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Opinion on I VS1 H&A diamond

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oryan_dunn

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
13
I've got a diamond on hold at JA
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1531416.asp

Cut is very important to me, and this will be going in a setting with a couple small side stones and a few pave stones, all of which are H-I color. The ring was designed for 1ct, but my jeweler said a 0.9 would fit just fine. I tried to go through him for diamonds, but his price for the stones were very high. He doesn't do much with diamond engagement rings, and the GIA cert stones he said he could get in for me to look at, were listed on BN for 2-3k less. I asked him about it, and he seemed surprised by internet prices, but said I should go that way to save money (which seemed very surprising). The store has been a family business in my hometown since 1901 and in the same building downtown since 1917.

I also have this one on hold as well, but I tend to think the inclusions might be eye visible:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1500358.asp

I really appreciate this site and all the information available. I got a free "How to Buy a Diamond" book when I emailed and asked why the new version wasn't available on the nook. As a first time diamond buying guy, but as someone who can detect slimey, I could tell Fred was trying to push his stuff, and I started reading up and watching lots of youtube videos (tons of good videos by the GoodOldGold guy).

I've got both on hold till Monday, so any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
I did ask the JA lady on chat about that, and she said the H SI1 was eye-clean, but between the two, she said she'd recommend the I VS1. I didn't realize the prices aren't shown, but the H SI1 is $4970 and the I VS1 is $4950.

I'd be hesitant to go to an F color, since all the other stones nearby will be H-I in color.

It'd sure be nice to have JA post Ideal Scope images even for non-TrueHearts diamonds, just so I could compare.
 
I would definitely go with the one JulieN posted. It's a far better deal and $500 less and though it's not a "true hearts and arrow" it is extremely well cut. The beauty of JA is that they have a picture of the actual diamond and it's magnified to show the awesome cut and clarity. The H SI1 looks very included so I would not advise you to get that one. Good luck on whatever you decide.
 
You can ask for it, they will take a picture for you, but I already know that it will be excellent and not make the decision any clearer. You need someone who can see them and then convey what the differences mean in real life.

You don't have to worry about color in the little melee, they are too small to show any color, but I guess you can ask to upgrade the melee if you just want it all the same.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'm going to ask for an Ideal Scope image, I think I'd feel more comfortable with it. I'm also going to ask a JA employee to take a look at both of them for me.

The price I gave would be before PS discount, so I think the difference is only $300.

From all I've read, in an H&A stone, color doesn't matter as much, especially in a white gold setting.

I tried to look up the GIA report for the F stone, but the GIA site couldn't find it. What does that mean?
 
I pulled up the GIA report on gia.edu earlier today.
 
The GIA report is right there on the webpage. I think the stone Julie suggested would be a very nice one, but I really try to get excellent on symmetry. That would bug me. As far as H and I go, I think the H stones I have seen were brighter than the I stones I have seen. So my inclination would be to go with H if the stone is really eyeclean. Better yet, I'd choose a H VS2 over H SI1 or I VS1.
 
So, last night I chatted with a JA rep, and they added the F stone to my hold, and are going to have a gemologist look at them and give a recommendation.

The GIA report check apparently doesn't work on a tablet, I ran the check on my PC here at work and they did indeed come up. I think GIA needs to work on their website.

The H SI1 stone I linked in my first post is AGS graded, but I can't seem to find an AGS number to verify at the AGS site.
 
The number has been whited out, but there is a QR code, maybe that works?

JA is legit, they will give you the AGS report if you buy it.
 
JulieN said:
The number has been whited out, but there is a QR code, maybe that works?
Click to expand...

Wow, I should have caught that; I'm a software engineer. Sure enough, Google Goggles has the QR code link directly to the AGS report, and the report number is 104058997012. I wonder why they whited that number out. It's also whited out midway down on the left where it says that number is inscribed on the diamond.
 
Well, I pulled the trigger on the I VS1. It took a while for their gemologist to pull the stone and look at them, but of the 3, the I VS1 was the brightest. I did get an ideal scope image for the F SI1, I probably couldn't have gone wrong with that one either. Apparently, the H SI1 was also eye-clean for the average eye. The H SI1 shows back in stock, not sure why the F SI1 doesn't show in stock. The PS price for the I VS1 was $4820.

I'm so excited, the stone should be here tomorrow.
 
Congratulations!!! :appl: That is very exciting!!!
 
So, now I suspect I should get insurance. Ultimately, I plan on covering it with my homeowners insurance, but will that cover while I have the stone and the jeweler setting it if something happens?

PS has been a great resource through this all. I must also say I've been blown away by the customer service at James Allen. I chatted with a rep, then called in a few hours later and the same guy answered the phone! It was nice not having to re-tell my story all the time. No hold, or press 10 buttons to get to a rep. Impressed.
 
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