Please help me find an emerald cut diamond!

[snow12]

I am having a hard time finding what I think I want. The diamond will be for my engagement ring. I am looking for around a 1 carat emerald cut. I want a lower color j/k/l because I love warmer colored step cuts. I know that the cut is very important with emerald cuts but not so sure what else is. I've done a bit of research but still feel my knowledge is laking. My budget is around 2,000. Is this possible? Thanks for any help!

 

[Lula]

Bumping your thread.

A few questions for you:
Do you want to buy online or through a local store?
If online, do you have a vendor in mind?
Have you looked at emerald cuts in a variety of colors, clarities, and length x width ratios the 1 carat range in person, e.g., at local jewelry stores?
Have you used the Pricescope diamond search in the toolbar at the top of this page? That will bring up a number of emerald cuts in your price range for you to compare. Post the links of any stones that you are interested in here and ask for help in evaluating them.

I am looking for a smaller emerald cut myself, and, in my experience, there are emerald cuts available in your price/carat range, but the cut quality is all over the map. Emerald cuts are best evaluated in person, though photos and ASET images, and, to some extent, IS images, will help you narrow the field. You may need to consider buying a loose stone from a vendor with a good return policy, and returning the diamond if it does not meet your expectations. You can also work with several of the online vendors here who specialize in fancy cuts and ask them to bring in a few stones and take photos/make videos of the diamonds for you to compare. Good Old Gold does this. I believe they charge a small fee to do it that you then subtract from your purchase. Other vendors offer this service as well.

 

[snow12]

Here are a couple of Emerald cuts I am interested in. One is a 1.03 carat and the other is a 1.26. I have size 8 fingers. The setting would depend on the diamond chosen. I would ultimately halo the 1 carat and leave the 1.26 carat as a solitaire. I am concerned with my two choices: getting the setting I love with a smaller diamond or getting a better diamond in a less expensive setting. Upgrading to a different setting and bigger diamond is in my future also. I know that these are lower color diamonds but thats what I love about them, I've been to many B&M stores to look at similar sized K colored emerald cuts. I also don't really like anything with a ratio less than 1.3 and find I am mostly drawn to around 1.4 to 1.5.

 

[snow12]

Could someone please look and review these for me? I'd appreciate it so much!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi Snow, No one can properly evaluate the diamonds based on the GIA repots.
Even if someone was to look at the diamonds in person, their evaluation might not match your expectations or desires.
The differences in corner size, and type of light performance can be different in ways that can't be seen on the report.

Photos and videos are essential IMO.
Not all places charge for them.

 

[snow12]

I appreciate the help! I contacted the vendor and I should be getting images tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some help then!

 

[Lula]

Hi, Snow,
If you are specifically looking for lower-colored emerald cuts -- which are lovely, I think -- you might want to contact a few vendors who specialize in colored diamonds or antique diamonds:

Diamonds by Lauren http://diamondsbylauren.com/
Jewels by Erica Grace http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/

Ask these vendors what they have in stock (not everything is listed on vendors' websites) or if they would be willing to source some stones for you. These two vendors make videos for clients, which helps immensely.

Another vendor I'd recommend for fancy cuts is Jonathan at Good Old Gold. He will make videos, too. http://www.goodoldgold.com/

These vendors have trade-up policies (you said you might be interested in that at some point). And they all have access to stock settings and do custom design work.

It's very difficult to find a decent emerald-cut without a lot of help from a vendor. I've been working with James Allen, too, on finding an emerald cut. They are easy to work with, and do carry some emerald cuts in lower colors. They provide images but not videos of their stones. http://www.jamesallen.com/

 

[ihy138]

I actually just got a K SI1 1.23 carat emerald cut from eBay of all places! I got a great deal but I took a risk. Just throwing it out there. If there's a good return policy and positive feedback, it can't hurt to at least look! But I agree with PP about GOG, JBEG, and DBL. It's important to SEE such a warm emerald cut to make sure it speaks to you. Good luck!

 

[Lula]

I actually just got a K SI1 1.23 carat emerald cut from eBay of all places! I got a great deal but I took a risk. Just throwing it out there. If there's a good return policy and positive feedback, it can't hurt to at least look! But I agree with PP about GOG, JBEG, and DBL. It's important to SEE such a warm emerald cut to make sure it speaks to you. Good luck!

Congratulations on your find, ihy138! Have you posted photos of your new stone yet?

 

[ihy138]

I actually just got a K SI1 1.23 carat emerald cut from eBay of all places! I got a great deal but I took a risk. Just throwing it out there. If there's a good return policy and positive feedback, it can't hurt to at least look! But I agree with PP about GOG, JBEG, and DBL. It's important to SEE such a warm emerald cut to make sure it speaks to you. Good luck!

Congratulations on your find, ihy138! Have you posted photos of your new stone yet?

I actually did have a thread about how to set it (which I'm still contemplating). Of course I am already looking for an OEC on the bay...I think I have a problem lol!

Sorry to threadjack, OP!

ETA: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/how-would-you-set-this.170106/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/how-would-you-set-this.170106/[/URL] That's the thread with photos. I've had the stone for about a month now.

 

[Lula]

I actually just got a K SI1 1.23 carat emerald cut from eBay of all places! I got a great deal but I took a risk. Just throwing it out there. If there's a good return policy and positive feedback, it can't hurt to at least look! But I agree with PP about GOG, JBEG, and DBL. It's important to SEE such a warm emerald cut to make sure it speaks to you. Good luck!

Congratulations on your find, ihy138! Have you posted photos of your new stone yet?

I actually did have a thread about how to set it (which I'm still contemplating). Of course I am already looking for an OEC on the bay...I think I have a problem lol!

Sorry to threadjack, OP!

Don't be sorry -- the OP may find your photos and the story of your search helpful. Emerald cuts aren't common on PS, especially emerald cuts in lower colors, so the more resources the better. I'm off to check out your thread.

 

[snow12]

Thank you guys for the responses! The vendor sent me some photographs, I know they aren't as good as a video but I'll see what you all think! These images are of the 1.26 carat EC.

Measurements: 7.93x5.49
color: K
Clarity: VS2 - all of the inclusions are in the corners which i believe can be covered up by the prongs - please correct me if i am wrong!
Table: 62%
Depth: 58.1%
girdle: med - thick

 

[Lula]

Thank you guys for the responses! The vendor sent me some photographs, I know they aren't as good as a video but I'll see what you all think! These images are of the 1.26 carat EC.

Measurements: 7.93x5.49
color: K
Clarity: VS2 - all of the inclusions are in the corners which i believe can be covered up by the prongs - please correct me if i am wrong!
Table: 62%
Depth: 58.1%
girdle: med - thick

Hi, snow -- Nice length x width proportions on this stone. Clarity is a tough one -- emerald cuts show inclusions more easily and people's eyesight varies as to what they can see. It's really about personal preference (and ensuring there are no durability issues in the case of a feather inclusion near the edge of the stone -- ask the vendor about that).

I really wish that there were some photos of this stone on a lighter background. I'm having a hard time determining whether what I'm seeing is dark reflections from the facets or if I'm able to see the black background through the stone (which wouldn't be good).

You may want to start a new thread with these photos and dimensions and entitle the thread "help me evaluate photos of an emerald cut" or something like that, so that people know that you've found a stone and want opinions on it.

Sorry I couldn't be more help!

 

[snow12]

Thank you for your quick response. I asked the vendor if he could supply me with photos on a white background. I have a feeling that the dark areas are the background and not dark reflections since I think I can see some of the texture of the background through the stone.

I contacted the other vendors also so hopefully they can get back to me with some more options.