Opinions? GIA1.65 Princess I/VVS1

[SVTCobraGirl]

Long time reader and diamond LOVER here!

My boyfriend and I are finally taking the plunge and getting engaged. We are thinking about purchasing a 1.65 Princess cut, I/VVS1/Excellent/Excellent and I truly believe this stone will be stunning. I have attached the GIA certification and it would be great if I could get some opinions on this diamond. We are purchasing it sight-unseen (from a very trusted source) but I''m just trying to do my homework! We are getting this stone for under $8000 and I sure hope it''s a wise investment!

Thanks in advance.


Elisa

 

[kenny]

Just one comment.
Please don't think of diamonds as investments.
You and I buy at retail, but must sell at wholesale, which is about half.

So diamonds would have to double in value for you or I to just break even.

Certainly enjoy and appreciate your diamond, but just let go of the "investment" idea or one day you may be in for a rude awakening if you try to sell.

And if I were shopping for a princess I'd definitely insist on an AGS 0 cut.
AGS is the only lab that rates the cut of princess diamonds.

 

[pinkflamingo]

I VVs1 would not be my combo of choice in a princess. why not G Vs2 or an eyeclean SI1? You are overpaying for something you can''t see. it is difficult to see any difference between VVS and VS.

 

[SVTCobraGirl]

By investment I didn''t mean I would try to sell it for profit, just that in the future I could upgrade it to a nicer diamond without a problem.

Keep the comments coming, they''re appreciated! Personally, if I could find an AGS diamond that was in my price range, in this size I''d go for it. I figure the next most trusted lab is probably GIA. I had a 1.85 princess graded by EGL and they were way off on color and clarity, it seems they like to make the diamond look better than it really is.

So, what does a G - VS excellent/excellent princess go for in this size (1.65-1.70)

 

[ecf8503]

Not a wise idea to buy solely by carat weight either, as differences in cut can affect the "face up" size dramatically.

What is most important to you? Pure face-up size? Budget (if so, if you can tell us your rough budget it would help in the search immensely!)? Color?

 

[ecf8503]

I just saw the $8k budget -

Here''s a 1.7 J/VVS2

For comparison, here''s a 1.66 I/VVS1 that is an AGS-0

 

[belle]

the table is quite large. most well cut princess stones will have tables in the low 70''s at least. i would not buy this diamond site unseen.

 

[SVTCobraGirl]

Face up size is most important to me and I would like a white diamond. That AGS 1.7 is BEAUTIFUL. As far as the ''J'' color, I''d be willing to get a J diamond if I knew for sure it would look like a white diamond. How is AGS on grading color?

With the specs of that diamond, would that be a good buy with face up size being my main goal?

 

[pinkflamingo]

AGS is equally strict as GIA in color and clarity, I think it is stricter with cut standards. I like the princess from excel- the 1.7 has a nice idealscope photo, which shows you where the light leakage is.

A good place you buy from will have a trade-up policy. I wouldn''t buy from a place that doesn''t have one. If you want to upgrade in the future, that is really the only way. Exceldiamond as well as others have a 100% trade in policy.

About the J color. I don''t know about princesses in J. I think it would be fine with an ideal cut. I have a J round and it doesn''t look yellow. at all! it is more of a firey blingy winter white in some settings. i love it!

You do know that princesses face up smaller than rounds, right? I just wanted to throw that out there, because size is so important to you.

 

[aquarius_ser]

Have you actually went into a store and looked at loose diamonds under a microscope to determine exactly what you want? My BF and I recently purchased a princess, and I couldn''t believe the difference the color makes. I went in thinking I wanted a G-H VVS2 but after hours and hours of looking at 30+ princess'' under the microscope, I ended up getting an F VS2.... I could have even gotten the SI1... I wanted upwards of a 1.5 - 1.75 as well. If you go lower on the depth, you''ll have more carat weight towards the top and it will appear larger which is what I ended up doing. I think they say the depth should be in the low 70''s but I went with a depth in the 60''s with a VG cut.... it is beautiful and sparkles like RB. If your price range is definitely set at $8K, then I would sacrifice some clarity instead of color..... I''m no expert though, just a consumer! Good Luck!

 

[SVTCobraGirl]

My price range isn''t dead-set at $8k but I''d prefer not to spend much more than that. The setting I want is $2000 alone so we were trying to keep it under $10k.

I haven''t actually gone to look at diamonds like this in a jewelry store. I''m afraid of that ''jewelry store'' price.

Like I said, face up size is important but I also want a very brilliant diamond. Finding the right diamond is so hard - almost as hard as buying a house!

 

[aquarius_ser]

The price I paid at the jeweler was very, very competitive with online vendors. You will have to shop around.... I went to about 8 jewelers before I found someone that I liked, that would work with me and give me a fair price. Just from my experience, I would never buy online... It is too big of a purchase. I had to physically see the diamonds and compare before I made the purchase. Would you buy a house without looking at it?

After looking at princess'' in person and under the microscope, I would never go down to an I or J. Also, a VS2 or SI1 is sufficient...
Like I said before, go for a lower depth % to get more weight up top and the stone will look bigger...

 

[SVTCobraGirl]

Update -


I just called a trusted local jeweler about the GIA diamond above AND the AGS http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/24629.html

and he was stunned at how low the price was. He was very skeptical so he checked the Rapaport and basically told me he couldn''t even BUY those stones for anything near those prices. He also insisted that if I did buy one of those stones to send it directly to GIA and have it re-graded. I''m very confused and overwhelmed. HELP!

 

[pinkflamingo]

He is probably trying to make a sale... of course he is going to tell you they are no good. Although the BN stone is not good, I would be wary of any jeweler that would say something like that.

Exceldiamonds will send the stone to an independent appraiser for no charge. you can look at it in person with someone who has no financial interest in it. if you like it, you can buy it and have it set. I think BN has a 30 day money back guarantee- I would highly recommend an appraisal in either case.

 

[SVTCobraGirl]

Just an update -

We decided to purchase the 1.65 VVS1 GIA diamond (see cert. above). It should be here next week sometime. The diamond has a good return policy if anything goes wrong. I''ll let everyone know how it goes and post pictures when I get it. Thanks!!!