should I buy this princess?

[jenibear]

Hi - I am new here - have been reading this for five months teaching myself about diamonds.
Now I need some help.
I went to a well known and respected jewelry wholesaler in Massachusetts and put $25 down on a diamond. I'd like some feedback - is this a good price and a good stone?
My boyfriend and I fell in love with the stone - it's icy white perfectly square to the eye and a real dazzler - but want to be sure it's worth it.
Here's the info:
Princess cut
1.0 carat E VS2 depth 77 table 73 crown 9.8 pavilion 58.9 girdle very thin to very thick polished polish good symmetry good. No fluorescene or cutlet. It's certified by EGL.
Please help!
oh - and its $5,000 flat

 

[jenibear]

Hello? Is anyone out there? Any feedback?

 

[fuffi]

77% depth is very deep. Ideal princess depth is in the 64 - 75% range. At 77, your diamond will probably look smaller than 1.00 ct though performance of the stone may be great. The chart below is a good reference to use.

https://www.pricescope.com/tutor_fnc1.asp

 

[jenibear]

Thanks fuffi
I know 77 is deeper than I want - but how bad is it? What about the rest of the numbers?
Fuffi or anyone else?
Thanks so much
Jenibear

 

[fuffi]

I would do a pricescope search for 1.00 ct princess diamonds with a more desirable depth and see what their length/width measurements are. See how they compare to your stone (and also compare prices while you're there). If the difference is negligable, and you love how your stone performs, then I say go for it. Just be sure you are getting something you'll really be happy with. My princess has 72.9% depth and if I were to upgrade in future, I know I'd be looking for a slightly shallower stone.

Best of luck whatever you choose Jenibear !

 

[jenibear]

Thanks so much fuffi! I'll keep your comments in mind and do some searching. I have almost three weeks before I need to give them an answer so there's no rush.
Didn't realize that a 72 depth was still a little too deep.
Thanks again!
Jenibear

 

[Rhino]

Hi Jenni,

77 depth isn't the end of the world. A 9.8% crown height coupled with a 58.9% pavilion MAY POSSIBLY have some great optics (ie. a real fireball).

With princess cuts the numbers are secondary ... the OPTICS ARE PRIMARY. As it is with rounds there are various combinations of crown/pavilion/table/total depth combinations that produce some real blockbuster stones. Unfortunately most princess cuts are NOT cut to be blockbuster stones but the combo you've shared sounds promising.

What you should do is either one of 3 things or both.

1. Get an IdealScope, learn how to use it with the calibration stone then go look at this princess cut. If you see alot of saturation of red mixed with some blacks you're doing good.
2. If you'd like a professional opinion and they can run a Sarin (and please note this) ... a SARIN THAT CAN GENERTE A 3D MODEL of the stone, gemologists like myself or Rich Sherwood can load that Sarin file into the DiamCalc software and see a simulated FireScope or IdealScope image of the stone. Don't hold your breath though as most stores do not have this kind of Sarin.
Much like the diamonds in our "Learning Stones" section in the "Educational Diamonds" on our website. There's a button called "Common Princess" that's a real eye opener concerning the subject of princess cuts.
3. Have the stone sent to an appraiser who CAN INDEED perform some form of optical analysis on it for you like an IdealScope/FireScope at least. Dave Atlas, Rich Sherwood and RockDoc can all do this. Make the sale contingent upon your SATISFACTION with the report you get from the appraiser.

If you don't do #1 or #2 above at the very least do #3.

The red flags that would make me a little skeptical about the stone you've listed is it's ...

a. EGL (known to be liberal in their grading).
b. has a "very thin" girdle.

If the girdle is "very thin" around a major portion of the stone it may be very succeptible to chipping. If it's only a minor portion of the girdle it may not be that serious.

Hope that helps.

Peace,
Rhino

 

[diamondsman]

I htink that the stone is a bit deep,and you are paying too much for it!!
you could do much better on the internet!

 

[jenibear]

Thanks Rhino for all your advice. I am looking at another princess from DBOF that is due in tomorrow - about a grand more - but better color, clarity, cut, depth, table, off the charts in brilliance and scintillation and high on fire and it's about .04 more in carat weight. Thought the trade off of the extra cash was worth it. Will take a look see and then decide whether I even want to pursue the first stone - that I have on hold for another two weeks.
Thanks for all the advice!
jenibear