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Please help with this potential engagement ring!

J

JoeCatron

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 17, 2017
Messages
9
Hi Everybody!
I have never posted here before but have been looking around for a ring for quite sometime and love this site...
Clearly I'm not an expert but you guys are, so I would love some feedback from everyone!

I think it's about that time so my girlfriend and I have started looking... I found a ring and love it, but have some concerns. I will post info about the ring with photos followed by a few questions.


"An EGL and AGI certified diamond ring by Diana M Jewels. The center cushion cut diamond features 4.24 carats, G-SI2 set in beautiful halo micro pave setting with 1.00 cts round diamonds on the side. The mounting is 18 karat white gold. $29,000.00"
The certs (please see attachments) have the stone listed as:
Shape & Cut - Cushion Brilliant
Polish - Very Good
Symmetry - Good
Cutlet - None
Fluorescence - Strong blue
Graining - Slight
Carat weight - 4.24
Color grade - G
Clarity grade - SI2
Measurements - 9.08 x 8.37 x 6.85

2.jpg 20170420_162852_0_0.jpg 20170420_162924_0_0.jpg 20170420_162934_0_0.jpg 20170420_162946_0_0.jpg agi.jpg EGL.jpg

We are familiar with GIA certifications and totally trust them, but this ring was only certified by EGL and AGI. Can those certs be trusted and do they have to tell us if the stone is clarity enhanced? Is this a decent price? With the florescence and the slight grain, would this ring be milky or cloudy? Are these measurements good for finger coverage as well?

Basically we are looking for a lot of fire, sparkle and finger coverage. Obviously we would like to achieve this look without sacrificing too much in terms of cloudiness. I don't want to spend all of this money and then regret it 5 years from now, and I'm not talking about regretting the girl, in case you were wondering! :D
Please let me know your thoughts, I can't wait to hear what people think!

Thank you all so much!
Joe
 
The price alone is a red flag. For a G color, 4.24ct cushion you are looking at 2-4x's that amount. Not including the setting...

Hopefully the experts will weigh in...
 
Pass. What about this ring do you like? What makes you want to buy it?

What are you looking for?
 
JoeCatron said:
We are familiar with GIA certifications and totally trust them, but this ring was only certified by EGL and AGI. Can those certs be trusted and do they have to tell us if the stone is clarity enhanced? Is this a decent price? With the florescence and the slight grain, would this ring be milky or cloudy? Are these measurements good for finger coverage as well?

Thank you all so much!
Joe
Click to expand...
No!,...:knockout: GIA report or pass.
 
81% depth!?!?!?!?!?!????!!!!!!!

Promise us please that you will not buy this ring
 
It's not an SI2 either. I can clearly see inclusions from the photo. It's an I1 or lower.

1) entirely way too deep
2) will look much less than 4 carats since the weight is in the poorly cut depth that no one can see
3) it is dull and lifeless
4) it is probably milky
5) the halo fits poorly
6) it is at best an I1, but probably worse
7) it probably isn't a G either
8. it is a turd. A giant turd, but a turd nontheless
 
+1 Pass.

With IGI, you have to assume the color is 2-3 levels lower (G=I/J/K) and clarity is 2-3 lower making this a solid I (included). Similar GIA graded stones are significantly more. It is also priced about $1-2k higher than a GIA graded diamond that was J or K, I1 or I2 (allowing for the setting to be $2-3k).

A GIA stone of the specs they claim....
GIA H SI2 4.01-4.11 carat $32630-40904
GIA F SI2 5.01 $49951-50629

Nope no way. Not at all worth $29k.
 
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White wave that looks beautiful! I love strong fkourescence and would actually love a stone that goes milky a little from it, weird I know, but this stone is really awful and the size won’t even show because it’s so deep.
 
lalala said:
The price alone is a red flag. For a G color, 4.24ct cushion you are looking at 2-4x's that amount. Not including the setting...

Hopefully the experts will weigh in...
Click to expand...
Thank you! That's what we thought, but just weren't sure.
Joe
 
rockysalamander said:
+1 Pass.

With IGI, you have to assume the color is 2-3 levels lower (G=I/J/K) and clarity is 2-3 lower making this a solid I (included). Similar GIA graded stones are significantly more. It is also priced about $1-2k higher than a GIA graded diamond that was J or K, I1 or I2 (allowing for the setting to be $2-3k).

A GIA stone of the specs they claim....
GIA H SI2 4.01-4.11 carat $32630-40904
GIA F SI2 5.01 $49951-50629

Nope no way. Not at all worth $29k.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help!
I will have to keep an eye out for GIA stones.
Joe
 
GearGirly said:
White wave that looks beautiful! I love strong fkourescence and would actually love a stone that goes milky a little from it, weird I know, but this stone is really awful and the size won’t even show because it’s so deep.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
I appreciate all of the feedback!
Joe
 
JoeCatron said:
Thank you so much for the help!
I liked how it looked and I liked the gradings but am more used to GIA.
Thanks again,
Joe
Click to expand...
Did you see it in person?

I have NEVER seen such poor quality cut in any diamond to get an 82% depth.
 
Does she want a cushion?

Can we help you find a nice balance of quality and budget friendly in a diamond and setting? We love to help search!
 
JoeCatron said:
Thank you so much for the help!
I liked how it looked and I liked the gradings but am more used to GIA.
Click to expand...

I think you should also consider diamonds with AGS reports. AGS is well respected and has strict standards on cut quality. It's not random that a vendor chooses a specific lab to report their diamonds... it's strategic. They recognize a subpar diamond so it got sent to a non-GIA or AGS lab to hopefully acquire a favorable report to justify retail markups.
 
Definitely would pass on that ring. EGL is not a particularly respectable lab around these parts. The cushion experts here will be able to help you out with finding a much better stone than that if your gf wants a cushion.
 
I vote "pass" too. My 2.9 carat diamond is much bigger in spread than that 4.24! It's entirely too deep, on top of all the other red flags mentioned here
 
whitewave said:
Does she want a cushion?

Can we help you find a nice balance of quality and budget friendly in a diamond and setting? We love to help search!
Click to expand...

Thank you!!!
I think a cushion halo is classy and beautiful, like her so it would suit her perfectly.
I'm thinking 3 carats or more with plenty of finger coverage.
When it comes to color, the lowest we are thinking would be H or possibly I.
(want to stay away from visibly yellow tint.)
Maybe an SI1 or 2 as long as it's relatively eye clean.
I would really like to try to stay under 30K.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Joe
 
newjourney said:
I think you should also consider diamonds with AGS reports. AGS is well respected and has strict standards on cut quality. It's not random that a vendor chooses a specific lab to report their diamonds... it's strategic. They recognize a subpar diamond so it got sent to a non-GIA or AGS lab to hopefully acquire a favorable report to justify retail markups.
Click to expand...

Thats good to know! I always thought staying clear of EVERYTHING but GIA was the only way to go.
Thanks!
 
HappyNewLife said:
I vote "pass" too. My 2.9 carat diamond is much bigger in spread than that 4.24! It's entirely too deep, on top of all the other red flags mentioned here
Click to expand...
Thanks! The depth is something I never thought about until you all pointed it out.
Thank you!
Joe
 
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I think that you will probably not be able to get a 3ct stone of I color or above with your budget. Is the budget for the stone alone or for the completed ring?

The Harry Winston style setting is beautiful, classic and very popular. I am sure that a better quality setting can be found once you establish your budget.

Congratulations on your upcoming engagement!
 
I stand corrected. Looks like @rockysalamander found a few potentials for you within budget.

It looks like there is some mushiness encircling the table edges on both stones. More pronounced in the VS2.
Curious to see what the experts think.
 
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