Shopping Recommendations?

[tcshZion]

You guys are so good at helping people find what they''re looking for! I''ve been stressing for some time now, so maybe you could help me too?

I''m looking to purchase a diamond between $6500 and $9000. I''d like to be closer to the lower end, but I''m willing to hit the max if I can find the right one. I was hoping for an approx. 1.25ct (H&A/triple-0) ideal cut, G - H, VS1 - VS2 (... unless you have reasons why I should reconsider). I found an AGS 1.244ct., 6.91-6.93x4.27mm, triple-0, H, VS1, no culet, medium girdle, no fluor -- but for $8890. I think I can do better.

What do you think?

By the way, I look forward to your responses and very much appreciate your input!

-- tcshZion

 

[Regular Guy]

A really attractive option (discounted for Pricescope shoppers to $7117) is this one, and is separated from a pack of other just above your $9K price point, but it misses H&A; you may want to read here about H&A, doing a search, and confirm for yourself the premium is worth it to you.

Other and related shamelessly presented general shopping strategies, here.

Edited to add: ...perhaps coupling request (a) with request (b), which ostensibly is H&A, not in stock, but which WF can look at for you (though in this case, you're upside down, looking at option (b) for about $1K more. There's more to review in both databases.

Edited one more time to add...re option (a), ask WF why the relative discount? I'll bet it's the fluorescence, which you can read more about here, and suggests this may a particularly good value.

With best wishes,

 

[valeria101]

Date: 12/16/2004 2:527 AM
Author:tcshZion

I found an AGS 1.244ct., 6.91-6.93x4.27mm, triple-0, H, VS1, no culet, medium girdle, no fluor -- but for $8890. I think I can do better.

What do you think?

1.22 G SI1 AGS0 $ 7500

The clarity plot looks encouraging and there should be 30X pictures of the inclusions for you as well. The face up picture shows an encouraging set of arrows - how close or far from H&A this is, it's up to each brand to define.

Then... H/VS2 AGS0 comes at about $7300. No pictures yet, but with ideal everything and good proportions, how bad can it be ? Besides, you will get to see it. Unless it's a must to see those harts culet up before the stone gets mounted, AGS0 fullstop is an ideal option as well - just by other "ideal" standard for what tat matters. Here's the culprit: H-VS2 Would you like it too if an Ideal Scope portrai showed those arrows in place ?

 

[tcshZion]

Thank you Regular Guy for your input and the link! Very informative... useful methods. And thank you valeria!

Well Regular Guy, these look pretty good. The first one isn''t ideal and has very strong blue fluoresence. I think I''d probably choose the second one, but then it''s not in stock so there''s not much information about it, obviously...

As for the ones you found, valeria, I think I''ll avoid the SI* category unless I can get better clarity plots or see it in person, and I''d really like to order my diamond mounted and ready to go. I''m in a bit of a time crunch for the holidays, you see. (To be clear, I''ve been searching for a long, long time... I just haven''t found anything yet!)

Do you think, based on what I''ve said, I should purchase the one I''ve found for $8890, or should I keep looking? Obviously there are better prices, but are there better prices for the same or better diamond quality? I also failed to mention that the clarity plot on the one I''ve found is very nice. As far as I can tell, there''s really only one ''real'' inclusion -- a feather viewed only via the bottom/pavillion.

Thank you so much for your input!

Am I being too picky?

 

[hoorray]

The stone Regular Guy found for you in the WF expert selection looks pretty nice. THe Idealscope is great. Flouresence can be a positive addition. Many people won''t buy a stone without it. It''s just out of favor in the industry.

I don''t think WF would have put this stone in their Expert Selection if it wasn''t gorgeous. I''d give them a call and discuss it. Personally, I doubt that the differences between what you call ideal and this stone would ever be visible. (So yes, in some ways, I think you are being too picky, but it''s your choice.) I''d investigate the stone by talking to Brian about it. If after that you are not convinced, pay the extra $$ to get the one you have found originally.

 

[Regular Guy]

Hey, go with god!

If you like the second of my options, though, why don''t you request it to see it?

Re #1, why don''t you think it''s ideal...by what standard. Not only does it work within HCA, but more narrowly, I see it''s AGA- 1A, with only the Crown Angle slightly out, leaving it 1A, (per the rules as Dave Atlas'' site, unless I misread it). Maybe AGS is slightly different on this...there are lots of systems, I''m sure. And re blue flouro...there are lots of fans, which is why I''d suggest that for the savings, you at least consult both the forum her on that topic, and as well, WF direct for their comment.

Time always has a way of constraining options. Option #2 above could be as available to you as any here, plus one day. Not sure how unsatisfied you are with what you''ve found, and that one is a bird in the hand.

Best wishes,

 

[Regular Guy]

Lop, I hadn''t read your comments; thanks for your support.

But, oh by the way, did I miss this other one this morning?

I really like the 4 "ex"s....

It has a bigger spread than yours, too. Personally, I''d go for the increase in color over clarity.

Still considering the savings with option (a)...once again, all the best!

 

[tcshZion]

Ooh, I really like that last one. Please tell me it doesn''t really cost $9500. WF has a discount for pricescope, right? How can I apply that? Can I get an additional discount on top of that for cash...?

I''ve got to contact them... too bad it doesn''t have the AGS report. I would like to see where the inclusions are, but thanks for the find, Regular Guy!

 

[JohnQuixote]

tcshZion - This ACA is so recent that the AGS report isn't in yet. We'll have it very soon. There are many very fresh ACA and ES items in... Working fast to get all info up.

Ira, you didn't miss it - you're way too thorough for that

...it wasn't posted yet.

 

[Regular Guy]

TschZion, Ana, Leonid, and others,

TscZdion,ithat''s you who went forward with this last one, of course, good luck with it...

Now my turn, if you''ll allow, and a dumb question for you, and you, Anna, and anyone else here within ear shot.

Ana particularly, with some frequency, you''ll make reference to what you called above: "clarity plot.." and TschZion, you, too were interested in the location of the inclusions, etc.

To a certain extent, I think this idea may have been referenced in the study done by Garry, Leonid, Dave et al, especially perhaps in an earlier version of it, but currently seen here, where a comparison between labs is done on the use of clarity plots, and variance is indicated, showing GIA provides relatively less detail on this. Basically -- my question and thought -- given the renewed vital recognition of the value and place of cut with respect to diamonds...I kinda thought that plotting inclusions can be going the way of the slide rule, relatively...and so appropriately, giving appraisers new and more valid things to be attending to. After all, and especially: a) with VS stones having these not visible to the naked eye, and b) with GIA and others having a standard practice of laser inscribing stones, if the original function tended towards simply identifying the stone, that function becomes reduced. Alternately, if there is substantive concern about actually seeing the inclusion itself, how then to see what VS means altogether.

Alternately, I may be dazed and confused. Is this a talking point or not.

Best,