Newbie here looking for help!

[hmmmhmmm]

Hi all,

so it''s time for me to pop the question to my dearest!

I''m looking for a diamond (Round Brillliant) to set onto a Solitaire for my proposal ring (the 6 prong Tiffany-esque classic ring kinda appeals to me for now).

i''m just only starting out on the diamond search, but i''ve narrowed my search to a diamond in this spec:

1) 0.4 - 0.5 ct
2) Colour: D-G
3) Clarity: VVS1 - SI2
4) Cut: Now this is what confuses me... Is there a difference between Ideal, Super Ideal, Excellent, H&A????
5) Certification: Is there a diff between AGS, GIA? Why are diamonds certified by AGS cheaper? This is just my newbie observation when looking at BGD''s signature H&A and his "other" diamonds that are GIA certified.

Also, where can i get a great diamond for a good price online? I''ve been to BGD, GOG, BN, WF based on the recommendations here on PS. What i really need are great pics for my assessment before commiting to a purchase. Having the diamond sent to and from Singapore-USA due to a bad purchase doesn''t really seem so attractive to me...

well, guess that''s all for now folks. Thanks for looking and helping!

 

[Dreamer_D]

What is your budget? The range of specs you gave could be thousands of dollars in variation!

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 4/5/2010 1:37:14 AM
Author:hmmmhmmm
i'm just only starting out on the diamond search, but i've narrowed my search to a diamond in this spec:

1) 0.4 - 0.5 ct
2) Colour: D-G
3) Clarity: VVS1 - SI2
4) Cut: Now this is what confuses me... Is there a difference between Ideal, Super Ideal, Excellent, H&A????
5) Certification: Is there a diff between AGS, GIA? Why are diamonds certified by AGS cheaper? This is just my newbie observation when looking at BGD's signature H&A and his 'other' diamonds that are GIA certified.

Also, where can i get a great diamond for a good price online? I've been to BGD, GOG, BN, WF based on the recommendations here on PS. What i really need are great pics for my assessment before commiting to a purchase. Having the diamond sent to and from Singapore-USA due to a bad purchase doesn't really seem so attractive to me...

well, guess that's all for now folks. Thanks for looking and helping!

Cut description as you see on most site are how the vendor describe their stones, some have correlation to actual cut performance some do not. The actual cut grades given by the labs are lab dependent, AGS best grade is ideal while GIA is excellent.

AGS is on par with GIA on color and clarity grading and considered stricter on cut grading. Generally AGS graded stone, with the cut performance grading report, commands a premium over similar GIA specs stone.

H&A is a measure of optical symm and does not automatically equate to cut performance. To view optical symm you will need the hearts and arrows image from the vendor. For cut performance, an idealscope image is a good image to have on the light return performance of the stone.

Price, depends on what vendor policy you want to have as the prices varies according to that too. There are return, upgrade and buy back policies difference between vendors.

 

[hmmmhmmm]

Well, my budget would be in the region of US$1.5K.

I''ve some shortlisted diamonds here..

frankly, they all look great to me perhaps due to my untrained newbie eyes..! I''ll surely appreciate your comments and feedback

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/6999/
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3888/
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040375560013
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040366640135
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680092

 

[hmmmhmmm]

Date: 4/5/2010 8:46:19 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 4/5/2010 1:37:14 AM

Author:hmmmhmmm

i''m just only starting out on the diamond search, but i''ve narrowed my search to a diamond in this spec:


1) 0.4 - 0.5 ct

2) Colour: D-G

3) Clarity: VVS1 - SI2

4) Cut: Now this is what confuses me... Is there a difference between Ideal, Super Ideal, Excellent, H&A????

5) Certification: Is there a diff between AGS, GIA? Why are diamonds certified by AGS cheaper? This is just my newbie observation when looking at BGD''s signature H&A and his ''other'' diamonds that are GIA certified.


Also, where can i get a great diamond for a good price online? I''ve been to BGD, GOG, BN, WF based on the recommendations here on PS. What i really need are great pics for my assessment before commiting to a purchase. Having the diamond sent to and from Singapore-USA due to a bad purchase doesn''t really seem so attractive to me...


well, guess that''s all for now folks. Thanks for looking and helping!

Cut description as you see on most site are how the vendor describe their stones, some have correlation to actual cut performance some do not. The actual cut grades given by the labs are lab dependent, AGS best grade is ideal while GIA is excellent.


AGS is on par with GIA on color and clarity grading and considered stricter on cut grading. Generally AGS graded stone, with the cut performance grading report, commands a premium over similar GIA specs stone.


H&A is a measure of optical symm and does not automatically equate to cut performance. To view optical symm you will need the hearts and arrows image from the vendor. For cut performance, an idealscope image is a good image to have on the light return performance of the stone.


Price, depends on what vendor policy you want to have as the prices varies according to that too. There are return, upgrade and buy back policies difference between vendors.

Thanks for this!

 

[missydebby]

I''d also check out James Allen. I don''t think their prices can be beat. For instance, I looked up one particular diamond on 5 sites. JA was the least expensive of all, and by a lot in that case. Plus if you link to their site through pricescope, you''ll get a discount on the diamond. And they have some beautiful and inexpensive settings.

I spent a lot of time on their website and talking to a rep there named Darrin Grimes. I didn''t end up going with them because I decided to go in a totally different direction and get a custom setting- and am working with the designer and keeping it all under one roof. But my experience with JA was really really good.

I think Good Old Gold is the best for variety. I''m not as into their setting choices, but that''s just me. From what I gather here, GOG can walk you through their in house diamonds in a way that no else can. Plus, you have got to check out their videos. You can learn about everything and see some great diamond comparisons that will really help you clarify what you want.

Good luck!!!

 

[hmmmhmmm]

Thanks missydebby!

now, why didn''t i consider JA? I''ll do that right awaysss!

 

[hmmmhmmm]

Just popped by JA''s site.

Is it me, or is there a reason why their diamonds look "dull" or "cloudy" to me? Like for instance, their arrows look grey to me... with the contrast really poor.

 

[missydebby]

What you wanna do with JA is select some stones that sorta fit the bill. Then call up and have Darrin look at what you like. He''ll then steer you in the right direction and email the ASET images and explain how to look at them. And he''ll put any stones you are considering on hold while you decide.

 

[stone-cold11]

Different set up. JA''s set up is to maximize the visibility of inclusions, though it is still not a good way to judge if a stone is eye-clean or not from these images.

 

[Dreamer_D]

JA is a great vendor for finding non H&A diamonds and maximizing a budget.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 4/5/2010 11:39:30 PM
Author: missydebby
What you wanna do with JA is select some stones that sorta fit the bill. Then call up and have Darrin look at what you like. He''ll then steer you in the right direction and email the ASET images and explain how to look at them. And he''ll put any stones you are considering on hold while you decide.

If you are searching for rounds, they will only provide Idealscope images which is good enough for rounds, ASET image is for fancy.

 

[missydebby]

A ha! That''s cause I was looking at cushions. Got it!

 

[hmmmhmmm]

So in other words, the fact that their diamonds look dull in their images, was because they''ve set up the image-taking to maximise inclusion visibility?

They sure look cloudy to me... and with greyish arrows.

Like for example this one (0.4 D VVS2):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/B205-919PIC.JPG

as compared to this one with cleaner arrows and contrast (0.4 D VVS1):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/B205-1890PIC.JPG

Anybody care to comment? Both diamonds are similar in spec, but looks vastly different in the image. Is it just the photo-taking?

Frankly, i''ll be gutted if i purchase a diamond that looks like the first one in real life.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/6/2010 4:00:29 AM
Author: hmmmhmmm
So in other words, the fact that their diamonds look dull in their images, was because they''ve set up the image-taking to maximise inclusion visibility?

They sure look cloudy to me... and with greyish arrows.

Like for example this one (0.4 D VVS2):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/B205-919PIC.JPG

as compared to this one with cleaner arrows and contrast (0.4 D VVS1):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/B205-1890PIC.JPG

Anybody care to comment? Both diamonds are similar in spec, but looks vastly different in the image. Is it just the photo-taking?

Frankly, i''ll be gutted if i purchase a diamond that looks like the first one in real life.

I believe so, there could be various reasons why the diamonds look that way in some of the photos, JA''s photos aren''t meant to be '' glamour shots'' but just to give a magnified view of the stone and some inclusions. The diamond could be dirty in the photo, a light brush with a fingertip can put enough oils on it to dull it in the photo, I would ask one of the gemologists at JA to inspect the stone for you, tell them your concerns about the photo and they will be able to reassure you.

 

[hmmmhmmm]

Date: 4/5/2010 9:56:28 PM
Author: hmmmhmmm
Well, my budget would be in the region of US$1.5K.

I''ve some shortlisted diamonds here..

frankly, they all look great to me perhaps due to my untrained newbie eyes..! I''ll surely appreciate your comments and feedback

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/6999/
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3888/
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040375560013
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040366640135
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680092

Anyone care to give some feedback on the above stones?

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 4/6/2010 4:00:29 AM
Author: hmmmhmmm
So in other words, the fact that their diamonds look dull in their images, was because they''ve set up the image-taking to maximise inclusion visibility?

They sure look cloudy to me... and with greyish arrows.

Like for example this one (0.4 D VVS2):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/B205-919PIC.JPG

as compared to this one with cleaner arrows and contrast (0.4 D VVS1):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/B205-1890PIC.JPG

Anybody care to comment? Both diamonds are similar in spec, but looks vastly different in the image. Is it just the photo-taking?

Frankly, i''ll be gutted if i purchase a diamond that looks like the first one in real life.

Looks like lens distance difference and focal plane difference between the 2 stones. No way a reliably graded VVS stone will have visible inclusions even in these images.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 4/6/2010 9:23:50 AM
Author: hmmmhmmm

Date: 4/5/2010 9:56:28 PM

Author: hmmmhmmm

Well, my budget would be in the region of US$1.5K.

I''ve some shortlisted diamonds here..

frankly, they all look great to me perhaps due to my untrained newbie eyes..! I''ll surely appreciate your comments and feedback

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/6999/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3888/

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040375560013

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040366640135

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680092

Anyone care to give some feedback on the above stones?

Yap, all looks good, depends on your priorities.