Shopping for 2+ Carat - Online or Local Store?

[BWise]

/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]I have recently started to shop for an upgrade form my engagement ring.Target 2.1 – 2.3 ct round H&A or ideal cut. I was told that there has been price increase for that size stone in the past year and there are still talks in the market for another increase.I am new to this forum and would appreciate any feedbacks.

/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

I found the following two stones at my local store:

Stone A: 2.26 H VVS2, AGS cert., AGS 0,

Measurement (mm)8.52 - 8.58 x 5.13/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Cut GradeId/Id/Id/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Depth59.9%/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Table57%/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Crown Angle34.5/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Pavillion Angle40.6/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

CuletPointed (0.4%)/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Gridle0.7 - 1.4%/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

FluorescenceFaint/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Asking Price$22,826/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

HCA Score0.6

Stone B: 2.26 H VS1, GIA cert.

Measurement (mm)8.49 - 8.54 x5.19/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Cut GradeEx/Ex/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Depth61.00%/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Table56%/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Crown Angle34.4/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Pavillion Angle40.8/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

CuletNone (0.7%)/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Gridle0.8 - 1.5%/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

FluorescenceNone/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

Asking Price$21,696 /www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

HCA Score1.1

Can anyone please tell me the light leakage and light return of those two stones (as under ideal scope) and please help me to interpret the results.

Both stones look breathtaking to me. The jewler claims that they are both H&A stones, although I could not see the arrows clearly. She said it was because my viewing angle.

A comparison search at PriceScope found me a 2.29 AGS 0 H VVS2 id/id/id with medium blue flr. at lowest price $18,733. The jeweler claim mb flr. usually decrease the price for about 8 – 10%.

I personally prefer stone A, which appears to be a better cut. But what will be a good/fair price to get that stone?

The advantage of buying from this local store is that I could trade in my 1ct engagement ring for its original cost ($4,800 for the stone) and that is a big incentive for me.

/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]>

I have also found this stone: http://www.goodoldgold.com/2_14ct_h_vs1_h%26a.htmIt is an absolute beauty but the price tag appears high to me. Plus I wonder how will the two stones from my local shop look if they have been put through those tests. My question is: Is it really worth the premium for an improvement in cut that might not even be detectable to untrained eyes like myself? I just want to make sure that I am spending this much money on something worthy.

THANKS!

 

[oldminer]

Below

are two very similar stones in H VS1 from a Pricescope search that are a lot less than the prices you quoted. Maybe they are not quite the same as those you found, but also worthy of consideration. To run the HCA or get an AGA Cut Class on a diamond you need crown and pavilion angles or percentages such as you have with the AGS H VVS2 graded diamond.

I'd suggest that for most people a VVS is adding onto the price without improving the look or content of the diamond. While some might disagree, I'd suggest a VS1 or VS2 is giving you a better amount of money to spend on improving color, cut and/or weight. I realize that perfection is a goal of some buyers and I respect it, but it is not a universal benefit for every buyer.


2.23
H
VS1
59.5%
58%
GIA
tn-m fac
sm
vg
ex
8.58x8.63x5.12
$7684
$17134P

2.23
H
VS1
61%
56%
GIA
thn - med
no
ex
ex
no
8.44x8.51x5.17
$7978
$17791*SP

 

[hoorray]

If these stones that Oldminer has found are as nice as the ones you found, (check for crown and pav angles), it looks as if you can pay the same $$ out of pocket, and get to keep your original stone for a pendant or something. Not too shabby!

 

[Giangi]

Out of the 2 stones you posted, I prefer #1. But I would get a VS 2 to save money/get a better color/get a bigger stone...

 

[phoenixgirl]

Speaking of VS2 clarity, here is one:

2.29 H VS2 with GIA cert for $18832

Or, instead of trying to save $, you might go up in color or size and stay around $21-22K.

If I had that budget, I'd go for this 2.74 I VS2 Good Old Gold stone

 

[BWise]

Thanks for all of your greats suggestions!




See my problem has been that I don't want to get a so-so cut on such a big purchase, yet I am not sure how much extra I should pay for ideal cuts vs. average cuts. The stones from my local store are definitely overpriced and I need to work that down. I agree VVS in clarity is not necessary, but that was what they have! Unless the lower priced online stones have the same good cut, the trade-in option is very attractive.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/14/2004 5:07:08 PM
Author: yingh


the trade-in option is very attractive.

AGS0 is pretty narrow and H&A even more so... online or off, those are very consistent grades.

but... a trade in would definitely weigh in there. The price quoted for the new stone might not be the greatest, but the overall deal should, because selling diamonds privately incurrs such large loss. The higher prices quoted for new stones in trade-inns reflect this, unfortunately

Is the ring in your avatar your current e-ring ? Round and trap sides is very unusual ! And very beautiful

 

[Mara]

Out of all the stones posted, I prefer the SECOND one in your original post.

The first one for me, I don''t like the table and depth combined, it may be too shallow of a stone to have that fiery scintillation that I realy love, the low HCA score as well...too low at 0.6 is where some experts say the stone loses something.

The second stone has a great combo of numbers and HCA score ... and cheaper and it''s a VS rather than VVS which to me is overpaying.

If you have seen both stones and like them both, I say go for the VS over the VVS and try to get that $21k down to more like $19k and then you will not be overpaying as much as if you were buying online.

I also really like that I VS that PG posted, it''s huge! For me I would also go up in size and down in color but that is just because I have seen I and J stones (mine is a 1.60 J SI2) and I am not color sensitive and prefer to have the excellent cut!

 

[valeria101]

What was I thinking ?

This thread has been started on 1/14/2004 ... a loooooong time ago ! Thankyou Yingh for the reminder.

Since the thread was brought up though, it may be worth showing the results in the same place: this is the one and only round & traps ring I know of on Pricescope; definitely worth keeping high on record

Link to original ring thread