need to replace my engagement ring...

[lipa]

Hi, hope you guys can help me. I''m posting from the UK, but hope it''s not a problem - diamonds are diamonds!

I lost my beautiful 1.02 ct H-colour SI2 med blue fluorescence diamond soliataire, and after crying for days I have the insurance money on the way (hopefully)! But we bought the ring in Dubai so I can''t just go back to the shop and get another. There''s lots of chat amongst my friends about buying diamonds online, and I''ve been looking at bluenile.co.uk and diamondgeezer.com on recommendations. The trouble is, I don''t really know what I''m looking for and I''m worrying so much aout being ripped off it''s taking the fun out of it. Find jewellery shops really intimidating and unpleasant, would rather avoid them if I can!

After lots and lots of searching, I''ve found a couple that I thought were good on bluenile. They are:

0.92 ct, ideal cut (GIA), H, SI1, med blue fluorescence.
6.25 x 6.28 x 3.85 mm
61.5% depth, 56% table, 15.5% crown, 42.5% pavilion, no cutlet
Excellent polish and symmetry

Now, I like this one because I liked the "blue fire" of my last one, and because it''s actually bigger in diameter than my last one too! But when I put it into the HCA thing it scores 0.7 but is outside the green line for GIA ideal.

Next

0.90 ct, ideal cut, H, SI1, no fluorescence (AGSL)
6.21 x 6.25 x 3.83 mm

61.3% depth, 54.8% table, 34.5 degree crown, 40.6 degree pavillion, no cutlet
Ideal polish and symmetry

This one seems to be better on the scorer....but no blue fire!

So the question is....which is better?

My budget (for the diamond itself) is about £2500 before VAT (that''s tax!) but there''s leeway. But the 0.9 carats all seem better value than the 1 and I''m really not sure I could see the difference of less than 1 mm.

But it MUST be really sparkly, and I want it set in platinum so I''m a bit worried that the H with no blue fluorescence will look yellow...

Also, my old ring had an inclusion I could see easily from the bottom which I liked a lot - made it look real and feel unique - but I wouldn''t want one you could see from the top easily. Can I trust an SI for this?

I''m really sorry, I know everyone posts these kind of questions. But it really is hard to get independent advice on these things! I''ve been lurking on here for ages, only wish I''d known about it when we bought the first!

Linz

 

[stone-cold11]

Actually Stone 1 perform quite well on the HCA if you use the angles for input instead of the % depth. HCA is more accurate with degree input anyway.

I believe you could ask BN to check if it is eye-clean but that is all they will do for you. Give them a call.

EDT:
Also ask your friends who have bought from BN to refer you, I believe you will get some discount. At least that is the deal in the US.

 

[stone-cold11]

0.92c H VS2 SB for 2738pound More blue for you and more likely not to have visibly inclusion.

 

[lipa]

Didn''t know about the angles, will do it again! And liking that stone.... Also, if it just says strong/medium etc is that always "blue fire"?

 

[stone-cold11]

It is not blue fire but fluorescence, so the stone is giving off blue light in the presence of UV light, similar to security marking on a check or paper money. So it will only give off ''blue fire'' in natural sunlight, and certain other locations which has long wave UV such as disco. Hope that helps.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/3/2008 1:59:34 AM
Author: lipa
Didn''t know about the angles, will do it again! And liking that stone.... Also, if it just says strong/medium etc is that always ''blue fire''?

Medium blue fluorescence - you may not even notice the effects that much except in some sunlight but it depends. Also if and when you do notice it, fluorescence is more of a glow through the stone rather than fiery sparkles.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:21:38 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/3/2008 1:59:34 AM
Author: lipa
Didn''t know about the angles, will do it again! And liking that stone.... Also, if it just says strong/medium etc is that always ''blue fire''?

Medium blue fluorescence - you may not even notice the effects that much except in some sunlight but it depends. Also if and when you do notice it, fluorescence is more of a glow through the stone rather than fiery sparkles.

Yep - I was happy to have med. blue in my stone, and would''ve even liked strong. I have pretty much never noticed it, except for once or twice in the sun when it had a kinda violet glow inside. Fluoro doesn''t cause sparkles, fire or anything like that.

 

[lipa]

Yes, that blue glow is what I loved...brilliant excuse for nightclubs and beaches!

As far as inclusions go, is there a demand for diamonds with inclusions visible from the bottom only? Or is that just me who wants that? I think you''re right, and I''d much rather have a VS than an SI with inclusions visible from the top. I emailed blue nile and they said they''d "do a visual" on anything I was intersted in. Is that diamond-speak for "look at" or is there more to it?

Thanks again for all your help. Stopped me crying about the old ring, and I''m getting excited about the new one. Only thing is, the more I learn about diamonds the more I realise I''ve got to learn. What would I do without Pricescope?!?!?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:45:58 PM
Author: lipa
Yes, that blue glow is what I loved...brilliant excuse for nightclubs and beaches! In that case then maybe consider medium to strong blue fluorescence if you know you love the effect - many of us do here! Just get the vendor to check any strong blues for any cloudy effects on the diamond, this is rare however.

As far as inclusions go, is there a demand for diamonds with inclusions visible from the bottom only? Or is that just me who wants that? I think you''re right, and I''d much rather have a VS than an SI with inclusions visible from the top. I emailed blue nile and they said they''d ''do a visual'' on anything I was intersted in. Is that diamond-speak for ''look at'' or is there more to it? Clarity grading is done face up, so make sure you are on the same page as whoever you are buying the diamond from - if you don''t want to see any inclusions from any angle for example, let them know that. If you are buying from BN, ask them to examine the diamond very carefully for you so you can get an accurate description. Some SI clarities may be eyeclean and others will not be so do make your expectations clear to the vendor.

Thanks again for all your help. Stopped me crying about the old ring, and I''m getting excited about the new one. Only thing is, the more I learn about diamonds the more I realise I''ve got to learn. What would I do without Pricescope?!?!? And we are very glad to be of help to you!