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Need help with an Emerald Cut on a tight budget

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jrbeilke

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 22, 2009
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Been lurking here on pricescope for the last few weeks and finally decided to register and get involved as it appears the GF is favoring an emerald cut diamond and I''m looking for second opinions.

Initially I had been looking at Blue Nile and a few other online retailers, but I think I''ve settled on James Allen for the time being because of all the great info and photos they provide on their site.

Here''s what I have so far, let me know if you want/need more information and I''ll see what I can do:

Setting:
18k White Gold Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring - link

Diamond:
0.48 Carat G-VVS2 Ideal Cut Emerald Diamond - link

Item Number: 1240469
Shape: Emerald
Carat weight: 0.48
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VVS2
Certificate: IGI

Depth: 60.8%
Table: 64.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle:
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.00*3.88*2.36
Ratio: 1.55

JA-RING-1234.jpg
 
Date: 5/22/2009 2:43:21 PM
Author:jrbeilke
Been lurking here on pricescope for the last few weeks and finally decided to register and get involved as it appears the GF is favoring an emerald cut diamond and I'm looking for second opinions.

Initially I had been looking at Blue Nile and a few other online retailers, but I think I've settled on James Allen for the time being because of all the great info and photos they provide on their site.

Here's what I have so far, let me know if you want/need more information and I'll see what I can do:

Setting:
18k White Gold Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring - link

Diamond:
0.48 Carat G-VVS2 Ideal Cut Emerald Diamond - link

Item Number: 1240469
Shape: Emerald
Carat weight: 0.48
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VVS2
Certificate: IGI

Depth: 60.8%
Table: 64.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle:
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.00*3.88*2.36
Ratio: 1.55
Click to expand...

Welcome!

Storm has a special interest in emerald cuts so see what he has to say about this one. Have you seen any GIA graded EC's you like? IGI are considered to grade leniently in some circumstances compared to GIA, this page goes into more detail on how the grading labs rank.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

That is my favourite setting for an EC also, classic with the baguettes.

With online sellers I would definitely stick to those like James Allen, Good old Gold, Whiteflash and so on who have in house diamonds and can supply photos and other images of the diamonds. Otherwise it is really buying blind trying to buy a fancy shape just by a few numbers.
 
Yea, the gf actually had shown me a similar baguette style ring on another site so that was an easy choice here.

I''ve seen quite a variety of GIA''s, IGI''s, and the others but this is the first stone that I''ve been seriously interested in. And because it''s through James Allen I''m confident that I can get further information (and possibly more photos or an idealscope) to confirm the quality. I''ve also looked around Good Old Gold and Whiteflash, but the stone from James Allen was the first that''s really caught my eye (and will hopefully catch hers).
 
Date: 5/22/2009 4:54:35 PM
Author: jrbeilke
Yea, the gf actually had shown me a similar baguette style ring on another site so that was an easy choice here.

I''ve seen quite a variety of GIA''s, IGI''s, and the others but this is the first stone that I''ve been seriously interested in. And because it''s through James Allen I''m confident that I can get further information (and possibly more photos or an idealscope) to confirm the quality. I''ve also looked around Good Old Gold and Whiteflash, but the stone from James Allen was the first that''s really caught my eye (and will hopefully catch hers).
Click to expand...
Yes that shouldn''t be a problem with more photos and an IS image if you ask them.
 
Alrighty, put in a request for an Idealscope. They said it would be ready by Wednesday at the latest, plenty of time for me to second guess myself now, haha.

Still looking for any other opinions on the stone, setting, and the whole shebang if anyone else wants to chime in.
 
Not bad Joe, I''ve also found this GIA inspected emerald cut on James Allen - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-890900.asp

Item Number: 890900
Shape: Emerald
Carat weight: 0.38
Cut: Ideal
Color: E
Clarity: VVS2
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 61.6%
Table: 64.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle: Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.97*3.85*2.37
Ratio: 1.29
 
I''ll let Storm and others weigh in on cut, but I like the proportions on the stone that Joe posted.

The two stones the OP listed would be 1) REALLY long and skinny with those measurements, and 2) shorter/fatter....it is ALL a matter of preference, but that''s what struck me. I''d also not spend the money for E/VVS (unless one of you is super color sensitive.) In a step-cut, I would want to be careful with inclusions, but VS should be fine--and in some cases SI1 as well. Bang for buck!

Keep us posted....I''m an EC girl too and I think the setting you''ve picked is lovely--it will look gorgeous!
 
Yea, my gf is definitely interested in a longer shaped EC. When I first started dropping hints about diamonds and such I was leaning towards a princess cut, but I''ve since found out that she''s not a fan of the square cuts (too boxy).

As far as the clarity I have been looking for a minimum of VS2 (we''re both picky), and with the possibility of the IGI cert being a lil soft a little breathing room is nice too.
 
Date: 5/22/2009 11:52:38 PM
Author: jrbeilke
Yea, my gf is definitely interested in a longer shaped EC. When I first started dropping hints about diamonds and such I was leaning towards a princess cut, but I've since found out that she's not a fan of the square cuts (too boxy).


As far as the clarity I have been looking for a minimum of VS2 (we're both picky), and with the possibility of the IGI cert being a lil soft a little breathing room is nice too.
Click to expand...
The picture of the igi stone looks very good.
Get an IS image, crown height and have JA's gemologist look at the diamond and give an opinion on the actual grade and the effect of the good sym. and report back.
Normally the igi report would be a deal killer for me but that is for you to decide.
 
Date: 5/22/2009 9:42:36 PM
Author: jrbeilke
Not bad Joe, I''ve also found this GIA inspected emerald cut on James Allen - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-890900.asp


Item Number: 890900

Shape: Emerald

Carat weight: 0.38

Cut: Ideal

Color: E

Clarity: VVS2

Certificate: GIA



Depth: 61.6%

Table: 64.0%

Polish: Very Good

Symmetry: Good

Girdle: Thick

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 4.97*3.85*2.37

Ratio: 1.29
Click to expand...
IS needed, ch and opinion on the effects of good sym.
 
Thanks Storm, I will request that they check the crown height and symmetry when they are doing the Idealscope for me. Any particular reason why you don''t like the IGI certificate?
 
Date: 5/23/2009 12:50:47 PM
Author: jrbeilke
Thanks Storm, I will request that they check the crown height and symmetry when they are doing the Idealscope for me. Any particular reason why you don''t like the IGI certificate?
Click to expand...
sloppy grading
 
I like rectangular stones, but the first one you posted L/W ratio of 1.55 would be too skinny for me.

I do really like a 1.29 L/W ratio. I know this because I''ve gone out and tried on rectangular shapes. Has your girlfriend tried on rectangular shapes to see what ratio would look best on her hand?

Neither the 1.29 ratio or the 1.55 will look square, but the 1.55 will be very very skinny.

HTH
 
Unless your gf is dead set on an EC with 1.55 ratio, I wd exercise a little caution when picking a 'skinny' EC esp. within your range of carat weight. The picture may look good enough magnified as it is but in real terms those step cut facets will be so close together that you might not get to fully aprreciate the beauty of ECs. I would look at those with L/W of around 1.3-1.4. But that's my preference.
 
Looks like James Allen won''t be able to get me the idealscope/crown height for the first stone I listed so I''m going to see if they can get me more information on the second stone i listed (890900), as well as the stone Joe suggested (1177626).

I''ve also been using the pricescope search tool to see what other dealers may have available, and hopefully James Allen can come through for me on these stones.
 
Thanks Joe, I will contact James Allen about that stone as well (1176975), and follow up here when I know more about the IS and crown heights.
 
Alrighty, Idealscope just came in let me know what you think...

890900-IS12345.jpg
 
Re-loading the magnified image so that it''s not quite so big, and crown height was 11.2% on this diamond (890900)

image001-890900.jpg
 
It seems to have a dark ring under the table that might be undesirable.
 
Yea I''m a little worried about how dark the 2nd and 3rd steps look in the idealscope, but the crown height looks good. Any other opinions?
 
Date: 5/28/2009 5:07:55 PM
Author: jrbeilke
Alrighty, Idealscope just came in let me know what you think...
Click to expand...
yummy

I would buy it.
The contrast is good in that size.
at 1.5ct might be a little much but at this size it makes the pattern visible.
 
1.5ct? It should only be 0.38 ct. Also, with the white gold setting wouldn''t that change/hide/remove the appearance of the dark ring?
 
Date: 5/29/2009 10:54:22 AM
Author: jrbeilke
1.5ct? It should only be 0.38 ct. Also, with the white gold setting wouldn''t that change/hide/remove the appearance of the dark ring?
Click to expand...
on the finger it will be less intense.
When you look down into the stone from close range it will help it look deep.

What I was saying that at that size .38ct it isn''t an issue and can help the stone look deep at 1/5ct it might be an issue.
That area is about the size of a flat toothpick sideways on a .38
 
Gotcha, thanks for the help storm.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 11:10:59 AM
Author: strmrdr
Date: 5/29/2009 10:54:22 AM

Author: jrbeilke

1.5ct? It should only be 0.38 ct. Also, with the white gold setting wouldn''t that change/hide/remove the appearance of the dark ring?
Click to expand...

on the finger it will be less intense.

When you look down into the stone from close range it will help it look deep.


What I was saying that at that size .38ct it isn''t an issue and can help the stone look deep at 1.5ct it might be an issue.

That area is about the size of a flat toothpick sideways on a .38
Click to expand...
^^^ see edit.
 
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