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Small engagement ring

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juergen2101

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
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14
Hello,

I was reading a lot in this very nice forum and have decided do buy a diamond for an engagement ring. Since the hype for big rings is in Germany (or at least within my friends) I have decided to go with a ring between 0.4-0,5 Carat; Color better H; VS2 or SI1; probably H&A but only because it is recommended and I want to be on the save side to have a nice diamond at the end.

This was one of my choices so far.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1148669.htm#


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4629/

why is goodoldgold always more expensive?

Any recommendation?

Thanks
Juergen
 
Date: 9/25/2008 10:58:42 PM
Author:juergen2101

why is goodoldgold always more expensive?

Any recommendation?

Thanks

Juergen
Click to expand...

You know, I''ve noticed that GOG is a more $$ on average. Not sure why that is, except it could be due to the fact that GOG buys all the stones they advertise? But that''s just a guess. That said, I actually prefer the GOG stone. Good luck with your search!
 
Date: 9/25/2008 11:06:27 PM
Author: goobear78
Date: 9/25/2008 10:58:42 PM

Author:juergen2101


why is goodoldgold always more expensive?


Any recommendation?


Thanks


Juergen
Click to expand...


You know, I've noticed that GOG is a more $$ on average. Not sure why that is, except it could be due to the fact that GOG buys all the stones they advertise? But that's just a guess. That said, I actually prefer the GOG stone. Good luck with your search!
Click to expand...

GOG just provides SO MUCH analysis and information with each of their in house stones that you pay a premium for it. But that being said, they are fantastic and when buying from somewhere abroad/afar it is VERY reassuring to have that extra info from them! Whiteflash's ACA's are also cut just for them, so I assume there is some discount involved for them by having the cutters do it for them instead of having to buy current stock like Jon does? But I am just guessing on that one.

Both stones look beautiful by the way, do you have a setting in mind from either vendor? That could help sway one way or the other. In a smaller size like that you won't notice the color difference most likely.
 

Thanks for the fast response. I was thinking to get the setting done locally since it is a bit difficult to decide on the web. What do you think is SI1 still ok? I think with such a small diamond it probably does not matter. The worst thing is that there is only a small $$ step to get the next better, bigger stone. My girlfriend would definitely not happy if she knows that I''m spending a fortune on a ring. As I mentioned the culture in Germany is different and nobody would spend 3 month salary on a ring. (which I find very often in this forum). Anyway I think 0.4-0.5 is for me/her the right choice.


I have decided to go for a H&A but only because it was recommended on a other website. I want to have a diamond with very good scintillation. Is this more likely with H&A? I think it is not much cheaper to get a "normal". But the choice is much bigger.


Any comments on the ideal scope of those rings?
 
Both idealscopes look FINE. H&A stones are cut to such exacting proportions (and the ones you have chosen specifically are the creme de la creme) of CUT that yes, they will sparkle beautifully. You can''t do better really.

And an SI1 from either of those two vendors is totally fine. Just to be sure you can ask if they are eyeclean, but they both look like they should be.
 
Hey Juergen - just make sure that the the engagement ring craze does not catch on in Germany ... I am sure that a lot of guys would kill you!!! LOL
41.gif
BTW, from what I know there really is no formal engagement with ring in Germany anyway, correct?
 
Yes, in Germany we usually don''t have such formal engagement with ring. We are kind of unromantic. :-) We would rather spend the money in a house or car than in a 10k $ ring.
I think my GF would not marry me if I would spend so much. :-)

Most of my friends just bought a simple ring without diamond. I actually think this would also be ok. Hopefully she loves me not because of a ring. We don''t have this whole competition "look at my ring and why is your ring so small".

The ring should just be beautiful and therefore I''m spending already days for my search. I''m actually very new in this diamond thing and very thankful for your help.

If somebody can recommend any other diamond in the range 800-1300$. Please let me know.

Thanks.
 
Both BEAUTIFUL choices. I think she will be very happy! I was just in Germany in the spring...lovely country!
 
The stones you have picked are both beautiful and a perfect combination of color and clarity to get the most for your money. The WF stone is less expensive and it would be my pick. WF has nice settings, too. Even going with the simplest least expensive makes a beautiful ring. They do a very nice job of setting the stone. Some jewelers are sloppy when it's not their own stone or setting. The only thing you need it the ring size. Good luck.
 

wow, I think the Ideal scope from the Dutton''s Diamonds looks very nice. What do you think? Will this be the better choice? I''m not sure about the color. Most say that I should not go below H color.


I''m also not really sure about the setting. Does somebody have any experience with an internet purchased diamond and the setting done locally? How do they react?

Do I need for a 0.44 carat an 4-prong or 6-prong. Is it just an design issue? For me it is difficult to decide on the web which setting to choose.
 
Stones Cut by Infinity are beautiful and just as nice as the ACA''s from WF and GOG. All good choices. I have seen an ACA and an Infinity. The are both gorgeous. You need to pick the one you like as they all have slightly different specs.
 
They are both beautiful and very similar. WF''s is a tiny bit bigger for a few dollars more. Dutton''s has free shipping. I guess if it were me I''d get the bottom line price (shipping charges, discounts, tax, etc) from both and see where thats lead. As for as the stones go they are both so close and so good either one would be great choice.
 
I think a well cut J will face up nice and white, especially in a <1ct size! I have a beautiful ACA J/SI1 diamond in a bezel set pendant. Here is the link to my pendant stone.

Infinity vs WF ACA is really a coin toss. Both are top of the line cuts. I guess I'd go for the bigger one if the prices end up being similar after taxes and such.

ETA: To answer your previous question, 4 vs 6 prongs is really an aesthetic issue. Both will be nicely secure. I personally prefer a 4-prong setting. If you go with WF, they have some really beautiful settings - this is my favorite.
 
Date: 9/26/2008 8:08:18 PM
Author: juergen2101

wow, I think the Ideal scope from the Dutton''s Diamonds looks very nice. What do you think? Will this be the better choice? I''m not sure about the color. Most say that I should not go below H color.



I''m also not really sure about the setting. Does somebody have any experience with an internet purchased diamond and the setting done locally? How do they react?

Do I need for a 0.44 carat an 4-prong or 6-prong. Is it just an design issue? For me it is difficult to decide on the web which setting to choose.
Click to expand...
A 4-prong would be more flattering for a .44 carat. I have four diamonds around that size and can say from a visual perspective, a six-prong would ovewhelm a diamond of that size.
 

Hello,


since I''m living right now in Kuala Lumpur I was again looking for diamond in a jewelry here in KL. The shop is called brilliant rose and they told me that this special cut is know also in NY. Anyway the price is about 3 times of a normal cut so I went back to the normal diamonds.


She offered me this stone. 0.61, H, VS1, excellent cut, H&A for 1.700USD. Polish and symmetry very good. She does not have an ideal scope and GIA report does not show the pictures with the inclusions. I’m actually not so experienced to see it with a loupe.


Is it risky to buy this diamond without knowing the inclusions and the ideal scope. Since it is H&A cut it should not be any problem with the scintillation or is this wrong?
This shop is buying their diamonds also in NY and get it rated fron GIA. (She said they a buying a a lot of diamonds and therefore they can offer a very good price)

What do you think?

Thanks again for your help.


Juergen
 
Date: 9/29/2008 10:15:31 AM
Author: juergen2101

Hello,



since I''m living right now in Kuala Lumpur I was again looking for diamond in a jewelry here in KL. The shop is called brilliant rose and they told me that this special cut is know also in NY. Anyway the price is about 3 times of a normal cut so I went back to the normal diamonds.



She offered me this stone. 0.61, H, VS1, excellent cut, H&A for 1.700USD. Polish and symmetry very good. She does not have an ideal scope and GIA report does not show the pictures with the inclusions. I’m actually not so experienced to see it with a loupe.



Is it risky to buy this diamond without knowing the inclusions and the ideal scope. Since it is H&A cut it should not be any problem with the scintillation or is this wrong?

This shop is buying their diamonds also in NY and get it rated fron GIA. (She said they a buying a a lot of diamonds and therefore they can offer a very good price)


What do you think?

Thanks again for your help.



Juergen

Click to expand...

My 2cts worth of advice. If this is really a GIA cert stone, VS1 should be fine. H&A is risky because it is determine by vendor and not graded by the labs, so unless you see it yourself in a H&A viewer or they have the hearts pic to back up their claims, do not trust their word for it. H&A also only tells you it has excellent optical symmetry, nothing about the performance of the stone from what I understand, a H&A could still be a leaky stone. Get from them at least the GIA report number and check out it''s score on the HCA.

Price wise is abit too good to be true for me... Anyway to get a IS scope? Order one online and deliver it to KL? I think the scope is in the range of 25 USD.
 
I saw the H&A. They show it to me in such a cylinder with loupe. (colour was blue) Don''t know the name of this device. How can they offer a diamond on the same prive level as here on the web. Something wrong? Just a good offer?
If I order online in NY it will cost about 90-100$ for shipping.
33.gif
What shall I do?
 
https://www.pricescope.com/hearts_grading_hearts.asp
https://www.pricescope.com/hearts_grading_arrows.asp

So I am guessing you saw the above two patterns and are please with them?

Can you get the GIA report number from them at least so that we can roughly evaluate it''s performance?

Do they have ASET? I have no idea how to shop for a IS in KL, maybe others can give you some tips.
 
I can't tell you what to do there. Buying over the internet is dependent on trust. Lots of pple here trust doing business with WF, GOG, etc. If you cannot trust them you cannot, nothing I can say can make you change your mind.

You can try waiting for the actual IS pics to be uploaded before making a decision.
 
the GIA number for the diamond in KL is 17520269 0.62 Carat

for about 1700$ ??
 
Date: 9/29/2008 12:43:39 PM
Author: juergen2101
I''m in contact with WF already and he recommended this one.


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1467069.htm


he said I can have a look at the other ideal scope (my second choice http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1148637.htm) since they have such a high standard they will look very similar. I don''t know whome to trust. Why should I trust somebody from an online shop?
Click to expand...

You can trust Whiteflash due to the literally thousands of posts dedicated to them here and their thousands of happy customers. Just run a search on them, you''ll see that they are a trustworthy company.
 
Any comments on the GIA report from the dimond in KL? I will visit the shop later again.
 
Looks good on the HCA, 1.3, ex, ex, ex, vg. Make sure you look through the loupe to see the GIA inscription of the report number on the girdle matches.

Other than that, bring a copy of the expected H&A pattern, especially the hearts pattern and look through the scope again if you really want a H&A stone. Else it will depend on its performance compare to other stones. Remember to examine the stone outside of store lightings.

Good luck. :)
 

ok. I''m back from the shop. Since the 0.62 carat is a bit to expensive for me he showed me those two.


GIA 17589054, 0.59 carat Price: 1,450 USD (In my opinion the H&A was ok but not as nice as the other.)


GIA 17596918, 0.45 carat Price: 1,021 USD (In my opinion I could see nice H&A, I think the heart was split in the cleft)


Is it true that if the cut excellent that the heart and arrow are excellent as well? Can I still get a "poor" diamond?
Would you buy a cut grade "very good"

and of course this one is also still in.


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1467069.htm (0.59carat, J) Price: 1,177 USD (+100USD shipping)

I want to decide pretty soon otherwise it will never end.


Which one would you recommend and why.
 
Date: 9/30/2008 9:58:31 AM
Author: juergen2101

ok. I'm back from the shop. Since the 0.62 carat is a bit to expensive for me he showed me those two.



GIA 17589054, 0.59 carat Price: 1,450 USD (In my opinion the H&A was ok but not as nice as the other.)



GIA 17596918, 0.45 carat Price: 1,021 USD (In my opinion I could see nice H&A, I think the heart was split in the cleft)



Is it true that if the cut excellent that the heart and arrow are excellent as well? Can I still get a 'poor' diamond?

Would you buy a cut grade 'very good'

and of course this one is also still in.



http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1467069.htm (0.59carat, J) Price: 1,177 USD (+100USD shipping)



I want to decide pretty soon otherwise it will never end.



Which one would you recommend and why.

Click to expand...

0.59 stone, 63.7% depth, 56% table, 36° crown angle, 41° pavilion angle, bad performer, only 5.5 on the HCA, g, g, g, g.

0.45 stone, 60.3% depth, 60% table, 34.5° crown angle, 41.2° pavilion angle, not that good a performer, scoring only 3.9 on the HCA, vg, g, g, ex.

Both of these I would not want to touch. I would go with your first choice from the store.

If the cut is GIA excellent, I would not necessary trust that until I checked it with the HCA. H&A diamond can still be a poor performer, it only means it has excellent optical symmetry not necessary optical performance.

There are stones in the VG cut grade that perform well on the HCA, usually those are the FIC and the BIC stones.

EDT

Call up WF and tell them you are interested in that stone and ask them to get you the pics quick for a review.
 
Actually I chose H&A because I thought it will be a quality indicator and it definitely narrowed my search. If I understand you right you would not necessarily take a H&A. I just want to have a nice(performing) diamond preferably 0.5-0.6 carat, around 1,300USD incl. shipping. If I don''t look for H&A I need to start from scratch, do I?
It is difficult to buy the right diamond. I hope she knows how much work this was. :-)

What would be the HCA on the stone from WF??
 
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