Newbie trying to pick a centerstone.

[rc_eric1]

Hi All,

I have been searching for an engagement ring for my girlfriend for about 2 months now. We have been together for 4 years and I really want to make the best purchase possible. I''m still a beginner, but I am slowly learning from reading the forums.

I have the setting narrowed to an Elma-Gil DR241 or a True Romance ME678. (Sorry, Elma-Gil does not have a picture of this particular setting)

As for a center stone I am looking for the following:

0.67-0.70
Ideal Cut (I have been using the tutorial on GOG.)
G+
VS2+
$1800-$2000 Range

What do you think of this stone? James Allen - 0.67

I''d greatly appreciate any comments and other stone suggestions.

Thanks!

Eric

 

[Laura27]

Hey! I''m no expert by any means so I''m not going to comment about the stone you linked. I will give you a bit of advice though. I started out wanting nothing lower than a G in color and nothing lower than a VS2. But after a ton of research I decided that I would lower the clarity to SI1 or 2 as long as it was eye clean. Why pay for something you''re not going to see anyways? As far as color goes, I went into a store and compared colors side by side and I feel safe going as low as an I or maybe even an J if it''s a well cut stone. If you do that you''ll be able to get a bigger stone. Plus, if the H or I is well cut it will still face up very white.

 

[stone-cold11]

No ideal about the cut of the stone, we will need at least the table, depth % and crown and pavilion angles to do that.

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Eric,

Can you request the report from James Allen please? That will have the rest of the info needed on it.

 

[rc_eric1]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I graded small differences in the color of paint finishes as an intern. This made my eyes really sensitive to color. When I looked at diamonds at a B&M store, colors below H bothered me.

As for clarity, I think you raise a good point Laura27. I would purchase a SI1 as long as its eye clean and does not affect brilliance.

James Allen did put post the report and digital picture of the 0.67 stone. However, you can not read the report, so here the report from GIA: LINK

Please let me know what all of you think. Also, I am open for other stone suggestions. Thanks again for all your help!

Eric

 

[jet2ks]

Numbers and photo on the JA stone look good. You can ask them for an IS image, as well.

As far as color, you could be somone who is more color sensitive. I'm not sure how much stock I would place on the B&M diamonds for reference, though, unless they were GIA or AGS graded. If the store was stocking average cut stones that were graded by a lesser lab or just the store, they very well could be two or more grades off where GIA or AGS would grade them. Also, a well cut stone shows whiter face up than a poorly cut one, so that could play into it, as well.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 6/17/2009 5:29:32 PM
Author: rc_eric1
I graded small differences in the color of paint finishes as an intern. This made my eyes really sensitive to color. When I looked at diamonds at a B&M store, colors below H bothered me.

As for clarity, I think you raise a good point Laura27. I would purchase a SI1 as long as its eye clean and does not affect brilliance.

Eric

When you look at the stones, are they all GIA/AGS graded? B&M stores generally carries stones graded by lower tier labs which are softer on color and clarity, could result in you see some colors when a stone reliably graded by GIA/AGS will not appear so. Also a well cut stone will show less color, most B&M stores do not carry them.

Numbers look good to me. Request an IS image for JA to confirm.

EDT:
too slow, all I typed...
Should have just said ditto.

 

[rc_eric1]

Wow....this forum is amazing. Thanks to all who have helped so far.

I just requested an ideal scope and will have it in the next day or two. I will post it when I get the image for you all to look at.

I ordered the True Romance setting today and hope to have it all together by the 4th of July. I will be sure to post some pictures on and off her hand. Next project for the night: trying to figure out the proposal details.

Thanks!

Eric

 

[strmrdr]

here is the is image
looks good