Reputable Online Dealers

[longwood50]

I am looking for a nice 3.0 to 3.5 diamond GIA cert and see several ONLINE dealers. Having said that I see no reviews whatsoever for the majority of them. How does one know that they are dealing with a reputable dealer and secondly, without seeing the stone how does one choose one of them. Will the dealer who has several of them and if you deem them to be honest, give you an indication of which of the stones represents a better stone or better value. I would be interested to know of anyone who has had first hand experience with the online dealers. Thank You.

 

[kenny]

I've personally bought from a few online I can vouch for:
www.whiteflash.com
www.goodoldgold.com
www.jamesallen.com
www.bluenile.com
www.fancydiamonds.net - though they sell mostly natural colored diamonds and for your budget it would probably be well under a carat, perhaps under a quarter carat in pure red, green or blue.

After reading Pricescope for almost 10 years I would also throw in
www.craftedbyinfinity.com
www.briangavindiamonds.com

Cut is more important than color or clarity to how beautifully a diamond performs with light.
Good cut should be your TOP priority!!!!

Picking a well cut round is the easiest shape, using two tools.
HCA
Idealscope

 

[kenny]

HCA https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Plug in four numbers from the GIA report
Depth %
Table %
Crown Angle in degrees
Pavilion Angle in degrees

Reject rounds that score over 2.0

Get an Idealscope image for rounds that scored under 2.0
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

Compare the Idealscope pic to this chart:

 

[kenny]

If you post your budget we can offer candidates for you but frankly finding a well cut diamond that is over 3 ct can be extra difficult since cutting to save weight saves so much profit in such large diamonds.
Few customers understand good cut, but every customer understands carat weight.

Good cut often means "wasting" more rough diamond material by polishing it away.
Once you see a well-cut round for yourself you will understand that extra rough being polished away was not a waste at all.