This may be a long post, so buckle up. I'm in the process of picking out a center stone for an engagement ring. My budget and requirements/desires for the 4Cs are:
Budget - ~ $7000 USD
Cut - Round Brilliant
Carat - 1.11 - 1.20
Color - G-H
Clarity - VS2 - SI2
I’m almost an OCD comparison shopper and I’ve searched high and low for stones (B&M and Internet). I’ve done lots of research on PS and other places and I thought I had a pretty good handle on what I needed to know to buy this diamond. But I now feel like I’m back at square one.
My overall goal is to get my lady a stone that has that extra bang. I want someone to walk by, see a glint from the stone and have their head turned 180 degrees just to get a glimpse of it. I want them to say, “Wow, he must really love her…or…What did she do to get that rock?” I want that said because I’ve seen some women with rocks and have thought those things to myself. I’m willing to slide my 4Cs scale here or there, but I want the absolute best that I can get – as everyone else does.
I started out not being too particular, and I thought all would be swell and I’d get a wonderful stone, so long as I got my 4Cs right. Then, I began researching the AGS000, H&A, Peerless or whatever you want to call them, “perfectly” cut stones. Through using the HCA tool and reading posts, it seems that some AGS000 stones may not provide the performance one would desire.
All that said, I have lots of questions. I'm sure many of these questions may have come up in previous posts. Don't hate me too much for rehashing them. Is an ideal cut or H&A cut that important? Does it make that huge of a difference in the overall aesthetics of the stone? Or is it just a more balanced production of brilliance, fire and scintillation? I don’t have a diamond-trained eye through any stretch of the imagination. I’ve looked at stones within my 4C spectrum and they look very nice (But it may be the store lighting, although I have looked at some under normal sunlight or shade). If a stone has all brilliance and low fire or scint, what’s the downside…or what if it’s the exact opposite? You get the picture. I’d like a stone that performs well in all lighting situations.
I don’t have any intentions of selling this diamond and many of the B&M stores have IGI certified diamonds. I was told that IGI diamonds are reviewed by three gemologists and all three must come to agreement about the stone’s grade, whereas GIA only uses one gemologist to cert. the stone. I saw some older (2003 -2005) posts about IGI, but I don’t know if their reputability or paper has increased in strength over time. These same B&M stores have IGI certed stones that don’t have all the proportions and angles listed. Is it a no no to buy a stone without all proportions listed?
Whew. I’m a bit taxed after typing all of that. I will continue poring through the posts and sites to see if I can get some of these burning questions answered. If anyone can offer any insight or direction, it will be greatly appreciated – by me and my soon to be ring recipient.
Undoubtedly, more questions will be forthcoming.
Thanks!