Hi! I started this journey a couple of months ago as a complete noob walking into a Shane and Co not even knowing the names of shapes looking to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend (ring size J UK or 4.75 US).
Since then, I've been sucked into a rabbit hole learning as much as I can and plan to work with a local jeweller to create a bespoke ring and I am sourcing the main stone.
If curious, here are images of the tentative setting design I photoshopped together from a few ring pictures online that I will show the jeweller I will work with.
I'm looking for a 2.8-3.2ct marquise with a L/W ratio of 1.75 - 1.95 (optimally ~1.8 as I prefer ones that aren't too skinny). E colour with VSI or higher.
It's easy to find many diamonds which fit these requirements on Loose Grown Diamonds. I've filtered for ones with good cut specs (53-64% Table, 57-65% Depth, I understand that perfect specs would be a narrower range than this) and my other requirements. Here is the link which contains around 30 unique stones which fulfil these specs between $1000 to $2000.
Questions:
1) How can two stones which on paper have near identical specs in every way be so differently priced? My understanding is Loose Grown Diamonds sources from multiple factories which set their own prices. Are some just overpriced and some good deals, or do you very much pay for what you get and I should be cautious of stones with these specs closer to $1000?
2) When looking at marquise loupes what should I be looking for other than black spots (which are honestly pretty hard for me to identify as someone new to this) and the minor carbon imperfections?
3) Any other advice to help determine how a stone will look in person aside from just evaluating on certificate specs and loupes?
If anyone wants to take 10 minutes to go through the link above and identify which stones would be good buys it would be much appreciated! I'm happy to pay over $2000 if the stone is that much better regarding how it looks to the naked eye. But if the difference is somewhat a gamble with how it turns out in person I'd rather just go with something closer to $1000 - 1500. At this point I've narrowed it down enough I'd be happy for someone reputable just to tell me which one to get from the remaining options haha.
I also have a phone-quality video of one of the stones I requested more details on. I had two more videos of other stones I was thinking of but they got sold already
SKU 620401805 (LGD link) (phone quality video) $1614
Thanks everyone At this point, I almost feel like I'm putting off buying the stone so I have an excuse to spend more time researching and thinking about diamonds LOL
Since then, I've been sucked into a rabbit hole learning as much as I can and plan to work with a local jeweller to create a bespoke ring and I am sourcing the main stone.
If curious, here are images of the tentative setting design I photoshopped together from a few ring pictures online that I will show the jeweller I will work with.
I'm looking for a 2.8-3.2ct marquise with a L/W ratio of 1.75 - 1.95 (optimally ~1.8 as I prefer ones that aren't too skinny). E colour with VSI or higher.
It's easy to find many diamonds which fit these requirements on Loose Grown Diamonds. I've filtered for ones with good cut specs (53-64% Table, 57-65% Depth, I understand that perfect specs would be a narrower range than this) and my other requirements. Here is the link which contains around 30 unique stones which fulfil these specs between $1000 to $2000.
Questions:
1) How can two stones which on paper have near identical specs in every way be so differently priced? My understanding is Loose Grown Diamonds sources from multiple factories which set their own prices. Are some just overpriced and some good deals, or do you very much pay for what you get and I should be cautious of stones with these specs closer to $1000?
2) When looking at marquise loupes what should I be looking for other than black spots (which are honestly pretty hard for me to identify as someone new to this) and the minor carbon imperfections?
3) Any other advice to help determine how a stone will look in person aside from just evaluating on certificate specs and loupes?
If anyone wants to take 10 minutes to go through the link above and identify which stones would be good buys it would be much appreciated! I'm happy to pay over $2000 if the stone is that much better regarding how it looks to the naked eye. But if the difference is somewhat a gamble with how it turns out in person I'd rather just go with something closer to $1000 - 1500. At this point I've narrowed it down enough I'd be happy for someone reputable just to tell me which one to get from the remaining options haha.
I also have a phone-quality video of one of the stones I requested more details on. I had two more videos of other stones I was thinking of but they got sold already
SKU 620401805 (LGD link) (phone quality video) $1614
Thanks everyone
At this point, I almost feel like I'm putting off buying the stone so I have an excuse to spend more time researching and thinking about diamonds LOL
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