The Quest for an EC Begins!

[M@!]

I have decided to begin looking for an EC engagment ring for soon to be future Fiance. I had planned on just heading to Ritz Jewelry in the San Francisco "Wholesale" mart but since I have been researching on this site is seems like online is the place to buy. Then I keep reading about EC diamonds and it seems like you really need to see them in person to get the right diamond. Is the advantage of buying online worth the risk are should I pony up the extra cash to buy a diamond in person. I am looking to spend about $7,000-$9,000 on the ring, most of that for the diamond since my g/f just wants a standard platinum band.

What are your thoughts on buying an EC online? All things being equal the tax alone on a $9,000 ring would be significant savings. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as I go back to what seems like a never ending quest for the perfect ring!

Just for comparison here is a diamond I eyeing at Ritz.

http://onlinecatalog.ritzjewelers.com/diamonds/detail.aspx?opid=D01&dia_refno=143477

 

[chrono]

If buying online, I would stick with trusted places where the vendor can eye ball the EC for me and run the gamut of tests like the following:
1. SARIN report
2. Magnified pictures
3. Idealscope picture
4. ASET picture

Online vendors who will do all these for you are:
1. Whiteflash
2. Good Old Gold
3. Engagement Rings Direct
4. James Allen

ETA
The EC you showed as an example looked not too shabby but I would try my very best to get at least a VG rating in the symmetry, which I think in important in step cuts.

 

[M@!]

Chrono,

Good advice, with those four items I should be able to get a good idea and with the major 4 I shouldn''t have any problems with returns if it turns out not to be the one.

I totally missed the symetry on the Ritz diamond, I know I will be posting my options on here before purchasing. Should I be looking for a VG polish also? Going to VG symetry definitely raised the price!

 

[chrono]

Yes, at least Very Good for both the Polish and Symmetry.

I would go with the following stats:

Colour: H or better (ECs have a tendency to show body colour)
Clarity: VS2 or better (Step cuts show inclusions very easily)
Depth: 60% to 65% (A deep stone will measure smaller. I might be all right up to 68% if all the other stats are great)
Table: 58% to 65% (Prefer the table to be less % than the depth. A smaller table = more fire)
Crown height: Anything over 10%. Personally, I like them over 12% for more fire.
Symmetry: At least VG
Polish: At least VG

 

[diagem]

Date: 6/25/2007 4:20:34 PM
Author:M@!
I have decided to begin looking for an EC engagment ring for soon to be future Fiance. I had planned on just heading to Ritz Jewelry in the San Francisco ''Wholesale'' mart but since I have been researching on this site is seems like online is the place to buy. Then I keep reading about EC diamonds and it seems like you really need to see them in person to get the right diamond. Is the advantage of buying online worth the risk are should I pony up the extra cash to buy a diamond in person. I am looking to spend about $7,000-$9,000 on the ring, most of that for the diamond since my g/f just wants a standard platinum band.

What are your thoughts on buying an EC online? All things being equal the tax alone on a $9,000 ring would be significant savings. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as I go back to what seems like a never ending quest for the perfect ring!

Just for comparison here is a diamond I eyeing at Ritz.

http://onlinecatalog.ritzjewelers.com/diamonds/detail.aspx?opid=D01&dia_refno=143477

Why is the GIA report typed on?!?!?
Smells fishy....

 

[diagem]

Date: 6/25/2007 4:27:02 PM
Author: Chrono
If buying online, I would stick with trusted places where the vendor can eye ball the EC for me and run the gamut of tests like the following:
1. SARIN report
2. Magnified pictures
3. Idealscope picture
4. ASET picture

Online vendors who will do all these for you are:
1. Whiteflash
2. Good Old Gold
3. Engagement Rings Direct
4. James Allen
5. there are quite a few more...


ETA
The EC you showed as an example looked not too shabby but I would try my very best to get at least a VG rating in the symmetry, which I think in important in step cuts.

 

[diagem]

Date: 6/26/2007 9:05:20 AM
Author: Chrono
Yes, at least Very Good for both the Polish and Symmetry.

I would go with the following stats:

Colour: H or better (ECs have a tendency to show body colour)
Clarity: VS2 or better (Step cuts show inclusions very easily)
Depth: 60% to 65% (A deep stone will measure smaller. I might be all right up to 68% if all the other stats are great)
Table: 58% to 65% (Prefer the table to be less % than the depth. A smaller table = more fire)
Crown height: Anything over 10%. Personally, I like them over 12% for more fire.
Symmetry: At least VG
Polish: At least VG

The opposite...., that is why it is extremely rare to locate a great Fancy colored Emerald Cut Diamond, and if you find one.... you will pay a bunch more$$$

 

[M@!]

The VG on symetry and polish really do limit the choices but I definitely want the right rock. What do you think of this one?

$9439S
Shape : Emerald
Carats : 1.64
Cut Grade : Very Good
Color Grade : H
Clarity Grade : VVS2
Certificate No. :
Measurement : 7.56x6.24x3.94
Ratio : 1.21
Depth : 63.1%
Table : 63
Girdle : STK-
Culet : None
Polish : Very Good
Symmetry : Very Good
Certification : GIA
Fluorescence : NO

 

[chrono]

Could be a very good stone.

Have you seen the stone? Can the vendor provide a magnified picture of the EC?
Any Idealscope or ASET pictures?

 

[M@!]

That is from engagement rings direct. I am going to give him a call today and I will post when I get more info from them. None of the Diamonds at Ritz met my criteria.

 

[Gypsy]

Mark has a great eye. He doesn''t have an ideal scope, but should be able to tell you crown height (get that) and a couple of pics of the diamond itself so that we can see it. I would trust Mark''s eyes 100%.

 

[chrono]

Great! I have never known Mark to pick duds. He''s right at the NY diamond district and has easy access to hundreds of stones, so if this one doesn''t pan out, I know he''ll find something else spectacular. I''ve never seen him steer anyone wrong; he has lots of experience and great eyes for well cut stones.

 

[M@!]

Alright,

Got a few images on a couple of EC''s from engagement rings direct. I got butterflies in my stomach when I first viewed the images. They just got the diamonds in today and I do not have a sarin report or any other info. What do you all think?

Shape Size Col Clar Dpth Tbl Pol SymFlr Meas Ratio Sell
Ecut 1.64 H VVS2 63.1% 63% VG VG N 7.56 -6.24x3.94 1.21 $9,439
Ecut 1.56 H VS1 64.1% 63% V G VG N 7.86 -5.74 x3.64 1.37 $8,746

 

[chrono]

I like the one on the left. Is that the 1.56ct H VS1? I like it based on the pattern and ratio. What did Mark say about both?

 

[shminbabe]

i want to jump in on this discussion as i''m also considering emerald cuts. like the OP i''m learning to make sense of the numbers. i think

i was sent a GIA report on an emerald stone from a trusted online vendor (someone y''all speak of highly). it seems like the table is too large - - am i correct in understanding that the table size (or percent?) determines how much fire an emerald cut will have??

these are its'' stats:

8.40 X 6.66 X 4.18mm
2.10 ct
G
VS2
Polish - VG
Symmetry - VG
Flouro - none (does this matter one way or the other?)

table - 73 %
depth - 62.8 %
girdle - thin/medium (am I reading this correctly?)

culet very small

no crown height indicated

the GIA states ''profile not to actual proportions'' underneath the rendering of the stone''s dimensions.

Sorry to hone in on the OP''s thread but I thought my question rather mirrors his and your expert opinions might help us both.

jeannie

 

[chrono]

Shminbabe,
Are you sure the table is 73%? That's really huge. It might make the EC look like a piece of glass (a look not many people like). Everything else about the stone looks great. Before completely dismissing the stone, ask the vendor for a few more things:

1. Crown height % - this is very important for fire. Look for 10% and upwards. I prefer 12% and more. The higher the %, the greater the fire. A SARIN report will give you this number.

2. Idealscope picture - to check light leakage
3. Magnified picture - to see the step pattern

 

[Gypsy]

Really love the one on the left. Can we get a BIGGER 40 mag pic of it?

 

[shminbabe]

Chrono,

re: the table on the diamond (emerald) i mentioned: yes, it''s that big. so is another diamond i''ve actually seen in person. it did look like a piece of glass (the one at the brick and mortar), a very lovely piece of glass, but then again, i am not sure what i am looking for! steps, facets, visible.

okay, so i''m looking at good old gold. the emerald cut stone i shared the stats on will be viewed in person when he calls it in. i asked about the large table, and he said he''d really have to view it in person first, didn''t really pay much attention to the numbers at this point. is this okay? with sooo much sharing of detail and numbers that goes on here, i feel like i''m obsessing about it all and am driving myself crazy! and then buying online, that''s another whole thing.

i saw some emerald cuts listed at engagement rings direct whose numbers/ percentages, stats seemed to be where i want them and whose costs are maybe something we can afford. are Good Old Gold and Engagement Rings Direct equal in quality and service? Will I have a problem w/ returning if I buy from them?

i am also working with an independent jeweler here in my town. she is taking too long to get something for me to view!! it''s been two weeks now since i''ve seen anything.

jeannie

 

[shminbabe]

so when i ask for these things they won''t balk and will honestly help me interpret them? will they make a video and compare stones?

if i get a loose stone at one of these vendors, is it best to work with them on setting it?

lastly, how can i find a truly independent jewelry appraiser ??

jeannie

 

[chrono]

Date: 6/28/2007 12:08:25 AM
Author: shminbabe
so when i ask for these things they won''t balk and will honestly help me interpret them? will they make a video and compare stones?

GOG can do the video for you. For such a large stone that GOG is going to call in (if it''s that 73% stone), I''ll tell Jon/Tim to pass on it and get something better. None of the online vendors will balk on helping you. They too want you to be more than 100% pleased with your purchase. A happy customer means more future clients for them as their good reputation gets further bolstered. Give GOG the specs and they''ll find what you are asking for. Since it will most likely be a virtual stone, I''d rather be safe and be more picky when using the numbers to eliminate the duds.

Mark is in the NY diamond district and can find tons of stones very quickly. He also has a very good eye so I would contact him too.

if i get a loose stone at one of these vendors, is it best to work with them on setting it?
Yes, both have access to regular stock settings like Stuller and Adwar, as well as designer settings like Vatche and also do custom work.


lastly, how can i find a truly independent jewelry appraiser ??
Pricescope has a list of independent appraisers listed here. If not, a quick look at the yellow pages will help.

jeannie

 

[chrono]

Date: 6/28/2007 12:06:38 AM
Author: shminbabe
Chrono,

re: the table on the diamond (emerald) i mentioned: yes, it's that big. so is another diamond i've actually seen in person. it did look like a piece of glass (the one at the brick and mortar), a very lovely piece of glass, but then again, i am not sure what i am looking for! steps, facets, visible.

okay, so i'm looking at good old gold. the emerald cut stone i shared the stats on will be viewed in person when he calls it in. i asked about the large table, and he said he'd really have to view it in person first, didn't really pay much attention to the numbers at this point. is this okay? with sooo much sharing of detail and numbers that goes on here, i feel like i'm obsessing about it all and am driving myself crazy! and then buying online, that's another whole thing.

i saw some emerald cuts listed at engagement rings direct whose numbers/ percentages, stats seemed to be where i want them and whose costs are maybe something we can afford. are Good Old Gold and Engagement Rings Direct equal in quality and service? Will I have a problem w/ returning if I buy from them?

i am also working with an independent jeweler here in my town. she is taking too long to get something for me to view!! it's been two weeks now since i've seen anything.

jeannie

Jeannie,

I posted this on your other thread. If you are viewing the stone in person, keep in mind this is what you want to see:

Indirect light (shaded natural sunlight)
Check out all the steps. Look for a beautiful balance of narrow light and dark lines in the center (you don't want a dark chunk in the middle) with tiny sparkles like crushed ice at the two ends. It should look very white with hints of strong dispersion at the ends.

Office fluorescent light
This is when the stone looks the most plain and white. When moving the EC from side to side, look for fire (rainbow light) moving from one end of the long steps to the other end. The corners should still sparkle like icy crushed ice.

Sunlight
Rainbows should flash everywhere.

You should see large flashes of coloured light. It is mostly likely to be more
impressive from a few feet away than it is from a few inches away.

It is best that you view several stones at the same time if at all possible. Your mind cannot make comparisons from shop to shop because the effect will be lost in our memories.

It is also a good idea to view some good stones and not so good stones to "teach" your eyes how to "read" them. If you stick with GOG or ERD, I don't think you'll have to worry about picking the wrong stone.