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Purchasing First Diamond - A Cut Above?

SinkingFun

SinkingFun

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
109
I'm looking to purchase an engagement ring and am looking at stones.

Currently I am reserving this one and am just wanting opinions before I pull the trigger.

The diamond can be viewed here.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2724676.htm

Opinions on the optical quality of this diamond and how it compares to other offered at a similar price?

Depth % 61.6
Table % 55.9
Crown Angle 34.9
Star 58.0
Pavilion Angle 40.7
Crown % 15.3
Lower Girdle % 76.0
Measurements 5.60x5.62x3.46
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible
Girdle Thin to Slightly Thick Faceted

DIAMOND PERFORMANCE
Eye Clean Yes
Light Performance Ideal
Polish Ideal
Symmetry Ideal

DIAMOND INFORMATION
Item Code AGS-104055218076
Category A CUT ABOVE®
Shape Round
Carat 0.668
Color I
Clarity VS2
Cut Ideal
Certificate AGS


Images / Documents:

1_47.jpg

2_38.jpg

3_30.jpg

aset_6.jpg

4_22.jpg

5_16.jpg
 
I think it`s a beautiful stone! I have 3 ACA`s and they are all gorgeous!

Good luck!

Cachette :))
 
this is a gorgeous stone, i have an AGS000 myself and the good thing about that i it takes the thinking out of working out whether a diamond is cut well and will perform and sparkle beautifully. personally, i would go lower on the clarity and up in size or color and the only other contender i have found for you is this one:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437430.asp

it's 0.70 H SI2 and $100 cheaper - the SI2 is due to twinning wisps (my stone is also SI2 with twinning wisps) and if you do a search on here you'll find that they are the best inclusion to have as they are totally eye clean and you end up saving lots of money! so if it were me i'd go for this one, also because i can see tint at I color. i also ran an HCA on it and it scores under 2 and if you look at the virtual loupe it is clean as can be and the images provided looks great with arrows. something to consider!

but you can't go wrong with the one you chose. it's a great stone!
 
We've been delighted with the Whiteflash ACA I bought.
It has gotten a zillion compliments.
 
Thanks for the replies!

I was considering HnA vs non-Hna, but I think the piece of mind knowing I have a perfectly cut diamond outweighs the extra $100 or so I'd be saving. Any objections to this statement?

Also, what does the sarin report represent and what do the red facets mean?

Does this diamond have good symmetry, table size, depth, etc. for optimum brilliance?
 
well HnA does not equate diamond performance, and u can't normally see it anyway. if you have the chance to compare ideal cut with branded HnA you won't see any difference in beauty.

the one i linked you too is not just cheaper by $100, but better in color and bigger. its worth considering IMHO.

both diamonds have optimal stats. if you want you can request James Allen to do an idealscope and gemologist review on that stone.

the sarin report is where they put the stone through a machine to check the stats and make sure it matches up with the cert. it has pretty much the same info. the red parts on the idealscope show maximum light return (which is what you want).
 
I'll consider it? Any others you'd recommend in my price range ($3500 for ring and stone)?
 
what sort of setting are you going for? simple solitaire in 14k wg is the cheapest way to optimise diamond size (which is typically the main attraction of the show!) and gives the girl the option of choosing a setting she likes later. unless you know for sure what she likes, there's nothing more painful than spending $2-3k on a setting she doesn't want.
 
SinkingFun|1323388505|3077399 said:
Thanks for the replies!

I was considering HnA vs non-Hna, but I think the piece of mind knowing I have a perfectly cut diamond outweighs the extra $100 or so I'd be saving. Any objections to this statement?

Also, what does the sarin report represent and what do the red facets mean?

Does this diamond have good symmetry, table size, depth, etc. for optimum brilliance?
Click to expand...

All ACA's have excellent proportions. You really don't have to analyze their numbers because they wouldn't have been selected for ACA if they were not top tier stones.
 
is the most perfect of perfect cuts your benchmark here? or would you be happy with an excellent/ideal cut that will still look amazing but is slightly bigger in size?
 
marchesa6989|1323390720|3077432 said:
what sort of setting are you going for? simple solitaire in 14k wg is the cheapest way to optimise diamond size (which is typically the main attraction of the show!) and gives the girl the option of choosing a setting she likes later. unless you know for sure what she likes, there's nothing more painful than spending $2-3k on a setting she doesn't want.
Click to expand...

I'm going simple, either traditional solitaire or trellis x prong, yellow gold. Advantages of 18K vs 14K?
 
that is a gorgeous stone
 
SinkingFun|1323392612|3077471 said:
I'm going simple, either traditional solitaire or trellis x prong, yellow gold. Advantages of 18K vs 14K?
Click to expand...

I'd go with 18k if this is to be the permanent setting (mainly because 18k is used more in fine jewelry). If you plan to set it temporarily and let her pick out another setting, then I'd go with the cheapest thing I could find! I prefer the traditional solitaire over the other if you are going with yellow gold.
 
marchesa6989|1323392180|3077467 said:
is the most perfect of perfect cuts your benchmark here? or would you be happy with an excellent/ideal cut that will still look amazing but is slightly bigger in size?
Click to expand...

This. Excellent /ideal.
 
I have an ACA and love it. I agree that you could go down in clarity to SI1, which are typically eye clean, and WF will confirm whatever your definition of "eye clean" is and look at the stone for you. I don't see much available right now in terms of a larger ACA with slightly lower clarity, which would allow you to go up in size. IMO, it seems like this time of year is bad for diamond shopping, selection can be spotty. Does it have to be now? If yes, then your stone looks great.
 
I love VS stones, so there is nothing wrong with wanting good clarity!

Incidentally, with yellow gold rings, you usually get the head in white gold or platinum. Yellow prongs can reflect in the diamond. That is often done with low color and light yellow diamonds to make them more yellow, but with white diamonds, it is generally best for the head to be white metal. You'll see that on most of WF's yg rings. I am mentioning this because I think an I color diamond will look pretty white against a yellow shank/band. So I really think you'll be okay.
 
I plan on having a white head, regardless of the band color. I'm having a hard time deciding because she had mentioned once that she loves the traditional look of yellow gold, but a lot of settings look nice in white. I also am not very fond of the white wedding bands - although I did see a matte one I liked once....

The ring doesn't have to be now. I'm thinking my target date is March, so I'm more than happy to wait around, especially with all this holiday rush and stuff for better pickin's later. Although if the price of diamonds is increasing, then I'd like to get one sooner rather than later.

We / I'd like to stay under 0.75 cts. She has tiny hands and will be using her hands quite frequently in the future (although she'll be wearing gloves when she's working and would probably take off the ring anyway). Hmm.....

I also think she'll enjoy the sparkle and fire of the diamond more so than the size, but I could be wrong.

Just best to wait until inventory builds up again?

Also, I've been thinking about a HnA diamond for over a year now and anything less would be settling for something I didn't initially want. There's just so much information out on the internet about diamonds and such, which makes fun yet stressful.
 
There is no particular reason to wait unless you want an I VS2 larger than this or you want a H VS2 and there are none in the size you need. It's best to buy when you find what you want because the same thing may or may not come in anytime soon!

What is your maximum budget? if this diamond is at your max, I'd definitely buy. But if your budget is higher, I'd hold out for a .75.
 
Okay, let's talk about the metal color. Does she wear any rings or other jewelry now? Do you see her wearing more silver or gold?

Just saw your latest post. No, don't go down to .5 unless you are getting a halo setting. The .66 is the lowest I would go.
 
diamondseeker2006|1323406813|3077646 said:
Okay, let's talk about the metal color. Does she wear any rings or other jewelry now? Do you see her wearing more silver or gold?

Just saw your latest post. No, don't go down to .5 unless you are getting a halo setting. The .66 is the lowest I would go.
Click to expand...

She has one other ring, which is silver. Diamond earrings, which are white gold. A variety of necklaces, all of which again are white gold / silver / nickel.

I can see where this is going.... but what if she had specifically mentioned that she "likes the traditional look of yellow gold?"
 
I was looking at this ring.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/x-prong-trellis-solitaire-engagement-ring-764.htm

I got it priced around $1200 for the semi-custom work from WF to narrow the band to 2 mm and add the two tone look to it. I'd be similar to this setting, which I really like:

http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/Item.aspx?GroupSKU=GRP10004

But if I went with white gold, then it'd be around $900, saving money to apply towards the diamond.

She had also mentioned that she doesn't like cathedral settings, which is kind of like this setting here. I think this one sits lower though - no higher than a traditional solitaire setting - and wouldn't be a big deal. Maybe I'm wrong?

I have specific orders. "Pick what you like and I'll love it." Easier said than done. :Up_to_something:
 
diamondseeker2006|1323406606|3077643 said:
There is no particular reason to wait unless you want an I VS2 larger than this or you want a H VS2 and there are none in the size you need. It's best to buy when you find what you want because the same thing may or may not come in anytime soon!

What is your maximum budget? if this diamond is at your max, I'd definitely buy. But if your budget is higher, I'd hold out for a .75.
Click to expand...

My max budget today is $3500 for the combo. In a month or so, I could potentially bump my limit up to $4000-5000. Is bigger really better with diamonds?
 
If you think the diamond listed above in my original post is a great buy and you don't think I'll find a better one at a similar price between now and February, just say the words and I'll pull the trigger. I'm uncertain because I'm no expert and don't know a good diamond deal when I see one. I just need someone to reassure me that I'm getting a great deal and be confident for me. :confused:
 
did you guys try on sizes and decide on 0.75ct being the maximum? you gotta be 100% clear on that point to make sure that's what she wants. i also use my hands alot in my profession and will probably wear the wedding band to hospital, and wear my e-ring outside of work as i prefer a larger size (my hands are size 3.75-4 fyi). to me, yes bigger is better. not that 0.7 is not a good size, but most girls are typically happier with closer to 1ct from my experience. and once people join PS they have shrinking diamond syndrome :lol: and you'll see plenty of people here who upgrade all the time because their original one was too small or not well cut.

that being said a lot of vendors are low on stock due to the holidays so if you're not proposing til march you can wait to get one that is a higher color/slightly bigger, rather than feeling pressure to buy something now. you have some time on your hands so use it to your advantage. i know from experience it's best not to rush buying a diamond as new ones pop up all the time.

i think its best to ascertain what she wants for sure - no point making expensive mistakes (even though there are return policies). work out whether she'll be wearing the ring to work, whether there is actually a cap to the size she wants, what color gold she likes. that will affect the diamond, choosing a setting that is high vs low set, intricate vs plain, yellow vs white.

edit: but at the moment the diamond you found seems to be the best one that matches what you want and is in your price range
 
marchesa6989|1323422138|3077719 said:
did you guys try on sizes and decide on 0.75ct being the maximum? you gotta be 100% clear on that point to make sure that's what she wants. i also use my hands alot in my profession and will probably wear the wedding band to hospital, and wear my e-ring outside of work as i prefer a larger size (my hands are size 3.75-4 fyi). to me, yes bigger is better. not that 0.7 is not a good size, but most girls are typically happier with closer to 1ct from my experience. and once people join PS they have shrinking diamond syndrome :lol: and you'll see plenty of people here who upgrade all the time because their original one was too small or not well cut.

that being said a lot of vendors are low on stock due to the holidays so if you're not proposing til march you can wait to get one that is a higher color/slightly bigger, rather than feeling pressure to buy something now. you have some time on your hands so use it to your advantage. i know from experience it's best not to rush buying a diamond as new ones pop up all the time.

i think its best to ascertain what she wants for sure - no point making expensive mistakes (even though there are return policies). work out whether she'll be wearing the ring to work, whether there is actually a cap to the size she wants, what color gold she likes. that will affect the diamond, choosing a setting that is high vs low set, intricate vs plain, yellow vs white.

edit: but at the moment the diamond you found seems to be the best one that matches what you want and is in your price range
Click to expand...

We did try on rings and thought 0.75 looked good. But I do recall her putting on a 1 ct diamond and her eyes got bigger.

I think I'm going to wait as opposed to making an impulse buy. I'm not even sure what setting I'd like or the color of the band. I'll secretly gather more information and then watch WF or JA or something between now and February for something similar, but bigger. This also gives me time to save a few more bucks to raise my upper limit.

Thanks for all your help! I'll be seeking your advice soon enough. :appl:
 
i think that sounds like a great plan sinkingfun! that way we can aim for the magic 1ct number and find you a better deal down the track. glad to be of help and see u again soon! :wink2:
 
SinkingFun|1323407522|3077656 said:
diamondseeker2006|1323406813|3077646 said:
Okay, let's talk about the metal color. Does she wear any rings or other jewelry now? Do you see her wearing more silver or gold?

Just saw your latest post. No, don't go down to .5 unless you are getting a halo setting. The .66 is the lowest I would go.
Click to expand...

She has one other ring, which is silver. Diamond earrings, which are white gold. A variety of necklaces, all of which again are white gold / silver / nickel.

I can see where this is going.... but what if she had specifically mentioned that she "likes the traditional look of yellow gold?"
Click to expand...

I love the traditional look of yellow gold, too! My original set was yg and I wore it happily for 30 years! But when my husband told me I could get new rings for our anniversary, I changed to platinum because silver color jewelry actually looked better on me and I wanted white metal for my studs and other jewelry.

So yes, you see where this is going. :bigsmile: There is something beautiful about gold and diamonds, but PLEASE get her white gold or platinum for her engagement ring!!!
 
SinkingFun|1323407870|3077658 said:
I was looking at this ring.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/x-prong-trellis-solitaire-engagement-ring-764.htm

I got it priced around $1200 for the semi-custom work from WF to narrow the band to 2 mm and add the two tone look to it. I'd be similar to this setting, which I really like:

http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/Item.aspx?GroupSKU=GRP10004

But if I went with white gold, then it'd be around $900, saving money to apply towards the diamond.

She had also mentioned that she doesn't like cathedral settings, which is kind of like this setting here. I think this one sits lower though - no higher than a traditional solitaire setting - and wouldn't be a big deal. Maybe I'm wrong?

I have specific orders. "Pick what you like and I'll love it." Easier said than done. :Up_to_something:
Click to expand...

Most ladies here believe that a thin band to the e-ring makes the stone look larger and a wider band has the tendency to make a small stone look smaller. So I would advise you to go with a more traditional 2mm or so shank. I like the x prong type setting a little better with sqaurish stones, too, like the Tiffany.
 
SinkingFun|1323409374|3077668 said:
If you think the diamond listed above in my original post is a great buy and you don't think I'll find a better one at a similar price between now and February, just say the words and I'll pull the trigger. I'm uncertain because I'm no expert and don't know a good diamond deal when I see one. I just need someone to reassure me that I'm getting a great deal and be confident for me. :confused:
Click to expand...

I think that diamond is beautiful. BUT, I would go as close to a carat as you can. The price jumps up greatly at a carat. But if you could go to .75 or .80, that would be a nice size and I don't think you'd have any regrets later. It's something that she will wear for a lifetime, so I think it is good to stretch if you are able. Good Old Gold offers 6 month interest-free financing, too, so if you wanted to buy a stone say in January, you could pay 75% down and just pay the remainder over the next 6 months if you wanted.

In fact, they have what I think would be the perfect stone for you now at $3881. You could buy it as soon as you were able and then save for the setting. They'd keep the stone until you were ready to set it!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8284/
 
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