Super Rookie and need some help...

[JR3116]

My boyfriend and I are starting to look at rings & diamonds. I would really like a large stone. I''m not an avid consumer of diamonds- just a regular girl who can''t wait for her ring. I''d really like a 2 carat princess cut stone... however our price range limits us with quality. Could anyone chime in and tell me if these specs for a stone would look bad? (If I think the rings at Zales and Kay are beautiful- will these specs look atleast as good? or will the quality look bad?) By the way- we are not buying from zales or kay- don''t worry. I just like to window shop.

Ok- here is what we could probably afford in a Princess cut 2 carat:

EGL certification (Is this bad?)
Color: probably an H or I
Clarity: SI1 or 2
Cut: Good
Depth: 70-75% (I''m not sure what this is.)
Table 70-75% (I''m not sure what this is.)

If anyone wants specifics- we''re looking to keep the stone around $7000. I''d also like it set in a solitaire white gold or platinum setting.

Any opinions? Don''t be shy bc I have no idea what we are doing with diamonds!

 

[Regular Guy]

JR,

Welcome to Pricescope, and good luck with this project.

See under my signature for general advice, and check this one out...first time I looked for anything but a round using the "Price Stat" feature, above, under Prices.

 

[Regular Guy]

Oops...looking again, in the same spot, there''s other Js too, with purportedly significantly less inclusions, including this one.

Regards,

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 6/21/2007 9:34:43 PM
Author:JR3116
Ok- here is what we could probably afford in a Princess cut 2 carat:

EGL certification (Is this bad?)
Color: probably an H or I
Clarity: SI1 or 2
Cut: Good
Depth: 70-75% (I''m not sure what this is.)
Table 70-75% (I''m not sure what this is.)

If anyone wants specifics- we''re looking to keep the stone around $7000. I''d also like it set in a solitaire white gold or platinum setting.

A nice 2ct princess for $7000 is nearly impossible to find. Some really great 1ct princesses can go for that much. Here''s what I think about your specs:

1) Cert: EGL certs are risky because the clarity and color are often 1-2 grades lower than GIA or AGS would grade them. I''d think about an EGL USA, but no other EGL labs.
2) Color: You probably won''t be able to afford anything above J or maybe I. I''ve found that there''s a pretty substantial price jump from I to H. However, I have an I princess, and it faces up very white because it''s well-cut.
3) Clarity: SI1 and SI2 are both fine as long as the diamond is eye-clean! And there are eye-clean SI2s out there. If it''s not clean from the side view, make sure the setting hides any visible inclusions, like perhaps a bezel setting.
4) Cut: Don''t compromise on this. "Good" probably won''t be good enough. Go for something higher (not sure how EGL grades cut, but there''s gotta be something better than "good"). Remember, cut is what really makes a diamond sparkle, and princesses vary tremendously in cut quality.
5) Depth/table: Try to find a shallower stone, which will give you more spread, and a smaller table, which will give you more fire.

Since you want a big stone on a budget, I''d consider round diamonds as well as princesses. A round will face up much bigger than a princess (I''d say a 1.5ct round will look as big as a 2ct princess). Or think about getting a smaller princess and putting it in a halo setting, like the Ritani Endless Love with halo.

 

[jstarfireb]

Here''s one from Blue Nile that''s a bit smaller than what you''re looking for, but the cut is "very good" and the cert is GIA. BN doesn''t have an upgrade policy, so we normally don''t recommend it around here, but this diamond looks pretty nice.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01067898&filter_id=0

 

[JR3116]

Thanks for all of the help! I will keep looking and try to get something for a better cut.

Will a J color be noticeably yellow?

 

[JR3116]

All of your posts are/were so helpful. I have no idea what I''m doing.

 

[belle]

Date: 6/22/2007 9:28:45 AM
Author: JR3116

Will a J color be noticeably yellow?

not in a properly graded TOP CUT stone.

 

[JR3116]

I''ve been looking around here a bit more, and I honestly think I like the radiant stones over the princess cuts. Now I''m sure I''ll post more questions.