Possible Diamond To Buy - Appreciate your expertise on these Spec.s:

[lachance22]

I am finally ready to make a purchase and wanted to ask you experts for your advise on the following diamond:

Round Brilliant "A Cut Above" H&A 1.5 cts.

AGS
Ideal 000
Color 2.5 (I)
Clarity 4 (VS2)

Total Depth - 60.2
Table Size - 56.8
Crown Angle - 35
Pavilion Angle - 40.7
Culet - .5%
(The total Holloway Cut Advisor score = 1.1)

The listed price is around $10,500. The Sarin report looks great (great for my education in diamond selection.) The one thing holding me back is the 2.5 (I) color grade. Is the value of this diamond accurate for the price and is the color grade too low to consider purchasing?

I sincerely appreciate all of the help many of you have already provided me with. I am also considering to send this stone to Dave Atlas to be Independently appraised.

Thanks!

 

[Regular Guy]

Using the compare by cut feature here, that certainly does seem like a nice one. Remember to take advantage of the Pricescope discount.

You may or may not want to double check the premium you're paying, by getting a diamond that's been brought in, evaluated by White Flash, and validated by it's "signature" brand. On the big diamond sort here, asking for the same criteria, including H&A, you could save more than $1K from a White Flash option, and you might consider having them send both options to Dave Atlas for his 2 cents. Not sure how that works, but giving WF a clue you'd end up going with either one would help to make that work, I'd imagine.

(Edited to add, not sure about the consideration of I color as an option; as with many things, including budgets, they can be personal. Though I sought out a G, maybe I should have gone for F. Also, maybe really I couldn't tell the difference between an F & a J. For one more thought of mine, if you do want to consider, say, going up on color, and down on clarity, see my new post this morning here, at the end of this thread, and of course, best wishes!)

 

[JC]

Definitely looks like a nice choice. Having David Atlas check the diamond out isn''t a bad idea either. He comes highly recommended. Good luck...

 

[solange]

I bought an I color stone from Whiteflash. It is not ACA but it is Ideal cut. It was not in their inventory. They had it sent in to them for inspection and then Brian discussed it with me at length.
I had it sent to an appraiser where I could see it and it appraised very well. I am very pleased with the stone and got an excellent price. The appraiser said that because of the cut, it faces up more like a G or H.

As to the I color, some people are very color sensitive. However, with a very well cut stone, you will see a lot of light and sparkle. I am very happy with the I color. Have you spoken with Brian about the stone? He is very truthful and I am sure if you discuss it with him you will know whether the stone is for you or whether he would recommend something else.

 

[lachance22]

Thanks for your response. Forgive me, but who is Brian?

 

[lachance22]

Thanks Ira. However, this price and stone is from WF. I was trying to stay under $10K with the setting and "A Cut Above" H&A. Maybe I''m not being realistic for a G/H VS 1.4 - 1.5 ct stone. The search continues.

 

[Regular Guy]

Lachance22,

Since you know what you want, and you have not only a preferred vendor but also know you want their signature series...everything here tells me they are a customized organization enough, such that you can share that with them, to your benefit (and, maybe with this note you''ve done that already)!

Frankly, since you''ll go to 1.4, the 1.5 you''ve found is at a magic number and is close in price to your target, I''ll bet if you tell them what you''re looking for, they can tell you at least what the likelihood is that they can get for you what you want

I understand Brian "the cutter" is a BMOC there...maybe you should tell him!

Best of wishes; I''ve heard mostly good things about them, of course.

 

[RockDoc]

Brian is a very honorable and pleasant person, who I find to be very knowledible about diamond cutting. We''ve even met in person when he was in Florida and had a wonderful dinner too. ( Can''t wait for him to come again )



I''ve seen lots of A Cut Above Diamonds and I seldom have a problem with the grading and appearance ( light return) them. Bob and John are also well experienced and honorable to deal with.


Rockdoc

 

[rosy]

Thanks Ira. However, this price and stone is from WF. I was trying to stay under $10K with the setting and "A Cut Above" H&A. Maybe I''m not being realistic for a G/H VS 1.4 - 1.5 ct stone. The search continues.


I''m sorry but I don''t think your budget is realistic. I set out looking for a stone with your specs exactly & found that even H SI1 at 1.50 carats cost over 10k without the setting. You''ll either have to go down in color, like you''re thinking of with this Whiteflash I stone or go down in size. Personally I would go down in color, not size, only because it''s a super-ideal cut, never in an average cut. That''s just me. In fact, I''ve been eyeing this exact same diamond that you''re interested in, I actually have it bookmarked in my favorites folder. I also calculated the final out of pocket cost here it is:

Cost of diamond: $10,174.00 + 2% = 10,377.48 (price if paying by credit card)
Cost of setting: (My choice is Fine Line by Le) 650.00
Average cost of appraisal: 125.00
Cost of setting (if using local jeweler) 125.00 (if sending back to Whiteflash no chrg to set just pay shipping & insurance)
Total cost: 11,277.48

So now, it''s a race between you & me, better hurry I might beat you to it! No, I''m just kidding, I won''t be purchasing this diamond, it''s all yours. My best advice is to order it & look at it in person, if you don''t like it you have ten days to return it. If you have it for awhile & really hate it Whiteflash has a one year 70% buy back policy. Good luck, hope this has been of some help to you!

 

[lachance22]

Thanks for your feedback. I have found another diamond and Brian was kind enough to scan the hearts and email me the image. The diamond is an S2. I am uploading the image here to ask you expertise on the obvious inclusions when magnified. Brian called the diamond eye-cleanish. I have excellent vision. I have to wonder if these inclusions are going to drive me crazy and not sure if you pros can tell anything from this picture.

Thanks and please view the image.

 

[solange]

Date: 12/7/2004 4:23:51 PM
Author: lachance22
Thanks for your response. Forgive me, but who is Brian?

Brian is the cutter at Whiteflash.

 

[lachance22]

Thanks for your feedback. It was most helpful. I bought it! Arrives tomorrow and I will hopefully have it appraised again by Tuesday.

I had a wondeful experience with Brian & Lesley at Whiteflash thus far.

Sincerely,

Dave D.