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Relatively clueless....need some help/advice (>1.5CT search)

sydiamond

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
19
Hi,
I am looking for a loose diamond for an e-ring and have decided that my budget is up to $8K. I would like >1.5ct and a true eye clean stone (so no lower than SI2) and should be colorless (a true GIA I or better). It seems with these specs it's VERY hard to get a GIA lab stone within that price range so i'm looking at EGL mostly. I have mostly been dissapointed by EGL Israel, even allowing for several grades lower than stated - but have found some decent EGLUSA. I am now looking at a 1.59 D SI1 which is triple Ex but EGL lab so they say it is actually probably a F/G SI2 (but eye clean) with H+A. I can probably get for just over $8K. How does this sound to all the experts out there, in terms of value? Other advice?
 
Re: Relatively clueless....need some help/advice (>1.5CT sea

$8K will buy you a nice H SI1 1.15ct GIA stone.
 
Re: Relatively clueless....need some help/advice (>1.5CT sea

Don't do EGL. You are more likely to overpay for what you are actually getting. EGL can be anywhere from one to four color grades off GIA grading.

Stick with GIA Excellent cut. As tyty has already shown you, J SI2 is what you're looking at with an $8k budget and a 1.5 ct. minimum. You can ask James Allen for three idealscope images, but be sure the stones are eyeclean before you do the idealscopes. All SI2's are not eyeclean.
 
Re: Relatively clueless....need some help/advice (>1.5CT sea

I completely agree with the others. Diamonds sell for what they are worth. If the EGL stone you are looking at is $8k then you can expect that it has the same specs as a GIA stone of the same weight selling for $8k, in this case a J SI2. Check out this thread from a few months ago...

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thers-something-about-paper-why-arent-you-mad.176233/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thers-something-about-paper-why-arent-you-mad.176233/[/URL]


The other thing to consider is that EGL has very different cut critera, it seems that every stone they grade has an excellent cut. :rolleyes: I think their system goes, something like, super ideal, ideal, excellent and so forth. Also there is no standard for HA stones, anyone can call their stone a HA, but that doesn't make it true. There are some here that wouldn't consider some of the diamonds listed in James Allens True Hearts line to be true HA quality. So just because a report says it is, doesn't mean that it truly is.

Have you considered buying on the second hand market? Pre-owned stones tyically sell for 30% off retail, this may help you get the size, or color range that you are hoping for.
 
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