Please help us shop for a princess cut

[blingasaurus]

Hello from San Francisco to all of you in PS-land!

I''m new to PS but I''ve been lurking the last few weeks and learning a TON!! Thank you all so much for sharing your expertise and educating consumers. So, about a month ago, my boyfriend and I decided our relationship had reached the point where it was time to look for rings. We visited a few stores so I could get a sense of styles. Going in, I was pretty sure a princess cut solitaire was right for me, but I had a brief, but intense interest in the Hearts on Fire Dream at Shreve (until I saw the price tag!!), a crush with the stunning Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows (at Geoffrey''s in San Carlos), and a passing flirtation with the Galia at Derco but I have come back to my princess cut solitaire. There is something about the clean lines and classic design that appeals to me although the trends right now seem to favor more ornate vintage styles.

Now, the trouble is... after seeing some of the other types of square-ish stones with lots of sparkle factor (and reading on PS), I''m concerned about the light performance of a princess cut. I am not sure we can afford an AGS0 on our budget given the size preference. Can you help me find the one? What would you buy within my parameters?

The relevant details in terms of preferences:
Budget: ideally under $10K for the entire ring, including setting, could stretch a little
Carat: 1.5ish... give or take a little (bigger is a bonus)
Cut: Awesome with lots of sparkliness!
Color: H or better
Clarity: SI1 if eyeclean

Thanks in advance!!

 

[yssie]

I VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2230986.htm


H SI1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2231034.htm


1.4 G VS2 - bit pricier
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=232


1.51 I VS2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7013/

1.54 G SI2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7012/

 

[blingasaurus]

Hi Yssie, thanks for the links. I had seen the Whiteflash and Good Old Gold ones. I guess my question wasn''t very clear... it seems like there are a lot nice diamonds out there and I''m finding it confusing to select one online. Is there one or two of these that really stand out to you? If so, why?

 

[blingasaurus]

Am I right in focusing first on cut, then on color, then clarity? Again, I am no professional, I just want a stone that looks the best possible within our parameters? Also, if other vendors do not have ASET images, GemEX and Sarin reports, is there a way to determine light performance? Is there something else to ask for? Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/21/2010 11:39:35 AM
Author: blingasaurus
Am I right in focusing first on cut, then on color, then clarity? Again, I am no professional, I just want a stone that looks the best possible within our parameters? Also, if other vendors do not have ASET images, GemEX and Sarin reports, is there a way to determine light performance? Is there something else to ask for? Thanks!

Hi Blingasaurus and welcome!

That looks like a plan to me with your prioritizing, get the best cut stone you can, then the best colour and if you are ok with SI clarity if verified eyeclean then thats fine. Without images however there is no way to judge the cut and optical performance, as you are looking for a Princess then to narrow the field I would look at AGS0 cut grade or hand selected GIA Princess that are chosen by trusted vendors for their superior optical performance.

 

[Sizzle]

How about this one from Whiteflash.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2204180.htm

It''s quite fabulous in person.

 

[blingasaurus]

Thanks Lorelei! I am a little bit confused about branded stones -- meaning for my purposes/budget, whether it makes sense to compromise a bit on size/color/clarity if I will get a noticeably superior perfomance if I go with a branded cut (ie Whiteflash ACA vs AGS O or GIA Ideal). I am not sure I would be able to tell the difference, but I have never seen any of either live. Any thoughts on that?

 

[blingasaurus]

Date: 4/21/2010 12:28:39 PM
Author: Sizzle
How about this one from Whiteflash.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2204180.htm

It''s quite fabulous in person.

Thanks Sizzle! I am planning to go with a platinum solitaire setting so was concerned about the J color. Also, I was a bit concerned about the ASET (seems like there is a lot less red vs green than I have seen on other comparable Princess stones, but I am not sure how that translates in real life. I do like that I would be able to get a larger stone and still stay comfortably within budget.

 

[Sizzle]

My diamond is a "J" set in platinum and there is no "yellow" effect.

 

[blingasaurus]

Date: 4/22/2010 3:11:21 PM
Author: Sizzle
My diamond is a ''J'' set in platinum and there is no ''yellow'' effect.

That''s good to know, thank you! I have only seen F - G grades live, and just wasn''t sure how much of a difference there would be. This does look like a quite nice option for the price.

 

[researcher]

When looking at cut, everyone has their opinions on what makes for the prettiest stone. Do you love brilliance (white light)? Fire (colored light)? Scintillation (play of light across the stone)? A good balance of all of them? This can greatly affect your choice of stone.

 

[slg47]

Hi blingasaurus! I am in a (sort of) similar situation to you...shopping in SF Bay Area (but I went with the square cushion @ Geoffreys)

no expert here, but from reading PS/watching GOG videos...I''d go with cut, then color, then clarity.

Also my favorite was the 1.5 H SI that yssie posted...but you have to factor in what you want in terms of size/budget/etc.

good luck finding the perfect one (and then please post pictures!)

 

[blingasaurus]

Date: 4/22/2010 3:20:51 PM
Author: researcher
When looking at cut, everyone has their opinions on what makes for the prettiest stone. Do you love brilliance (white light)? Fire (colored light)? Scintillation (play of light across the stone)? A good balance of all of them? This can greatly affect your choice of stone.

Hi Researcher- great tip. I hadn''t thought about it like that. I think my preference is for a good balance of all three. Is the best tool to determine that an ASET or GemEx report if you are purchasing online?

 

[blingasaurus]

Date: 4/22/2010 3:37:42 PM
Author: slg47
Hi blingasaurus! I am in a (sort of) similar situation to you...shopping in SF Bay Area (but I went with the square cushion @ Geoffreys)

no expert here, but from reading PS/watching GOG videos...I''d go with cut, then color, then clarity.

Also my favorite was the 1.5 H SI that yssie posted...but you have to factor in what you want in terms of size/budget/etc.

good luck finding the perfect one (and then please post pictures!)

Hi Slg47- I went back to Geoffreys this weekend to look at the square cushions for a second time. Lovely lovely stones but I felt the salesperson I worked with was pushing the square cushion hard and that might have turned me off a bit. I am glad you had a better experience.

 

[slg47]

the square cushion is a really different look than the princess...maybe look at some videos on GOG that have comparisons of different square shapes.

if you want a princess cut i think some people on PS can help you find a really good one online! GOG has a video comparing different cut grades of princess cuts

GOG videos

 

[legallyspoiled]

Date: 4/22/2010 3:20:51 PM
Author: researcher
When looking at cut, everyone has their opinions on what makes for the prettiest stone. Do you love brilliance (white light)? Fire (colored light)? Scintillation (play of light across the stone)? A good balance of all of them? This can greatly affect your choice of stone.

I''ve been wondering what the difference between the three of those were for a week! I was too lazy/busy to look it up. Thanks for such a succinct explanation!