Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Should I buy this or wait for something better?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
U

upgrade-me

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
94
I''ve been wanting to upgrade my e-ring. I''ve been working with a PS vendor and came up with this:

1.36 carats, round, GIA
7.2 x7.24x4.35
E, SI2
depth: 60.5
table: 57.1
pavilion %: 41.1
crown %: 34.3
culet: .5%
girdle: thin - medium
AGS0
cutadviser = 2.4 (very good)
price = $6,800

PS - what is really bothering me is that there is a small feather to the side. It is around 3 o''clock. I''m not sure if I could tolerate it or not. What are other PS''ers thoughts?

Upgrade-me

Idealscope_GSI2_6763.jpg
 
Here is the actual picture submitted from the PS vendor. Thoughts anyone???

Upgrade-me

1_36_GSI2_6763.jpg
 
So, sorry, I meant G-SI2. Not E-SI2.

Upgrade-me
 
Looks like the feather could easily be covered by a prong. if this is the only issue, I''d consider it--SI2s present a great value and if this feather is 90-100% covered by a prong, no one will see it.
1.gif
 
I bet you that stone looks very nice in person. It''s not a perfect H&A, but it''s not priced as one.

Ask the vendor (Whiteflash) about the feather on the side if it is visible and if it presents any kind of durability risk.

If you''re looking for an H&A, then you might wait. If you are on a budget and looking for a nice size (a 1.36 with a nice 7.24 mm spread is hard to find) you may do well to consider it.
 
I am currently considering a simple Tiffany style setting for now so I''m pretty sure the prong would cover most of it. But, down the line (when I have additional $), I would like a bezel setting that I''ve seen on some threads (i.e. Ritani). In that case, the bezel would never cover that flaw...

Upgrade-me
 
Date: 5/13/2005 10:04:17 PM
Author: upgrade-me

I would like a bezel setting that I''ve seen on some threads (i.e. Ritani). In that case, the bezel would never cover that flaw...
Click to expand...
Eh.....don''t be so sure.

Do this....put your hand in a fist, and then place it in front of the diamond pic on your monitor. See how the picture of the stone is nearly as big as your fist? That''s why this inclusion looks so big.

Now imagine that stone is the same size as an eraser head on a pencil. Imagine how tiiiiiiiiiiiiny that incluion would be relative to the eraser then. And...the inclusion is white. I seriously don''t think you''d see it with your unaided eye.

The good thing about WF is they have a decent return policy, so you can try it out and return it for a full refund if you aren''t totally comfortable with what you see.

For the value an SI2 represents, I''d try it - definitely.
 
Yes, aljdewey, I was thinking the same thing. The picture is magnified and, in reality, the inclusion will look like a speck if at all.

I guess I am also waivering because I would ultimately like the biggest, whitest diamond by giving in on clarity and the lowest I will go is SI2. If I spend another $1,000, do you think I could get something much bigger with a minimum of G color and SI2 clarity (eye-clean)? I''m going back-and-forth on this issue and this diamond needs to be either purchased or sent back by the beginning of next week. In addition, 3 other diamonds I was considering got snatched up by other buyers so I feel like I need to move fast. I don''t know if I should hold out and keep looking for something bigger (given my budget and qualifications) or just bite the bullet and go with this pretty decent diamond. It''s just an issue that I need to work out myself.

Upgrade-me
 
Date: 5/13/2005 10:25:58 PM
Author: upgrade-me
If I spend another $1,000, do you think I could get something much bigger with a minimum of G color and SI2 clarity (eye-clean)?

Upgrade-me
Click to expand...

That''s going to be pretty hard. That spread is like a deep 1.5 c stone. A well cut 1.5 will sperad about 7.4 mm or so and cost a lot more. You''ve got a rare carat weight and spread here. If it''s clean enough, it''s a buy.
 
Thanks for your opinion, Noobie. I was waivering on having it sent back, but you and aljdewey
are making me swing the other way now. Decisions, decisions...

Upgrade-me
 
Date: 5/13/2005 10:25:58 PM
Author: upgrade-me

I guess I am also waivering because I would ultimately like the biggest, whitest diamond by giving in on clarity and the lowest I will go is SI2. If I spend another $1,000, do you think I could get something much bigger with a minimum of G color and SI2 clarity (eye-clean)?
Click to expand...
Well, here''s the bottom line. In that price range, nearly all the diamonds I find run 7.00-7.05mm or so.....none of them comes even close to the 7.2 range you have with this stone......and it would take more than another $1k to get there.

In order to get "much bigger" - you''d need to get to the 7.48-7.52mm range or so, which as noobie pointed out, means hitting around 1.55 or so in a well-cut stone. There is a 1.54 H, SI2 at Whiteflash for $9063 here (that''s PS price). H is a GREAT pick - believe it or not, still *plenty* white. But.....that raises the budget from $6800 up to $9063 - more than $2200 for just a little more look.

I think that this G stone you''re considering gives you the most "look" with a really nice make for a good price. I second noobie - buy it!
I
 
I haven''t had time to lookinto your specific size prices, but Al is right tha the feather is HUGELY magnified in the pics, and you probably would never see it. (That said, everyone has different eyesight, so the final test is your eyes.) In general, Al and Noobie know what they are talking about, so I would take their advice seriously.
 
I think this looks like it could be a keeper!

Even if (and I think that''s a BIG if) the feather is eye-visible, when you upgrade someday to a shmancy pave/halo-bezel thing, you could always have both bezel AND prongs (like Lovey or Reena''s leons....both of their stones are in a bezel WITH double claw prongs.)

I think Al has a good point re: the spread and that this stone sounds gaw-geous!!!
 
Thank you lop and blueroses for your opinions. I haven''t heard any outright '' no''s '' yet. Sounds like everyone is telling me to buy it.

Thanks again to everyone for their help!

Upgrade-me
 

The scan is wrong.


Enter 34C, 41P and 57 table and see what HCA says.



It is a very nice stone.

 
What I would recomend is arrange a time to talk to Brian about the diamond on the phone and have him go over it with you while he is looking at the diamond.
He can give you the rundown on the inclusions as well as what he thinks about the cut.

My opinion from the info given is its very nice not a super-ideal but it isnt priced like one either.
 
Thank you to all for your thoughts and opinions.

I don''t know if I''ll regret it, but I spotted another diamond that I wanted to get more info on. I just want to make sure that this other diamond isn''t ''the one that got away''. WF has been kind enough to indulge me on this last minute request and I hope to hear something on Monday. I just want to make sure that I''ve exhausted all opportunities before making my final decision. Wish me luck!

Upgrade-me
 
This is why I think the HCA score is better - more in line with the ideal-scope view, and why the Sarin scan is wrong.
do the hca again

should i buy it.JPG
 
Wow! After entering the #s from your DiamCalc (and using 60.5 for depth), I got 1.2 for the HCA. I am reading up on how the DiamCalc works as I am typing this. I think you import the idealscope picture into the software? Is it really possible that the Sarin report would be that ''off''? I do remember that some Sarin machines are less accurate than others...

Thanks so much for your input!

Upgrade-me
 
Hello UGM.

The Sarin on this diamond = D 60.5, T 57.1, C 0.5, PA 41.1, CA 34.3

The last 2 are pavilion and crown angles (UGM you listed these as % in your initial post).

To your question: Yes, Sarin machines have some degree of error, generally accepted as about 0.2. So, Garry's wireframe import is actually in close agreement with the Sarin except for the crown angle (his=33.8 versus Sarin 34.3). The crown is the trickiest bit... Watching Serg and Garry do these imports is pretty cool & impressive.

I frequently caution people about using HCA as an absolute. Using the Sarin, the diamond gets a 2.4, but replace pavilion 41.1 with 41.0 and you have HCA 1.6. Replacing with 40.9 = HCA 1.4. Combining that with CA 34.1 = HCA 1.2

2.gif


This is why, once you know the measurements, the ideal-scope image is more revealing. This is a beautiful diamond.

Technologies like Helium, Imagem, etc. are more precise than Sarin/Ogi. They will raise the bar for all such devices of measure. Fortunately, direct assessment via ideal-scope and ASET exist... And of course personal assessment through the eyes of an expert and finally with your own eyes trumps all.
 
John is correct.
HCA and Ideal-scope is like Rock Paper Scissors.
If there is a tiny error in the Sarin at that critical 40.9 to 41.1 zone with around 34 - 35 crown angles - then HCA does not work so well.
That is how I knew the Sarin scan was off a bit - because Ideal-Scope wins RPS every time.
 
Thank you John & Garry for your feedback. I didn''t realize such slight differences could have such a great impact on the HCA. But, obviously, the HCA is not the end-all, be-all deciding factor. I realize now that it is a great-looking stone and feel slightly guilty for asking WF to look into other diamonds for me, but a girl''s gotta do what she''s gotta do. I just need to make sure that this diamond is ''the one'' and that I''m not passing up other possibilities.

Thanks again!

Upgrade-me
 
Date: 5/15/2005 9:33:59 PM
Author: upgrade-me
Thank you John & Garry for your feedback. I didn''t realize such slight differences could have such a great impact on the HCA. But, obviously, the HCA is not the end-all, be-all deciding factor. I realize now that it is a great-looking stone and feel slightly guilty for asking WF to look into other diamonds for me, but a girl''s gotta do what she''s gotta do. I just need to make sure that this diamond is ''the one'' and that I''m not passing up other possibilities.


Thanks again!


Upgrade-me
Click to expand...
Dont feel bad about it.
It is always good to look at your options before dropping that kind of money.
Whichever you decide on if your still unsure have Brian go over the one you pick with you on the phone.
Its a service he does often and is very good at it and honest about it.
If there is a problem with a diamond he will tell you.
 
Date: 5/15/2005 9:33:59 PM
Author: upgrade-me
Thank you John & Garry for your feedback. I didn''t realize such slight differences could have such a great impact on the HCA. But, obviously, the HCA is not the end-all, be-all deciding factor.
Upgrade-me
Click to expand...
HCA has a very tight tolerance for slightly deep diamonds because their performance really does drop away very quickly and you get a very pale ''ring of death'' just inside the table.
In this case the problem was not with HCA - but the scanner, and this was an excellent case of a stone that was wrongly rejected by HCA due to scan data.
But hCA should only be used for that purpose - for rejecting known poor performers
 
This stone is 1.4 carat I SI2 HRD cert. I paid $6100.
7.15 x 7.19 x 4.48
table 55%
crown 15.5%
pavilion 44%

At the upper right prong there are two small feathers much like the one in your picture. I can only see them when I look very hard from the side. To me they are like fingerprints, I know it''s my stone and no one elses. Other than the jeweler with his loupe no one has ever noticed them.

IMO, it sounds like you have your hands on an incredible bargain!

8466499456.JPG
 
Thanks to everyone for all their input. I asked about 2 other diamonds that were unavailable/sold anyway. So, I bit the bullet and bought this diamond! I wait with bated breath for the ring to get here tomorrow.

I will let everyone know if I made the right choice...

Upgrade-me
 
please be sure to post some pics!
 
I went to FedEx and picked up my ring today during lunch. It really is a beauty. It''s simply set in a 4-prong Tiffany-style setting. It''s sparkly, shiny and brilliant. I went back to work and one of my co-workers spotted it on my hand and grabbed my hand. "Oh my god! Is that new?!?" She was simply drooling and said that it was beautiful. Before the end of the day, she said she had to look at my ring one more time before she left to go home.

My only complaint...I want it to look even bigger! Bob @ WF has already rolled his eyes at this comment. I will have to wait again for another upgrade.. (My 1st e-ring was a .81 carat pear. I wanted a round...I got a pear. I was totally uninvolved in the diamond & ring setting selection the first time around. This time, I was 100% involved and my husband had NOTHING to do with the selection except okaying the purchase (lol)).

To all who helped me on my choice - a BIG thanks. Once again, thank you, Bob, for your courteous, friendly and professional assistance.

To all those who are thinking of making your 1st e-ring purchase, thought I''d add that I saved at least 25% from a BM diamond store. I saw a GIA cert''d H-color SI2 1.30 carat round with a couple of black carbon spots (at least visible to me) for $8,400 at a local diamond store. I actually purchased a GIA cert''d G-color SI2 1.36 round with a small feather that has been well hidden by a prong for 25% less. No joke. Based on this experience, I would highly recommend buying online.

I won''t be able to post any pics because my digital camera is a dinosaur and the pictures would just look like a white blur.

Thanks for everyone''s help!

Upgrade-me
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top