Need Some Advice Choosing 1 of 3 Diamonds - ON

[RAMdiamond]

Greetings All!

This is my first post so please do forgive me if I am posting in the wrong section of the forum with this request for advice.

I am three weeks away from our formal engagement ceremony and a debating between three stones and would love some advice:

Stone #1: 0.85ct Round Ex-Ex-Ex I-VS1 Tiffany's $6950 CAD + tax (ring setting included)
Seems like an alright price for a Tiffany Diamond? After having read their book it seems to me that these stones tend to be quite brilliant. The showroom certainly impressed me as I looked at quite a few rings and the quality seemed outstanding. Any thoughts?

Stone #2: 1.03ct Round Ex-Ex-Ex I-VS1, Very Small Culet, Online Jeweller $5830 CAD + tax (ring setting extra)
I like this one alot but I am worried about the feather inclusion, I've attached a picture from the GIA certificate, let me know what you think. I'm also worried about this stone have a very small Culet. Any thoughts here would be great.

Stone #3: 1.03ct Round Ex-Ex-Ex I-SI1, Independent in Ontario $5741 CAD + tax (ring setting extra) Will no more information about this stone as when it gets in.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for any assistance provided!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2010 1:55:24 PM
Author:RAMdiamond
Greetings All!

This is my first post so please do forgive me if I am posting in the wrong section of the forum with this request for advice.

I am three weeks away from our formal engagement ceremony and a debating between three stones and would love some advice:

Stone #1: 0.85ct Round Ex-Ex-Ex I-VS1 Tiffany's $6950 CAD + tax (ring setting included)
Seems like an alright price for a Tiffany Diamond? After having read their book it seems to me that these stones tend to be quite brilliant. The showroom certainly impressed me as I looked at quite a few rings and the quality seemed outstanding. Any thoughts?

Stone #2: 1.03ct Round Ex-Ex-Ex I-VS1, Very Small Culet, Online Jeweller $5830 CAD + tax (ring setting extra)
I like this one alot but I am worried about the feather inclusion, I've attached a picture from the GIA certificate, let me know what you think. I'm also worried about this stone have a very small Culet. Any thoughts here would be great.

Stone #3: 1.03ct Round Ex-Ex-Ex I-SI1, Independent in Ontario $5741 CAD + tax (ring setting extra) Will no more information about this stone as when it gets in.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for any assistance provided!

Hi Ramdiamond and welcome!

If you could post some more info please that would be helpful. It is the cut quality that gives a diamond its beauty so if you could post the following, that would give us a better idea. You will find the info on the grading reports so you could post those if possible, or if you have the report numbers we can look it up that way.

For each diamond;

type of lab report ( although I assume these are GIA Excellents unless the Tiffany has its own report?)
depth%
table%
crown and pavilion angles
girdle thickness
diameter in MM
star and lower girdle facet percentages
fluorescence if applicable

 

[RAMdiamond]

Thanks, Lorelei!

Just heard back from Tiffany''s and Stone #1 may not be an option for me as they have to give a chance one of their other stores (the country where the stone is) to sell it first. So I''ll have to wait until next Tuesday for this one.

Stone #2:
GIA
depth% 61.7%
table% 55%
crown and pavilion angles: 34.5, 41.2
girdle thickness: Thin to Medium
diameter in MM: 6.50 - 6.54
star and lower girdle facet percentages: ??
fluorescence if applicable: None

Stone #3
GIA but don''t have any more specs on this one.

 

[RAMdiamond]

Stone #2: Here is a picture from the GIA CERT - it may help give you guys a better idea what this things looks like.

What I am looking for is something really lively with lot''s of fire! Dispersion and scintillation are important to me and by looking at GIA I get the impression this stone (#2 might have it!) Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[RAMdiamond]

Trying to post this pic again!

 

[yssie]

Can you get an IS or ASET? A lower pavilion would be a safer buy without more info..

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 1/20/2010 3:05:16 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
Trying to post this pic again!

Make sure the name of the picture is something totally random and that there are no symbols in the file name, only numbers and letters.

 

[Lorelei]

You are most welcome RAM!

Can you get an Idealscope image for #2 please?

 

[RAMdiamond]

Hey Guys!

Thanks everyone for responding - what a friendly forum! I"m really impressed by the sense of community on this forum, I''m on two other forums for (sports & shoppping) and I have to say you guys rock (no pun intended

So attached is that pic once more. Tiffany''s seems to be out of the question now but Stone #3 is coming in on Friday.. very exciting.

Stone #2 GIA pic:

 

[RAMdiamond]

Better Pic

 

[Dreamer_D]

As you may know from hanging around here, the angles that the diamond is cut to are the factor that will determine its optical performance. The diamond that you posted falls just outside of the parameters that we tend to think are ideal here on PS. Yes it is a GIA Ex, but some diamonds with less-than-ideal proportions do make it into that cut grade. This may be one of them. By the numbers, I would reject that diamond and look for another. You can see for yourself how the numbers stack up using this tool, the HCA: http://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

Sometimes a diamond will score poorly on the HCA but still bea winner. An idealscope image will trump the score on the HCA, so if you can get an image or look at it with an idealscope yourself, you can see if it is a good performer. You can buy one for about 25 bucks: http://www.pricescope.com/idealscope_indx.asp

Without being able to get an idealscope, I would personally look for a diamond with safer numbers, one scoring less than a 2 on the HCA. It is just more likely to be a winner that way.

BTW I just moved away from Ontario to the west coast. No snow anymore!

I don''t miss it one bit. I pruchased my diamonds from online PS recommended vendors and would highly recommend it to any canuck to save money. There are no import fees, you only pay the taxes.

 

[RAMdiamond]

WOW! Thanks dreamer_dachise!

I'm going to see Stone #3 on Friday, day after tommorrow. Any idea where I can get an Idel Scope in Toronto, Ontario on short notice?

Congrats on the move by the way, must be nice to be sans-neige!

One other question are the Crown and Pavillion percentages in the above pic I posted 15.5% and 43.5% respectively? When I enter the angles I get a better report form the Cutadviser tool than if I enter the %'s ... Why is that?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/20/2010 11:52:33 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
WOW! Thanks dreamer_dachise!

I''m going to see Stone #3 on Friday, day after tommorrow. Any idea where I can get an Idel Scope in Toronto, Ontario on short notice?

Congrats on the move by the way, must be nice to be sans-neige!

One other question are the Crown and Pavillion percentages in the above pic I posted 15.5% and 43.5% respectively? When I enter the angles I get a better report form the Cutadviser tool than if I enter the %''s ... Why is that?

For some technical reason that I don''t fully understand, the HCA prefers the angles so go with those. The second diamond doesn''t score very well I am afraid, and based on that I would eliminate it from consideration.

I don''t think you can get an IS that quickly. Before going to see it I would ask for the numbers from the cert and run them through the HCA. If it scores under 2 then it is worth going to see, over 2 then ask for a different one to be called in.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2010 1:20:32 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 1/20/2010 11:52:33 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
WOW! Thanks dreamer_dachise!

I''m going to see Stone #3 on Friday, day after tommorrow. Any idea where I can get an Idel Scope in Toronto, Ontario on short notice?

Congrats on the move by the way, must be nice to be sans-neige!

One other question are the Crown and Pavillion percentages in the above pic I posted 15.5% and 43.5% respectively? When I enter the angles I get a better report form the Cutadviser tool than if I enter the %''s ... Why is that?

For some technical reason that I don''t fully understand, the HCA prefers the angles so go with those. The second diamond doesn''t score very well I am afraid, and based on that I would eliminate it from consideration.

I don''t think you can get an IS that quickly. Before going to see it I would ask for the numbers from the cert and run them through the HCA. If it scores under 2 then it is worth going to see, over 2 then ask for a different one to be called in.

Hi Miss Dreamer!

This link explains the reasons why angles are preferred to percentages,

here

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/21/2010 6:38:08 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/21/2010 1:20:32 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie


Date: 1/20/2010 11:52:33 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
WOW! Thanks dreamer_dachise!

I''m going to see Stone #3 on Friday, day after tommorrow. Any idea where I can get an Idel Scope in Toronto, Ontario on short notice?

Congrats on the move by the way, must be nice to be sans-neige!

One other question are the Crown and Pavillion percentages in the above pic I posted 15.5% and 43.5% respectively? When I enter the angles I get a better report form the Cutadviser tool than if I enter the %''s ... Why is that?

For some technical reason that I don''t fully understand, the HCA prefers the angles so go with those. The second diamond doesn''t score very well I am afraid, and based on that I would eliminate it from consideration.

I don''t think you can get an IS that quickly. Before going to see it I would ask for the numbers from the cert and run them through the HCA. If it scores under 2 then it is worth going to see, over 2 then ask for a different one to be called in.

Hi Miss Dreamer!

This link explains the reasons why angles are preferred to percentages,

here

Great! It always comes down to math in the end, doesn''t it?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2010 12:17:11 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 1/21/2010 6:38:08 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/21/2010 1:20:32 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie



Date: 1/20/2010 11:52:33 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
WOW! Thanks dreamer_dachise!

I''m going to see Stone #3 on Friday, day after tommorrow. Any idea where I can get an Idel Scope in Toronto, Ontario on short notice?

Congrats on the move by the way, must be nice to be sans-neige!

One other question are the Crown and Pavillion percentages in the above pic I posted 15.5% and 43.5% respectively? When I enter the angles I get a better report form the Cutadviser tool than if I enter the %''s ... Why is that?

For some technical reason that I don''t fully understand, the HCA prefers the angles so go with those. The second diamond doesn''t score very well I am afraid, and based on that I would eliminate it from consideration.

I don''t think you can get an IS that quickly. Before going to see it I would ask for the numbers from the cert and run them through the HCA. If it scores under 2 then it is worth going to see, over 2 then ask for a different one to be called in.

Hi Miss Dreamer!

This link explains the reasons why angles are preferred to percentages,

here

Great! It always comes down to math in the end, doesn''t it?

It does!

 

[RAMdiamond]

An update for you guys on Stone #3 ... depth: 61, table: 60. Kinda worried about the table size ... he claims its a GIA Ex-Ex-Ex but can a 60% table be part of GIA triple x score?

Anyone in Toronto, Ontario with an IdealScope, I could borrow, rent, or buy?

The diamond is coming in tomorrow and my I''m down to three weeks before the engagement!

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 1/21/2010 1:27:42 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
An update for you guys on Stone #3 ... depth: 61, table: 60. Kinda worried about the table size ... he claims its a GIA Ex-Ex-Ex but can a 60% table be part of GIA triple x score?

Sure, a 60% table can easily receive an Excellent cut grade from GIA. The problem is that GIA's Excellent range is a little broad and includes some angle combos that just don't work that well together. A 60/60 type diamond (depth & table near 60%) can be a lovely stone if well cut and the angles are complimentary. This type of diamond usually favors brilliance over fire.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Do you have the crown and pavilion angles of this diamond? Many people like 60/60 type stones. I personally have not seen one, but I appreciate brilliance over fire to an extent because more lighting environments allow brilliance and fewer allow for fire in my daily life. So I would enjoy brilliance more.

 

[Lorelei]

Post the angles for this diamond if you can please RAM, that will give us a better idea.

 

[RAMdiamond]

You guys are incredible!

I called the guy for those exacts stats so that I could plug them into HCA but he said he won''t have them until Friday.

I saw this one on BlueNile which seems to fit within the white lines... have a look:

 

[Dreamer_D]

Yes, that one looks promising. Did you run the numbers through the HCA? ETA It scores a 1.3, worth consideration for sure. What is the clarity?

BN is a very reputable company and has quick and conventient service. The downside is that you cannot get images of their diamond prior to purchase and you cannot therefore determine *for sure* that the cut of the diamond is optimal. It is also harder to risk a SI diamond because you cannot easily tell if it is eye clean.

That said, some of the minute differences in cut may not be noticable to most buyers. I think if it is a GIA EX cut grade or AGS ideal and the HCA is less than 2, you are very safe buying it. The odds are high it will be a good performer. And they have a 30 day return policy if you are not happy.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2010 1:47:41 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
You guys are incredible!

I called the guy for those exacts stats so that I could plug them into HCA but he said he won't have them until Friday.

I saw this one on BlueNile which seems to fit within the white lines... have a look:

This one has super numbers which are about as safe as you can get without images, what are the colour and clarity grades please? Although there are no guarantees obviously without images, the chances are good this will be a great looking diamond, plus BN do have a 30 day return policy.

 

[RAMdiamond]

After all is said and done I''m certainly going to have to find a way to contribute back to this forum; I''m absolutely blown away with how helpful you guys are!

Here are the rest of the specs for the BN Stone I just posted but don''t you think the position of the feathers are a little worriesome...i.e. being on the edges?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2010 2:08:05 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
After all is said and done I'm certainly going to have to find a way to contribute back to this forum; I'm absolutely blown away with how helpful you guys are!

Here are the rest of the specs for the BN Stone I just posted but don't you think the position of the feathers are a little worriesome...i.e. being on the edges?

Thats so kind of you RAM, so glad you have found us helpful!!

With the diamond, its hard to say with the feathers and not something that can be judged by the clarity plot, you could take it to an independant appraiser during the return period and get their opinion. It is unusual feathers are an issue but it can be worth the peace of mind to get an expert to inspect the stone. Also you could ask your BN rep to find out not only if the diamond is eyeclean but if any of the feathers break the surface of the diamond, this is not the norm but no harm in checking.

 

[RAMdiamond]

Thanks Lorelei.

Well I asked the BN rep on their internet chat facility and they said that their stones are ''locked in a vault and the consultants do not have access to them.''

Think I got a lazy or grump BN rep or might this actually be the case?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2010 3:13:04 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
Thanks Lorelei.

Well I asked the BN rep on their internet chat facility and they said that their stones are 'locked in a vault and the consultants do not have access to them.'

Think I got a lazy or grump BN rep or might this actually be the case?

As far as I am aware and have experienced, the normal procedure is - in the case of a virtual stone owned by the supplier that BN is advertising, the BN reps can contact the supplier to get more details such as if the diamond is eyeclean and so on. Also with their Signature Ideal which from what I understand are in house, there should be no reason why they can't get more info either. I would give them a call and find out exactly what the situation is. Maybe the person you chatted with online can't arrange this so I would telephone and ask another representative.

 

[RAMdiamond]

Good advice, thanks!

Here is another one form BN whose numbers aren''t as good as the last one but it does have a better clarity..

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 1/21/2010 3:45:38 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
Good advice, thanks!

Here is another one form BN whose numbers aren''t as good as the last one but it does have a better clarity..

Huh?

The numbers on this one are excellent!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2010 3:45:38 PM
Author: RAMdiamond
Good advice, thanks!

Here is another one form BN whose numbers aren''t as good as the last one but it does have a better clarity..

Actually this one too could be great, excellent numbers and it could be a definite contender if you are more comfortable with higher clarity.