Need Help with Diamond and Ring

[kingkatta]

All,

I am thrilled to find this forum - I have been a lurker for about 4-5 days and have been doing my research on the side.

I am planning to propose to my girlfriend in a month and was hoping for some advice regarding diamonds. I did check out some local stores (like the Jewelry Exchange and Dave Schneider jewelers) and was somewhat unsatisfied. Based on reading here I have opened communication with Angara and GOG and have receive3d a few recommendations from them:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3682/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3799/

Angara sent me this link:

http://www.angara.com/diamond-details.do?pID=466452

Please let me know your thoughts on the matter - or if you have any other suggestions. I am willing to spend upto $10K, but the lesser the better

 

[Maisie]

How about this one for starters....


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636635.htm#

Does your budget include the setting too?

 

[kingkatta]

Thanks for the reply. Given that I am a novice, can you please explain why you prefer the particular diamond? Just so I can keep my questions to a minimum

No, my budget does not include the setting.

 

[Maisie]

I like it because its an ACA (A Cut Above) diamond which is the top of the Whiteflash range. Its an H colour which is going to face up white while still being good value for money and SI1 - provided its eyeclean - is also great value for money.

I think its a lovely size too. Very wearable for any size finger

 

[Muss]

start here http://diamonds.pricescope.com/ This is one of the best, and yet quick, intros to the diamond experience. Once you read though that come back and ask all the questions on the world and you will soon know more than you every wanted to

Welcome to pricescope!

 

[Maisie]

I forgot to add, Whiteflash has an excellent upgrade policy too. If you ever decided you would like to trade your diamond in for a bigger one.

 

[chrono]

Date: 5/5/2008 4:52:34 PM
Author: kingkatta
Thanks for the reply. Given that I am a novice, can you please explain why you prefer the particular diamond? Just so I can keep my questions to a minimum

No, my budget does not include the setting.

Some Pricescopers here have a preference for Whiteflash because they have been very happy with their prior purchase. I have bought from both WF and GOG, so I'm very comfortable with both. I would get my diamond from whoever has what I want at the right price and time. That said, the 2 stones you posted are drop dead gorgeous. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with them.

ETA
GOG also has a lifetime upgrade policy. You don't need to spend double and all that crap.

I would not waste my time with the Angara stone. No pictures and not enough information. No crown and pavilon angles.

 

[Ellen]

Hi king,

Either of the GOG stones would be gorgeous. They are some of the best cut. I didn't look up the cert on the Angara stone, as it would be like comparing apples to oranges. I can pretty much guarantee it won't be cut near as well as the GOG stones. So personally I would say go with one of them, as I really value a great cut.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 5/5/2008 5:09:22 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 5/5/2008 4:52:34 PM
Author: kingkatta
Thanks for the reply. Given that I am a novice, can you please explain why you prefer the particular diamond? Just so I can keep my questions to a minimum

No, my budget does not include the setting.

Some Pricescopers here have a preference for Whiteflash because they have been very happy with their prior purchase. I have bought from both WF and GOG, so I''m very comfortable with both. I would get my diamond from whoever has what I want at the right price and time. That said, the 2 stones you posted are drop dead gorgeous. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with them.

ETA
GOG also has a lifetime upgrade policy. You don''t need to spend double and all that crap.

Chrono makes a very good point. We do have our preferences from the vendors based on our own experiences with them. I can only talk about Whiteflash because they are the only vendor I have dealt with.

I have heard lots of excellent things about GOG though.

 

[kingkatta]

Thanks for all the replies.

I am looking at the diamond primer and am overwhelmed with the amount of information - It is very interesting and I am slowly digesting the finer points.

That said, I am happy that both the GOG diamonds are great. Which is good news since they are considerably below my budget and I love saving moolah

Both GOG diamonds are H-SI1. With my new found information, this means that a VS2 clarity will be better - I was wondering what metric you folks used to determine that these diamonds are "gorgeous". I am not doubting your impression by any means, I was merely curious about the methodology used to arrive at this conclusion.

Thanks for all the help so far - I appreciate it.

 

[chrono]

A VS stone is better than an SI only in clarity rating. It does not make it sparkle more. For that, it is the cut, which we use the crown and pavilion angle and plug all the cert information into the HCA calculator. Any score under 2.0 means it is a dazzler. GOG also has Idealscope pictures which confirm the HCA.
https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/5/2008 6:19:58 PM
Author: kingkatta
Thanks for all the replies.

I am looking at the diamond primer and am overwhelmed with the amount of information - It is very interesting and I am slowly digesting the finer points.

That said, I am happy that both the GOG diamonds are great. Which is good news since they are considerably below my budget and I love saving moolah

Both GOG diamonds are H-SI1. With my new found information, this means that a VS2 clarity will be better - I was wondering what metric you folks used to determine that these diamonds are ''gorgeous''. I am not doubting your impression by any means, I was merely curious about the methodology used to arrive at this conclusion.

Thanks for all the help so far - I appreciate it.

Well, you need to read up on the tutorials to get the whole picture.

But in short, they have great stats/numbers, great IS pics, and these two happen to be Isee2 (branded) stones, which are some of the tightest cut stones there are. And I own one, so I know.

Also, VS2 does not mean "better", it just means less/smaller inclusions. But if the stone is totally eyeclean at SI1, you don''t need to go higher, since you''re just paying more for what you can''t see!

 

[kingkatta]

Ahhh, thanks for the detailed information, everyone. I am still reading and reading