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Newbie needing advice on several stones for engagement!

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suspendmix

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
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Hello! I just joined up and I must honestly say I''ve learned so much in the few weeks I''ve been browsing on here. I''ve incorporated the info I''ve read up on here as much as I could and will be purchasing a stone relatively soon so I just wanted some advice on these stones. The stones rated on HCA between 0.9 and a 2.8. The future wifey has indicated that she would like a 1ct round diamond set in a 6 prong platinum setting with pave diamonds to the side. These are the stones I''ve narrowed it down to. 3 of these stones are I color at VS2 and the 4th is I color at SI2. We stepped into a Bailey Banks and Biddle and for the life of me(and her) could not tell the difference between an F and an I color). I also only included the SI2 because the stone is a bit bigger but in your opinion:

Is a 1.06 much bigger than the 1.01 and is the 1.12 much bigger than either the 1.01 or the 1.06?
Which stone would you pick and why?
Fiance expressed a bit of concern that a 6 prong setting blocks out a bit more the lower part of the diamond than a 4 prong, is that even something to be concerned with?
All 4 stones are from Blue Nile and the cost listed on here don''t factor in a 10% AAA discount.


Diamond #1 Cost: $5329
HCA 2.8

Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: July 30, 2008
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.44 - 6.46 x 3.97 mm
Carat Weight: 1.01
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 61.6 %
Table: 57 %
Crown Angle: 33°
Crown Height: 14 %
Pavilion Angle: 41.2°
Pavilion Depth: 44 %
Star length: 50 %
Lower Half: 80 %
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None



Diamond #2 Cost: $5387
HCA # 2.4

Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: February 04, 2008
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.41 - 6.44 x 4.03 mm
Carat Weight: 1.02
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 62.7 %
Table: 55 %
Crown Angle: 35°
Crown Height: 16 %
Pavilion Angle: 41°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5 %
Star length: 55 %
Lower Half: 75 %
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.



Diamond #3 Cost: $5452
HCA 1.4

Report Type: Diamond Quality™ Document
Shape and Style: Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.48 - 6.54 x 4.03 mm
Cut Grade: AGS Ideal 0
Color Grade: AGS 2.5 (I)
Clarity Grade: AGS 4 (VS2)
Carat Weight 1.060
Fluorescence: Negligible
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Table: 56.7%
Crown Angle: 34.5
Crown Height: 14.9%
Girdle: Faceted, 1.5% to 4.2%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion Depth: 43.1%
Star Length: 52%
Lower Girdle Length: 82%
Total Depth: 61.9%
Culet: Pointed




Diamond #4 Cost: $5146
HCA 0.9

Report Type: AGS Diamond Quality™ Document
Shape and Style: Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.63 - 6.69 x 4.10 mm
Cut Grade: AGS Ideal 0
Light Performance: 0
Proportion Factors: 0
Finish: 0
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Color Grade: AGS 2.5 (I)
Clarity Grade: AGS 5 (SI1)
Carat Weight: 1.121
Fluorescence: Negligible
Comments: "AGSL 8223403 H&A" has been inscribed on the girdle of this diamond.
Additional clouds are not shown.
Table: 56.0%
Crown Angle: 34.3
Crown Height: 15.1%
Girdle: Faceted, 1.3% to 4.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.7
Pavilion Depth: 42.9%
Star Length: 54%
Lower Girdle Length: 74%
Total Depth: 61.5%
Culet: Pointed

I''d love your opinions/suggestions before buying and thanks again!

David
 
i vote for #3. i like AGS lab ideal cut and would rather have the VS2 clarity than the extra few points size in the 4th stone.

have you looked at the other PS vendors as well? some offer discounts but maybe not as much as your AAA discount. for some reason I always found Bluenile to be a bit more pricey.
 
the AAA discount does not apply to loose stones or loose stones applied to a setting (Only settings/etc). I looked into this...

www.aaa.com/bluenile
 
Both 3 and 4 should be excellent performing diamonds. Because you don't get pictures, analysis, etc. with Bluenile I feel more comfortable also recommending #3, otherwise you might find that #4 isn't eyeclean and needs to be sent back. If you are ok with potentially sending it back, then there is no reason to not buy #4.

#4 also says that it is a Hearts and Arrows stone. #3 likely is too, but with #4 you KNOW it is. If that is important to you it's another point for #4.

And with an AGS 0 ideal cut stone your GF has nothing to worry about getting a 6 prong setting. It's only an issue with blocking sparkle if the diamond is poorly cut. Otherwise light reflects back in such a way that it won't impede anything.
 
Thanks for the info, seems like #4 is gone so I was looking at 1-3. I didn''t realize that AAA discount only applied to the setting! I just took a peek at James Allen''s site and saw a few diamonds as well, showed my fiance the site and now she is set on a different setting. Any thoughts on these two diamonds? Both are VS2 but I saw a few SI1s that looked pretty good but the magnification showed so many inclusions! Is James Allen pretty good about checking on the diamond to see if its eyeclean?



Diamond #5 Cost - $5410 HCA 1.6
Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: March 10, 2008
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.60 - 6.66 x 4.09 mm
Carat Weight: 1.10
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Very Good
Proportions:
Depth: 61.7 %
Table: 57 %
Crown Angle: 35°
Crown Height: 15 %
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43 %
Star length: 55 %
Lower Half: 75 %
Girdle: Very Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.

Diamond #6 Cost $5520 HCA 1.2

Report Type: AGS Diamond Quality™ Document
Shape and Style: Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.55 - 6.58 x 3.99 mm
Cut Grade: AGS Ideal 0
Color Grade: AGS 2.5 (I)
Clarity Grade: AGS 4 (VS2)
Carat Weight 1.047
Fluorescence: Negligible
Comments: Clouds and surface graining are not shown.
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Table: 56.5%
Crown Angle: 34.5
Crown Height: 15.0%
Girdle: Faceted, 0.9% to 3.4%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion Depth: 42.9%
Star Length: 52%
Lower Girdle Length: 75%
Total Depth: 60.7%
Culet: Pointed

Thanks again for your help! David
 
Diamonds 3 and 6 look excellent, and yes - JA is very experienced at describing ' eyecleanliness' or lack of to clients. Diamond #5 also looks good.
 
Date: 8/25/2008 1:56:03 AM
Author: suspendmix
Thanks for the info, seems like #4 is gone so I was looking at 1-3. I didn''t realize that AAA discount only applied to the setting! I just took a peek at James Allen''s site and saw a few diamonds as well, showed my fiance the site and now she is set on a different setting. Any thoughts on these two diamonds? Both are VS2 but I saw a few SI1s that looked pretty good but the magnification showed so many inclusions! Is James Allen pretty good about checking on the diamond to see if its eyeclean?



Diamond #5 Cost - $5410 HCA 1.6
Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: March 10, 2008
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.60 - 6.66 x 4.09 mm
Carat Weight: 1.10
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Very Good
Proportions:
Depth: 61.7 %
Table: 57 %
Crown Angle: 35°
Crown Height: 15 %
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43 %
Star length: 55 %
Lower Half: 75 %
Girdle: Very Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.

Diamond #6 Cost $5520 HCA 1.2

Report Type: AGS Diamond Quality™ Document
Shape and Style: Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.55 - 6.58 x 3.99 mm
Cut Grade: AGS Ideal 0
Color Grade: AGS 2.5 (I)
Clarity Grade: AGS 4 (VS2)
Carat Weight 1.047
Fluorescence: Negligible
Comments: Clouds and surface graining are not shown.
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Table: 56.5%
Crown Angle: 34.5
Crown Height: 15.0%
Girdle: Faceted, 0.9% to 3.4%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion Depth: 42.9%
Star Length: 52%
Lower Girdle Length: 75%
Total Depth: 60.7%
Culet: Pointed

Thanks again for your help! David
Click to expand...
Out of these two, I''d pick the AGS stone. Looks great!
 
without seeing them # 4 sounds like it would be the best
 
Date: 8/25/2008 10:52:09 AM
Author: dcdiamond
without seeing them # 4 sounds like it would be the best
Click to expand...
#4 is sold apparently.
 
I''m a bit torn between #5 and #6. Was leaning more towards #5 since it seems to be a bit bigger but again, is it that noticeable between a 1.1 and a 1.04? Also, looking at the diamond #5, the girdle shows very thin to medium. I was reading somewhere that a very thin can be prone to chipping? Any thoughts on this? Thanks again for all of your thoughts! Its been sooooo helpful! David
 
Ughhh! Diamond #6 was just taken as I was about to purchase. I saw one more diamond, what are you thoughts on this one? James Allen says that the inclusion is noticeable but can be hidden by the setting to make it eyeclean in the setting.

GIA Cert Cost $4900 HCA 0.7

Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.65 - 6.67 x 4.04 mm
Carat Weight: 1.08
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 60.7 %
Table: 55 %
Crown Angle: 33°
Crown Height: 14.5 %
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43 %
Star length: 55 %
Lower Half: 75 %
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Comments: Pinpoints are not shown. Surface graining is not shown.

Thank you!
 
Personally I would DEFINITELY go for one of the AGS stones. GIA excellent doesn''t necessarily mean squat. I know from experience. And if AGS gave a stone a zero on light performance, then you KNOW it will be gorgeous. I wouldn''t mind the SI grading IF you trust the vendor to verify it''s eye clean, but I went with I vs2 myself to be safe.
 
also to comment on the question re: blocking out the bottom of a diamond c/ a setting - in a well cut diamond you can completely cover the bottom of it and it will not affect performance (a well cut stone will bounce the rays around within and right back at you). the only time you will need to have the bottom exposed or set the stone high is if the stone is poorly cut. Now if she doesn''t want the bottom covered because she doesn''t like the way it looks, that is another issue, but as far as diamond performance in a well cut stone it will not affect it
 
Also, I wouldn''t worry about the six prongs covering the bottom. If you pick a greatly cut stone, you don''t need an open setting for light performance.

I would only pick a prongable inclusion if I knew for positively certain that I''d never want to change the setting. If she ever wants to put the stone into a bezel or anything that won''t cover it, that could be a problem. If she knows she''ll never change it though, it should be fine. Hope that helped
1.gif
 
Ya, I was very interested in the 2 AGS stones I listed here but they were snapped up! I''m pretty close to purchasing this week and have yet to see another AGS in the 1 ct range I VS2/SI1 in my price range. I''m pretty committed to sticking with James Allen now since my soon to be fiance seems to really like a particular setting they have. Thanks for your response, right now I''m looking at I think #5 and the new diamond I just put up, looking at the specs, what would you choose?
 
Thanks, it makes total intuitive sense that covering the bottom shouldn''t matter if its well cut.
 
Date: 8/26/2008 11:12:36 PM
Author: :)
Hey if you guys are not color sensitive have you seen this one from Wink Jones? It is an Infinity Stone. It is an I clarity, so you would need to call to ask if inclusions are either visible or prongable (Wink has been reputed to find great I1 stones!)



1.07 J I1 with medium fluoro for $3145

http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid%5b%5d=443&src=loupe



www.winkjones.com
Click to expand...

I just bought one of Wink''s lovely Infinity stones, a J I1 like that one. Mine has strong blue fluorescence. I''m thrilled with it, and it''s very clean and white. You can see pictures in this thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/73-infinity-in-antique-deco-setting-thanks-wink-paul.93267/
 
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