Opinion on G color internally flawless at Costco

[ttl]

My girlfriend and I have been looking around for a couple of months for an engagement ring and today she saw this at Costco and is in love with it. I guess that is all I should care about but I wanted to get some expert opinions on its specs and price. It is a 1.03ct G internally flawless center surrounded by 16 0.24 total weight G-H VS1-VS2 stones. Price is $11,500. Thanks!

GIA: 1126906675
IGI: 33587682

 

[PintoBean]

If I recall correctly, they have a lifetime return policy, but that only applies if you don't alter the ring, like resize it from the standard size 7 the rings come in. That said, Costco has some dazzling lighting by the jewelry display that is not what you would have at home or at work...You could ways take advantage of their generous return policy and purchase the ring, examine it at home in different lighting, and take it to an independent appraiser for piece of mind.

 

[VRBeauty]

Just offhand, and of course not knowing what the ring looks like... that price seems pretty high for a 1.03 center stone. Some of that extra cost is probably due to the IF clarity rating... so the question to you is, do you really want to spend $2,000 or more extra for that "IF" rating? Because that's what you'd save, if not more, by getting an eye clean round brilliant diamond with a lower clarity grading.

BTW if you are willing to pay that premium for the "IF" rating, I do understand. Internally flawless diamonds are rare - which is why they demand such high prices - and it's not every day you can buy something so rare. But many inclusions are not visible except under magnification, and many people choose to live with those virtually invisible flaws so they can save that money or purchase a larger diamond.

 

[apacherose]

I put the stats here , which should help the experts give you feedback. Your diamond scores 2.0 on the HCA, which is 'very good, worth buying if the price is right'; https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

If you post a photo of the ring and your budget, we could try to find you a top performing diamond in the same/similar setting. For example, here is a whiteflash ACA (top of the line cut, meaning ideal light return, sparkle, fire, etc.) 1.18 G VS2 (so eye clean, you cant see any inclusions)- that is 6.78x6.81x4.17- so noticeably larger, for $9600, leaving you money for a nice setting for the same money as Costco. http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3508595.htm

That said, there is something to buying her what she wants/fell for, so, you be the judge of how much she loves it and whether to go for it or not. If she is emotionally attached to that specific diamond ring, it is nice to get what you want, lol.

Diamond Grading Report.
Round Brilliant Measurements:6.48 - 6.52 x 3.96 mm
Carat Weight : 1.03 carat
Color Grade :G
Clarity Grade : Internally Flawless
Cut Grade : Excellent
proportions:
Depth
60.9 %
Table
59 %
Crown Angle
35.0°
Crown Height
14.5%
Pavilion Angle
40.8°
Pavilion Depth
43.0%
Star Length
55%
Lower Half
80%
Girdle
Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.0%
Culet
None
finish
Polish
Excellent
Symmetry
Excellent
Fluorescence
Fluorescence
None clarity characteristics
comments
Minor details of polish are not shown.

 

[ecf8503]

Depth - 60.9 %
Table - 59 %

This is a "60/60" stone - https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/60-60-proportioned-diamond

It will likely be a nice lively stone based on the angles, but will have proportionally more white light return than colored light return, whereas an more traditionally cut stone will have a nice balance of white and colored light.

I personally think IF is complete overkill. I'd take that extra money you'd be paying for something you literally can't see and apply it toward an ideal cut stone G/H color and eye-clean VS/SI clarity. You'll get a bigger stone that way too.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I would shoot for a well cut $10K H&A F VS1 stone with $1500 left over for the setting.