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bagel

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 15, 2008
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So, after two years I am happily looking for an engagement ring for my GF.
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I've spent a few hours looking over this wonderful site - and made my first B&B shopping trip today.

If anyone would be so kind as to help me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Here's what I believe will make her happiest:
Round Diamond, 2.0 carats, F/G color, SI 1 clarity

So far, I have two options that I am considering:

Option #1) Bluenile http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-very-good-cut-f-color-si1-clarity_LD00123957?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

Option #2) The B&B (Simayof in SF) showed me a 1.98 carat, F, SI 1, ideal cut, VG, VG for $18K

Both diamonds are really stretching my budget so I would love opinions from others of the above as well as other options. I live in NY but am way too intimidated to visit the Diamond District.

Thanks in Advance
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Skip that bluenile diamond, it's pretty poorly cut. And do you know who certified the one you are looking at offline? And do you have the depth, table, and crown and pavilion angles for that stone by chance? Unless it's certified by AGS it's the only real way to tell if it's actually an "ideal" cut or not.

And vendors to check out locally if you want are Mark at Engagement Rings Direct (he is in the DD but you have to make an appointment, he isn't street level) or take a trip out to Good Old Gold on Long Island. Both vendors are wonderful and will make sure you get a great ring.
 
Here''s a 2.207 carat G SI1.
It is an ACA, a superb cut from Whiteflash.
You can get a pricescope discount too if you ask for it.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1466924.htm
 
Date: 11/15/2008 8:46:24 PM
Author: Moh 10
Here''s a 2.207 carat G SI1.

It is an ACA, a superb cut from Whiteflash.

You can get a pricescope discount too if you ask for it.


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1466924.htm
Click to expand...

It''s beautiful but really over his budget...
 
I agree with Neatfreak that you should pass on the Blue Nile diamond. I did a search for you and while this stone is a tad smaller than what you stated, it's 1.73ct, I think it'll be really pretty. I'm not sure if it's a new listing at GOG and that's why there are no images, but perhaps a phone call could straighten that out.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5167/

Carat Weight: 1.73ct
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
AGS Cut Grade: Ideal
Optical Symmetry: Superior
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None
Lab Report: AGS
Lab Report #: 10075404
In House: No
Width: 7.72mm
Length: 7.76mm
Depth: 4.75mm
Table Percentage: 56.10%
Depth Percentage: 61.30%
Crown Angle: 34.70°
Crown Depth: 15.30%
Pavilion Angle: 40.70°
Pavilion Depth: 42.90%

Price: $17,053
(Bank wire price: $16,477)
 
Thank you so much for the reply.

May I ask why it is "poorly cut"? I''ve tried to follow some guidelines that I obtained elsewhere, but obviously could use some help.

Unfortunately, I don''t have the depth, table and crown for the other diamond. I asked them who certified the diamond and they said AGS or some other one, but never produced anything.

I''ll check out Engagement Rings Direct or Good old Gold in the next two weeks. I''m guessing I''ll have to pay sales tax with them but would love for an honest salesperson to help me out.
 
Date: 11/15/2008 8:51:54 PM
Author: neatfreak
Some better choices all with upgrade policies and if paying by bankwire a bit of a discount. I also really wouldn''t be scared of going down to an H in a certified stone. You''ll never notice the difference between a G and an H:


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1188039.asp


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1180876.asp
Click to expand...

Neatfreak, both of those JA stones are beautiful!!
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Great finds!
 
Great - thank you! How much is the pricescope discount.

Thank you also MOH, but that diamond is out of my range
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64 depth on the BN diamond is not good. The girlde is thick which which is a waste of weight. Also the angles are slightly off. It was also certified in 2006, which makes you wonder if it has been sold and it is now being resold and if there are now other flaws in in like chips etcc from a previous setting. If it has not been sold, makes you think twice because people have turned it down. You have some great suggestions above.
 
Pricescope discount is usually around 900 or so but depends on final price. Give them a call now. They always answer and Lesley is great at answering questions.
 
I''m going to look over these diamonds - thank you so much!!

I probably won''t buy until right after Thanksgiving - which is when I''ll have a chance to visit another store or two in NY (hopefully the ones that NeatFreak recommended). I hope I still have these good options at that time....

I feel so much less alone in this process - thank you!!
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My suggestion is to call and hold the above diamonds of you like them. Otherwise just wait. 2 ct sell fast. There was one at another site I was going to suggest but it looks like it sold the other day.
 
Date: 11/15/2008 8:54:31 PM
Author: girlie-girl
I agree with Neatfreak that you should pass on the Blue Nile diamond. I did a search for you and while this stone is a tad smaller than what you stated, it's 1.73ct, I think it'll be really pretty. I'm not sure if it's a new listing at GOG and that's why there are no images, but perhaps a phone call could straighten that out.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5167/

Carat Weight: 1.73ct
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
AGS Cut Grade: Ideal


Price: $17,053
(Bank wire price: $16,477)
Click to expand...
Definitely look at this one...personally...and get thyself to GOG, who does an impressive job, from what I can tell her.

WF has one, too, you might consider, for $22,5 that's 2.003 carats, H SI 1. (edited to add yet again...I see Beach has suggested this above...)

The first JA one above scores 3.6, as I figure it on the HCA. The second one is another H (edited to add...with an older AGS cert, possibly chosen because it would not get 0 for light performance, and scoring 2.4 on the HCA).

Do read about AGS certification, which is always nice (edited to add...especially with a contemporary 0). Unfortunately, I'm going to send you back to BN for this one. It's really the only one...except for another F they have for $1K more with clouds. But...these get you what you're asking for.

For any SI1, ask them if it's eye clean, and try to get that.

Regards,
 
Date: 11/15/2008 9:15:07 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Date: 11/15/2008 8:54:31 PM

Author: girlie-girl

I agree with Neatfreak that you should pass on the Blue Nile diamond. I did a search for you and while this stone is a tad smaller than what you stated, it''s 1.73ct, I think it''ll be really pretty. I''m not sure if it''s a new listing at GOG and that''s why there are no images, but perhaps a phone call could straighten that out.


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5167/


Carat Weight: 1.73ct

Color: G

Clarity: SI1

AGS Cut Grade: Ideal



Price: $17,053

(Bank wire price: $16,477)
Click to expand...

Definitely look at this one...personally...and get thyself to GOG, who does an impressive job, from what I can tell her.


WF has one, too, you might consider, for $22,5 that''s 2.003 carats, H SI 1. (edited to add yet again...I see Beach has suggested this above...)


The first JA one above scores 3.6, as I figure it on the HCA. The second one is another H (edited to add...with an older AGS cert, possibly chosen because it would not get 0 for light performance, and scoring 2.4 on the HCA).


Do read about AGS certification, which is always nice (edited to add...especially with a contemporary 0). Unfortunately, I''m going to send you back to BN for this one. It''s really the only one...except for another F they have for $1K more with clouds. But...these get you what you''re asking for.


For any SI1, ask them if it''s eye clean, and try to get that.


Regards,
Click to expand...

Agreed that the ones I posted might not be the very best cut, but he''s going to have to sacrifice somewhere to get down below $18k which is where he wants to be according to his post...and they aren''t bad at all.
 
Date: 11/15/2008 9:38:27 PM
Author: neatfreak

Agreed that the ones I posted might not be the very best cut, but he's going to have to sacrifice somewhere to get down below $18k which is where he wants to be according to his post...and they aren't bad at all.
Click to expand...
Oh I don't know...bagel says of the 2 above: "So far, I have two options that I am considering..." and I hear complaining about stretching, but not an explicit interest in modified criteria. And, heavens, we don't need to downward modify on cut for him.

I do see, looking again...that JA has 2 - 4 others with AGS certification you might want to look at, running from $21,2 - $21,6, or more for an F. Going beyond specifically "in-house" diamonds in the way WF & GOG are in house, it's hard to say what's best.

With JA, many of these are sort of in-house.
With WF, they can probably call them in, too (why JAs are only sort of), and although they might have an expert you could identify on this board to look at it for you...you also might have to make an extra effort to ask for that.
Then, WF, JA & BN (virtual) have different policies with respect to how long you can see them, upgrading, ability to create pictures for you. It's a mess. But...you can stretch your dollar by looking beyond what you can find on the "search by cut database...the latter of which is easy to do, and provides good value added assistance, both in terms of searching, and the nature of the results of the search.

Sorry to go on. What you're looking for is maybe just available at the margins of the cost/feature curve. It'll take some work...to optimize.

I guess it always does....
 
Thank you all again for the responses. I''m looking through the various suggestions and really do appreciate the help. I''m not sure what to do next, and while I''m sure she''ll be happy with whatever I get, I''m pretty set on 2 carats.

So...are any of you interesed in accompanying me to do some shopping?
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I sure could use a friend who knows this as well as you all do!
 
If you go to GOG, make an appointment, and talk to Jonathan. Me...I''m in MD...but I really think you can consider Jonathan your friend. Do consider doing a search on here for him. His "handle" is Rhino. He write here like we do.
 
Date: 11/15/2008 11:36:53 PM
Author: Regular Guy
If you go to GOG, make an appointment, and talk to Jonathan. Me...I''m in MD...but I really think you can consider Jonathan your friend. Do consider doing a search on here for him. His ''handle'' is Rhino. He write here like we do.
Click to expand...
Ditto Mr Ruffles, good advice!
 
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