Need to tap into the PS experts knowledge base!

[JeffG]

Hello everyone. Another newbie creeping out of the shadows to finally post. I am quite amazed by the amount of knowledge, patience, and kindess on this board!

Anyhow, I am getting ready to make that big purchase. Here are my specifications so far:

Diamond
Princess Cut
.95-1.05 ct
Excellent-Ideal cut
VS2-VS1
F-H color
Very good-excellent pol/sym
1.00 - 1.04 l x w ratio

Setting
D.Vatch X-prong
18k WG

So now, i'm just in the process of finding the right vendor. Scheinerdiamonds.com has some great prices on diamonds, and the lucida style setting, but it doesn't quite look right. It looks as if the prongs are too thick for my (and my fiances) taste. The setting is an important thing, she has her mind made up on the lucida style, (she says she'll be happy with whatever her fiance picks, but she likes the lucida) so i'm not going to get her what she doesn't want! So here are a list of questions!

1. I have read alot about Whiteflash on here and would feel confident to buy from them. Also, on their website when I find a diamond I like...there is a sample picture of the diamond (http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2267518.htm). It looks like it....well isn't so great looking. Maybe its just my very newbie knowledge showing its ugly face, and I know its supposed to be a sample image..but theres quite a bit of difference between that and this one http://www.scheinerdiamonds.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-brg-60.html?E+scstore (if you click on the camera it shows you the actual diamond). I know that in reality, they both probably look like the second, but i'm just making sure

2. About the setting, I have done searches on the forums and there is a ton of info about the X-prong. But, I can't seem to find for certain that Whiteflashes' X-prong IS D.Vatch's X-prong (does D.vatch make the x-prong for WF?) And, I've noticed on several pictures of the X-prong that the band widths vary quite a bit. I saw one ring (still very beautiful) on here, but on a top-down view the band was as wide as the diamond. However, I have seen other rings with the X-prong setting where the band is narrower towards the top. Basically, my fiance and I would like the X-prong setting with as narrow of a band as possible. I realize that the band must widen a little at the top. Is this something I could talk with WF about, or are they all the same?

The more I look at the pictures on whiteflash, the better I feel about it. I would love to get the X-prong setting, with one of their princess cut diamonds, and a wedding band from the same place. I haven't found the matching band in white gold, but in platinum only. Do they make it in white gold?

Anyway, I kind of already feel like I would be totally safe and make a good call by buying all three from Whiteflash. I just felt like I needed some advice first. Thanks for all and any help!

 

[belle]

hey jeffg

welcome out of the woodwork!

it''s nice to have you here!

Date: 1/31/2006 11:14:33 AM
Author:JeffG

Diamond
Princess Cut
.95-1.05 ct
Excellent-Ideal cut
VS2-VS1
F-H color
Very good-excellent pol/sym
1.00 - 1.04 l x w ratio

Setting
D.Vatch X-prong
18k WG

that will be very nice!

Date: 1/31/2006 11:14:33 AM
Author:JeffG

1. I have read alot about Whiteflash on here and would feel confident to buy from them. Also, on their website when I find a diamond I like...there is a sample picture of the diamond (http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2267518.htm). It looks like it....well isn''t so great looking. Maybe its just my very newbie knowledge showing its ugly face, and I know its supposed to be a sample image..but theres quite a bit of difference between that and this one http://www.scheinerdiamonds.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-brg-60.html?E+scstore (if you click on the camera it shows you the actual diamond). I know that in reality, they both probably look like the second, but i''m just making sure

yeah, those sample images are not very flattering at all

actual diamond images tell a better picture.

Date: 1/31/2006 11:14:33 AM
Author:JeffG

2. About the setting, I have done searches on the forums and there is a ton of info about the X-prong. But, I can''t seem to find for certain that Whiteflashes'' X-prong IS D.Vatch''s X-prong (does D.vatch make the x-prong for WF?) And, I''ve noticed on several pictures of the X-prong that the band widths vary quite a bit. I saw one ring (still very beautiful) on here, but on a top-down view the band was as wide as the diamond. However, I have seen other rings with the X-prong setting where the band is narrower towards the top. Basically, my fiance and I would like the X-prong setting with as narrow of a band as possible. I realize that the band must widen a little at the top. Is this something I could talk with WF about, or are they all the same?

i would call wf and tell them what you are looking for. if their setting is not exactly what you want, they could probably make something that is.

Date: 1/31/2006 11:14:33 AM
Author:JeffG

Anyway, I kind of already feel like I would be totally safe and make a good call by buying all three from Whiteflash. I just felt like I needed some advice first. Thanks for all and any help!

i can highly recommend them.. you would be totally safe and in good hands.
i think your specs. for the princess are right on and i love the setting

just give them a call and let them know what you are wanting, they are very easy to work with.

best of luck to you!

 

[Bman143]

Hey JG,
Nice choices on the princess cut, and the setting. I looked hard at that setting for a long time. I would also recommend looking around good old gold. Belle dealt with WF and had great things to say about them, and I''m the same way with GOG. I''ve said this on other posts before, too, but on the second link you might want to try and see the diamond, since the larger table size could have an influence on the performance in some diamonds. Just my 0.02.

Brandon.

 

[JeffG]

Thanks so much for the quick replies! Bman, yeah the two examples of diamonds are not really ones I was serioulsy thinking about. I just put them up for pure examples of the two pictures. I guess I could've gotten more information if I would've put up some of my choices!

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2155056.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-1898862.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2109406.htm

I realize you can only judge so much by just the numbers. I wish I had them side by side to look at.

 

[Garysax]

Don't give the sample pictures any consideration. They don't represent anything; the only picture that matters is the one that any vendor takes of your diamond. I personally wish they wouldn't even put "sample" pictures up, I think it just confuses people. I know why they do it, but I think it can be misleading.

But it is definitely a plus for the other diamond that they already have the pics up and whatnot. If you are interested in talking to WF they can call in the diamond in question and take some pictures, idealscope of it for you for no charge.

For what it's worth, if I'm spending what you're spending I'd want less of a table on my princess (on the schneider diamond)--sub 70 if possible. I do like your WF selection a little better. All that said it may not matter in the end; fancy cuts are so variable that you really need to get idealscopes of the stones to get a feel for light return. "Number jockeying" really doesn't get you the whole way with fancies. I'm reluctant to trust "cut quality" grades on fancies, I'd like to see the evidence of light return myself.

 

[JeffG]

Date: 1/31/2006 1:07:37 PM
Author: Garysax
Don''t give the sample pictures any consideration. They don''t represent anything; the only picture that matters is the one that any vendor takes of your diamond. I personally wish they wouldn''t even put ''sample'' pictures up, I think it just confuses people. I know why they do it, but I think it can be misleading.

But it is definitely a plus for the other diamond that they already have the pics up and whatnot. If you are interested in talking to WF they can call in the diamond in question and take some pictures, idealscope of it for you for no charge.

For what it''s worth, if I''m spending what you''re spending I''d want less of a table on my princess (on the schneider diamond)--sub 70 if possible. I do like your WF selection a little better. All that said it may not matter in the end; fancy cuts are so variable that you really need to get idealscopes of the stones to get a feel for light return. ''Number jockeying'' really doesn''t get you the whole way with fancies. I''m reluctant to trust ''cut quality'' grades on fancies, I''d like to see the evidence of light return myself.

Understood. I called WF and spoke to one of the reps. Interestingly enough she said that the wire transfer discount was the same as pricescope, but anyways, she gave me a link to a very gorgeous diamond. The Idealscope looks good to me (I don''t really know too well what is good and what is okay). http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-2265081.htm
I realize it has a large table, but from what she says the table doesn''t matter as much as the light return. Is an AGS triple zero and it looks very gorgeous in the picture. It is an H color, but would I be able to tell a difference from it and say a G or F?

OH, and this may have been mentioned in the past but WF doesn''t carry D.Vatche settings anymore. They make their own. But the price is still the same, which disappoints me. This diamond and setting really appeal to me and I''ll do some thinking and make a decision soon. Thanks for the help

 

[Garysax]

Exactly what I''m saying. The WF stone you showed may have much better light return with the 73% table than a stone with less table--even though the general rule of thumb I''ve heard is watch out for princess cuts with higher tables than depths. Can you get an IS picture from the other jeweler you mentioned? They must have it on hand since they have pics... I''d consider doing that as well (though I''ve had a good experience w/WF personally you might give the other company a chance to show off their diamond''s light return).

Good luck!

 

[belle]

oh
my
gosh

wow! that stone looks very very (very) nice! it''s an ags0!!!!
the is image looks awesome. i would consider that one for myself!
for the love of all things sparkly..at least put that stone on hold while you are deciding.
my vote is DO IT

 

[MissAva]

I LOVE the last WF stone you posted. It is a stunner!!!! If you are not 100% I would at the very least put it on hold, a princess that pretty at the size/price will likely get snapped up!

 

[JulieN]

You can order a Vatche setting from someone else and have it sent to WF.