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hodge23

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 26, 2006
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I need to make a decision on a diamond soon, but I just want to cover my tail first and make sure I''m getting a quality stone. I''m looking at a 1.70 carat princess cut, vvs2 clarity, & I color. The price is $11,500. The color worries me a bit since I''m getting a platinum ring. The ring will have two side triangle (I believe they''re called trillions) diamonds. I''m buying from a credible jeweler but I don''t have the exact specs of the diamond, and I''m not sure what exactly to look for. So basically, does this seem like a decent deal and what steps should I take before making the purchase?

I''ve done some searches through PS, and found that a lot of the similar diamonds were a little cheaper than the one I''m looking at. Is this common to find cheaper diamonds online as opposed to in the store?

Just another question I was curious about. When someone tells the size of their ring, does this include the side diamonds or is it strictly the center stone? Thanks in advance for your advice and help!
 
If you are worried about the color, perhaps a VS2 and a G/H in color would suit you better. Princess cuts can be very sparkly if they are well cut….and flat if they are not so I would highly recommend asking for those numbers, and asking who issued the grading report.
Some dealers use the center stone as the weigh, but if they are saying 1.7 for the ring that is likely the tcw including the side stones.
And yes it is common for the prices online to be less then the ones at your local B&M store because the on-line only vendors have less overhead.
Welcome to Pricescope Hodge23! HTH!
 
Date: 4/26/2006 11:04:22 AM
Author:hodge23
I need to make a decision on a diamond soon, but I just want to cover my tail first and make sure I''m getting a quality stone. I''m looking at a 1.70 carat princess cut, vvs2 clarity, & I color. The price is $11,500. The color worries me a bit since I''m getting a platinum ring. The ring will have two side triangle (I believe they''re called trillions) diamonds. I''m buying from a credible jeweler but I don''t have the exact specs of the diamond, and I''m not sure what exactly to look for. So basically, does this seem like a decent deal and what steps should I take before making the purchase?

I''ve done some searches through PS, and found that a lot of the similar diamonds were a little cheaper than the one I''m looking at. Is this common to find cheaper diamonds online as opposed to in the store?

Just another question I was curious about. When someone tells the size of their ring, does this include the side diamonds or is it strictly the center stone? Thanks in advance for your advice and help!
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Hodge23,
It sounds like you''re not really comfortable with this diamond. I would recommend obtaining more information about this diamond. Is there a lab report available or is it graded "in house." It''s hard to tell if the value is there without more info regarding cut, depth, etc. Some stores include the side stones and the center to beef up the total weight. This is important and you should definately know the breakdown. There''s more work to be done before you should make a decision. PS is a great place to do your research. Take it slow and good luck!

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com
 
Hey Hodge
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I'm afraid you're giving nearly enough information for anyone to tell you whether you're getting a good deal or not. Are you buying from a PS vendor? Have you seen the stone in person? Have you seen any scope views, like an Idealscope? Is there a grading report on this center stone, such as one from GIA or AGS?

There are many people who will help you here, but you need to provide more detail for anyone to offer an educated response.

My advice is don't ever feel pressured to buy something. Make sure you read the tutorials on this forum.

Also, on two of your questions, I colored stones in a fancy cut like a princess can show a bit more warmth. If the stone is superbly cut, it will likely face up very white. There are many threads on color and you would do yourself a favor by reading as many of them as you can.

About the size question, I'm a guy, so maybe the ladies can chime in on this, but I doubt many people immediately offer up their pet rock's size. Since my ring has three diamonds, my center is 1.12 and the sides are .33 each, if someone asks how big my diamond is, I usually just say the center stone is over 1 carat.

Good luck and welcome to PS...........
 
Agree with the others- this is a big purchase, so please do not do it if you dont feel comfortable....and $11,500 sounds high for a 1.7 ct I colored stone...
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. I''m going in today to ask a few more questions and look at the diamond again. They mentioned before that they do have certification from an appraiser on the diamond, but I have not seen it. I''ll be sure to ask for that and get the specifics about the diamond. I guess I totally underestimated the amount of work that needs to be done when purchasing a diamond. When I look at any diamond I couldn''t tell you the difference in color, clarity, cut or basically anything. I guess I''m a total newbie in analyzing diamonds. Your responses are welcome and very helpful.

I think I worded one of my previous questions wrong also. I know that the center stone is 1.7 carats, and each side stone is .25 carats. I was just curious as to what those of you who have a multi-stone ring say when someone asks how large it is. Would you say it''s a 2.2 carat ring or a 1.7 carat ring? Just out of curiosity I guess.

Thanks for all the help!
 
Date: 4/26/2006 1:03:24 PM
Author: hodge23
Thanks for the responses everyone. I''m going in today to ask a few more questions and look at the diamond again. They mentioned before that they do have certification from an appraiser on the diamond, but I have not seen it. I''ll be sure to ask for that and get the specifics about the diamond. I guess I totally underestimated the amount of work that needs to be done when purchasing a diamond. When I look at any diamond I couldn''t tell you the difference in color, clarity, cut or basically anything. I guess I''m a total newbie in analyzing diamonds. Your responses are welcome and very helpful.

I think I worded one of my previous questions wrong also. I know that the center stone is 1.7 carats, and each side stone is .25 carats. I was just curious as to what those of you who have a multi-stone ring say when someone asks how large it is. Would you say it''s a 2.2 carat ring or a 1.7 carat ring? Just out of curiosity I guess.

Thanks for all the help!
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There is no certification...only grading reports, and in this case I would insist on having it done by a recognized lab, either AGS or GIA, not the jewelers appraiser.
 
Date: 4/26/2006 1:24:02 PM
Author: Matatora

Date: 4/26/2006 1:03:24 PM
Author: hodge23
Thanks for the responses everyone. I''m going in today to ask a few more questions and look at the diamond again. They mentioned before that they do have certification from an appraiser on the diamond, but I have not seen it. I''ll be sure to ask for that and get the specifics about the diamond. I guess I totally underestimated the amount of work that needs to be done when purchasing a diamond. When I look at any diamond I couldn''t tell you the difference in color, clarity, cut or basically anything. I guess I''m a total newbie in analyzing diamonds. Your responses are welcome and very helpful.

I think I worded one of my previous questions wrong also. I know that the center stone is 1.7 carats, and each side stone is .25 carats. I was just curious as to what those of you who have a multi-stone ring say when someone asks how large it is. Would you say it''s a 2.2 carat ring or a 1.7 carat ring? Just out of curiosity I guess.

Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...
There is no certification...only grading reports, and in this case I would insist on having it done by a recognized lab, either AGS or GIA, not the jewelers appraiser.
Click to expand...
Ditto
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Hi. If you are worried about a yellow tint to your diamond you might want to try going for a better color and a lower clarity. Color is more noticeable from a distance than clarity is and you can go down to a VS2 stone and still not notice any inclusions. You also want to make sure your diamond has been certified by an independent gem lab, such as EGL, GIA, AGS or IGI. Those are the top labs.

Also, have you researched pricing at all. There are quite a few websites with large selections and great prices. Here are some I have checked out:

www.diamondsafe.com
www.bluenile.com
www.diamonds.com

Hope this helps.
 
Usually, a person will say that the "center" diamond is 1.77 ct. with the side diamonds 1/4 ct. each.
A store might sell the ring as a "Total Weight" ring but this tells you very little about what the exact weights are for each stone.
Some large chain stores sell three stone rings and show a range of total weights. A 2.50 ct. total weight ring will have a low range and a high range. For example (2.40-2.58 ct). This is just an example....and you might not know the exact weight unless it is stamped inside the shank. Be on the safe side and get a lab report for the center stone.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com
 
I have a 3 stone ring and just say the center stones weight, not the TCW.
 
Again, thanks for the responses. Just got back from another talk with the jeweler. I got a copy of the grading report, it''s from EGL. Here''s some specifics...

1.70 carats

Measurements: 6.55-6.46 X 4.83 mm
Depth : 74.8%
Table width: 71%
Crown height: 8%
Pavilion Depth : 65%
Girdle Thickness: Medium, polished
Polish: Good to very good
Symmetry: Very good
Cutlet: None

Color: I

Clarity: VVS2

Flourescence: None

I don''t know what a lot of the proportions and stuff mean, so help is appreciated. I do know the basics about the color, clarity & size though.

Just from looking at the diamond I could not tell if there was any color up against a white background. I compared it with a K colored diamond and I definitely could take notice in the K, especially in the side view. It also looked good held up to a platinum ring. No easily noticeable color from the side, and none at all from the top. It has a nice sparkle from what I could tell. Size wise, is 1.70 considered large for an e-ring or about average? I know it''s different by geographic location too, so I''m in Cincinnati if that helps.

Again, the price is $11,500 for the diamond, and they did take $800 off the cost of the band. I feel much better after talking with them this time around. I just want the best that I can afford for my girl, and this decision is stressing me out. Many thanks.
 
Hi Hodge-

Correct me if I am wrong all, but doesnt EGL have less stringent standards when it comes to grading than GIA does? I think I am right on this one....anyhow, EGL can grade completely differently then GIA does, for example, grading a diamond an "I" that GIA would grade a "K." Be careful on that.

Looking at the numbers strictly, it does seems a bit deep, but you need to trust your eyes, the numbers should not be an end-all-be all, if you know what I mean. If the diamond looks nice to you, and your gf will like it, and the price is fair, why not? Before you buy, ask yourself, does the diamond really "speak" to you? Do you love it? If not, then keep searching.

When it comes to the size, 1.7 is nice...your gf is very lucky!
 
Hodge,

I''m by no means the right person to comment much on Princess cuts, but here is what I learned pretty quickly by the measurements you posted:

The stone you are considering would be considered Class 2A. That''s not an ideal cut, but can be a nice cut. The price you are paying appears to be a bit high according to the prices you can find through the Pricescope Your Diamond button above. And, not to rain on your parade, but many of us here on PS would prefer to purchase a stone graded by AGS or GIA. EGL, while not a bad lab, has been known to grade a bit "softer" than the premium labs. In other words, an I may not be an I, it could be J or K by a more stringent lab. VVS2, could in reality be VS2 or SI by AGS or GIA standards.

That doesn''t mean the diamond you''re considering isn''t all it''s graded as, but that crown height, puts this stone in less than a premium category and for the money, you can likely get better.

I know, buying a diamond is difficult and can be time consuming. I''d slow down and do a more thorough search, or expect your vendor to reduce the price a bit, before I''d buy that stone.

Just my .02
 
And Hodge, I definitely agree with Rod. If you want that stone, your vendor needs to work with you on that price. Like I said before, it does seem a bit high...
Remember, this is an important and expensive decision you are making. So please, take your time, and pick a stone that you feel comfortable with all around.
 
Elliot and Hodge welcome to PS
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Also you can go a fair bit lower than VVS clarity and still have an eyeclean diamond, many have SI1''s and SI2 clarities and these are completely clean to the eye in many instances. Also GIA and AGS are considered to be the industry standards of lab grading, diamonds from other labs tend to have a lower pricetag. Hodge my advice would be to up the colour to a G or H if an I is too warm for your preference and drop the clarity to a VS or SI1 grade for example, unless a very high clarity is important to you. Good luck with your purchase.
 
Wow, you guys have been so helpful. I''m now looking at a couple of other stones. Which one do you think gives me the most bang for my buck so to speak.

My initial stone...

1.70 carats
Measurements: 6.55-6.46 X 4.83 mm
Depth : 74.8%
Table width: 71%
Crown height: 8%
Pavilion Depth : 65%
Girdle Thickness: Medium, polished
Polish: Good to very good
Symmetry: Very good
Cutlet: None
Color: I
Clarity: VVS2
Flourescence: None
Price: $11,500

2nd stone appraised by GIA...

1.72 carats
Measurements: 6.67-6.57 X 4.74 mm
Depth : 72.1%
Table width: 78%
Crown height: ?
Pavilion Depth : ?
Girdle Thickness: ?
Polish: Good
Symmetry: good
Cutlet: None
Color: E
Clarity: VS2
Flourescence: None
Price: $11,077

3rd stone appraised by GIA...

1.77 carats
Measurements: 7.02-6.13 X 4.79 mm
Depth : 78.1%
Table width: 74%
Crown height: ?
Pavilion Depth : ?
Girdle Thickness: ?
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Cutlet: None
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Flourescence: None
Price: $11,174

Sorry for all the questions, but I basically have until the beginning of next week for a decision, and I''m really stressing about this
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. Thank goodness I found this site.
 
Stone 1: 8% Crown is flat, I'd rather go for >10%
Stone 2: 78% table? no, thank you
Stone 3: It's rectangular, not square. No.
 
I guess I''m just no good at this whole diamond buying thing. I''ll just keep looking I guess.
 
Hi Hodge, just catching up on this thread but wanted to say hello and welcome. I am from Cincinnati and love going home any chance I get
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Hodge-

Keep looking, I am not liking any of the new stones either....
emsad.gif
 
OK, yet another question. Do you all think the first stone is a bad stone, or just a bad price? I think I can get the jeweler to come down on the price. Thanks.
 
I would say both. The crown height can significantly affect the stones performance and the price is high for a Class 2A stone. I understand how frustrating this byring diamonds can be. But, you''re looking at spending a boatload of money. In fact for $11,500, you can buy a small boat. So, before you set that anchor permanently, slow down, look at more options.

Unless there is some reason you feel you must buy from this jeweler, you would do yourself a REALLY big FAVOR if you contacted Whiteflash or Good Old Gold or any of the other quality vendors who are known for their quality in-house diamonds. They''ll get you a stone, likely for less money that will likely outperform the stone you are considering hands down.

We''re rooting for ''ya matey!
 
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