Please help choose RB for ring upgrade!

[Birdwatcher]

Hi all,

Like many others, I have been lurking for several months but decided to register when my DH and I decided to go ahead with my long-anticipated ring upgrade. When my original e-ring was purchased years ago, we thought we were being careful consumers (went to a non-mall B&M jeweler, read up on the 4 C''s, etc...). Of course this was all before the internet could play such a prominent role in education.

I adore the Tiffany and co. simple solitaire setting and am therefore planning on choosing one of the Tiffany repro settings (I am leaning towards the WF repro). My budget for the center RB stone will be $ 8500 MAX.

After reading up on this site, I know I want to prioritize cut above all else. Where I''m coming from: my current stone is .61 carets, supposedly a G SI1. As far as I know, it has no official certification. I have no idea about the cut, but it is not an ugly stone. If it really is a G color (?), I would like to improve the color of my upgrade to an F since I can see a slight tinge of color and it bothers me. I am less concerned about the actual clarity grading as long as it''s eye clean.

So...basically I am looking for an extremely well cut RB stone, F in color, SI 1 (eyeclean) in clarity for under $8500. After looking around at various internet vendors, it seems I should be able to get something in the 1.0-1.3 caret range. Does this seem about right?

I have run a few stones through the HCA, but am unsure of what to do after I have accepted a stone based on its score being <2.

Is there some kind of algorithm I should follow to systematically evaluate each stone I come across on the web?

Thanks,

Birdy

 

[MissGotRocks]

Here you go . . .http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848218.htm. Take a look at this one. It is Whiteflash's branded cut. Cut is superb! It is well over a carat and an F SI1 stone. With the PS discount, you will be below 8500.00.

As for other stones, you can place them on hold if you are interested and post info about them here for opinions. An F color stone will be gorgeous but you are comparing it to a non-certed G color. That stone could in reality be a lower color and therefore you may not need an F color stone to be comfortable. Are there any jewelers near you that have either AGS or GIA certed stones so that you could view color?

 

[EricaR]

The stone MissGotRocks posted is beautiful! I agree with her that you can probably go down to a G color easily, especially in an ACA. Good luck with your search!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/11/2009 7:29:14 PM
Author:Birdwatcher
Hi all,

Like many others, I have been lurking for several months but decided to register when my DH and I decided to go ahead with my long-anticipated ring upgrade. When my original e-ring was purchased years ago, we thought we were being careful consumers (went to a non-mall B&M jeweler, read up on the 4 C's, etc...). Of course this was all before the internet could play such a prominent role in education.

I adore the Tiffany and co. simple solitaire setting and am therefore planning on choosing one of the Tiffany repro settings (I am leaning towards the WF repro). My budget for the center RB stone will be $ 8500 MAX.

After reading up on this site, I know I want to prioritize cut above all else. Where I'm coming from: my current stone is .61 carets, supposedly a G SI1. As far as I know, it has no official certification. I have no idea about the cut, but it is not an ugly stone. If it really is a G color (?), I would like to improve the color of my upgrade to an F since I can see a slight tinge of color and it bothers me. I am less concerned about the actual clarity grading as long as it's eye clean.

So...basically I am looking for an extremely well cut RB stone, F in color, SI 1 (eyeclean) in clarity for under $8500. After looking around at various internet vendors, it seems I should be able to get something in the 1.0-1.3 caret range. Does this seem about right?

I have run a few stones through the HCA, but am unsure of what to do after I have accepted a stone based on its score being font>

Is there some kind of algorithm I should follow to systematically evaluate each stone I come across on the web?

Thanks,

Birdy

Hi Birdy,

Ditto MGR and Erica's great advice!

As to the above highlighted, the aim with the HCA is to score 2 or less as you know. The HCA is used for elimination - not selectoion so diamonds which score 2 or below in most cases are considered a ' pass' and worthy of consideration pending further evaluation, this is done with Idealscope images and trusted vendor/ appraiser input. If shopping online with a vendor who has in house diamonds, then some do provide IS images either on the diamond's page or on request.

 

[Birdwatcher]

Thank you everyone. I have found two contenders--one suggested by a PP. I will start a new thread to get some opinions on the two stones.

Birdy