Need some advice on Princess cut diamonds

[Themasterpiece1]

I have been on the hunt for a princess cut diamond. Budget for the stone is max $11k. I would like people's opinion on it. I was looking for: Color - G, H, I; Clarity: eye clean; nice table and depth, 2 ct.

2.02 Ct. Princess Cut
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Polish: good
Symmetry: good
Depth 69%
Table 72%
Dimensions 7.31 x 7.21 x 4.97
Girdle: medium to thick
Price: $11k
Graded by GIA

The stone was found at a local store. First time I saw it it seemed eye clean. I will be going back to look at it again. Can anybody give me any feedback? Is this a pretty good price or should I be looking for something better?

 

[Texas Leaguer]

If you post the GIA report (or just the report number) you will get more feedback. At least from a clarity standpoint. You would need post images to get much feedback on cut quality as GIA does not include an overall cut grade on princess cuts.

 

[Themasterpiece1]

I accidentally put the wrong stats in. Fixed stats below:

2.01 Ct. Princess Cut
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: very good
Depth 75%
Table 70%
Dimensions 6.96 x 6.74 x 5.05
Girdle: slightly thick to extremely thick
Price: $11k
Graded by GIA (111352048


The stone is eye clean. However, how am I supposed to check how good the cut is? The jeweler does not have an aset scope. Am I supposed to buy one and check myself. What are my options?

 

[telephone89]

You can absolutely buy your own ASET. Also make sure to look at it in different lighting. The store lighting makes every stone look great, take it outside/near a window. Someone else said they look at it under a counter where the light is obstructed too. You'll get a better picture

 

[Texas Leaguer]

I accidentally put the wrong stats in. Fixed stats below:

2.01 Ct. Princess Cut
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: very good
Depth 75%
Table 70%
Dimensions 6.96 x 6.74 x 5.05
Girdle: slightly thick to extremely thick
Price: $11k
Graded by GIA (111352048


The stone is eye clean. However, how am I supposed to check how good the cut is? The jeweler does not have an aset scope. Am I supposed to buy one and check myself. What are my options?

Those are much better stats!

You can determine whether the large feather in the table is eye clean to your satisfaction. The feathers in the corners are always of concern from a durability standpoint. It would be best to get a third party expert opinion on that before you commit and have the diamond set.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I accidentally put the wrong stats in. Fixed stats below:

2.01 Ct. Princess Cut
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: very good
Depth 75%
Table 70%
Dimensions 6.96 x 6.74 x 5.05
Girdle: slightly thick to extremely thick
Price: $11k
Graded by GIA (111352048


The stone is eye clean. However, how am I supposed to check how good the cut is? The jeweler does not have an aset scope. Am I supposed to buy one and check myself. What are my options?

Those are much better stats!

You can determine whether the large feather in the table is eye clean to your satisfaction. The feathers in the corners are always of concern from a durability standpoint. It would be best to get a third party expert opinion on that before you commit and have the diamond set.

Why would you say these stats are better?
Other than the fact that the first stats would be a noticeably larger stone, what would make the second stats better?
We're not going to be able to see any difference based on the difference in Pol/Sym grades

 

[Texas Leaguer]

I accidentally put the wrong stats in. Fixed stats below:

2.01 Ct. Princess Cut
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: very good
Depth 75%
Table 70%
Dimensions 6.96 x 6.74 x 5.05
Girdle: slightly thick to extremely thick
Price: $11k
Graded by GIA (111352048


The stone is eye clean. However, how am I supposed to check how good the cut is? The jeweler does not have an aset scope. Am I supposed to buy one and check myself. What are my options?

Those are much better stats!

You can determine whether the large feather in the table is eye clean to your satisfaction. The feathers in the corners are always of concern from a durability standpoint. It would be best to get a third party expert opinion on that before you commit and have the diamond set.

Why would you say these stats are better?
Other than the fact that the first stats would be a noticeably larger stone, what would make the second stats better?
We're not going to be able to see any difference based on the difference in Pol/Sym grades

I would say the stats are better because they are. Better stats. We can't tell anything about the diamond in terms of overall cut quality (as I mentioned in my original post), except to say that the cutter took much more care in finishing an EX VG than a G/G. It is also unusual for princess cuts that have tables bigger than their depth not to have light performance issues, so the new stats are more promising.

 

[Rockdiamond]

We'll have to chalk it up to different experiences- and different taste.
Personally, some of my favorite princess cuts have had depths in the mid 60's.
Some of them had table% larger than the depth.
Table being less than depth is meaningless unto itself in my experience.
I agree- you can't buy a diamond by the numbers or stats from a GIA report. This also means we can't make any sort of meaningful analysis or comparison between two diamonds based on table and depth numbers. The only numbers that are sure to have a visual impact is L x W. by that measure, the 7.3mm stone has an advantage that is surely visible to the naked eye.
Nor can we make generalizations about cut quality based on Pol Sym ratings- this is an important distinction for consumers to understand lest they fall prey to someone trying to convince them GIA Pol Sym grades= cut grade. Especially today when scads of websites publish their own cut grades. With no clear distinction drawn for the consumer, it's likely many shoppers take these arbitrary grades as gospel.
Truly horrible cuts can get EX/EX from GIA.
At the same time, some truly awesome fancy shape cuts can be G/G
Polishy/Symmetry are NOT cut grades


Themasterpiece1- what I look for, personally- in a princess cut: a bright appearance from edge to edge. Dark areas can make a stone less attractive IMO
I believe looking at a variety of different stones will be a great help in your shopping if that's possible. You may be able to notice differences in size, as well as the way the diamond sparkles ( light performance)

 

[yasssss]

the price seems really reasonable

 

[Rockdiamond]

masterpiece- please don;t let the discussion diversion interfere with you getting the best possible advice.
Neither Bryan nor I are allowed to comment on specific diamonds- but in general:
If you're going to get more educated by reading online, try to see at least a few stones. AGSL is the only other lab besides GIA you should even consider. AGS does grade the cut pf princess cuts- if you can view a 0 cut grade ( the top cut grade) princess graded by AGS in person, that would be ideal ( pun intended)
Seriously- it's not brain surgery.
Use your eyes and look at the stones to pick the type of sparkle that appeals to you most, within your budget.
People here can give you opinions- but at the end of the day, you have to make the final approval- especially if it's a purchase from a brick and mortar store.
If you bought online, here you would at least have pictures to allow other knowledgeable consumers ( who can comment on specific stones) here on the site to make meaningful comments.
The positive with the store of course, is you get to see the stone first hand.

Best of luck-

 

[Themasterpiece1]

I have seen a variety of stones. Have not had the chance to see an AGS ideal in person. I am open to buying online. The stone I gave the stats to is just one of the latest stones my local store brought in. As far as clarity and color I can somewhat easily tell what I like. When it comes to cut (sparkle) it is somewhat harder.

Many stores around me do not carry AGS stones so it is somewhat harder to check an AGS ideal versus other cuts. Most stores carry GIA so I have no clue what the cut is like other than looking for good table/depth dimension. I know of a couple of websites that have AGS ideal stones but to see them in person I would need to buy the stones.

Any advice on what I can do?

 

[Texas Leaguer]

I have seen a variety of stones. Have not had the chance to see an AGS ideal in person. I am open to buying online. The stone I gave the stats to is just one of the latest stones my local store brought in. As far as clarity and color I can somewhat easily tell what I like. When it comes to cut (sparkle) it is somewhat harder.

Many stores around me do not carry AGS stones so it is somewhat harder to check an AGS ideal versus other cuts. Most stores carry GIA so I have no clue what the cut is like other than looking for good table/depth dimension. I know of a couple of websites that have AGS ideal stones but to see them in person I would need to buy the stones.

Any advice on what I can do?

If you want to look at an AGS Ideal princess to compare but do not want to buy online, check the AGS website for an AGS member jeweler in your area. They may not have a stone in your target range in stock but I'm sure they would be willing to bring one in for you to see. Even non-AGS members can source them through the network so you can ask the jeweler you are currently working with if they can show you an AGS Ideal cut.
http://www.americangemsociety.org/find-a-jeweler

 

[Themasterpiece1]

I have seen a variety of stones. Have not had the chance to see an AGS ideal in person. I am open to buying online. The stone I gave the stats to is just one of the latest stones my local store brought in. As far as clarity and color I can somewhat easily tell what I like. When it comes to cut (sparkle) it is somewhat harder.

Many stores around me do not carry AGS stones so it is somewhat harder to check an AGS ideal versus other cuts. Most stores carry GIA so I have no clue what the cut is like other than looking for good table/depth dimension. I know of a couple of websites that have AGS ideal stones but to see them in person I would need to buy the stones.

Any advice on what I can do?

If you want to look at an AGS Ideal princess to compare but do not want to buy online, check the AGS website for an AGS member jeweler in your area. They may not have a stone in your target range in stock but I'm sure they would be willing to bring one in for you to see. Even non-AGS members can source them through the network so you can ask the jeweler you are currently working with if they can show you an AGS Ideal cut.
http://www.americangemsociety.org/find-a-jeweler

So not a good experience today. I have been looking at the local jeweler row and they have been showing me GIA princess cuts. Today I asked them for a triple ideal AGS. Some acted like AGS is not a good lab and I should stick to GIA. Others said that the triple ideal stones are not better. I started asking them about the table and depth of the stones they were showing me and they said I am looking too much into numbers - that I should forget about all those details. Most of the Jewelers I talked to today said that it would be extremely hard to get a triple ideal AGS stone for me to look at.

I also asked for a range of stones to look at, like different crowns, tables, etc. But they did not seem interested. They seemed annoyed that I was asking for so much detail about the diamonds. There are 2 stores that said they hunk they can get the triple ideal stone in so that should help me differentiate the stones better.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

I have seen a variety of stones. Have not had the chance to see an AGS ideal in person. I am open to buying online. The stone I gave the stats to is just one of the latest stones my local store brought in. As far as clarity and color I can somewhat easily tell what I like. When it comes to cut (sparkle) it is somewhat harder.

Many stores around me do not carry AGS stones so it is somewhat harder to check an AGS ideal versus other cuts. Most stores carry GIA so I have no clue what the cut is like other than looking for good table/depth dimension. I know of a couple of websites that have AGS ideal stones but to see them in person I would need to buy the stones.

Any advice on what I can do?

If you want to look at an AGS Ideal princess to compare but do not want to buy online, check the AGS website for an AGS member jeweler in your area. They may not have a stone in your target range in stock but I'm sure they would be willing to bring one in for you to see. Even non-AGS members can source them through the network so you can ask the jeweler you are currently working with if they can show you an AGS Ideal cut.
http://www.americangemsociety.org/find-a-jeweler

So not a good experience today. I have been looking at the local jeweler row and they have been showing me GIA princess cuts. Today I asked them for a triple ideal AGS. Some acted like AGS is not a good lab and I should stick to GIA. Others said that the triple ideal stones are not better. I started asking them about the table and depth of the stones they were showing me and they said I am looking too much into numbers - that I should forget about all those details. Most of the Jewelers I talked to today said that it would be extremely hard to get a triple ideal AGS stone for me to look at.

I also asked for a range of stones to look at, like different crowns, tables, etc. But they did not seem interested. They seemed annoyed that I was asking for so much detail about the diamonds. There are 2 stores that said they hunk they can get the triple ideal stone in so that should help me differentiate the stones better.

I'm sorry that you are getting resistance. It is not all that uncommon. But remember, you are the customer and they are the supplier so you have some leverage! Good for you that you persisted and found someone willing to show you AGS Ideals. Seeing them will help you decide what is best for you.

Out of curiosity, is there an AGS member store in your area?