Need opinions on diamonds

[Kvannebanne]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum and I don't know if it's allowed or not. If it's not I hope you'll tell me how to get the help I need.
I'm planning to propose and I've educated myself in diamonds (I think).

My girlfriend has very small hands I don't know the correct size but I'll find out soon enough. I'd guess her size has a maximum of 4, but more likely it's 3,5 or 3,75. I'm not from the US so we have different sizes.

What I'm looking for is a 0.7-0.85 ct stone, with VS1-VS2 clarity, F-H in color and AGS Ideal / GIA Excellent cut.
The clarity, color and carat are secondary to the other parameters here.
I'd have no issues with a "perfect" diamond that's 0.7 ct VS2 in clarity and H in color. So the cut and the parameters that make the super ideal cut are far more important.
I know that excellent and ideal cuts doesn't guarantee a great diamond so I'm also using the HCA tool on this site to get a score under 2 with Excellent in fire, scintillation and brilliance.

Also I've checked the angles and all the other parameters with this site:
http://www.heartsandarrows.com/hearts-arrows-diamond-ideal-cut-dna.aspx

So I talked to an online site her in Sweden and asked about a stone they had. See GIA Report:
https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2287063013

I've looked up every parameter and it falls within "Bold H&A" which means best examples of H&A-diamonds.
It also has a HCA score of 1.3. In summary this diamond ticks all the right parameters to make the perfect diamond for me.
It's also a VS1 and 0.76 carats which is really good.

The problem is that the site has very limited info on this particular stone. There's no H&A/IdealScope/ASET picture only a "real-life 3D". http://www.feedcenter.net/files/151/images/redirect/view.asp?id=696557

And this is my problem. I'm not experienced enough to see if this is good enough. All the examples I've seen on really good diamonds have had "Black arrows". I can see the arrows on this stone but they're not black or unicolored.

So final question, is it a splendid stone as the parameters suggest or is it a rare occasion where every parameter is right but the diamond is not?
If this is not the stone I'll just have to look further and bother you guys some more

Sorry for the long post, I hope you experts can help me out!

Regards,
K

 

[bmfang]

Hej hej K. Välkommen till Pricescope! (And that’s the extent of my Svenska).

Does the vendor have access to an Idealscope or ASET scope? I am probably guessing not, but it’s also possible that this stone is from a virtual inventory listing and is actually sitting in an office in the USA or India. And it’s possible that the supplier does have access to one of these two scopes and also potentially a H&A viewer too. So maybe your Swedish vendor can request them from the supplier.

Specs wise, the GIA report shows safe specs. While it is possible that these specs may give you a perfect H&A image, they also may not as GIA reports use rounded averages on them. So scope images tell a lot more than pure numbers on the grading report.

I take it that purchasing from the USA isn’t an option due to import taxes and charges upon importation into Sweden (or another Nordic country if you aren’t in Sverige)?

 

[Kvannebanne]

Hi, thanks for the quick reply!

It doesn't seem like they do on that particular stone. And I think you're right about the virtual inventory. I think they're listing diamonds that are on other places and they don't have diamonds in-house.
Purchasing from the USA is actually an option, but as you said the taxes/fees is going to put 25% on the price. The site I'm looking at offers to bring the rock home to them and deliver the ring.
They'll then add the 25% tax on the US price. But I'll get their warranties and resizing possibilitles.

I just got another offer on a stone with scope images. Please take a look and tell me what you think.
This stone is cheaper than the first one with about 100 bucks. It's a bit smaller though (0.71)
but has a VVS2 Clarity and G-color.

https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2207015056

Also one more question. If the scope pictures show a good diamond. Should I care about the parameters not having the "right" values? The girdle here is slightly thick, whereas it's advised that it should be thin to medium. Does this matter if the scope's good?

This stone costs about 3750 USD. Is that a fair price?

 

[rockysalamander]

H&A is a result of highly precise cutting. To achieve that, the angles (we look at crown angle, pavilion angle, depth and table) must be within pretty tight parameters. So, achieve H&A is a pretty high bar and will exclude many diamonds that are lovely. But, most super-ideal are also H&A.

Here's an example of a perfect H&A image (click on the small pics below the big one) that might work within your budget and size goal.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3372539.htm

If you are really set on a Hearts & Arrows, then the above stone would not hit the mark. For H&A, the Hearts have to be perfectly formed. These have tears. The image might be a bit off, but some of the chevrons (or pigeon toes) are also not perfectly symmetrical.

https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2207015056

 

[Kvannebanne]

Hi rockysalamander and thanks for the reply!

Wow I've come to the right place you guys spot things very quickly.
I see the flaws you're pointing out clearly but I wouldn't see them immediately without you pointing it out first.

The thing is I'm actually not set on a Hearts & Arrows at all. I just want the best diamond for my budget.
And my priorities is rather the brilliance/sparkles/fire of the diamond than the size/carat weight.
I feel like the carat weight should be a minimum of 0.7 though.

My total budget is $4700 and I reckon the band costs about $7-800 from the swedish site I'm looking at. Which sets the stone price at about $3900.
So the question is really for you guys. If I want the best looking diamond for my budget what should I focus on? The diamond you linked is $3150, if I add the 25% tax for them to bring it home it'll be about $3950. Which is fine for me if it's worth it.

I see that the difference is that it's an S1 clarity. The stone I linked and the one you link here are roughly at the same price. Which one would you say will be the better diamond in terms of gorgeousness?
At what point does inclusions affect the gorgeousness of the diamond?


I appreciate all your help and expertise.
Thanks!
K

 

[bmfang]

The other stone you have mentioned only has H&A scope images. Doesn’t tell us about the light performance (which is where Idealscope and ASET come into play).

It does look like a nice stone (though I don’t particularly like the additional contrast that is showing up in between the bases of the arrow shafts. Would prefer PA to be at 40.6 with a 35.5 CA. An IS/ASET image would help us out with verifying light performance. The initial stone you had has “safer” proportions than this new one.

 

[rockysalamander]

Since clarity is judged at 10x magnification to set the grade, we usually focus on the stone being "eye clean". That means that you can't see inclusions with your bare eye at 8" in my world. There are some cultures where being IF or VVS has intrinsic value, even if you can't see the difference. It is up to you. On my personal diamonds, I have everything from an IF marquise to a SI2 old round. I don't love the IF more than the SI2. I look at the sum of all the parts. The kind and location of the inclusions are as important as that they exist.

For screening diamonds, start with these parameters.
table: 54-58 (I personally prefer the small end of this range)
depth: 60-62.5
crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle; I also consider up to 36 with a complimentary pavilion angle and IS or ASET)
pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)

Anything within these criteria that meet your color/clarity goals, you can put through the HCA Too.l. https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Not all stones will come up with GIA number, if so. Delete anything in that field and type in the numbers. This asks if the angles of the diamond (or at least those 4 above) are complimentary. We suggest eliminating from consideration anything 2.0 or above. A few caveats: (1) Its an elimination, not selection tool so 1.9 is not better or worse than 1.0, (2) there are other possible good combos and more experienced PS member may post those, and (3) don't bother with this for AGS 000 or branded super-ideals.

The stones that are left, you can post here for thoughts and helping to narrow your selection. Then, ask for ASET (performance/light return as @bmfang said above) and H&A will tell us about the cut and symmetry.

If you want a shortcut, you can focus on super-ideal diamonds. Crafted by Infinity has two European locations if it is more sensible to buy from an EU country. They are on par with the WF stone I posted.
http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/web/locations-europe/

We can certainly post other options, many of which your vendor may be able to acquire through that central database. They may be a tier below the super-ideals, but still be quite lovely. Just let us know what you'd like help with.

 

[Kvannebanne]

Hi again,

Thank you both for answering. I have some follow-up questions.

So if I understand this correctly. If I use all the parameters, which I have.
We will still need to verify with H&A, ASET and IdealScopes.

But if I pick a diamond that's branded by trusted sites then I wont have to verify?
And examples of trusted sites are craftedbyinfiinity, WhiteFlash A Cut Above and Briangavin's Signature?
Are diamonds from JamesAllen True Hearts also super ideal?

About your offer finding me diamonds just below super-ideal. What's the price difference?
Will we notice any difference in real life? Or is the super-ideal only a difference noticed by experts?

I'd love some suggestions of either super-ideal or "lovely stones" at good prices.
I thought I was educated enough to pick a stone but clearly I'm not. Luckily you guys exist.


Thanks in advance
K

 

[bmfang]

The super ideal vendors provide you with Idealscope, ASET and Hearts & Arrows scope imagery without you needing to request it. Whiteflash also goes further by providing Sarine scan reports of the stones (and vendors like Good Old Gold used to [unsure if they stil do] provide buyers with the most in depth scan of all the angles, etc of a diamond one was purchasing).

BN only provides some imagery for their Astor range, but IMHO that is one level below the other vendors. With James Allen, most of their True Hearts range has H&A imagery [the arrows image is just the Idealscope image]).

So Whiteflash, Brian Gavin Diamonds, a Crafted By Infinity vendor (you can search the CBI inventory online at High Performance Diamonds), Good Old Gold (Ascendancy Hearts & Arrows range) and Victor Canera (Canera Ideal Hearts) are examples of trusted vendors.

Some will notice the difference between superideal and regular GIA XXX/AGS 000 stones (though PS community specced GIA XXX/AGS 000 is one level higher than standard GIA XXX/AGS 000 in my books).

The strictness of cut (particularly in respect of optical symmetry) will impact the diamond positively as the facets of a diamond are essentially mirrors that reflect light back to the viewer’s eyes.

With a more optically symmetrical stone, there is much more likely to be more virtual facets reflecting light back to your eyes than in a diamond with poor optical symmetry (even though such a diamond may have an excellent symmetry grade by GIA [which primarily looks at whether all the facets meet up properly and there are no extra facets showing up, what is known as meet point symmetry).

Some more info on the role of virtual facets in light performance of a diamond can be found at Whiteflash’s webpage on this:
https://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/diamond-fire-1568.htm

Just scroll down to the section on it and have a read.

Given that I have heard that Scandinavia is a region where size of a ring is not as important than in other locations (must be due to lagom), you should be wanting to maximise cut quality. A poorly cut diamond that has a higher carat weight may face up smaller than a smaller diamond that is cut properly.

The price difference may be minimal or could be substantial depending on the vendor and the issue of import taxes/charges.

BTW, you are educated in picking diamonds. Part of being educated is taking the time to learn from others and you are doing that in spades from this thread. You won’t find a better diamond community than the one here on Pricescope to learn from.

 

[Kvannebanne]

Hah, you sure know a lot about Sweden. Have you been here?
It's true that I value the cut quality above all else. And it seems that with 0.7 ct weight (approx. 5.7mm)
and SI1-VS1 is achievable with my budget.
But to be honest I'm quite lost right now. I don't understand the pricing and it worries me.
Three diamonds I've looked at (all A Cut Above - certified), which I reckon means super-ideal cut,
and I can't really see why the price is that different.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3916977.htm
I see no difference in these except that one is 0.715 and one is 0.7. But the price difference is $300
Is it the only difference?
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885291.htm
These two have roughly the same price where the diamond below has a better clarity grade VS2.
Is there anything else I'm missing?
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3876775.htm

Which one would you guys choose of these three? Best Value? Best stone?
Is the more expensive stone always "better" if they have similar specs?

I think you guys know what I'm looking for here and with my budget.
With a "PS community specced AGS000/GIAXXX" will I save money or get a bigger diamond?
Should I just go with one of the trusted vendors Super-Ideal-Certifications?

Doesn't matter as long as he carat weight is 0.7-0.8, color F-H and eye-clean.
What I want is the best diamond in terms of sparkles/brilliance/fire/scintillation etc. for my budget.

Thanks again for putting up with me!
K

 

[rockysalamander]

Hah, you sure know a lot about Sweden. Have you been here?
It's true that I value the cut quality above all else. And it seems that with 0.7 ct weight (approx. 5.7mm)
and SI1-VS1 is achievable with my budget.
But to be honest I'm quite lost right now. I don't understand the pricing and it worries me.
Three diamonds I've looked at (all A Cut Above - certified), which I reckon means super-ideal cut,
and I can't really see why the price is that different.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3916977.htm
I see no difference in these except that one is 0.715 and one is 0.7. But the price difference is $300
Is it the only difference?
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885291.htm
These two have roughly the same price where the diamond below has a better clarity grade VS2.
Is there anything else I'm missing?
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3876775.htm

Which one would you guys choose of these three? Best Value? Best stone?
Is the more expensive stone always "better" if they have similar specs?

I think you guys know what I'm looking for here and with my budget.
With a "PS community specced AGS000/GIAXXX" will I save money or get a bigger diamond?
Should I just go with one of the trusted vendors Super-Ideal-Certifications?

Doesn't matter as long as he carat weight is 0.7-0.8, color F-H and eye-clean.
What I want is the best diamond in terms of sparkles/brilliance/fire/scintillation etc. for my budget.

Thanks again for putting up with me!
K

No worries. We love diamonds and helping. Anyone in the US is likely at or getting ready for work. You'll see some suggestions in a few hours.

 

[Kvannebanne]

Bump...

Any new suggestions or opinions of the Stones I posted in my last reply?

 

[Lorelei]

Just saw this and I wanted to add there's nothing wrong with a slightly thick girdle, just avoid extremes such as very thin to thick, thin to very thick etc in rounds, for fancy shapes it's different.
I'll catch up in a bit.

 

[Kvannebanne]

Hi again,
Thanks for replying.

I'm pretty confused by the pricing sometimes. Is a more expensive diamond always better in some way?

Could you give me some feedback on these and tell me which you would choose and why?

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3947631.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3916977.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3947634.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3947644.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964559.htm

I looked at the parameters. Table size depth angles etc. I guess they all have to be OK to get the Cut Above certification.
But they are all H S1 stones with varying prices. Carat weight differs some but still is that the only thing deciding the price difference?

Really appreciate your help on this!

/K

 

[rockysalamander]

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3916977.htm
I see no difference in these except that one is 0.715 and one is 0.7. But the price difference is $300
Is it the only difference?
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885291.htm
These two have roughly the same price where the diamond below has a better clarity grade VS2.
Is there anything else I'm missing?
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3876775.htm

The SI1 is certainly less expensive due to the clarity. But, the other two may differ in the cost of the rough to the vendor or other factors. Of these three, I like 3885291 due to the smaller table. But, its splitting hairs within the ACA line. Oh...and all ACA are also H&A. But, you can also ask the WF gemologist to pull these three out of the vault and tell you which they think is the best.

This is a more budget friendly with the wire option. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964559.htm with a nice tiny table and looks fantastic.

WF Setting option: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885291.htm

Other Options. JA will let you request only 3 IS images. So, put your top three on hold. You ask the online customer service rep to do that for you. Then, request Idealscope (IS) images. They don't have ASET for rounds.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4758945 {top of budget buy hits .8 and has great angles; G color)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4632295 {this has a higher crown angle with a good PA pairing. Makes for a nice firey stone; G color}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4711791 {this is poorly photographed so it look extra contrasty, but has good angles; E color so it has more of a steely look}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4717087 (budget friendly option. The stone needs to be examined by the JA gemologist to be sure the cloud is not impacting light return, but if it does not...its got great angles and would be kind to your wallet}

JA Setting: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...d-15mm-comfort-fit-engagement-ring-item-22606 {$400US}

 

[rockysalamander]

p.s From JA, you can further reduce the price by asking for a $100 referral discount, asking for a PS advantage discount and paying by wire (3% discount). I think these are additive, but check and take the biggest one.

 

[bmfang]

I was going to mention about rough diamond prices influencing polished prices but @rockysalamander beat me to it (a few more replies while I was sleeping overnight here in Australia).

Whiteflash’s ACA range are all hearts and arrows. For a slightly cheaper but very close to ACA quality option, you can also look at their Expert Selection range as well as they will also give you Ideal light performance along with Ideal cut quality.

What @Lorelei has said though re: ACAs is true. At times, we PS-ers will be splitting hairs about different ACA’s (usually at the SI1 clarity level about eye clean inclusions, but these days sometimes even VS2 inclusions).

Hah, you sure know a lot about Sweden. Have you been here?

Haven’t been (though have had an invitation to visit from a high school buddy who now is in Scandinavia a fair bit). I do watch a fair bit of Nordic tv from SVT, NRK and DR though. And I did begin learning Swedish a few years ago (but then marriage and [re-]learning Chinese took priority). Would love to visit there with my little one and wife though in the future. The Nordic countries are an utterly beautiful part of the world. I have some Swedish tastes that my wife finds utterly disgusting though (e.g. namely salmiak and Kalles kaviar).

 

[Kvannebanne]

Thanks rockysalamander and bmfang.

Those were some really good alternatives.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964559.htm
This one caught my eye. Too bad I think you linked a diamond instead of a setting so I couldn't see which one you chose. I picked a setting that I think was beautiful and it was a 1000 bucks.

This would lead to a price of 3000+1000 = 4000 bucks. Add that 25% tax and maybe toll fees and we're up at over 5k. It's a little over my budget and it's kinda dangerous to say "ok it's just a little over"

If it's not a hassle for you guys. I would like to explore the option of finding stones in that "international vault" that the local website can access.
Or the option where we choose H&A-certified stones from CBI. Since they have shops in Finland and Belgium (European Union) the price that stands there is the price I'll be paying in total.

Regarding what I want, I think you know because all the stones you suggested where around my budget with focus on the cut.

About settings, 6 or 4-prong for a 0.7-0.8 carat stone? I've read that 4-prong looks bigger for stones under 1 ct. But it's safer with 6? What's the odds of damaging your diamond with 4-prongs.
Is it exagerrated?

Again, thanks for helping out!

 

[bmfang]

Thanks rockysalamander and bmfang.
...
If it's not a hassle for you guys. I would like to explore the option of finding stones in that "international vault" that the local website can access.
Or the option where we choose H&A-certified stones from CBI. Since they have shops in Finland and Belgium (European Union) the price that stands there is the price I'll be paying in total.

Regarding what I want, I think you know because all the stones you suggested where around my budget with focus on the cut.

About settings, 6 or 4-prong for a 0.7-0.8 carat stone? I've read that 4-prong looks bigger for stones under 1 ct. But it's safer with 6? What's the odds of damaging your diamond with 4-prongs.
Is it exagerrated?

Again, thanks for helping out!

Which Swedish vendor website are you using? I should be able to navigate and sök i inventeringslistan around it even if it is all in Svenska.

As for CBI stones, that is good that there are Finnish and Belgium. Should cut down on import taxes and then you just only have to worry about SEK-EUR FX rates.

But @Paul-Antwerp and @John Pollard , I know that US CBI dealers have access to the same inventory list that @Wink has on HPD. Do CBI’s European dealers have access to the same inventory as the US dealers? CBI stones are on par with Whiteflash and other top tier H&A vendors stones. You will be getting one of the best cut stones in the world with a CBI diamond.

Re: settings, my wife has a 0.7ct stone set in a 4-prong (4 split-prong technically) white gold cathedral shank solitaire and her 0.92ct Brian Gavin Blue set in a 6 prong Freya solitaire setting. Her original ER was a probably 0.5ct ungraded stone in a 4-prong yellow gold setting.

The six prong will be more secure definitely, but the 0.7ct four prong has been with us for 3 years and her original ER (passed down from my grandmother to us now) have had no issues with the prongs snapping off. Also depends on how often your fiancée will wear it.

My wife tends to wear her rings only when out and about (taking them off when we get home). If white gold 18kt should be the highest karat you get as anything above that will be too soft (and prongs snapping off then become very likely). If platinum, I think you will have less issues with prongs bending and making the setting less secure.

@rockysalamander , what are your thoughts on the prong issue? Other ladies on here (@SimoneDi , @tyty333 , @ac117 , amongst others) please comment and help OP out with that!

 

[Lorelei]

Prongs;

Basically, it's a matter of taste, 4 prongs can make the diamond look less round but show more of the stone which some like.

6 prongs make the diamond look more round and some feel it's more secure and that the stone is better protected. But accidents happen to both 4 and 6 pronged diamonds, the best anyone can do is insure, take the ring off when doing heavy work, and get the prongs checked regularly.

 

[rockysalamander]

This one caught my eye. Too bad I think you linked a diamond instead of a setting so I couldn't see which one you chose. I picked a setting that I think was beautiful and it was a 1000 bucks.

Here are a few of the more affordable ones that I like.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ni-1rz7231-solitaire-engagement-ring-3976.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ni-1rz7231-solitaire-engagement-ring-3976.htm {4 prong head)

While I normally prefer 6 prongs for security, on a stone under 1 carat, I usually prefer the look of 4 unless the maker can make them very very delicate at 6. It's really down to the skill of the maker. I asked my friends who are Swedish and visit frequently and she said she thought a very low-set semi-bezel might also suit. Her ring is made by this maker, Sholdt, which I helped her find. Example picture below.



In terms of metal, I always prefer platinum, if given a choice, for a daily ring of value. The progs will deform when damaged and will hold onto the stone better. Gold is more brittle and tends to break when damaged. That said, if you...say...slip when doing yoga and step on the ring just the right way, neither metal will save the ring or the diamond.

But, my friend said that Red Gold used to be the expected standard. My dad says that is is an alloy of 75% gold, 16-17% copper and 8-9% silver (or historically 18k red was 75% gold, 25% copper). Silver is added to the alloy for workability. But, that is changing and she said she now sees a lot of white metal for younger folks.

Do CBI’s European dealers have access to the same inventory as the US dealers?

I can't speak for CBI, but I know when I found a diamond in Wink's inventory, my friend was going to be able to call it into the EU location where she is located. I think it would take just a few days.

It would be interesting to see if you contacted one of the EU stores if they can give you a price on one of these to see if that helps with the budget/taxes. I adore CBI stones, so I feel it is well worth investigating.
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9745
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9517
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9006
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9240

 

[bmfang]

@Kvannebanne the 4 CBI stones suggested by @rockysalamander are within your budget (at least in USD terms and are gorgeous stones).

 

[SimoneDi]

I will add one more into the mix. OP, I think that you can safely drop to an I color especially considering the size. Here is one that I liked that provided additional savings. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3974692.htm

I don’t have problem with white gold, I think that when price is a factor, I would always consider white gold. Even a traditional and simple solitaire setting like his one will look great: https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-587.htm
You can always replace the setting with time. I used to have the above setting in 14kt WG and always liked it.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

As for CBI stones, that is good that there are Finnish and Belgium. Should cut down on import taxes and then you just only have to worry about SEK-EUR FX rates.

But @Paul-Antwerp and @John Pollard , I know that US CBI dealers have access to the same inventory list that @Wink has on HPD. Do CBI’s European dealers have access to the same inventory as the US dealers? CBI stones are on par with Whiteflash and other top tier H&A vendors stones. You will be getting one of the best cut stones in the world with a CBI diamond.

Thank you for asking, Bmfang.

A very short answer: "Yes"

Live long,

 

[Kvannebanne]

Wow, a lot of helpful replies.
I'm at work right now so I'll have to take some time to process this.

Thanks!

 

[Belic]

If you go with a European CBI dealer, prices will be the same as ordering from HPdiamonds + Swedish Tax.

No import charges(tull) on loose diamonds but Tax/VAT(moms) at 25%.

BR
A Swede that just checked the same thing a couple of weeks ago

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

If you go with a European CBI dealer, prices will be the same as ordering from HPdiamonds + Swedish Tax.

No import charges(tull) on loose diamonds but Tax/VAT(moms) at 25%.

BR
A Swede that just checked the same thing a couple of weeks ago

Essentially correct with one small note, with regards to the VAT-rate:

As a private person in the EU, you pay the VAT-rate of the country you are buying from, not the country you reside in.

Live long,

 

[Kvannebanne]

Ok so I've read through the posts and I think buying a stone from CBI is very high up on the list. They got a vendor in Belgium, where the VAT is 21% as opposed to 25% in Sweden.
The price I see is what I'll pay and that sounds assuring.

Got one small problem though. I need to pair the stone with a setting, preferably from the same vendor. Because if I bring a loose stone I'll have to go to a jewelry store to mount it.
I've contacted some and they charge about 150€ for that. And the most important thing is that they won't be responsible for the stone during the mount.

Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems that the CBI vendor in Belgium, Fortrez, doesn't sell CBI diamonds with the complete ring?

I reckon it's the same picking a stone that's branded CBI as picking ACA on WF?
Do you guys have any suggestions on CBI stones that are available?
Total budget would be 4000€.

Thanks in advance
K

 

[bmfang]

Ok so I've read through the posts and I think buying a stone from CBI is very high up on the list. They got a vendor in Belgium, where the VAT is 21% as opposed to 25% in Sweden.
The price I see is what I'll pay and that sounds assuring.

Got one small problem though. I need to pair the stone with a setting, preferably from the same vendor. Because if I bring a loose stone I'll have to go to a jewelry store to mount it.
I've contacted some and they charge about 150€ for that. And the most important thing is that they won't be responsible for the stone during the mount.

Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems that the CBI vendor in Belgium, Fortrez, doesn't sell CBI diamonds with the complete ring?

I reckon it's the same picking a stone that's branded CBI as picking ACA on WF?
Do you guys have any suggestions on CBI stones that are available?
Total budget would be 4000€.

Thanks in advance
K

I checked the Fortrez website (http://www.fortrez.com) and apparently they do jewellery design as well. So I would make contact with them and mention that you are wanting to purchase a CBI stone and set it. Give them your total budget for stone and setting (inclusive of the 21% VAT) and see what they come back to you with.

Can understand why you didn’t go for the Finnish CBI dealer given the 1% difference between Finnish and Swedish VAT.

 

[Kvannebanne]

Hi bmfang,

That's a great idea. I will contact Fortrez and see what my options are.
I actually checked the Finnish dealer at first. But they had no English option on their website.
I think you're familiar with the fact that our languages are not at all related.

So Belgium seems the way to go and of course their VAT is the lowest amongst the dealers.