newbie seeking help on engagement ring diamond (.75 carat VVS2 E Brilliant Cut)

[happyMadison]

hi everyone,

I''ve been looking around the site to educate myself on the mysterious science (art?) of diamond shopping - and I thought I''d ask your opinion on a particular diamond I have found.

The info:

# Price: $4,820
# Shape: Round
# Carat Weight: 0.75
# Cut: Super Ideal
# Color: E
# Clarity: VVS2
# Report: GIA

* Measurements: 5.91 x 5.85 x 3.59 mm
* Polish: Excellent
* Symmetry: Excellent
* Depth: 61.1%
* Table: 58.0%
* Girdle: Medium - Slightly Thick, Faceted
* Culet: None
* Fluorescence: None

The jeweler (Brilliant Earth) defined ''Super Ideal'' as diamonds with the "highest grades of polish and symmetry (Excellent or Ideal) to allow it to reflect even more light than the standard ideal cut."

I am particularly fond of Brilliant Earth because of their commitment to sustainability, and that almost all of their diamonds (including this one) is mined in Canada.

I was wondering, based on the information above, would you consider this a fair price?

Also, since I have never purchased a diamond before (let alone doing so online), are there specific questions I should be asking that''s not covered in the information above?

I greatly appreciate your help (as well, I am sure, my to-be fiance)!

 

[rickster123]

I''m not expert enough, actually at all, to answer your price question...but I think if you read more and more on these threads you might find that moving up in color will save you quite a bit of money and the end (eyeball) result of the Fire/Brilliance will be virtually identical...just a thought.

I am using Whiteflash and have had a very positive experience. I also never dreamed of buying online.....but I feel totally confident now after interacting with WF.

Good Luck

 

[Lorelei]

Can you post the crown and pavilion angles for this diamond please? These are important so we can judge this diamond accurately. Also with the cut label Super Ideal, GIA's highest cut grade is excellent.

 

[happyMadison]

Thank you so much for your help on this! I will try to find that information out. I do believe that their ''Super Ideal'' designation does mean GIA''s ''Excellent'' grade, but I''ll double-check and update.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

You''re paying quite a bit extra for the VVS2 clarity. Most VS2 diamonds are eye clean and by purchasing one of that clarity, you''ll save money/and or be able to afford a larger stone for the same price.

 

[happyMadison]

Hi Lorelei,

I was able to find out the crown and pavilion angle of the diamond:

Crown Angle: 36 degrees
Pavilion Angle: 41 degrees

The Cut, I believe, is ''Excellent'' per GIA.


The rest of the info, as previously posted, is as follows:

The info:

# Price: $4,820
# Shape: Round
# Carat Weight: 0.75
# Cut: Super Ideal
# Color: E
# Clarity: VVS2
# Report: GIA

* Measurements: 5.91 x 5.85 x 3.59 mm
* Polish: Excellent
* Symmetry: Excellent
* Depth: 61.1%
* Table: 58.0%
* Girdle: Medium - Slightly Thick, Faceted
* Culet: None
* Fluorescence: None

Thanks again for your help.

 

[stone-cold11]

Too steep a pavilion angle for that crown angle, will result in light leakage making it look dull.

I would give it a miss.

 

[happyMadison]

Thanks for the tip! Do you have a suggested range for the crown and pavilion angles I should be looking for?

Also, are there other reputable online vendors that carry canadian diamonds?

thanks!

 

[Lula]

Hi,
Try this website:
http://www.canadadiamonds.com/index.htm
Do a search for the size you want, look for colors F through I and clarity VS1 and VS2 and you should find several options (I saw 11 diamonds listed between .70 and 80 carat with AGS certification. You can also search on GIA certifcation. These two certification bodies will help you find some good candidates to post here for comments. You may also want to read the Helpful Threads Archive (top thread in Rocky Talky forum) for some suggestions on good crown and pavilian angles, along with table and depth guidelines. Good luck!

 

[stone-cold11]

Use the cut adviser to give an idea of good angles. https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

Score below a 2 is good. After which we will need Idealscope/ASET image to judge the stone further.

EDT:
Any particular reason you are only looking specifically for canadian diamonds?

 

[happyMadison]

Hi everyone -- thanks for the information, I learn something new here everyday .

I''m interested in Canadian diamonds because, as I understand it, Canadian diamonds are conflict-free, and, equally important, because Canada has stringent environmental standards for mining and remediation by which the mining companies must adhere (these are important criteria my gf and I share).



Unfortunately, that does seem to limit the choices -- but I will keep looking and provide an update

 

[Lula]

I am also interested in Canadian diamonds and I looked at the Brilliant Earth website, but was disappointed at how high the prices were and also that it was difficult to get detailed information about the diamonds. I did find several Candadian diamonds through the Pricescope search engine -- you have to look at the certification and it takes awhile to examine each certification, but GIA and AGS will note on the certifcation "girdle inscribed XXX Canadian diamond" or something similar. Canadian diamonds have several types of logos/letters inscribed on the girdle (e.g., a maple leaf). I am currently considering a Canadian diamond that I found through the Crafted by Infinity website, and the girdle is inscribed with CMSD and then the number. This diamond is from the Etiak mine (spelling) and the number on the girdle is registered and I am able to look up the number on the CMSD website. My husband preferred a diamond from a Canadian mine, too. They are out there, but it does require a bit more searching.

ETA: It's Ekati mine -- spell check!

 

[happyMadison]

Glad to see I''m not the only one who''s in the hunt for Canadian diamonds ... have you had any luck contacting the Pricescope vendors, like Good Old Gold? Will they be willing to help in finding Canadian diamonds?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/1/2009 6:50:05 PM
Author: happyMadison
Hi Lorelei,

I was able to find out the crown and pavilion angle of the diamond:

Crown Angle: 36 degrees
Pavilion Angle: 41 degrees

The Cut, I believe, is ''Excellent'' per GIA.


The rest of the info, as previously posted, is as follows:

The info:

# Price: $4,820
# Shape: Round
# Carat Weight: 0.75
# Cut: Super Ideal
# Color: E
# Clarity: VVS2
# Report: GIA

* Measurements: 5.91 x 5.85 x 3.59 mm
* Polish: Excellent
* Symmetry: Excellent
* Depth: 61.1%
* Table: 58.0%
* Girdle: Medium - Slightly Thick, Faceted
* Culet: None
* Fluorescence: None

Thanks again for your help.

Hi Madison,

Both the crown and pavilion angles are not a good fit for each other, this is what we call a steep deep, definitely pass on this one as it will leak light and not perform well due to that bad angle combo.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/1/2009 8:28:35 PM
Author: happyMadison
Thanks for the tip! Do you have a suggested range for the crown and pavilion angles I should be looking for?

Also, are there other reputable online vendors that carry canadian diamonds?

thanks!

Yes, this is the easiest way for you Madison, a chart you can use as a guide.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

From expert John Pollard.

With that said, here''s a "Cliff''s Notes" for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA "EX" in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/2/2009 1:33:38 AM
Author: happyMadison
Glad to see I''m not the only one who''s in the hunt for Canadian diamonds ... have you had any luck contacting the Pricescope vendors, like Good Old Gold? Will they be willing to help in finding Canadian diamonds?

GOG do sometimes have Canadian diamonds, give Jon a call and see what he can suggest.

 

[Lula]

I would definitely e-mail a couple of the vendors here -- Jonathan at Good Old Gold, as Lorelei suggests, Josh or Darin at James Allen, Juli at Whiteflash, Paul Slegers at Infinity -- to see if they have a way of identifying Canadian diamonds available to them or currently in their inventory. It''s been my experience in my online search that Canadian diamonds will have a source/company mark on the girdle indicating that they are indeed from Canada and that the inscription will be noted on the AGS or GIA certification. I guess what I''m saying is that I wouldn''t be sure that a diamond is from Canada unless it was inscribed as such. That said, any of the vendors mentioned above are trustworthy and will be more than happy to help you. There may be other vendors not on my list that other Pricescopers have experience with, too.