Newbie Help Request - Is Buying VS2 (or better) Online Safe?

[funkybass]

Hey all,

Sincere apologies if this has been answered a million times already. I've spent the better half of this past week researching and visiting jewelers, but haven't been able to find anything really addressing my question.

In short - I've visited local stores, but have been disappointed by the prices and selection. I'm on a budget, and just can't afford the huge markup. So I'm pretty much committed to buying online at this point, but I obviously have concerns about buying a stone unseen. My hope at least is, if I can find a stone within good ranges, that it will turn out ok (and if not, I can always send it back). However, my biggest fear is getting a stone with a glaring black smudge, face-up, in the middle of the table.

Question - If I buy a stone that is VS2 or better clarity, and it ends up having a feather in the middle of the table, would this actually be visible to the naked, untrained eye - i.e., would it affect the beauty of the stone. This is assuming the stone is good in other respects (I know, I know, I have to see it to judge it and can't base everything on specs. . . I'm just working with what I got though

If it helps, this is the one I was looking at http://www.b2cjewels.com/Images//Certificate//2577382.pdf.

PS: How can I find info on the crown?

Thanks for your help! I've learned a ton from the board contributors and PriceScope!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Newbie Help Request - Is Buying VS2 (or better) Online S

I would go with a vendor that is not a drop shipper and who has stones in house and can examine them. USUALLY VS2 or better is safer but there are occasional ones that aren't clean, and it also depends on your eyesight. If you go with a vendor with in house stones they can pull the actual stones and describe what they see to you directly, and their eyes are experienced and know what to look for. Please understand that clarity is graded face up so you may see inclusions from the side of even a VS stone under the right conditions.

Vendors with in house stones who are well reviewed by the large majority of their customers are:

Brian Gavin Diamonds
High Performance Diamonds
James Allen
Good Old Gold
Whiteflash

I would stick to one of these vendors personally. Also, I'm not sure if they have the diamonds in house (but think they have SOME in house at least) but Eternity Diamonds and ID Jewelry are well reviewed. And finally, Blue Nile's "Signature" line is checked for eyeclean, from what I understand before being labeled as "Signature".

Hope this helps.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Newbie Help Request - Is Buying VS2 (or better) Online S

If you dig through James Allen and Good Old Gold's stones a bit, you may find by inspecting photos and inclusion plots, that you'll feel quite safe buying a VS2 and maybe even an SI stone without having seen it in person.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Re: Newbie Help Request - Is Buying VS2 (or better) Online S

Yes, I agree. Go with a vendor who has the diamond in their hands (personally, I'd not ever buy a diamond that was in virtual inventory).

FWIW, I do have a VS2 that I can see the inclusion from the side. It's GIA graded and I bought it before I found PS and it was from a B&M. The stone performs beautifully and there is no way anyone would know there is a small white dot that can be seen through the pavilion. I can't see the inclusion from the top!

 

[Amys Bling]

Re: Newbie Help Request - Is Buying VS2 (or better) Online S

I would go with a vendor that is not a drop shipper and who has stones in house and can examine them. USUALLY VS2 or better is safer but there are occasional ones that aren't clean, and it also depends on your eyesight. If you go with a vendor with in house stones they can pull the actual stones and describe what they see to you directly, and their eyes are experienced and know what to look for. Please understand that clarity is graded face up so you may see inclusions from the side of even a VS stone under the right conditions.

Vendors with in house stones who are well reviewed by the large majority of their customers are:

Brian Gavin Diamonds
High Performance Diamonds
James Allen
Good Old Gold
Whiteflash

I would stick to one of these vendors personally. Also, I'm not sure if they have the diamonds in house (but think they have SOME in house at least) but Eternity Diamonds and ID Jewelry are well reviewed. And finally, Blue Nile's "Signature" line is checked for eyeclean, from what I understand before being labeled as "Signature".

Hope this helps.

I agree wholeheartedly with this entire post. I would go with a vendor that has stones in their inventory so that they can examine it and tell you if it's eyeclean. Typically VS2 or better is eyeclean, but if you are concerned then have the vendor confirm with you the type of inclusions, location, and eyecleanliness.