Spend my $10,000!!

[jimk]

Now that I have a few weeks to get a diamond engagement ring, I''d love to get opinions from people on this board as to a particular stone to buy. I have up to 10k and would like a diamond in the 1.3-1.5 carat range. I have no other "requirements." If you''re up for it, please fire away with ideas!

 

[strmrdr]

is the 10k for the diamond and setting or just the diamond?
What shape does she like?

 

[Kaleigh]

What shape do you want??

 

[jimk]

Whoopps! Not enough info, huh? Okay, definitely round and the 10k is just for the stone.

 

[Hest88]

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_264ct_g_vs2_h%26a.htm

or, if you''re willing to go down in color you can get over the 1.3 mark:

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2167537.htm

 

[Regular Guy]

Hest lists nice options, and I hadn''t seen the one from GOG, starting a screening from 1.3. Really, though 1.4 might be where you want to be, those are hard to come by. I found readily options from WF and particularly James Allen, with three in your neighborhood over 1.5, including this 1.58 H SI 1. And, those are in-house (use the search by cut to see). At DCD or WF, you can get this one, shown at Abazias with it''s AGS contemporary 000 cert, which could be a backup alternate (if you''d druther G VS2).

 

[HOUMedGal]

Here are a few that would be high on my list:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-2045484.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-1283067.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1829014.htm#

All of these are from the WF''s Expert Selection, meaning they just missed being ACA''s for one reason or another (i.e. every heart wasn''t perfectly aligned). Many people here have stones from the ES and loooove them, and the ones I''ve seen in person are GORGEOUS!!! When I upgrade my center stone, this is where I''ll be looking.

I''d also go down in color in order to go up in size! All three of these stones are most likely eye clean, and their excellent cut will make their slightly lower color grades less noticeable. You''ll also notice that they''re alll three right around 1.5 cts...yummmmm!!!

Plus, I just like J stones...I''m weird like that.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 12/31/2005 7:21:20 PM
Author: HOUMedGal
Here are a few that would be high on my list:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-2045484.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-1283067.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1829014.htm#

All of these are from the WF's Expert Selection, meaning they just missed being ACA's for one reason or another (i.e. every heart wasn't perfectly aligned). Many people here have stones from the ES and loooove them, and the ones I've seen in person are GORGEOUS!!! When I upgrade my center stone, this is where I'll be looking.

I'd also go down in color in order to go up in size! All three of these stones are most likely eye clean, and their excellent cut will make their slightly lower color grades less noticeable. You'll also notice that they're alll three right around 1.5 cts...yummmmm!!!

Plus, I just like J stones...I'm weird like that.

I am in love with the first one, WF 1.50 I SI 1 yummm.

 

[valeria101]

If this is too long, skip to the last sentence: I'd take a look (i.e. ask about) that F-SI2 any day. Or any others like it.

Between the rest, there is some room to go for larger size (1.7cts J-Si1) or safe bet grades ( 1.3cts G-VS2). Your call.

---------------------




J and 1.5 is ok... as long as you know how they look. I am ok with them but apparently some aren't and I can't know in which camp you are.


Up to H... color should be a non-issue given the size of the stone (the larger they are, the more the color shows face up).
Up to VS2 I wouldn't worry about inclusions.

So, how about 1.3 cts (7mm) G-VS2: LINK


SI1 clarity or lower color would mean 1.5 cts ...

Thinking to pick up the highest color feasible and lowest clarity on the 'ideal cut' list, there is one I-VS2 to look at.

I wish there was some G-H/SI ones, but there isn't any below 11k ( a couple slightly over - if you wanted them).

For SI clarity, you would need to ask about whether the inclusions show and, who knows, maybe have to return one if you see more in it than the seller. These being said, more often then not these are 'eye clean'.



Could it be larger than 1.5? There isn't much detail about this on the list for now, but you could always find out.

This comes from GoodOldGold - no link yet.

weight:1.722
size: 7.78x7.80x4.72
AGS grades: J-SI1
depth: 60.6%
table: 55.9%
girdle: 1.25 (thin, I guess)
Finish: id/ id
fluorescence: negligible
price: $10080

There is no saying if this is H&A, but the crown and pavilion stats are given: Crown=34.8° Pavilion=40.7° (HCA=1 cherry!)



So what if you found out you can't live without colorless?

Once in a while SI2 get lucky and don't show their inclusions. You can't quite tell without knowing what those inclusions are though. Getting in touch with the seller should produce at least a copy of the lab report with the respective clarity plot and their educated guess if this is worth a look in person.

One such candidate could be: 1.5 cts F-SI2 AGS0

I would ask about it anyway

Hope this is not too long and some helps

Happy 2006, Btw

 

[jimk]

Thanks everyone. I''ll take a look at those and report back. All things equal, I''d like to be closer to 1.5, but can''t go lower than I in color. I can go to SI2 as long as it''s eye-clean. Anyone else want to add to the list? I''ll post my top 5 tomorrow and get a vote from the people on the board before I buy. This site is fantastic!!

 

[jimk]

Valeria, where do you see the 1.72 from GOG? I can''t find that one anywhere.

 

[Kaleigh]

I found it, look under H&A rounds. Way more than your budget though...

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/1/2006 10:42:43 PM
Author: jimk
Valeria, where do you see the 1.72 from GOG? I can't find that one anywhere.

HERE (10k...maybe Kaleigh found another?)

PS. no need to get scared by those inclusions before you ask how they look in person. Some types (e.g. feathers) tend to 'disappear' in photos, crystals look quite a bit worse for some reason.

If you wanted to get in touch with Good Old Gold anyway, it can't hurt to ask one more question. If not...

Just IMO, of course.

 

[Mara]

Eeee that 1.72 with the black inclusions is not my thing, I guess it could be eye-clean but the pattern seems like it''d be visible...I do think that getting something like a 1.5c I/J SI1 would be a fabulous way to spend the $$ and then you may even have a few bucks extra for diamonds in the setting or similar!

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes the one I found on GOG 1.72 is over 21K. It''s a H&A.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/1/2006 11:05:08 PM
Author: kaleigh
Yes the one I found on GOG 1.72 is over 21K. It's a H&A.

THIS ? F-VS1... no wonder.

I was looking for J-Si1


Both H&A... quite different otherwise.


Mara, what you say about the inclusions makes perfect sense. Only I am not sure those are black - the picture would make coorless crystals look that way as they reflect the camera. And there are more shaddows than inclusions in the shot. The darkfield pictures show which is what.

Pretty different... these two. The 'natural light' picture makes the tiny pinpoints on the crown look like a bunch of hornets... and hides the main thing (the inclusions under the table).

The darkfield gets rid of shadows and show which is what. I wouldn't have looked twice either after seeing the natural light photo - I was curious to see why this one would have lasted through the Holidays given it is a nice quote for the size. Oh well... At this point, Jonathan (or someone else who can see these) could tell for sure if this is just wishful thinking. I am not sure if this is an 'eye clean' candidate or not quite - obviously, I wish it were, and this is why it made the list.

PS. Edited to add:

Got to change those memory chips

Someone did see and post about this stone: Matatora! (see page 2 on this thread). He posts goes:

"I had taken a mental pass on that GOG 1.72 before we go there, but the gentleman brought it out and I was shocked! The pictures makes that stones look

but in life it is WOW!"

 

[Mara]

Thats true, Ana I did not click to see the other images...if the crystals are white then it could be eye-clean, but it would be hard to say. If they are dark, though I could see how the diamond may not be desirable to most! Such a tricky thing....those inclusions. You can get lucky or you may not.