Newbie, First tim shopper..... Help pls

[stubobby]

Dear All

Hello to everyone

My name is Stuart, and I am just starting to shop and research my first ring purchase

I am new to this forum and this topic so I am sincerely hoping are folk who will be kind enough to steer me correctly and keep me right. I am sure these questions have been asked a million times before, but I am still learning.

I have a basic grasp of the properties, and have been doing some reading and utilizing some tools etc etc to try and find the right stone. Anything I put down here is simply what I have been told and I am open to comments suggestions and advice from all angles.

I am hoping to achieve

ROUND
1.4 ct
G colour minimum
VS minimum
Ideal CUT
AGI Cert

I have arrived at the following based on advice I have received already

Questions buzzing round my head…..

1. I chose the specs above as I have been told, CUT is the most important quality?
2. I have been told “G” is all that is really required as it is close enough to D that it is almost impossible to tell the diff with the naked eye?
3. Same with VS?
4. I would like to achieve as BIG a ct as I can for my budget, but not sure how to go about this as prices seem to vary. I believe there is a wee stigma attached to a 1.5 such that there is a price JUMP when you get there, but for all intense and purposes a 1.49 is as good as a 1.5……
5. Can I search online databases, i.e. “BLUENILE” as CHOOSE my stone…? Then get whichever retailer I select to source that stone, i.e. am I correct in saying that the CERT number is completely unique?
6. Can anyone recommend places in the UK that I can trust and where I should start shopping?
7. Can anyone give guidance and what I should expect to pay for said stone, and how much haggle room there is?
8. If I choose a particular stone, how can I be sure that is the one I receive? I.e. how do I know that’s the one that matches the certificate?
9. It has been suggested I research which stone I would like, and then put “RED & BLACK” pictures up here, and get an opinions?? Comments??

I think that’s about it for now…. I am based in Glasgow and have been searching in the Princes Arcade, but it has to be said, it seems VERY pricey in there compared to online, and I feel I am already starting to out strip some of the knowledge of some sales people.

Thank you all so much in advance.

 

[JulieN]

Dear All


Questions buzzing round my head…..

1. I chose the specs above as I have been told, CUT is the most important quality?
2. I have been told “G” is all that is really required as it is close enough to D that it is almost impossible to tell the diff with the naked eye?
This is true.
3. Same with VS?
SI1 is also worth considering.
4. I would like to achieve as BIG a ct as I can for my budget, but not sure how to go about this as prices seem to vary. I believe there is a wee stigma attached to a 1.5 such that there is a price JUMP when you get there, but for all intense and purposes a 1.49 is as good as a 1.5……
Yes there is a jump but it is difficult to find 1.4 ct diamonds.
5. Can I search online databases, i.e. “BLUENILE” as CHOOSE my stone…? Then get whichever retailer I select to source that stone, i.e. am I correct in saying that the CERT number is completely unique?
Yes the report number is unique to the diamond, but some stones are available through Blue Nile only.

What is the budget?

 

[stubobby]

Dear All


Questions buzzing round my head…..

1. I chose the specs above as I have been told, CUT is the most important quality?
2. I have been told “G” is all that is really required as it is close enough to D that it is almost impossible to tell the diff with the naked eye?
This is true.
3. Same with VS?
SI1 is also worth considering.
4. I would like to achieve as BIG a ct as I can for my budget, but not sure how to go about this as prices seem to vary. I believe there is a wee stigma attached to a 1.5 such that there is a price JUMP when you get there, but for all intense and purposes a 1.49 is as good as a 1.5……
Yes there is a jump but it is difficult to find 1.4 ct diamonds.
5. Can I search online databases, i.e. “BLUENILE” as CHOOSE my stone…? Then get whichever retailer I select to source that stone, i.e. am I correct in saying that the CERT number is completely unique?
Yes the report number is unique to the diamond, but some stones are available through Blue Nile only.

What is the budget?

The budget can become what it needs to be, I dont HAVE to stick to 1.4, 1.39 would be fine, 1.52 would be fine...

I am just a guy show likes to geet a fair deal and get what I pay for....

I have been seeing prices from £7k to £10k, so i guess I want as much as I can for as little as possible.... doesnt everyone - ha ha

i know what I need to spend, but I am hoping to do the ring and a new york holiday for the region of £8k to £9k

cheers

 

[JulieN]

9000 GBP is $14400 at 1:1.6, the current rate.

A 1.3 ct G SI1 would be about 10,000. Another 1,500 to 2000 for the setting. If you want something bigger or cheaper consider H and I colors.

 

[JulieN]

Maybe I should be sticking to the GBP, as Blue Nile UK's prices are pretty good. This is a good candidate: http://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-search?track=head#diamonds_pid=LD02479691

 

[stubobby]

Maybe I should be sticking to the GBP, as Blue Nile UK's prices are pretty good. This is a good candidate: http://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-search?track=head#diamonds_pid=LD02479691

maybe just me, but cannot get link to work??

 

[JulieN]

you can input the stock number: LD02479691 into the search on Blue Nile's page, upper right.

This one looks like a deal if you want to stick to G color: http://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-search?track=head#diamonds_pid=LD02805799

 

[stubobby]

Thanks for advice, any other comments I should follow?

 

[chel180]

Diamond geezer is Uk based. They have a good returns policy. The search facility is pretty crappy so I didn't do any exhaustive search but here is a couple of options to get you started:
http://www.diamondgeezer.com
ID: 117367596
1.51cts.
Colour: I
Clarity: VVS2
Cut: Excellent
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Certificated by: GIA
Size: 7.31-7.34x4.58 mm.
Our Price
£9,862

or

ID: 122197569
Weight: 1.32cts.
Colour: F
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Excellent
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Certificated by: GIA
Size: 7.15-7.19x4.29 mm.
Our Price
£6,106


On general advice you are correct that cut is the most important C as this will give you the most sparkle. I would say that for clarity that you look down to VS2 as this will definitely be eye clean and for color down to an I as this will appear perfectly white. You will be a considerable premium to go higher on color and clarity and unless you have a diamond expert in the room with a magnifying glass- no one will notice the difference. You say size is your no1 priority, well let cut be the very close second priority.

Have you also considered the setting you want to go for? If you go the classic solitaire route then go as big and sparkly as you can afford (within reason) otherwise another option is to choose a setting with a halo (ring of little diamonds around the centre diamond) this makes a stone look much larger so you could shop for a 1.2-1.3ct stone to save some £££'s and have a fancier setting, whilst still giving the bling and presence of a 1.5ct diamond.

 

[Maisie]

I have worked with Dr Indira Marchant. She is based in London but I lived in Newcastle when I purchased from her. Here is her website. I can highly recommend her.

http://www.designsbyindigo.co.uk/index.html

 

[fanofhardrock]

Blue Nile excludes VAT so worth considering this.