Princess Diamonds

[bzimz]

I''ve been looking at a lot of diamonds lately and really disappointed in what I found at b&m''s so I started my online search.

Anyone have any comments on these:


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1238428.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1236543.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1198956.asp

Thanks for any info!

 

[jstarfireb]

I think the first one has potential, but you''ll have to make sure the extremely thin part of the girdle won''t be a durability issue. In a princess, it could very well be.

Second - too much leakage in the center based on the photo...I''d pass.

Third - could be worth a look, but there may be some asymmetrical leakage, more prominent on the left side under the table. Or the stone is just tilted...ask for more pics and an IS.

Also keep in mind that "ideal" is a label imposed by the vendor and may not be reliable. The only lab that grades princess cuts as ideal is AGS.

If you don''t mind sharing your budget and desired carat/color/clarity specs, we could try to find you some more options with a great cut! And when it comes to color and clarity, keep in mind that you can comfortably go beyond E/F and VS, toward G/H color (at the least; I have an I color princess) and SI clarity, and you''d still have a white and clean stone. So let us know what you''re looking for!

 

[bzimz]

Desired Carat: 1.01 - 1.25
Color: D-G - I would really like to stay within colorless
Clarity: Down to SI As long as I can''t see without magnification any inclusions and it doesn''t affect performance I don''t mind.
Polish: Ex or Vg

Price: around $6,500

Any help would be appreciated. I''m getting IS on the prior three.

I assumed that buying online I would want to stick with the higher side of the 4 C''s since I wouldn''t be able to really look at in person till I got it.

 

[jstarfireb]

OK, great! You have a nice healthy budget for this. I think G is a great color, because it's really impossible to tell from F, but it avoids the "colorless" premium. Regarding the higher side of the 4 Cs...not necessary if you work with a trusted vendor like JA, WF, GOG, HPD, who can inspect the diamonds before they send them. It's more true for a drop-shipper like Blue Nile. Here are a few to look at:

1.3 G/SI1 - note what it says about the cavities and ask them for more info

1.05 F/SI1

1.01 G/VS1 - a tad over budget though

1.12 D/VS2 - really great price for a D! Cut looks very nice.

1.22 G/VS1

1.04 E/VS1

1.01 F/VVS1 - table is a bit large, and VVS is generally considered clarity overkill, though I have a VVS2

Hope that helps!

 

[bzimz]

Thanks for the help. I''m waiting to hear back from gog about the surface inclusions. Are they really a big deal if they are hidden by a prong?

I also requested an IS on the JA 1.2

I also saw the D earlier and was very interested. Now even more. It seems like the closer I get to making a decision the further away I am.

Thanks again.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/8/2009 10:48:46 AM
Author: bzimz
Thanks for the help. I''m waiting to hear back from gog about the surface inclusions. Are they really a big deal if they are hidden by a prong?

I also requested an IS on the JA 1.2

I also saw the D earlier and was very interested. Now even more. It seems like the closer I get to making a decision the further away I am.

Thanks again.

Not usually, see what Jon says or have the diamond sent to an independant appraiser prior to setting for a second opinion.

 

[bzimz]

Got the IS images, what do you think?

 

[bzimz]

1236543

 

[bzimz]

1198956

 

[stone-cold11]

My pick: 1236543

 

[Lorelei]

2 or 3 look best to me, do you have the actual photos of the diamonds please?

 

[bzimz]

Pictures are here:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1238428.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1236543.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1198956.asp

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/10/2009 11:09:33 AM
Author: bzimz
Pictures are here:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1238428.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1236543.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1198956.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1238428.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1236543.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1198956.asp

Thanks! I like the third one best and the second one.

 

[jstarfireb]

Probably the third of these, but honestly, I''m not loving any. I think there''s too much leakage in all of these.

My picks would still be the 3 GOG stones I suggested above. But if you''re going with JA, my favorite is the 1.12 D/VS2 in my earlier post...the others I suggested could be contenders, but the D looks best from the pictures.

 

[bzimz]

Thanks for all the responses. I really had the same impression that you had Jstar, and hopefully I can get another IS for the D stone, the picture for that one makes it look great. I also checked further into surface inclusions on the GOG one and told they wouldnt be a problem but I''m not happy about getting something that is "flawed" in that way.

 

[jstarfireb]

Bzims, agreed about the GOG stone. It's definitely for some people and not for others...beautiful stone, but I would worry about the cavities. The other 2 GOG rocks are top-notch but a tad on the small end for what you're look for. On the other hand, regarding the 1.12 D, I doubt you'd be able to visually tell the difference from a 1.2-1.25. Also keep in mind that although the carat weight is smaller, the D has larger dimensions than many of these stones. I'm eager to see the IS for that one to see if my prediction is correct!

ETA: BTW, regarding the ISs that you posted, I think I'm changing my mind...I think I like 2 better than 3. Still more leakage than I prefer, but 2 is more symmetric.