Please help me decide...

[fabulous]

Hello all...newbie here

I have been looking for a engagement ring for my GF for a while now, and have really been getting informed as the time goes on, thanks to browsing this site.
My conundrum is this...I''ve decided on going with Bluenile, because I really love one of the settings, but deciding on a stone is the hard part. I want to get the best bang for the buck so to speak. My girlfriend is tall, and has long, slim (5.5) fingers. I am looking at going two ways, but am kind of on the fence. Any stone I get will be an ideal, in the VS2 variety, but I can''t decide if I should get something smaller like a 0.61ct in a F color, or a 0.7ish in a I color with medium flouresence?? I want the ring to look beautiful, and white, but I also want it to be as big visually as possible. I looked at an F, and an I in a local diamond store, both of a good cut, and I could see a slight difference when they were side by side...but on BN I can''t actually see the stone. Any guidance in this area would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[marcy]

Hi. Welcome to PS. I think you''d be quite happy with an ideal cut I color stone.

 

[Hera]

If I were you, I would take a drop down your clarity into the SI range. With diligent looking you can find a diamond that doesn''t have a flaw you can see to the naked eye. I agree an I would be a good option as well (depends on how color snsitive your gf is). While rounds are a good option, I think pears and ovals can be really beautiful on long fingers. Just make sure that she''s open to that of course.

 

[fabulous]

Wow...talk about fast responses! I''m pretty set on getting a round stone, as she has mentioned she likes them, plus I also like how they sparkle . I don''t mind going down to a SI1 as long as it looks nice to the eye, but how do I ensure that over the net with Bluenile? I browsed some, and they all said things like crystals, and feathers etc... I also looked at some SI1''s at some local stores, and I thought they were garbage...I don''t know if it''s because I''m a drafter/ artist and have good eye''s, but I could see inclusions no problem. Anyone able to deal with problems like this through BN? I don''t mind dealing with other places, but after checking some out, and finding that they want to charge me $500 plus for duty across the border to Canada, and BN saying only $180, I was kinda sold (on top of the fact I love their setting) Anyone...

 

[Hera]

You absolutely can find as low as SI2 eyeclean. I know because I own a I color SI2. Also, I have had my share of drafting (my drafting table is in my avatar) and I couldn't find any inclusions. I will always own SI2 because why should I pay for something you can't see. Unfortunately, I don't think Blue Nile looks at their stones. Maybe someone else has a suggestion. I know most of the recommended vendors here look at their stones for you. You could always get a Blue Nile setting and a diamond elsewhere.

 

[fabulous]

...I just phoned BN and the girl I talked to said they can hold the stone, and have someone look at it to evaluate if it''s eye clean, and get back to me in less then 24 hours- awesome! I found a 0.74 Ideal cut in an H color SI-1, and the girls figures that an SI-1 in an H of this size (5.77 x5.81 x3.51) would look outstanding. I''m going to have it looked at...if it looks clean, I''ma snag it. I really appreciate all the help...keep it coming...

 

[Hera]

I hope it works out for you! If it isn''t, though, don''t give up! There are definitely eyeclean SI1''s. Good Luck

 

[Cleo]

Hello fabulous! (Great name!)

Just wondered if you had spoken to any of the vendors a lot of PSers use, to find out their charges?

You might like to look at some of these diamonds for comparison, as they all have photos of the actual stone:

0.731ct I SI1 AGS0 Ideal cut H&A - $2550.46 after discount
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2959/

0.63ct I SI1 AGS0 Ideal cut H&A - $1590.44 after discount
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3823/

0.73ct H SI1 AGS0 ACA H&A - $2760 before discount
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-609778.htm

0.703ct I SI1 AGS0 ACA H&A - $2472 before discount
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636723.htm

Thought this might be useful. Hope your reserved stone turns out to be a winner!

x x x

 

[cwj]

Date: 4/16/2008 7:55:55 AM
Author: Cleo
Hello fabulous! (Great name!)

Just wondered if you had spoken to any of the vendors a lot of PSers use, to find out their charges?

You might like to look at some of these diamonds for comparison, as they all have photos of the actual stone:

0.731ct I SI1 AGS0 Ideal cut H&A - $2550.46 after discount
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2959/

0.63ct I SI1 AGS0 Ideal cut H&A - $1590.44 after discount
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3823/

0.73ct H SI1 AGS0 ACA H&A - $2760 before discount
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-609778.htm

0.703ct I SI1 AGS0 ACA H&A - $2472 before discount
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636723.htm

Thought this might be useful. Hope your reserved stone turns out to be a winner!

x x x

Ditto!! And WhiteFlash and GOG have great trade in policys!!!!!! Plus they have great pictures of the diamonds.
cwj

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Fab!

Do you have the link to the stone, or could you post the proportions please? That way we can help you judge the cut.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 4/16/2008 1:24:34 AM
Author: heraanderson
You absolutely can find as low as SI2 eyeclean. I know because I own a I color SI2. Also, I have had my share of drafting (my drafting table is in my avatar) and I couldn''t find any inclusions. I will always own SI2 because why should I pay for something you can''t see. Unfortunately, I don''t think Blue Nile looks at their stones. Maybe someone else has a suggestion. I know most of the recommended vendors here look at their stones for you. You could always get a Blue Nile setting and a diamond elsewhere.

Unfortunately, he can''t. BN won''t sell just a setting. They will sell just a stone though.

 

[fabulous]

Thanks for all the help guys I can''t find the stone on the site now...probably because it''s on hold. I can give you the info I got though- 0.71ct H color w/ faint flouresence, Ideal cut (excellent polish/ symmetry), SI-1 clarity w/ feather, medium-slightly thick girdle, 5.77 x 5.81 x 3.51 and it is $2121 Canadian. Like I said, I don''t mind ordering from somewhere else, but I have to keep in mind that I am in Canada, and a lot of these places want to charge like $300-600 just for the duty accross the border. BN''s charge for all tax''s, duty, and shipping is $180, plus I really like this white gold setting with sidestones they have on the site, and most other places carry mostly solitare bands, which my GF has admitted to not liking very much.

 

[fabulous]

...one more thing- I purchased her a promise ring last year that is a size 5.5, and it fits her ring finger well on the right hand, but is loose on the left...would it be smart to go with a 5.25 for the ering?

 

[Cleo]

Date: 4/16/2008 10:24:31 AM
Author: fabulous
Thanks for all the help guys I can''t find the stone on the site now...probably because it''s on hold. I can give you the info I got though- 0.71ct H color w/ faint flouresence, Ideal cut (excellent polish/ symmetry), SI-1 clarity w/ feather, medium-slightly thick girdle, 5.77 x 5.81 x 3.51 and it is $2121 Canadian. Like I said, I don''t mind ordering from somewhere else, but I have to keep in mind that I am in Canada, and a lot of these places want to charge like $300-600 just for the duty accross the border. BN''s charge for all tax''s, duty, and shipping is $180, plus I really like this white gold setting with sidestones they have on the site, and most other places carry mostly solitare bands, which my GF has admitted to not liking very much.

Could you please post the total depth, table %, crown angle and pavilion angle for us?

I would certainly go to 5.25, although you may still have to have it resized later one.

x x x

 

[fabulous]

I wish I had written that info down, as I can''t find the stone on ths site anymore...they took it off as they are holding it for me. If it is a GIA Ideal all accross the board, wouldn''t that mean all those specs would be good?!

 

[Cleo]

Date: 4/16/2008 3:05:49 PM
Author: fabulous
I wish I had written that info down, as I can''t find the stone on ths site anymore...they took it off as they are holding it for me. If it is a GIA Ideal all accross the board, wouldn''t that mean all those specs would be good?!

GIA don''t have an ''Ideal'' cut grade, they only go as far as ''Excellent''.

AGSL do certify cut as ''Ideal'' (their AGS0 grade).

The AGS0 Ideal cut grade requirements are a lot tighter than for GIA Ex. I would always run a GIA Ex stone through the Holloway Cut Advisor (HCA) just to see if I needed to reject it.

The HCA is why you need the dimensions and % I asked for.

https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

x x x

 

[fabulous]

http://www.bluenile.ca/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=btntext_viewselect&elem=img&pid=LD01297379&filter_id=0#grading_report

I found this one, and ran it through the cut advisor, and it got a 1.1 and said it was excellent...what do you think? If it''s eye clean it''d be nice huh?

 

[Cleo]

Excellent!

That diamond has a nice small table too.

I would give them a call and ask if it''s eyeclean (to your definition). Sounds like you could be onto a winner there.

x x x

 

[fabulous]

Indeed. The original one I was looking at when ran through the analysis is a 3.2 very good...

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 4/16/2008 10:24:31 AM
Author: fabulous
Thanks for all the help guys I can''t find the stone on the site now...probably because it''s on hold. I can give you the info I got though- 0.71ct H color w/ faint flouresence, Ideal cut (excellent polish/ symmetry), SI-1 clarity w/ feather, medium-slightly thick girdle, 5.77 x 5.81 x 3.51 and it is $2121 Canadian. Like I said, I don''t mind ordering from somewhere else, but I have to keep in mind that I am in Canada, and a lot of these places want to charge like $300-600 just for the duty accross the border. BN''s charge for all tax''s, duty, and shipping is $180, plus I really like this white gold setting with sidestones they have on the site, and most other places carry mostly solitare bands, which my GF has admitted to not liking very much.

HI:

no duty bringing stones into Canada...Excise tax dropped 2006. Pay only difference in exchange rate and GST.

cheers--Sharon

 

[fabulous]

I found another stone that is a 0.64 Ideal H VS-1 that came back excellent on the advisor, but it is a bit smaller accross viewed from above. How much of a difference would it be between a 5.56 x 5.59 (for the 0.64) against say a 5.77 x 5.81 (for the 0.71)? I would rather get a VS stone for piece of mind if it still visually looks very similar...