PLEASE! Still need your advise on this diamond. GOOD / BAD??

[delorean]

Hi everyone,
Love the forum, been a lurker for a while and just joined. Ive been looking around at diamonds for my engagement and came across something at Blue Nile that is pretty nice and is at a good price but since I have never bought any kind of precious stones without looking at it in person I''m a bit nervous. If anyone could help me out and check this diamond out and give me your professional opinion (Or Personal) that would be great. I have put the diamond on hold for 48hrs so I need your help ASAP

Here are the basics

1.71 carat Cushion
Cut - Very good (That''s the highest that Blue Nile Has?)
Color - J
Clarity VS2
Depth - 67.4%
Table - 59%
Symmetry - Very Good
Polish - Very Good
Girdle - Thin
Cutlet - None
cost - $6,280

Please follow the link for more specifics -

http://www.bluenile.com/cushion-cut-diamond-1-carat-very-good-cut-j-color-vs2-clarity_LD01126562?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=0

Thanks in advance!!

 

[alkaloids]

It is probably fine, but you won''t be able to tell if it is just fine or truly excellent until you see it (since it''s from blue nile and they won''t let you see it. I''d suggest going with someone like whiteflash or goodoldgold so that you can really know what you are getting beforehand. If you do go with blue Nile get it to an independent appraiser as soon as you get it...

 

[delorean]

Thanks Alkaloids!!

I guess the tough part is that I''ve learned a lot of the Basics about Diamonds but the one thing I really don''t understand is Crown Angles and Pavilions and how that effects the diamonds brilliance. No one lists those? I''ve looked everywhere and I''m not sure what are the best percentages are to look for? I''m sure it effects the price and since this diamond is one of the cheapest for the size in comparison to others with the same general stats I have to assum that it is because The Angles are way off?????

Thanks again!!

 

[HornAround]

Date: 4/24/2009 6:07:29 PM
Author: delorean
Thanks Alkaloids!!


I guess the tough part is that I've learned a lot of the Basics about Diamonds but the one thing I really don't understand is Crown Angles and Pavilions and how that effects the diamonds brilliance. No one lists those? I've looked everywhere and I'm not sure what are the best percentages are to look for? I'm sure it effects the price and since this diamond is one of the cheapest for the size in comparison to others with the same general stats I have to assum that it is because The Angles are way off?????


Thanks again!!

Here is a helpful tool


cut advisor


Anything under a score of 2 is good.

 

[ImpatientOne]

Date: 4/24/2009 6:12:39 PM
Author: HornAround




Here is a helpful tool


cut advisor


Anything under a score of 2 is good.

The Cut Advisor only works on rounds, not fancy cuts!!!

 

[delorean]

Thanks Hornaround! I actually found this too but I don''t have most of the info to put in the tool. Most of the sites like WF or BN only give you the Depth and table not the Crown and Pavillion specs. Unless I''m missing something???

Thanks again for your help!!

 

[mrscushion]

The cut tools won't be helpful for a cushion-cut stone. Cushions need to be viewed in person to decide whether you like the stone or not. Can you at least get a photo from Blue Nile?

If you do want to go ahead with the purchase sight-unseen, I think there is a fair chance that you'll end up sending it back -- the price does seem a little too good ETA: just pricescoped your specs, the price actually seems reasonable for a J VS2 -- but I still would not purchase a cushion without viewing as much as a picture of it first.

Have you been to stores to view cushions in person? Have you checked out the Good Old Gold videos on cushions?

 

[mrscushion]

Have you seen this one? Your specs and a little big bigger in terms of dimensions and $500 more price-wise:


Good Old Gold J VS2 1.7 ct cushion


It doesn''t have GOG''s lifetime trade-up guarantee and I would check with Jonathan why that is (perhaps it''s not a cream-of-the-crop performer, but certainly beautiful). But, I mainly just wanted to show you a stone with similar specs for a comparable price and with photos and documentation. You don''t have to buy sight-unseen.

 

[delorean]

Thanks a lot Mscushions!!!

That was very helpful, I''ve been racking my brain!!!

I have checked out good ol gold and They had a limited inventory and the one that came up with the same basic specs were about 1K more so I just don''t know?
Do I spend over 1K more just because they have a picture?

Thanks again!

 

[stone-cold11]

Which city are you in? Mark of ERD, NYC, and Jon of GOG, Long Island, are good at sourcing cushion stones. So if you are in that area, it is easiest to give them a call and have a viewing in person.

The image is not what cause the price increase. I think it is also the cut of the stone, an average cut will not be able to sell at a higher price unless buying blind through drop-shippers. Also, their trade-up and buy back policy, there is no similar policy with BN.

 

[mrscushion]

Date: 4/24/2009 7:31:24 PM
Author: delorean
Thanks a lot Mscushions!!!
That was very helpful, I've been racking my brain!!!
I have checked out good ol gold and They had a limited inventory and the one that came up with the same basic specs were about 1K more so I just don't know?
Do I spend over 1K more just because they have a picture?
Thanks again!

Glad to be somewhat helpful, I am certainly not an expert and there are folks on this board that know a ton more about cushions than I do, and they may still chime in.

I wouldn't spend $1K more just because there's a picture. I might spend $1K more for a vendor I could call up to ask tons of questions and they are helpful during the purchasing process and provide me with all the documentation (e.g. photos, ASET image) I might want to see in order to be sure I'm buying the perfect stone. I might also pay $1K more to get a lifetime trade-in guarantee in case I ever want to upgrade my e-ring in the future -- although you and your future fiancee may not ever want to do that and 1.7 ct is certainly a very large size stone! I don't want to push you towards GOG, Blue Nile is certainly a reputable vendor, but I do feel like you are buying a bit blind here in the case of this cushion. You see, with a round, you do have all this data that you can plug into the Cut Advisor and it tells you whether it is a well cut stone or not. With a cushion, it unfortunately doesn't work like that.

I guess all I'm saying is, if you do go with this Blue Nile cushion, given that you haven't seen it, be prepared to send it back if it doesn't look like the perfect stone to you when you get it. Don't settle, just because you have it in your hand!

 

[kcoursolle]

It''s really impossible to tell if a cushion is nice from Blue Nile. They don''t offer pictures or images of any kind. I would strongly advise giving a call to mark at engagement rings direct (they call him the cushion king around here) and Jon at goodoldgold.com. Both have sourced some incredible cushions. Another option that is for the bargain route is to check out jamesallen.com. They offer a large inventory and limited pictures of their cushion stones.