Questions from a Newb

[trekwars2000]

As a little background about me I am 28 and married 2 years. So I have only really bought one diamond in my life. My coworker got me into some sort of "in the business" diamond exchange convention in Vegas and I got my wife her engagement ring (really just center stone). That stone was a 1.39 carat Princess Cut, G, VVS2 stone. It was put onto a ring with 2 other side stones (about .33 carats each with a few channel cuts on each side further around the ring)... That said I have a few questions.

1) I have been reading more and more that EGL isn''t the best "grader". but EGL USA isn''t too bad. That said, is stone really a G/VVS2 under GIA, etc? (This is just mostly my curiosity over 3 years later)

Now I am wanting to get my wife a "perfect" diamond for our anniv. I am thinking a diamond pendant or a set of stud earrings. I am looking at blue nile or James Allen for D/Flawless diamonds via a GIA cert. My questions are as follows:
2) Is the princess the cheapest cut for the money (vs Round or others)?
3) Is GIA the cert I should be looking for?
4) Is there a difference between IF and flawless? Both have no flaws to 10x mag right?

I like a set of .45 (each) princess diamonds (D/IF) for $2500 (total) for stud earrings. Does the price sound right?

Thanks for the time and effort and I am sorry if these are really newb Q''s

 

[JulieN]

1. EGL USA is likely to be one grade off on color and clarity. So it is possible for it to be off a total of two grades.

2. Probably not, as princess is the second most popular cut. Marquise and pear is probably priced lower.

3. GIA or AGS.

4. FL means it has no inclusions visible under 10x, while IF may have some minor surface blemishes.

Small princess D/IF stones is a very unpopular buy on PS. A much more popular option would be small round I/SI stones.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/5/2010 3:41:09 AM
Author: JulieN
1. EGL USA is likely to be one grade off on color and clarity. So it is possible for it to be off a total of two grades.

2. Probably not, as princess is the second most popular cut. Marquise and pear is probably priced lower.

3. GIA or AGS.

4. FL means it has no inclusions visible under 10x, while IF may have some minor surface blemishes.

Small princess D/IF stones is a very unpopular buy on PS. A much more popular option would be small round I/SI stones.

Ditto Julie, also take a look at these preset earrings,

http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Ready-Set--to-Go-Princess-Diamond-Earrings_1288.htm