shape
carat
color
clarity

Need help with my questions and finding a diamond

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

NARock

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
40
Hello All,
I have been reading up on all your post and the information on this site for awhile now and have found it to be incredibly educational and helpful and have decided to jump in and get your advice. All of you are so knowledgable and helpful. I am in the market for a 2 carat diamond and after reading all of your posts I know what my preferences would be I just don''t know if my budget will be able to handle it. I am looking for the following:


Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 2 or above
Color: G
Clarity: SI1 or SI2 (eye clean)
GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent / Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent /Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None

So I guess my first question is with the above "wants", is this possible on a $15,000 budget? I guess I am more concerned with cut and color over clarity as long as it is eye clean.

And if so where should I look for this diamond?

Thanks in advance for all your help.
 
It might be possible, but will be tough

Here is a possibility, you can ask JA if it is eye-clean to your standards and if so, request an Idealscope image.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1177300.asp

(EDT: Too slow, again
3.gif
.)
I saw the first one that SC linked on JA's website, too, just hadn't looked up the angles, yet. It looks very good.
 
1. Does the budget include setting?

2. Your best bet is to call a couple of vendors and see what they can find for you. My guess is that it'll be a stretch, esp. if that budget includes setting... can you drop to 1.8-2.0 and avoid that 2.0ct price jump?


ETA: Stone-cold and jet got there first!




 
:P

Angles for the JA looks good, but got ding in cut grade because of the thick girdle, so face up slightly smaller but not that much, just 1-2% off ideal spread which is rare to get anyway.
 

1. Does the budget include setting?



2. Your best bet is to call a couple of vendors and see what they can find for you. My guess is that it''ll be a stretch, esp. if that budget includes setting... can you drop to 1.8-2.0 and avoid that 2.0ct price jump?





The budget does not include the setting. We were hoping to spend about 18k to 19k for all I just really like expensive settings. I would like to stay above a 2.0ct, I think this may be my only chance to get one that size.
1.gif
I would prefer no to faint fluorescence.

All of your advice means a lot to me. Is the consensus that an SI2 in a 2 carat would show the inclusions to easily? Also, should I give a little on my setting budget and add more to my stone budget?

Thanks!
 
Thanks Stone Cold, I placed a hold on the JA diamond. I liked that it was AGS and that the cut was ideal. Do you think that the cut would make up for the inclusions, there seemed to be a lot. I have requested for them to pull it an check to see if it is eye clean. I also requested an ideal scope image.

The other diamond had a cavity in it, what exactly is that? Would that deter you from buying? I could go up on my diamond budget and down on my setting budget, I just want to make sure I get a good stone.

Thanks
 
No way to tell from the clarity plot of the stone if it is eye-clean, only JA can do so.

For the 2nd stone, cavity is a small hole, the location of it is under the girdle in the pavilion, should not be a problem but ask IdJewelry about it.
 
Date: 12/4/2009 9:07:17 PM
Author: NARock
Thanks Stone Cold, I placed a hold on the JA diamond. I liked that it was AGS and that the cut was ideal. Do you think that the cut would make up for the inclusions, there seemed to be a lot. I have requested for them to pull it an check to see if it is eye clean. I also requested an ideal scope image.

The other diamond had a cavity in it, what exactly is that? Would that deter you from buying? I could go up on my diamond budget and down on my setting budget, I just want to make sure I get a good stone.

Thanks
Yes a cavity is a term for a hole, these aren''t always an issue but need careful checking by a trusted vendor to make sure.
 
Thanks for the information. I guess the sound of that, "a hole" scares me. I am waiting for the JA diamond to send me an ideal scope and let me know if it is eye clean. I will post that information when I get it.

If I change my diamond budget to 17k and lower my setting budget do you think I could get into a G color and an SI1 that is ideal cut?

Thanks
 
I received the ideal scope picutre back from JA on the 2.04ct H-SI2 and I wanted to post it to see what all your thougths are. I also got back this reply:

"The image is very nice, but the gemologist who inspected the diamond felt the stone was a touch hazy. The haziness can''t really be captured in a magnfied image, nor is it obvious in the Idealscope, but it''s something that you''ll notice right away (if you know what to look for). Since the diamond isn''t as bright as we would expect in an AGS ideal we''re going to recommend we keep looking for a better option."



So basically JA is telling me they don''t think it is a good diamond, is that typical? I guess I expected them to try and sell it to me no matter what the condition. They sent some other suggestions in my price range. Can you tell me what you think of these three?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/diamond-comparison.asp?p=1035049,1235758,1268162,1272103

Item Number: 1235758 1268162 1272103
Shape: Round Round Round
Lab: GIA GIA AGS
Carat weight: 2.06 2.01 2.03
Cut: Ideal Ideal Ideal
Color: I I I
Clarity: SI2 SI1 SI2
Certificate: GIA GIA AGS
Depth: 61.5 61.2 61.4
Table: 57 58 56
Polish: Excellent Excellent Ideal
Symmetry: Excellent Excellent Ideal
Girdle: Medium Thin to medium
Culet: None None None
Fluorescence: None None None
Measurements: 8.17*8.19*5.03 /8.11*8.14*4.97/ 8.17*8.12*5.00
Price: $14,380 $14,960 $13,190



I think the last one is nice I just don''t know if I would be comfortable with an I color. I was hoping for a G? I think I am finding that I need to up my diamond budget.

Thanks for all your help.






2.04ct H-SI21161885id[1].jpg
 
Ya, they do that if the stone is not performing well.

The 3 suggestions all looks good from the numbers and loupe image, ask for IS if you are interested in them.
 
Re. 2ct eyeclean SI2 - depends on what your definition of eyeclean is. I have an eyeclean 2ct SI2, and I love it - eyeclean by my definition: can''t see anything in it faceup if I stick it right up to my eyeball, but seeing inclusions from the side is okay.

I''d wager SI2s in this size that are clean from all angles are very few and far between.
 
Here is the information on the 2.03 I SI2 from JA. I want your opinion. Here is the link and I have attached the idealscope and the information from JA that they emailed me. I really appreciate everyones opinion, do I keep looking for an eye clean diamond?


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1272103.asp

From JA in their email:

"according to our gemologist this is a very beautiful diamond, the SI2 clarity is based on white feathers all along the side of the stone. You will be able to see them but they are so close to the side that they will not bother the face up of the stone. You can hide the largest one with a prong, everything else is very nice and unnoticeable. "
It does have feathers in it but they are to the side and another thing I am concerned about it the I color, will I notice it. I currently have an H colored .94 carat stone that is IGI, would that be equivalent to and AGS I colored stone? And would the ideal cut of this stone make up for the color? The HCA for this stone is 1.1.

Thanks

2.03ISI21272103[1].jpg
 
The IS is good. Your H IGI might receive an I or even lower from GIA so if you are OK with that color, you might be fine with an I. A larger diamond will show a little more color due to the longer light paths.

If you are wanting a G, are the ones Stone Cold and I linked above not available or have problems?
 
Thanks Jet2ks! I did look at the ones above but all had strong blue fluor. and I was hoping for faint to none. Would you be concerned about the feathers in this one and do you think they really could be hidden by a prong? Everything else about the clarity is wonderful on this stone I just don''t want these feathers to pop out at people. Is it a good buy at $13,190?
 
What is the concern with fluorescence?

Impossible to judge inclusions from photos, the gemologist at JA is the best one to give an opinion, which they have. As you have seen they will be honest with you about a diamond.
 
I guess my concern with fluorescence is that I worry it would make the stone look blue in certain lights and from some of what I have read here it could make the stone look hazy. Is that right? I have looked at a few stones that have it and they seemed darker to me but I am really no expert.
28.gif
 
Have you read this?

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

In very strong direct sunlight you may see a bluish tinge to the white light with strong or very strong fluoro. Medium or below you will not notice anything. (Unless you go in a dark room with a blacklight
3.gif
)

Very, very rarely will a stone with strong or very strong fluoro have a hazy/oily appearance. You can definitely ask the gemologist at JA to evaluate that for you, but it is so uncommon that it most likely will not be an issue.

Definitely read the linked page of the tutorial.
 
ditto jet.
 
Date: 12/10/2009 10:15:34 PM
Author: NARock
I guess my concern with fluorescence is that I worry it would make the stone look blue in certain lights and from some of what I have read here it could make the stone look hazy. Is that right? I have looked at a few stones that have it and they seemed darker to me but I am really no expert.
28.gif
This is very unusual but always best to get a trusted expert to check for you. Yes strong or very strong blue can show as a bluish glow in some lighting.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top