Requesting Help Selecting Engagement Diamond

[LemNLime]

All,

I’ve been dating the love of my life for over 5 years now (yes I know the look you’re giving the computer screen right now – but we started dating in college and I didn’t want her sacrificing her career, or any part of her life right out of college), and I’ve finally decided to pop the question. The reason I’m posting on here is because I need some help picking the diamond. She likes round, princess, and cushion stones (I went with the round). She prefers a thicker band (her ring size is ~6-7). All that being said the below link takes you to a googledocs with more details on the table below (all are within in my budget, and I think good choices but just not sure at what point to pick quality over size). All and any advice is welcome.

I look forward to hear from you all.

-m

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzIu5c7dpsDuNkF3aFFWNHFyd2c/edit?usp=sharing

 

[RockyRacoon]

You are overpaying for clarity you won't see on the VVS options (possibly the VS1 option, as well).

Drop your clarity to shift a few bucks from stone to setting, or to get a larger stone.

Here are some options with top-notch cuts that would appear similarly eye-clean to the stones you had linked, for comparison purposes:

1.512ct, F, VS2 (this is the option I would choose)
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.512-f-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104064812027

1.500ct, G, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.500-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104069928025

 

[LemNLime]

RockyRacoon,

I am confused by your post (so bare with me if I'm missing something here), the two options you posted seem significantly more expensive (~2k more) than the ones I was looking at with similar (if not better quality). Again I view myself as having only a limited understanding of diamonds, so please inform me if I'm mistaken. Thanks for your reply and taking the time to help me out.

-m

 

[RockyRacoon]

RockyRacoon,

I am confused by your post (so bare with me if I'm missing something here), the two options you posted seem significantly more expensive (~2k more) than the ones I was looking at with similar (if not better quality). Again I view myself as having only a limited understanding of diamonds, so please inform me if I'm mistaken. Thanks for your reply and taking the time to help me out.

-m

We have no information regarding light performance for the stones you had linked, aside from GIA XXX (which is not enough to establish a diamond as well-cut).

You can use the HCA to further refine your options, but again, you won't see these stones until after they're shipped, so you have no idea of the actual performance: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

So, no - the stones you linked are not of a higher quality. It's possible they MAY be on par with the BGD stones, but that is unknown, with the info available from BN.

 

[LemNLime]

RockyRacoon,

I am confused by your post (so bare with me if I'm missing something here), the two options you posted seem significantly more expensive (~2k more) than the ones I was looking at with similar (if not better quality). Again I view myself as having only a limited understanding of diamonds, so please inform me if I'm mistaken. Thanks for your reply and taking the time to help me out.

-m

We have no information regarding light performance for the stones you had linked, aside from GIA XXX (which is not enough to establish a diamond as well-cut).

You can use the HCA to further refine your options, but again, you won't see these stones until after they're shipped, so you have no idea of the actual performance: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

So, no - the stones you linked are not of a higher quality. It's possible they MAY be on par with the BGD stones, but that is unknown, with the info available from BN.

I do apologize as it is clear I am missing something here. Prior to posting my original post I ran all the diamonds I was looking at through the HCA tool, and eliminated the ones with values not <2 (I know HCA values only help eliminate some bad performing diamonds and that all diamonds should be appraised). That being said I'm still confused at how the BGD stones have better light performance (wouldn't I have to do the same process with the HCA tool and still wouldn't know until I had one appraised?).

Thanks again for the response - maybe I'll understand it better this time around.

-m

 

[RockyRacoon]

RockyRacoon,

I am confused by your post (so bare with me if I'm missing something here), the two options you posted seem significantly more expensive (~2k more) than the ones I was looking at with similar (if not better quality). Again I view myself as having only a limited understanding of diamonds, so please inform me if I'm mistaken. Thanks for your reply and taking the time to help me out.

-m

We have no information regarding light performance for the stones you had linked, aside from GIA XXX (which is not enough to establish a diamond as well-cut).

You can use the HCA to further refine your options, but again, you won't see these stones until after they're shipped, so you have no idea of the actual performance: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

So, no - the stones you linked are not of a higher quality. It's possible they MAY be on par with the BGD stones, but that is unknown, with the info available from BN.

I do apologize as it is clear I am missing something here. Prior to posting my original post I ran all the diamonds I was looking at through the HCA tool, and eliminated the ones with values not <2 (I know HCA values only help eliminate some bad performing diamonds and that all diamonds should be appraised). That being said I'm still confused at how the BGD stones have better light performance (wouldn't I have to do the same process with the HCA tool and still wouldn't know until I had one appraised?).

Thanks again for the response - maybe I'll understand it better this time around.

-m

If you look at the BGD stones, you'll see AGS certs included, which detail the light performance of a stone. Since you've used the HCA, you realize AGS 0 trumps this, and you don't need to run the HCA on AGS0 stones.

In addition, with the BGD you can see Idealscope images, along with seeing a 360 image of the stone. These are components that no piece of paper, or a sales rep for BN can tell you.

Finally, you can have an expert at BGD inspect the stone for you, and give you specific details. This is simply not possible at BN, since the people you communicate with are not experts.

So, yes, you could have the BN stone appraised, and get some of the same details as the BGD stone AFTER you make the purchase. Or, you can get the details up front and make an informed decision, with expert assistance.

Usually I try to find a 'deal' when I'm buying any product/commodity. I prefer to go with a sure thing when I'm making a one-time purchase, like an engagement ring, as those 'deals' may not look as attractive 5-10 years down the road.