Newbie needs some help!

JasonJones · May 2, 2013

Hi guys,

Don't know much about diamonds but I've tried to do as much research as possible.

Ring: Yellow Gold family heirloom. Setting will be removed and a four prong white gold will be put in it's place. (according to some jewelers, since the ring is so old (50-60 yrs); the setting is week so they have to get rid of it) Its Single diamond, no diamonds surrounding it.

So, after doing some research this is what I found...

Budget $4500
Color-G-I [i'm assuming with a yellow gold ring a little tint is going to happen either way but would prefer it to shine bright white]
Cut: Excellent or VG
SI1 or SI2 - I've seen some I2's that weren't that bad

The diamond in question...
.94 ct RB, F, SI1; VG/G/VG - EGL-USA-NY Cost is $4000 out the door. That includes $200 for white gold setting and installing it on the ring and tax. Girdle: medium;
Details:
Measurement: 6.54 x 6.46 x 3.77
Depth: 50
Table: 60
Crown: 11.7
Pavilion: 43.4
Color F
Quality: SI1
Fluorescence: none
Girdle: medium
Polish very good
Symmetry: good

Please advise if you think it's worth the price or there are better options out there. Thanks!

Jason

Niel · May 2, 2013

I guess I'm confused. Do you already have a family stone or are you buying a used stone and resetting it?

Either way that stone doesn't look like a keeper.

If you're buying new you can do better. Have you looked at some online vendors?

JulieN · May 2, 2013

Is it a round? depth is 58?

For 4500 a .9-1 ct J SI1 would be great. Stick to GIA/AGS.

JasonJones · May 2, 2013

Hi,

I have the ring but not the diamond. I'm looking for a round diamond and yes sorry the depth is 58 not 50

Niel · May 2, 2013

Pass on that stone. If you're getting a modern round brilliant(as opposed to an old cut round) stick with AGS or gia graded.

What size in mm was the stone that used to be in your setting?

Christina... · May 2, 2013

absolutely agree with the others, we can help you find a much better stone than this within your budget.

heididdl · May 2, 2013

if you use white gold prongs or rodium undearneath the stone it will not appear yellow

JasonJones · May 2, 2013

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help! There are so many different variables that a layman like myself can easily get lost.

Anyways, excellent suggestion on the white gold prongs. Will do.

Now, for the diamond...I found a few others. Please tell me your opinions....

# Carat Color Clarity Cut Cost Report Specs Fluorescence Depth/Table Girdle
1 1 H SI2 Ex $4432 GIA 6.33 x 6.25 x 3.87 vg/vg/vg None 61.5% / 59% Thick - V Thick

2 0.97 H SI2 Ideal $4101 GIA 6.24 x 6.22 x 3.99 ex x ex x ex None 64% / 55% SI. Thick - Thick

3 1 F VS2 Ex $4196 EGL 6.39 x 6.33 x 3.97 ex x ex x ex None 62.4% / 58%

4 1.01 H SI2 Ex $4412 GIA 6.28 x 6.26 x 4.04 ex x vg x vg None 64.4% / 56% Medium - Thick

5 0.94 H SI2 Ex $3917 GIA 6.16 x 6.14 x 3.95 ex x ex x vg None 64.2% / 56%

6 1.02 J SI1 Ex $3634 GIA 6.44 x 6.40 x 4.01 ex x ex x ex Medium 62.5% / 56% Medium - SI Thick

Eventhough #6 has fluorescence, due to it's low color, should it make it bling more? And is it a great price for it?

Thanks guys for your replies! I really appreciate them!

Niel · May 2, 2013

do you know what size stone fits in your setting? because if it fits a 6mm stone then youll have to adjust what your looking for. once we figure that out im sure we can find you something nice

Dancing Fire · May 2, 2013

Maybe #6,just maybe.The rest aren't very good cut...

Niel · May 2, 2013

take a look at these things
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/preferred-specs-cheat-sheet-for-rounds.88548/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/preferred-specs-cheat-sheet-for-rounds.88548/[/URL]

JasonJones · May 2, 2013

I'm not exactly sure of the size of the diamond that can fit in it. The ring is my girlfriends grandmothers and the stone in there is .6 carat and I would like to upgrade it to a +/- carat. I had a jeweler look at it and said that it would easily fit that. He didn't instruct anything else regarding a necessary diamond dimension to fit it. It's a simple one stone ring.

And FYI: I'm planning flying to Italy June 8th and proposing June 13th. So I need something by May 15th so i can get the setting done in time. Thanks again!

JasonJones · May 2, 2013

Also, i've been looking at diamonds on brilliance and jamesallen.com. Also using truthaboutdiamonds.com for advice. Not sure any of these three are legit websites. Never knew about pricescope before! If there are other places I should be searching for loose diamonds, please do recommend.

Niel · May 2, 2013

could you post a pic of the setting? id love to see it

mcosme · May 3, 2013

JasonJones|1367545892|3439209 said:
Also, i've been looking at diamonds on brilliance and jamesallen.com. Also using truthaboutdiamonds.com for advice. Not sure any of these three are legit websites. Never knew about pricescope before! If there are other places I should be searching for loose diamonds, please do recommend.

James Allen is highly regarded on pricescope

May I suggest these?
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10687/
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-194016 (HCA 1.4)

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

Hi Guys,

I received the EGL and GIA certs for two of the diamonds listed in my list of 6. I have no idea how to attach photos to this forum, when i try to choose a file and then press save, it doesn't do anything so i'l describe the specs.

1. Round, 1 Ct. F; VS2, Excellent Cut; Measurements 6.39-6.33 x 3.97 mm
Polish Excellent; Symmetry Excellent; Fluorescence None
Crown: 16%
Table: 58%
Pavillion: 43%
Depth: 62.4%
Girlde: Medium Faceted.
EGL
Light Performance: Brightness: Ex; Fire: Ex: S: Ex
Polished genereates appearance of 8 Hearts & 8 Arrows. Ideal Cut by Marcel Tolkowsky.

Clarity under 10x mag; nothing in the center. , very few markings around the edge.

-----
**This one matches all the preferred specs listed above...kinda.
2. Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.4 - 6.44 x 4.01 mm
1.02 Carat; J; SI1
Excellent Cut; Polish: Excellent; Symmetry: Excellent; Fluorescence: Medium Yellow

Depth: 62.5%
Crown: 35.5*
Pavillion: 41*
Table: 56%
Girdle: Medium - Sl. Thick Faceted: 3.5%
Cutlet: None

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

The old diamond is a .6 and to justify buying a new diamond for the ring somehow ive drawn an arbritrary line at .94 and above but under $4500.

Niel · May 4, 2013

ask for a PS discount and itll be in your budget
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.07-carat-k-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-79276

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

That's a pretty good deal Niel!! Just one question, is the K color going to be a problem with the ring that i provided? i just don't want it to look yellow.

Niel · May 4, 2013

Is there any chance they could replace those prongs with white ones? I've always heard you can get away with a lower color in yellow gold. And I find that to be the case for me. I have a .84 k in yellow gold and to me it always seems very white. Sometimes I might call it a bone color, but I never think yellow. And it seems a very appropriate color for the metal color.
Here's mine at my office and outside.

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

Thats a beautiful diamond! And yes, they said they can, the first photo shows a white diamond prong that will replace the old one. This ring is 60-100 years old actually (just found that out), so the setting is very weak.

Niel · May 4, 2013

Id ask at least for an aset and to see if that stone from JA is eye clean, I believe they could get that to you by May 15th.

Is that setting particularly sentimental? I completely understand and i LOVE passed down rings, frankly i wish i had one like that myself, but if its very weak are you certain itll be able to hold up to everyday wear still?

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

It's her great grandmothers and now her grandmothers, and now being passed down to her so yes it's sentimental to her. I'm such a novice in this not sure what setting means. I thought setting were the prongs (which are weak and will need to be changed to white gold), the ring it self is fine.

I'll ask JA for an aset. Seems like a great deal!

Niel · May 4, 2013

JasonJones|1367692598|3440348 said:
It's her great grandmothers and now her grandmothers, and now being passed down to her so yes it's sentimental to her. I'm such a novice in this not sure what setting means. I thought setting were the prongs (which are weak and will need to be changed to white gold), the ring it self is fine.

I'll ask JA for an aset. Seems like a great deal!

Oh ok. Setting is the whole ring you have there (sans diamond) but if just the prongs are week, thats great news. You would have probably had to replace them anyways to accommodate a stone with such a size difference than the original.

let me see what other JA ones fit your criteria... They let you reserve 3

JulieN · May 4, 2013

Email pics to moderator.

Check out this one. Strong blue fluoro, nice size, excellent cut. The price is pretty good, so ask if eye-clean, if it is negatively affected by fluoro, and accurately graded J color.

http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_round_excellent_cut_j_si1#p=1581071

Niel · May 4, 2013

heres an AGS 000
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.97-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-139390

and a nice budget friendly one right under your cut off
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-93903

JasonJones · May 4, 2013

I think all the suggestions have been wonderful! I do like the following diamonds recommended...which one is a better buy? (If anyone finds others, please recommend them!)

http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_round_excellent_cut_j_si1#p=1581071
1.11 J ; SI1; Ex 4044 GIA 4.11x6.62x6.64 Ex-Vg-Ex Strong 62 / 57 / 36.5/40.6 Medium - SI Thick
The person from Zoara said the diamond is "not milky and the fluorescence should help the J color. There is a brown tinge but not noticeable unless set upside down against a white piece of paper at the cutlet."
The vendor is in India. I have received the ASETs for this diamond; listed below...