but they limit you to only request 3 ASETs. A lot of their inventory is not in house, so they have to send the diamonds in for imaging (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Their shipping policy is the same as the others.
 
Since GIA doesn't grade cuts for princess cut diamonds, is it still important to go with GIA?

Or is it okay to go with a different lab for certification? I like knowing what I get and if I were to get a round brilliant I would definitely go with GIA. But just wondering if it is just as important to go with GIA for princess cuts?

The AGS Brian Gavin one looks very nice. Does it come with AGS certification? Also, is it okay to go with SI1 clarity diamonds? I don't mind going a bit better but only if it makes a difference.

Thanks guys
 
It's still important to go with GIA or AGS because of the color and clarity ratings. For example, EGL USA will be one grade softer, and EGLI can be 3 or more grades softer in color and clarity. Also, keep in mind that well-cut stones tend to get sent to GIA/AGS.

The Brian Gavin stone comes with an AGS cert. It's listed as eye clean on their website, but I would make sure with them that it meets your definition of eye clean.
 
I'm new at this so I don't know if it is eye clean to me or not :P

It does look very nice and price is quite affordable. AGS cert is definitely nice too. I pretty much have to rely on the recommendations here for the diamond. It looks nice though
 
I think they offered a 10% discount if you type in SURPRISE when you check out. I guess you would get what you pay for. The diamonds actually might be good but just the ASET photo isn't a really clear one. Looks like they blotted out some areas... weird.

My setting actually has very thin prongs so it won't really hide the corners.
 
Other than White Flash or Brian Gavin, any other websites you guys would recommend? Or do you guys just recommend going into the store and getting one directly from the shop?

Does anyone have any experience with Diamond Stores in Vancouver, BC?
 
I have attached a photo of a 0.72 carat GIA cert princess.

4.97 X 4.85 X 3.51 MM
F colour
VS1 clarity
Very good Symmetry
Excellent Polish

Is this enough to tell if it is a good diamond or not?

_8606.jpg
 
khiyasu|1375810017|3497654 said:
Other than White Flash or Brian Gavin, any other websites you guys would recommend? Or do you guys just recommend going into the store and getting one directly from the shop?

Does anyone have any experience with Diamond Stores in Vancouver, BC?
Click to expand...

Other than WF and BGD, there are also James Allen, Good Old Gold and High Performance Diamonds. I'm sure there are others, but those are the bigger vendors. From my experience, no matter how big or small the B&M store is, compared to online stores B&M's are usually significantly more expensive and have a very little or no inventory of GIA/AGS certified stones that are ideally cut.

It's really hard to tell whether the stone you listed is good one without the ASET
 
Thanks hawk25

Of your experience, which online vendor do you recommend for best value?

Looking to finalize the purchase this week so any help or recommendation is appreciated.

Around the $3,000 price range +/-, Ideal/excellent cut, VS clarity and around G or better colour. Above 4.8mm length and width.

Thanks guys!!!!
 
James Allen usually comes in as the best value for a given size/color/clarity. They also have the best return policy (60 days, free shipping both ways). The downside with them is that you have to put stones on hold and ask for ASET images and you're limited to 3.

Here's one meeting your color/clarity requirements and will be under $3000 after PS discount.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.85-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-222014

H color is safe, as I doubt anyone would be able to detect color in it. This one comes in at $300 less, but it's better cut, as the scintillation in it is hypnotizing.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-230904

This is just to get you started. For your budget and size constraints, there's a lot of diamonds out there to choose from (over 100 by my count). Pick your 3 favorites and get ASETs, then buy the best from those 3.
 
I'm not too familiar with diamonds as this will be my first time buying a diamond. All almost look the same unless I put them next to each other to compare. Any help choosing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Yi-khy
 
khiyasu|1375831750|3497859 said:
I'm not too familiar with diamonds as this will be my first time buying a diamond. All almost look the same unless I put them next to each other to compare. Any help choosing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Yi-khy
Click to expand...

Start with contacting JA and holding those 2 stones I listed and requesting ASET images.
 
khiyasu|1375829123|3497831 said:
Thanks hawk25

Of your experience, which online vendor do you recommend for best value?

Looking to finalize the purchase this week so any help or recommendation is appreciated.

Around the $3,000 price range +/-, Ideal/excellent cut, VS clarity and around G or better colour. Above 4.8mm length and width.

Thanks guys!!!!
Click to expand...

For best overall value, meaning a balance between good quality, size and money spent, I believe JA. You're not paying the 'brand' premium (they don't have a princess cut brand), so their prices are usually lower. The drawback is you don't have the safety net of the branding, and it requires a lot more work to get an ideal cut stone. This is compounded by JA limiting you to only 3 ASET images, a necessity for evaluating fancy cuts.

I guess it depends on how you define value. Best value could mean absolute best stone for your money, no matter the size, in which I would recommend the vendors that intently focus on cut quality and provide ASETs and other images upfront, like BGD or WF.
 
If you are looking for best value, ditch the local stores. Start looking at diamonds from the PS vendors for a start. WF holds a nice inventory for princess cuts.
 
I'm pretty much looking for best stone for the money and liking what i see from WF
 
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