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Thinking of buying D .41 IF emerald Blue Nile signature

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lemonsupernova

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
3
Hello everyone,

This .41 D IF Blue Nile Signature emerald cut http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-cert-viewer?cert_pid=LD03185042&cert_zoom=false&emerald-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-d-color-if-clarity_LD03185042&click_id=383395840 from PriceScope's Diamond Search caught my eye. This maybe my first online diamond purchase, so I really want to be sure. I have read several articles discussing the hesitation of some regarding Blue Nile since with their business model, their gemologist do not handle the diamonds personally, but would I have any eyeclean or any other issue with that since it's an IF clarity grade diamond? The GCAL report gives a good rating on its light performance. Is this a good buy? Also are their ring settings okay? I saw a good setting with James Allen that I like and yet I like the price of a Blue Nile Diamond. Online diamond purchasing makes me nervous, but I really am excited with the price, color and clarity grade of this particular diamond. :) Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. :D
 
Is there a particular reason you are looking at a D IF stone?

An IF stone doesn't have any inclusions (internally flawless) so it will always be eye clean. But so could a VS1-2, and you'll pay much less for it. And you could get a bigger stone. I believe most folks recommend higher clarity on emerald cuts, but I don't know that IF is necessary.

I couldn't see the price so I can't tell if this is a good deal or not. Here's one at GOG that is lower in clarity and color, but slightly larger:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9843/
One from James Allen: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/0.50-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-19545

But if I were buying an emerald or any fancy cut, I would go with a vendor that offers ASET and Idealscope images to compare light return, or could find me a selection of well-cut stones they would recommend. I just don't think BN can do that, so I would go elsewhere.

What's your budget? Is this for an engagement ring?
 
To own a top color, internally flawless perfect diamond would be cool!
 
Thank you, nicoleanne and AprilBaby! :wavey: I totally love it here at Pricescope, I'm learning a lot.

I must say, AprilBaby, you totally get why I want an IF D diamond. I figured, if I'm going buy one, why not one that's almost pure, with almost no inclusions. Since I'm madly in love, I figured a pure diamond would totally describe my relationship with my guy. :D

Nicoleanne, I am not really particular with how big the diamond is so I'm willing to forgo carat and just focus on the clarity and color. I highly appreciate you mentioning ASET and Idealscope. I must confess my ignorance however as to what they are. BlueNile has a GCAL Certificate which has Optical Brilliance Analysis, and has graded this particular diamond excellent. Does that cover the light performance data that ASET and Idealscope can give me? I shall read more about these two, though, and check on the diamonds from GoodOldGold and James Allen to keep my options open. Thank you so much! :appl:

You're right, it is for an engagement ring. My darling boyfriend confessed that he's too afraid of not getting the right diamond for me so I agreed to help him pick and he could just make it up with a really good surprise proposal. :lol: The BlueNile diamond is priced at USD 1,687, just right for our budget. :twirl:
 
Man -I can't stop watching that James Allen video of the stone linked above. Mesmerizing!
 
lemonsupernova|1372853912|3476505 said:
Thank you, nicoleanne and AprilBaby! :wavey: I totally love it here at Pricescope, I'm learning a lot.

I must say, AprilBaby, you totally get why I want an IF D diamond. I figured, if I'm going buy one, why not one that's almost pure, with almost no inclusions. Since I'm madly in love, I figured a pure diamond would totally describe my relationship with my guy. :D

Nicoleanne, I am not really particular with how big the diamond is so I'm willing to forgo carat and just focus on the clarity and color. I highly appreciate you mentioning ASET and Idealscope. I must confess my ignorance however as to what they are. BlueNile has a GCAL Certificate which has Optical Brilliance Analysis, and has graded this particular diamond excellent. Does that cover the light performance data that ASET and Idealscope can give me? I shall read more about these two, though, and check on the diamonds from GoodOldGold and James Allen to keep my options open. Thank you so much! :appl:

You're right, it is for an engagement ring. My darling boyfriend confessed that he's too afraid of not getting the right diamond for me so I agreed to help him pick and he could just make it up with a really c surprise proposal. :lol: The BlueNile diamond is priced at USD 1,687, just right for our budget. :twirl:
Click to expand...


The sentiment is sweet, but i am just not sure its the right route for an e- ring.... have you seen a .41 emerald cut in person? they face up very small compared to a round. and thats already a small ctw. And you WILL see the size of your stone, you will not see the high clarity. I have a ring with .84/.32/ and .15 ct stones. they range from VVS2- SI1.... i truely dont even know which of my .32 side stones has the VVS clarity and which has the Si1 clarity....

and sure right when your buying the stone you'll be into the color clarity grading, but at the end of the day you arent wearing that on your finger.....

i also think a D IF would be nice to own one day, but for a pendent or something... I just dont know about sacrificing so much size and visual impact just to be able to say its an EF. Let alone the fact you dont actually know what this stone looks like, it could be a dud.... then youve got high clarity and and color on a small lack luster diamond.

If you just want to be able to say its D IF, then go for it, you know whats important to you... :wavey:
 
Can you post the full stats of the EC from the GCAL Gemprint which is too small for me to read and too blurry when I magnify it. Crown height is of some interest to me purely out of curiousity. I am not confident in the light performance review by GCAL which is the reason I am hesitant to comment on how well this EC will perform. The image is obviously some sort of mapping of the light path into the diamond and out but I don't know what device was used, how it is used, what exactly is it measuring, the angle of the light, etc. which all matters.

I also caution that you draw out 5 x 4 mm on a piece of paper, cut it out and stick it on your finger. This is the actual size of the diamond (albeit slightly smaller) and decide if feels right on you. I understand the mind clean issue of a high colour and clarity stone - colour is perceptible and I love it on ECs. Super high clarity on the other hand, feels unnecessary, and having an inclusion or two under high magnification is a great way to be able to ID your stone.
 
What size is your finger. Here's what it would look like on a sixe 7

uploadfromtaptalk1372858170091.jpg
 
I agree with what the others have said, but I do know where you're coming from. Before discovering PS, I wanted nothing but the cleanest colorless stone, because it would symbolize how I felt in my relationship. I thought that if I compromised on clarity even a tad, I would somehow see the difference and regret it. The same with color, that the fact that different grades even existed (along with the extravagant price difference) meant that a D was better than an E, so I would be settling for a sub-optimal stone.

If you can, I suggest doing what I (and countless others) did and go to a local jeweler and ask to compare stones with different color/clarity grades. I live in a big city though, so it was easier for me to find one that had anything close to a D IF stone. If you compare a GIA/AGS graded IF to a GIA/AGS graded VS1, I promise in 99.9% of the times you won't see a difference in clarity, but you'll be shocked at the price difference. Some rare people are incredibly color sensitive, but even going down 1 color grade is negligible, but again the price difference is quite large.

Remember, color and clarity are not related to sparkle (for clarity grades over SI2 safely I believe). So all else equal, a G VS1 stone is going to sparkle just the same as a D IF stone, and arguably, also look exactly the same to the naked eye. You will notice an increase in size.

But if you love the idea of a D IF stone, then that's great too. There's something special about knowing you have one of the rarest diamonds available. Just make sure you're willing to sacrifice size to do so. If you already want the best in color and clarity, I would suggest you work with a vendor that provides ASET images so you know you're getting the best in cut too, a far more important characteristic than anything else. Good luck and congratulations! :wavey:
 
I totally get the "mind clean" thing and the importance of having the most perfect engagement stone you can (afford). I felt the same way, to a degree. I also get the budget thing. I went with H VS1 for my .488 Hearts and Arrows round, and we paid just around a grand for it. I could have gone eye clean SI1, but didn't want to... I'm still happy I didn't. I like that I can loupe my diamond and see... nothing! But... I also know that I'm glad I didn't go higher, since I'd pay for something I can't see.

But I also agree with what's posted above. Emerald cuts don't look as big as rounds, so you might be sacrificing more than you think on size. My mom has an EC in her e ring that is, if I remember right, about the same size. I'm actually going to my parents' house tonight, so I'll take a picture of it. Her setting is pretty substantial compared to the stone, which kind of compensates for that... but if you are looking for a more delicate or simple setting, you might be disappointed with the presence.
 
D IF is cool.
I have a round one.
I totally understand wanting top color and clarity.
To people who say, "But you can't see what you are paying for", I'd ask, "Then why are you buying a real diamond?".
You can't see what you are paying for compared to some man made diamonds.

You would reply, "I want a real diamond because I just want a real diamond. It being real means something to me."
I see no difference between this and just wanting a D IF.
D IF means something to some people.
Sure, inform then that D IF does not make for good light performance, a common misunderstanding, but after that let go.

Insisting, even assuming, everyone puts a priority of weight is not respecting diversity ... especially after this poster stated size is a low priority.

There, that said, I'll move on to cut.
Color and clarity do not determine light performance.
Cut does that.

A poorly-cut emerald cut will look dull and dark and not have much colored fire.

The only way to judge light performance of emerald cuts is to see them live or get an ASET picture.
http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_ASET_scope.asp

Bluenile does not provide them so I'd work with a vendor who does.
I recommend goodoldgold, whiteflash, jamesallen.
Frankly I'd give Jonathan at goodologold a call and tell him to find you a diamond that meets your specs, price and has fine light performance.
Just tell him most people's first priority is your last priority, size.

You might say, "Kenny assuming everyone wants good cut is not respecting diversity."
I'd agree, and if a person actually saw a dark, dull, lifeless diamond next to a well-cut one I doubt anyone would want the dead one, but I guess that's remotely possible.

Some may actually prefer a smaller diamond.
It may fit their personality.
They may be concerned about their safety wearing a larger stone.
They may have a job where they work with their hands.
She may have a sister who's a size queen with a lopsy fugs grayish 6 ct X I3 and wants to take the opposite approach with her diamond.
 
Kenny is right. We should be pushing our believe that CTW is most important if you dont think that. I'm just concerned you think clarity and color is what makes a stone perform. And as Kenny said its not. I feel like De beers pushes on people that the worth and beauty in a diamond is how rare it is. But there's lots of rare things that aren't necessarily better.

And also my concern is that you in the long run might be unhappy with your purchase. So of course get what makes your heart sing, just know exactly what that is before you get it.

Also I agree go though GOG..... they can probably even find you a larger one. I did, though it doesn't look like a keeper though, just to illustrate the size that might be possible on your budget.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/0.54-carat-d-color-if-clarity-sku-182281
 
If the D IF grading is something that appeals to you, then other PSers will try to help you find the best one they can. I personally don't have any experience with EC stones, but I can say with some confidence that it's impossible to judge a EC stone properly without an ASET, something Blue Nile fails to offer. Are you open to using another vendor that provides this? Good Old Gold is very well recommended here, and I believe they will even do a video of comparing different stones upon request to see live (not 100% on this, but it's been done before)

If not, then you can always have Blue Nile ship you the stone and see it for yourself. Then you can bring it with you to other jewelers and compare. I'm assuming that this is your first EC stone, so be sure to ask the jewelers to provide the best they have for comparison. If it's not top performing, you have 30 days to send it back. Just a thought.
 
For size reference: 6.5 size finger
First- .3-.4 ct ec
Second- with .488 ct round
Third- next to .15 rounds

If this matters... Hope it is helpful. :)

_7749.jpg

_7750.jpg

_7751.jpg
 
Does it have to be an EC?

that round Nicoleanne showed looks solo much larger in that bezel than that EC. On top of that, a good one would be easier to find. Pop it in a bezel like that one and I wouldn't even think it looks small. Very normal size around where I live at least.


Or like an ew marquise in a bezel, his cool would that be. And it would have a visual impact AND the d if you want.



Just another idea to consider. :wavey:


But I'd you stick with an ec, I think a tiffany lucida type thick band would make it look really cool and casual! Like, as think as the diamond almost.
 
Admittedly, I am not an expert. But, I have spent countless hours looking at my own 2.01 EC. First, if you can get over the mind clean thing, I would. If you cannot, I can appreciate that. That said, the first GOG option seems to have a cut problem IMHO. It seems dead in the center. Neil's first option seems like an example of a better cut, albeit from a flat view. However, you really need to view an EC IRL!!! They are amazing and impossible at the same time! I guess that is why I love them; they are a bit temperamental, like all of the people that I love in my life!!!
 
Wow, everyone, you're all amazing with your advice. Thank you. :appl:

Motownmama, yeah, since I have been forever a fan of emerald cuts, I find the James Allen video fascinating too. =)

Niel, yes, we've gone through several shops already and were even close to buying a .35 carat emerald cut before. As I've said, size really is not the deal clincher for me. I agree with you though and we share the same fear about my buying an EC dud. My finger length is 75mm. I will look at your James Allen link. I've seen the Tiffany Lucida Thick band and you are right, it is beautiful. =)

Chrono, here are the stats indicated in the GCAL report. I am also not familiar with GCAL and would be needing your advice on the matter. Measurements: 4.84 x 3.72 x 2.50 Crown Height: 13.2% Length/Width Ratio: 1.30 (Does this mean I'm getting a slightly squarish emerald? ) Cut, Polish, Physical Symmetry are all graded Blue Nile Signature Ideal (Is GCAl affiliated with Blue Nile or something? I'm sorry if this is a stupid question.) GCAL Optical Brilliance: Excellent Flourescence: None. GIA certificate indicates that the table is 64% while depth is 67%. By the way, I'm reading the thread you started regarding crown height's on ECs and I find it very educational. :read:

VRBeauty, thank you for the Whiteflash link. I shall check it out along with the others. =)

Hawk25, thank you! Yup, I'm reading about ASET and how it determines the brilliance of a diamond. In my correspondence with Blue Nile, GoodOldGold, James Allen, Whiteflash and other vendors, I will be asking for that, as advised. Thank you!:)

Nicoleanne, thank you for your photos. Your mother has a nice set of jewelry. Everyone has been such a big help. :)

Kenny, thank you so much for understanding my intent on buying a D IF diamond! :D After being advised here in PriceScope and reading much about it, I agree, I have to ask for an ASET image. And haha, bullseye, you nailed all my reasons for purchasing a smaller diamond, except the sister part. But yeah, I'm not a fan of big, fugly jewelry too. :appl:

Illinifire, I am absolutely in love with emerald cuts too! Some may go for round diamond's multiple pinpricks of fire but nothing can sway me away from the broad flashes of light an emerald cut gives. The shape just strikes me as very elegant, like I'm holding this beautiful, smooth slice of light. :twirl:
 
Like you said before, having a D, IF diamond is rare for most people, I get it. I say go for it!!!
 
kenny|1372870335|3476684 said:
D IF is cool.
I have a round one.
I totally understand wanting top color and clarity.
To people who say, "But you can't see what you are paying for", I'd ask, "Then why are you buying a real diamond?".
You can't see what you are paying for compared to some man made diamonds.

You would reply, "I want a real diamond because I just want a real diamond. It being real means something to me."
I see no difference between this and just wanting a D IF.
D IF means something to some people.
Sure, inform then that D IF does not make for good light performance, a common misunderstanding, but after that let go.

Insisting, even assuming, everyone puts a priority of weight is not respecting diversity ... especially after this poster stated size is a low priority.

There, that said, I'll move on to cut.
Color and clarity do not determine light performance.
Cut does that.

A poorly-cut emerald cut will look dull and dark and not have much colored fire.

The only way to judge light performance of emerald cuts is to see them live or get an ASET picture.
http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_ASET_scope.asp

Bluenile does not provide them so I'd work with a vendor who does.
I recommend goodoldgold, whiteflash, jamesallen.
Frankly I'd give Jonathan at goodologold a call and tell him to find you a diamond that meets your specs, price and has fine light performance.
Just tell him most people's first priority is your last priority, size.

You might say, "Kenny assuming everyone wants good cut is not respecting diversity."
I'd agree, and if a person actually saw a dark, dull, lifeless diamond next to a well-cut one I doubt anyone would want the dead one, but I guess that's remotely possible.

Some may actually prefer a smaller diamond.
It may fit their personality.
They may be concerned about their safety wearing a larger stone.
They may have a job where they work with their hands.
She may have a sister who's a size queen with a lopsy fugs grayish 6 ct X I3 and wants to take the opposite approach with her diamond.
Click to expand...

I agree with Kenny. People have different ideas on what they want in a diamond...it may not be size. For my jewelry I'm fine with lowering color and clarity a bit to gain size, however when I start planning my Mother's ring I'm probably going to go D IF. It means something TO ME to have a such a diamond for this particular piece of jewelry.

A mantra here in PS is a "mind clean" stone. Not everyone thinks that going down in color and clarity (even if it may not be noticeable) to gain size is "mind clean" to that particular person. Perhaps "mind clean" means the highest color and clarity possible, not necessary the size.
 
Where can I find that carat/finger tool?
 
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