Need opinions on a ring I purchased today in Manhattan

[tweinber]

I attached all of the info from the report. A few things concernign me are the crown angles and the diameter for a 1.5mg stone. I paid $7700 plus taxes and it is set in a 18K band with inlaid diamonds going halfway around. I will include a picture to this post soon. Opinions are all welcome because I am new at this. Thanks.

Report Check for
GIA Report Number: 14769810

Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: December 14, 2005
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.98 - 7.14 x 4.60 mm
Carat Weight: 1.50
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: SI1

Proportions:

Depth: 65.2 %
Table: 58 %
Girdle: Medium to Very Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Good
Symmetry: Good

Fluorescence: None

Additional Information
Crown Angle: 37°
Crown Height: 16 %
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5 %
Star length: 55 %
Lower Half: 80 %

Cut Grade: Good

Comments: Crown angles are greater than 35 degrees.

 

[jayreneepea]

Are you sure you have all those numbers right?? 65.2 is VERY deep! Your 1.5 is facing up at about a 1.25ct at best. It also seems like it is very out of round. I'm not sure I've ever seen that kind of crown angle either! Do you have the option to return it?

 

[Regular Guy]

I confirmed with GIA''s report check, because HCA choked.

If you a) love it and b) can''t return it, you''re good.

If both are not yes, and were looking to do more than confirm your purchase, let us know.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/31/2007 10:36:35 PM
Author: jayrenay9
Are you sure you have all those numbers right?? 65.2 is VERY deep! Your 1.5 is facing up at about a 1.25ct at best. It also seems like it is very out of round. I''m not sure I''ve ever seen that kind of crown angle either! Do you have the option to return it?

Yeah....unless you typed in the numbers wrong, RETURN IT FAST. The HCA won''t even score it at all with that combo...

 

[tweinber]

I copied and pasted that data right from GIA''s site so its definetly right. I will call tomorrow to see if I can return it. I knew it was too good to be true. I just hope they will accept a return. I didnt know how to look at the symetry before I made the purchase.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Took a trip to the mall?

Sorry that was mean, and since REg Guy confirmed the numbers I won't go check myself. But I have to say, send er back unless it is just putting on an amazing fire show. maybe just before sending it back you should stop by some higher end jewelery shops and take a look at others. Tell them what happened and thatyou want to compare it with some ideal cut diamonds before returning it. Then get prices from them, don't forget to get the person's card who helps you, go and return that sucker, and come buy here.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

if you can't return it, just get her a kick ass wedding band and she probably won't notice or care. but put in a little more pre-purchase education this time

and if you can return it, do it right away and come learn a little more before spending 8k on a ring. Especially one as meaningful and important as this one.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/31/2007 10:52:29 PM
Author: tweinber
I copied and pasted that data right from GIA''s site so its definetly right. I will call tomorrow to see if I can return it. I knew it was too good to be true. I just hope they will accept a return. I didnt know how to look at the symetry before I made the purchase.

Unfortunately, it is not just the symmetry...it''s a pretty poor cut overall. Very very deep, so it looks smaller than it should, and a few other things as well.

See what you can do. At least it''s GIA certed so you can be reasonably sure the color, clarity, and spread is correct.

Sorry.

 

[tweinber]

Found on the receipt that the store does not accept refunds but will take exchanges for up to 7 days so I will go in tomorrow but would like some advice as to handle the situation from someone who has been dissatisfied with a purchase like this before. Do I ask for something a little bit smaller in a more ideal cut? What am I supposed to really look at as for as the angles in the depth and crown angle? I obviously am in need of help as this was a big investment for me (I just purchased a house this month too so $$ was extremely tight) and I am not satisfied with my purchase. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks!!!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 8/1/2007 7:54:10 AM
Author: tweinber
Found on the receipt that the store does not accept refunds but will take exchanges for up to 7 days so I will go in tomorrow but would like some advice as to handle the situation from someone who has been dissatisfied with a purchase like this before. Do I ask for something a little bit smaller in a more ideal cut? What am I supposed to really look at as for as the angles in the depth and crown angle? I obviously am in need of help as this was a big investment for me (I just purchased a house this month too so $$ was extremely tight) and I am not satisfied with my purchase. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks!!!

Best thing is to wait a day or two and read everything you can under the KNOWLEDGE button above. Or failing that, ask for a stone with an AGS certificate that is known as an AGS0 (or with an older lab report an AGS000). Those stones will have the highest ratings in all categories and especially for cut and light return, which are the most important for the diamond to be sparkly.

You also want to get a stone that is much shallower, although you don''t want to go TOO shallow. Again, read the tutorials, and they will help you greatly.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/1/2007 7:54:10 AM
Author: tweinber
Found on the receipt that the store does not accept refunds but will take exchanges for up to 7 days so I will go in tomorrow but would like some advice as to handle the situation from someone who has been dissatisfied with a purchase like this before. Do I ask for something a little bit smaller in a more ideal cut? What am I supposed to really look at as for as the angles in the depth and crown angle? I obviously am in need of help as this was a big investment for me (I just purchased a house this month too so $$ was extremely tight) and I am not satisfied with my purchase. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks!!!

Hi tweinbar,

I''m sorry they sold you such a stone. The safest way to get a good stone without you doing a crash course of diamonds in a couple hours, is to tell them you want to switch to an AGS0 diamond, with the newer reports that grade light performance. That will ensure you get a pretty stone. If they don''t have any, ask if they can get some in.

And yes, you will probably have to go down a bit in size, and maybe to an H to stay at the same price level. But in a well cut stone, the H shouldn''t show, and a bit smaller really won''t be noticable.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 8/1/2007 7:58:11 AM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 8/1/2007 7:54:10 AM
Author: tweinber
Found on the receipt that the store does not accept refunds but will take exchanges for up to 7 days so I will go in tomorrow but would like some advice as to handle the situation from someone who has been dissatisfied with a purchase like this before. Do I ask for something a little bit smaller in a more ideal cut? What am I supposed to really look at as for as the angles in the depth and crown angle? I obviously am in need of help as this was a big investment for me (I just purchased a house this month too so $$ was extremely tight) and I am not satisfied with my purchase. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks!!!

Best thing is to wait a day or two and read everything you can under the KNOWLEDGE button above. Or failing that, ask for a stone with an AGS certificate that is known as an AGS0 (or with an older lab report an AGS000). Those stones will have the highest ratings in all categories and especially for cut and light return, which are the most important for the diamond to be sparkly.

You also want to get a stone that is much shallower, although you don''t want to go TOO shallow. Again, read the tutorials, and they will help you greatly.

Neatfreaks'' shared good advice.

Not sure the likelihood of getting an AGS0, but if possible, this is the simplest solution.

Option 2...look for GIA with a cert showing only Excellent cut, and even then, still run it through the HCA above, called the Cut Advisor, under tools. If you get an "under 2," again, good news.

Why don''t you update us.

Best wishes,

 

[Kaleigh]

Read the tutorials on CUT!! Then go in informed. It''s way too deep. Knowledge is key!! Let us know what happens. Good luck!!

 

[chrono]

The stone is way too deep ant not round. Please return the stone ASAP and exchange it for something else. As suggested above, if all the tutorials boggle your mind, get a AGS0 stone and you''ll be assured of a sparkler this time.

 

[tweinber]

Ok gang I appreciate everyones help on here. I replaced the 1.5 carat stone and kept the same settign and traded it in for this.

Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: May 10, 2007
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.99 - 7.04 x 4.39 mm
Carat Weight: 1.32
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 62.6 %
Table: 57 %
Crown Angle: 35°
Crown Height: 15 %
Pavilion Angle: 41.6°
Pavilion Depth: 44 %
Star length: 50 %
Lower Half: 80 %

Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

The price stayed exactly the same at $7700 including the 18k white gold band. The Holloway Cut Advisor came back with this: Total Visual Performance 5.3 - Good - Only if price is your main criterion which doesnt seem that promising to me but the stone looks healthier than the other one and I am satisfied knowing its better quality even though its a little bit lighter than the original one. What is everyones thoughts on the trade in?

Thanks to all of you for your input.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 8/3/2007 12:07:54 AM
Author: tweinber

The price stayed exactly the same at $7700 including the 18k white gold band. The Holloway Cut Advisor came back with this: Total Visual Performance 5.3 - Good - Only if price is your main criterion which doesnt seem that promising to me but the stone looks healthier than the other one and I am satisfied knowing its better quality even though its a little bit lighter than the original one. What is everyones thoughts on the trade in?

Thanks to all of you for your input.

Tweinber,

On the one hand...you don''t have a lot less information now than I could share with you...so you''ve done well at assessing the tools that could be included.

Unfortunately, GIA doesn''t always accord well with HCA, and so...unless you''d be prepared to try again...perhaps even asking your jeweler...could we turn on your computer while I''m there and just run some of these through...it''s a trial & error method, until you''re like some here and know these angles like the back of your hand (through above 41.2 on the pavilion is a give-away for trouble).

Maybe you know you''re done. If you''d come in here with just stone #2, I''d say go back. But, you''ve come in after bringing in a stone that wouldn''t even work on the HCA. Yes, you''ve done better, and you can show you''re girl the GIA rates it as excellent.

(Kind of like a) running into a bayonet, and then deciding to b) stick another knife into your gullet. You step away from the bayonet and ask how you''re doing. I''d say a heck of a lot better...sorry couldn''t resist...and GIA confirms you''re doing better, too!).

 

[tweinber]

I guess better is all one can really ask you and I thank you for saying that Ira. Knowing all of these angles for a newbie is really tough. The ring looks good and the excellent cut and symetry ratings from GIA I thought would be enough to satisfy my desire to get a really good stone but the HCA tool just makes things so much more complicated. I will get this ring appraised and see hwo it does but I think I''ve paid over $150 parking in midtown manhattan in the past week shopping for this ring so forget going back again. Best of luck to everyone on this forum and thanks for the advice. I will still be checkign this thread if anyone still has input.

Thanks,
tom

 

[whatmeworry]

I guess it''s better than the first one. You can take consolation that even though it''s lighter than the first it has the same diameter so it should face up the same. One thing you might consider with that diamond is to have an open ring setting instead of a bezel. Good luck.

 

[chrono]

I''m sorry to say that the ring is still poorly cut, Tom. I hope that you''ll reconsider getting a better stone. To be safe (and since you can''t lug your PC and plug the numbers into the HCA), just get a stone with a AGS cert and pick one that has a rating of AGS0 for light performance. You''ll be guaranteed a sparkler that will blow this 2nd GIA stone out of the water. Until you see a well cut stone, you cannot imagine the amount of fire and brilliance a diamond can exhibit.

 

[Haven]

tweinber--ETA: I thought the FTC's cooling-off rule may apply to this purchase but just went to their website and it doesn't apply to purchases made in stores. Sorry for the false hope!

Good luck finding the right stone!