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merilenda

merilenda

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 20, 2010
Messages
816
First of all, I just want to say that I am so glad I found PS! This is such a great resource! I''m starting the search for a loose diamond for my e-ring, and I''m feeling a little lost.

Originally, my BF and I were going to set a RB diamond that his family had, but now they can''t find it. So it''s back to the drawing board. My first love (and the stone that I feel that I''m most drawn to) is the princess cut. I guess it doesn''t seem very popular around here, but I love them. I also warmed up a lot of RBs during my setting search for the diamond that can''t be found.
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So I''m looking at both, though probably leaning more toward princess.

I have tried on rings in local B&M stores, and I''ve found that I''m not particularly sensitive to color/fluorescence. I''m also not a stickler on clarity, as long as the stone is eye clean. So I would rather compromise on these points and get a larger stone.

With this is mind, I''ve started my search. I just feel like I''m not sure what I''m doing, so I was hoping maybe you could get me started. Here are a couple stones that I found from a quick search. They seem priced so reasonably, so I''m wondering if that''s just because I''m looking at lower colors or if it''s a bigger problem.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1262639.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2298283.htm
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1178604.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Current budget is around the $2k mark for the stone, but this could be flexible depending on what we find (long story, but I have money available to me if I fall in love with something a bit over BF''s budget).

Oh and one more thing...BF is anxious about buying online. I''ve tried to explain that we can get "more for less" by going through a PS vendor instead of a local B&M store. It didn''t help that the (very nice) woman at the B&M store said that sometimes people buy online and end up with CZ''s instead of diamonds. Any tips on easing his mind?
 
Buying with a PS vendor, if you get a CZ, the rep of the PS vendor will get a big hit. No way the vendor will risk that for just a small amount of profit.
If you are worried, get it appraised with an independent appraiser that you hire, to verify the stone is as sold, as stated on the grading report. https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx


Not really liking any of the JA stones, no way to tell about the WF stone as it is a stone on the virtual inventory, no images.
 
0.738 J VS2
this one is upgradable (I am not sure about the other ones you posted, or if upgradable is even important to you!)

also here is a video on princess cuts
video 1

i think it''s a matter of personal preference, rounds are popular on this website but i personally don''t like them for rings (pendants and earrings is another story!). if you like the princess cut then go with it!
 
We will have the stone appraised - I''m just trying to ease BF''s mind about buying a diamond on the internet. I know it''s a little harder than seeing them in person, but the cost difference is so huge. At the local B&M store, they showed us a .7 ct. G SI2 princess for $2850. And it was EGL-USA graded, so I don''t know how much of a difference that makes. I know we can do a lot better than that through a PS vendor.

Other than the color/clarity/polish/symmetry numbers, what do you look for exactly? All of the diamonds kind of look the same to me, that''s why I''m having trouble.

The WF virtual inventory stones are priced so much cheaper - I''m assuming they can bring them in if requested? I just am not sure what to request at this point. As far as I can tell, all of JA''s loose diamonds are upgradeable, provided that you spend 2x the amount.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I really am appreciating the direction, since I''m feeling a little directionless! So many diamonds, and they all kind of look the same based on what I can see online.
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EGL is known to be soft on color and clarity so is discounted in trade.

virtual stone can be brought in by WF but I think there will be a cost if they say it is good and you do not buy it.

Yap, JA''s stones are all upgradable, 2x price. So either you go with an in-house stone from WF, GOG, etc., easier to find well cut stone, or shift through the large number of stones in the database of JA.

Can''t really quantify what other stuff I look at, which is looking at the loupe image, sometimes that will be off due to lighting conditions and positioning of the table, other than table must be smaller than depth.
 
Any tips on looking at the loupe images? Some of them have pretty visible inclusions, but other than that, I guess I don''t know what I''m looking at there.
 
Merilenda, Welcome to Pricescope! Please read the tutorials. Look above at the knowledge tab, click it and then the advanced tutorial tab and then you see a princess cut diamonds on the left. I believe that the AGS 0 grade is the best cut for princess cut diamonds. I would look at Whiteflash line of ACA''S princess cuts and the Infinity line of princess cuts and rounds. Both have very good upgrade policies too. James Allen is usually a little lower priced but their upgrade policy is not as generous. Princess cuts face up a little smaller thans rounds do for the same weight and show color and imperfections easier than rounds. And not as sparkly in my opinion. I would tell your BF that Pricescope vendors(dealers) are all completely honest. I would NEVER buy a diamond from Ebay. I would also try buying an in house diamond and not a virtual diamond. Just plain easier. And if you have more questions and/or just need help in selecting a diamond, there are many ladies here who are happy to assist you. Yeah, I heard the same line about CZ before, lots of brick and mortars cannot compete with online prices. All my wife''s diamonds are from Pricescope vendors as are thousands of other people here. Best way to buy diamonds, lots of info and plenty of ways to double check. I wish you luck!!!
 
Thanks! I have read the tutorial on princess cuts. I''m just looking for the best bang for our buck, I guess. I don''t find that I''m very sensitive to color, and I''m willing to compromise on clarity if the stone is eye clean. I want a stone that''s pretty, but it doesn''t have to be "perfect," per se.

WF does have a better upgrade policy, which is something I''ve considered. But to qualify, I believe I would have to go down quite a bit in size to stay in the neighborhood of my budget. Which I think is great if that''s what someone wants, but why not get a larger stone if it doesn''t bother me to go down some in other areas?

I''ve also thought about how princess cuts face up smaller than rounds. At first it seems like they''re cheaper (based on ct weight) but once you consider the actual length x width measurements, that''s not necessarily true. The truth is that I really like both shapes. I''m not ruling out round just yet, and I''m still looking at stones. But I just feel like I''m more drawn to the square shape.

Oh and I just realized that I duplicated the same stone on this post. So scratch that. It''s easy to get a little confused at first! I may just email WF or JA tomorrow, let them know what I''m looking for, and see if they can help in the search.
 
Date: 5/5/2010 9:19:56 PM
Author:merilenda
First of all, I just want to say that I am so glad I found PS! This is such a great resource! I'm starting the search for a loose diamond for my e-ring, and I'm feeling a little lost.

Originally, my BF and I were going to set a RB diamond that his family had, but now they can't find it. So it's back to the drawing board. My first love (and the stone that I feel that I'm most drawn to) is the princess cut. I guess it doesn't seem very popular around here, but I love them. I also warmed up a lot of RBs during my setting search for the diamond that can't be found.
38.gif
So I'm looking at both, though probably leaning more toward princess.

I have tried on rings in local B&M stores, and I've found that I'm not particularly sensitive to color/fluorescence. I'm also not a stickler on clarity, as long as the stone is eye clean. So I would rather compromise on these points and get a larger stone.

With this is mind, I've started my search. I just feel like I'm not sure what I'm doing, so I was hoping maybe you could get me started. Here are a couple stones that I found from a quick search. They seem priced so reasonably, so I'm wondering if that's just because I'm looking at lower colors or if it's a bigger problem.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1262639.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2298283.htm
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1178604.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Current budget is around the $2k mark for the stone, but this could be flexible depending on what we find (long story, but I have money available to me if I fall in love with something a bit over BF's budget).

Oh and one more thing...BF is anxious about buying online. I've tried to explain that we can get 'more for less' by going through a PS vendor instead of a local B&M store. It didn't help that the (very nice) woman at the B&M store said that sometimes people buy online and end up with CZ's instead of diamonds. Any tips on easing his mind?
Click to expand...
Hi Merlinda

To address the above highlighted statement, firstly this is a crime and is something no reputable vendor is going to even think of doing!! I have been here 5 years and seen thousands of online purchasers buy their diamonds successfully and I have never ever seen this happen. What you can do to completely ease your concerns is to get your diamond independantly appraised during the return period which most vendors offer, that way you will not only know you have a diamond but will learn a lot about your stone from the appraisal so this is something that is well worth doing.

appraiser tool

Princess are popular and we aim to help everyone no matter what they want to buy! The best thing to do is look at some of the branded AGS0 stones or hand selected GIA Princess which are specially chosen for their optical performance to get a well cut stone. What are your priorities here, do you want the largest stone you can find on your budget?

Here are some other vendors that might be able to help you.

www.goodoldgold.com

www.highperformancediamonds.com

www.whiteflash.com
 
Date: 5/5/2010 10:00:55 PM
Author: merilenda


Other than the color/clarity/polish/symmetry numbers, what do you look for exactly? All of the diamonds kind of look the same to me, that's why I'm having trouble.
Click to expand...
It comes down to me anyway in developing an eye by studying the images of each diamond over a long period of time and then viewing as many stones as possible in person and try to evaluate each by visual performance, using reflectors and studying the proportions in order to learn as much as I can. That way one has a better chance of narrowing down well cut stones online, but it is easier to narrow the field by looking at the branded Princess which also have the AGS0 cut grade, or are hand selected by a trusted vendor for their beauty. Once you look at images online over a long period of time you can sort the wheat from the chaff so to speak but thats really as far as we can go as we can't see a particular diamond or actually recommend it, recommending stones is the job of the vendor that can actually see and properly evaluate the diamond for the client, what we can do is make suggestions but in the end it comes down to an effective relationship between vendor and buyer so the buyer can make the best choice for them.
 
Merilenda have you seen the many videos on GOG. They also carry Queen of Hearts, Jubilees and cushions. Perhaps one of those? I also saw a 76 princess that is in your budget range. I think this is about as big and good as you can find with a lifetime upgrade too. Me likey!
 
Thanks for the tip, bagelboy! I really like that GOG has videos of their stones. I think I''m going to have BF get in touch with them. From what I''ve seen around PS, their diamonds are very pretty. I also really like the more square-shaped cushion cuts, so we''ll check those out, too.
 
GOG definitely has a video comparing the square cushion H&A to a princess--they are very different looks!

I am a big fan of the square cushion H&A (one will be going into my e-ring...it is the stone in my avatar) but they are generally more $$ than the princess cut.
 
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