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Please Help! T- minus 20 days!

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bongolover

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 1, 2009
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First I''d like to start by thanking everyone in this community! I am so glad to have come across it and have been digesting the information that is covered within the website and forums.

My situation is that I am planning to propose to my GF of 2.5 years and figured that it would be ideal to do it at the end of the month! So my search began looking at rings from Tiffany''s to Costco. I ran across the knowledge and recommended vendors on this site and would like to request some help along this journey!

I hope to keep my budget less than 14,000 for a round cut diamond and from my initial research I feel comfortable with the following requirements (Let me know if I''m off!). She''s definitely not a diamond girl...couldn''t care less really. I know, I will hear much about how that''s not true. But! I still wanted to give her something that conveys how I feel about her! (verbage probably from a chick-flick) My thoughts are below!


The search for the perfect diamond:

Cut cut cut (I think this is emphasized on every page of forum): Ideal/Excellent
Carat: 1.75- 1.98
Color: F-H
Clarity: Vs1-SI1
Symmetry: EX
Polish: EX
FL: None (although I did run across a few medium blues that were enticing)

I have been utilizing the HCA advisor tool to narrow my choices and have peaked interest with these three selections and put them on hold:

1.91 H SI1 Ideal Ex
HCA score 1.3:

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/DiamondDetail.aspx?sku=4468Y94F&affiliate=9318613A-AD0C-4530-A456-0409DFEFB8DE&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

1.8 H SI1 Ideal/Ex
HCA score 1.6

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1247914.asp

1.82 H SI1 Ideal/Ex
HCA score 1.9

http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=70841956


Any help would be appreciated! I would like to know if I am on the right track. Some vendors have the idealscope image and I have requested it, but most do not. Wondering if you have any additional suggestions! Any additional tools to use? Can I focus in on any particular measurements on the GIA report?
 
A thing to note is that both Solomonbros and Abazias are drop-shippers so will not be able to provide you with any images such as Idealscope image to confirm if it is a safe choice. Something to read up on about Idealscope and ASET.
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

Ask if the stone is eye-clean for all cases. SI1 is not guarantee to be eye-clean.

#1 has a large table, numbers are good but some do not like the large table look and it is cut more to brilliance cut than for fire return. Would like to see an Idealscope image to confirm.

#2 looks good, request an Idealscope image from JA if you are interested and ask if it is eye-clean.

#3 could be good but definitely need an Idealscope image as it is a borderline case to have slight leakage.
 
Thanks StoneCold! JA is pulling the ideal scope image by Thursday. Hope to post it for additional feedback. I''ll read up more on the Ideal Scope and ASET tools. Have a good one!
 
First one looks ok, make sure the grade setting clouds aren't impacting brilliance by checking with the vendor and that it is eyeclean.

2nd diamond, same as above plus it is a hair deep, also an Idealscope image would be useful.

3rd diamond, same as above again, an IS also would be useful - you would need to check with Abazias as they did not normally offer images but no harm in asking if they can do so.
 
Since I do not have enough time to order and review all three for confirmation, which would you have a lean toward? #2 JA is providing the IS image, but the other two do not have the option available.

My concern with #1 was that the clarity was a lean to SI2.


So can I find better out there for the price?
 
Date: 9/3/2009 12:41:21 AM
Author: bongolover
How about this one compared to the other three? This one looks great on paper with a few crystals and feathers.

1.7 G SI1 Ideal/EX
HCA score 1.3

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1216270.asp

I ran across another diamond with medium florescence. Does it matter much if the color is G-H?

1.81 G SI1 Ideal/EX
HCA score 2.7

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/DiamondDetail.aspx?sku=4493FF47&affiliate=9318613A-AD0C-4530-A456-0409DFEFB8DE&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Click to expand...
The one above from JA does look great, ask for an IS and check it is eyeclean - by ordering an IS that will automatically put it on hold to prevent poaching if you are interested in it.

The diamond from Solomans below might be ok but I would really want an IS image for those angles.
 
Thanks! Still waiting for the Idealscope image to come back. Time''s a ticking and they have a backlog from the holiday.

With the 1.7 G SI1, do you think I can do any better with my budget being 14k?
 
A local jeweler has a 1.7 as well, but it looks to have better clarity. Any opinion on which 1.7 is better? JA vs Local? I''ve attached the new GIA report.

GIA cert 1.7 G SI1 Local.jpg
 
Better clarity? It is still an SI1. Don''t go by the clarity plot, a relatively clean plot might have a very visible inclusion and vice versa.

The numbers could be good but would definitely need an IS image.
 
Hi All! The idealscope image came back for the 1.7 G SI1 James Allen diamond. Can you take a look and share your thoughts? There appears to be a even light leakage and the arrows are there. Any concerns or might this be the one?! Bang for buck factor? It''s going for $12600.

Thanks in advance!

1.7 G SI1 JA.jpg
 
Looks good to me.
 
Date: 9/10/2009 11:51:59 AM
Author: bongolover
Hi All! The idealscope image came back for the 1.7 G SI1 James Allen diamond. Can you take a look and share your thoughts? There appears to be a even light leakage and the arrows are there. Any concerns or might this be the one?! Bang for buck factor? It''s going for $12600.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Its an excellent image, very nice indeed!
 
Thanks Lorelei and StoneCold!
 
Is James Allen''s Heart and Arrows collection come out of the marketing dept? So James Allen is running a promo on their Hearts and Arrow Diamonds. Would you sacrifice carat for color? I''m comparing the 1.7 idealscope image above to this linked 1.5 F SI1: http://www.diamond-cut.com.au/holloway_cut_adviser.htm

Any thoughts on the idealscope image comparisons? Still waiting for setting to pan out so just browsing again! :)
 
Your PS discount would be worth more than the TH discount. My diamond was ~13k and the PS discount saved me $400 over the TH discount.
 
I think both gets the PS discount, but the hearts and arrows get an additional 5%. I am still leaning toward the 1.7 G SI1 though...
 
Pretty sure it''s one or the other discount, i.e., they do not stack for TH diamonds.
 
Just ask JA about the discounts to be sure.
 
I asked the question. You get one of the other.
 
Thanks for the confirmation!
 
All,

I am ready to pull the trigger on the 1.7 G SI1! Just itching to see it in person. I do have one last request for input. I was sent this diamond by a pricescope affiliated online vendor yesterday and would like your thoughts on whether or not there would be anything that suggests I should wait ONE more day until it gets into their lab for an idealscope image?

It is an AGS 1.8 H VS2 diamond and registers a .6 Excellent on the HCA tool. I know it''s just a weeding out tool and just need a bit of assurance before going forth today/tomorrow with the decision. The certificate and a picture of the diamond is below. Please help!!

Also, I have decided on the platinum six prong "tiffany" setting from Excel Diamonds! Next week I have to fly home to pay a visit to her parents and then off I go to ask her in NY. Really nervous..
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Let me know what you think? Should I wait another day before pulling the trigger? Compare the two? Or all signs point to the 1.7 G SI1 (idealscope image above)

1.8 Union .6 HCA.jpg
 
Picture 2

1.8 Union .6 HCA 2.jpg
 
AGS Cert

AGS 1.8 Union.jpg
 
It looks ok but I can't see it that clearly - personally I would rather wait one more day for an Idealscope image.
 
I really can''t tell much from the pictures you just linked, but i back tracked to read your entire post. I do think that the 1.7 is your best bet. That looks like a beautiful diamond from James Allen
 
Could be good.
 
the 1.8 looks nice! I say the bigger the better.
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