Thoughts on this diamond?

[thebeaud]

Hi,

Yet another lurker who has found some GREAT information on this site and am now ready to ask a question. I''ve been looking at stones recently for an e-ring and feel like I''ve narrowed down my search. I received a copy of the GIA report and I''m just looking for some feedback on any items that I should perhaps be concerned about - here are the specs:

Shape: Round Brilliant
Meas: 7.42 - 7.48 x 4.57 mm
Weight: 1.51
Depth: 61.3 %
Table: 55 %
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Cutlet: None
Polish: Very Good
Sym: Good
Clarity: VS1
Color: G
Flour: None
Comment: None

I don''t have any other details, but are the proportions okay? I appreciate any feedback you all may have and I''m sure I''ll have more questions as a potential purchase comes closer. The one problem with this stone, though, is that it''s located about 400 miles away. A friend of mine has someone she''s been doing with for a long time and using online vendor pricing as a baseline, her prices are about 5% less than what I can find online. A B&M store I visited were 5% the other way. So I can''t actually see the stone yet to see if it "speaks to me"!

Thanks!
Craig

 

[hardness10]

Congrats Craig!!

All of the numbers and letters look really nice. I''m sure if you bought that stone you (and her) would be really happy. The only problem is that it is really hard to "buy" paper. You have all these numbers, and they look like they make sense, but for me, i would want to taste it, touch it, see it and feel it. this is probably going to be the most important purchase at least this month.... it seems great, but is there anyway to see it first?

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/23/2005 12:22:30 AM
Author:thebeaud

.. her prices are about 5% less than what I can find online.

That''s a very good price

Prices quoted on the database above fro 1.5cts GIA certified G/VS1 rounds go from 10k to 16k... regardless of cut pedigree. And this one doesn''t have much of that either.

There''s just one GIA G/VS1 with known cut details THIS. Not bad for a generic round, IMO. It so happens that the price is at the bottom of the range as well. Is it worse than your quote ?

Honestly, if cut can get better than that at the expense of clarity I''d try. After all, VS1 is very high... and it could go two grades down to SI1 before there''s a real chance that the stone is not "eye clean".

Since you do not get to see this diamond let alone choose among a few, buying from that remote B&M doesn''t sound any different from buying online. Many shops are both "local" and "virtual" sellers anyway.

 

[Jimbo34]

You might even want top consider going down in Color also, don't really think you will see alot of difference between a G and an I.

Good Luck with whatever you purchase

Jimbo34

 

[abs57]

HI - this forum has been very helpful. I am considering a diamond. Can anyone tell me what they think, please? Round brilliant.
3.29 ct., Measurements - 9.53 - 9.48 x 5,88 mm; depth 61.8%; table 60%; crown 15.2%; pav 43.2; girdle med fac, cut - none; pol & sym - vg. color J clarity SI1. What shoud I pay for something like this? Thanks

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/23/2005 11:35:31 AM
Author: abs57

What shoud I pay for something like this?

... meaning... aside the information already contained in the database above ?

 

[thebeaud]

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I initially was looking at a stone with an SI1, but it had inclusions that were visible to the naked eye and most everyone I''ve talked to seems to think I should look at VS2 or above. I also looked at an I stone and although beautiful, I really want that fire and I really want something that both of us will be happy with and proud of - even if it means spending a few extra bucks. Although, I realize that both color and clarity have a very strong correlation to price - wow!!

Anyway, I should have clarified about price. I''m using an average price of like stones from BlueNile as my baseline when comparing both the local and distant jewelers. If I decided on a diamond down South, I would have my friends go look at it and if they felt it was worth it, I would fly down myself and view it in person before buying it. I had never really thought of buying online, but the one stone that Ana linked made me contemplate otherwise! This stone was priced right around $13k.......still a good buy?

One other quick question with regards to the laser inscribing. Although the stone comes with a GIA report, I''m being told it''s a few extra hundred to have the inscribing done of the report number. Is that a fairly critical piece with regards to insurance and appraisal?

Thanks for any additional feedback you all have to offer!
Craig

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/23/2005 2:43:39 PM
Author: thebeaud

This stone was priced right around $13k.......still a good buy?

( laser inscribing) Is that a fairly critical piece with regards to insurance and appraisal?

13k... could go towards an ideal cut G/VS. So... I would not consider it such a great deal. Unless this stone is also a very fine cut.

Not all SI1 have visible inclusions, but VS is a safer bet, of course.

This is the first time I hear that laser inscribing has anything to do with insurance or appraisal. It a simple branding method with little if any value added, IMO. Those engravings can be erased, done and redone at whim anyway. Of course, not everyone would agree - there are many diamonds enscribed every day. You can even have a little poem or something laser engraded there (a firm does offer diamonds personalized like that... kind of cool).


Aside all this... When I cited that other diamond, I was bargain hunting. The same seller produces H&A rounds and certain stones have better optical symmetry and brilliance than that. For example, THIS (G/VS2, 13k, Ideal cut).

Cool ?

 

[Kaleigh]

Valeria,
Now we are talking, that stone is gorgeous!!!

 

[thebeaud]

Thanks Ana - couple follow-up questions for you:

-You mentioned that the same amount could go for an G/VS - you mean the same color and clarity stone as I initially mentioned, but with a better cut? I didn''t see the cut mentioned on the GIA report, but I thought it was an ideal based upon the proportions. I''m obviously still a newbie, so what am I missing??

-I wasn''t indicating that the inscribing has anything to do with insurance - it was more of a question. But your reply answered it for me in that it really has nothing to do with it and is just an added, perhaps unnecessary, touch.

-And what does the "H&A" mean? And is that stone the exact one matching the report on whiteflash or is it just an example? I guess I''m still a bit cautious about buying the stone online, even though it sounds as if many people have had wonderful success!

I appreciate all your insight!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/23/2005 45:52 PM
Author: thebeaud

Thanks Ana - couple follow-up questions for you...

The stone is the exact piece - not stock photo. GIA does not call anything "ideal" (yet), another lab (AGS) does... and that piece is certified by AGS. There are several definitions of what is an "ideal" cut involving more or less stringent restrictions.

For example, AGS would call a round brilliant "ideal" if table, depth crown and pavilion angles and a few other things all fall within certain boundaries that the lab believes insure best brilliance. They do have some theory and empirical results to back the claim and I happen to take their word as resonable. The next level of precission requires all that and "optical symmetry" - meaning a picture perfect symmetrical pattern of reflection seen top-down and bottom-up on the diamond (like that picture). The diamonds that display such a pattern within certain draconian limits of variance are called "Harts and Arrows". At least, as far as I understand.

The H&A story is detailed by the "Advanced Tutorial" on top of this page. Although... I think that document goes a bit far with defining very strict limits for what "H&A" is. Of course, it is not my take that counts in the matter.

Up to you to weigh if the super precise cut is worth the premium. Pricescope is a H&A hub to some extent, although not every round diamond talked about and praised around here is blue-blood H&A.

It should take 10 min to read those few pages to get a clear version of what I am trying to say.

In particular, Whiteflash calls their H&A "A Cut Above" (brand name). That G/VS2 is not one of their branded stone. I cannot see what makes the difference between it and one of the branded. If you ask, they will explain though - it happened before.

Hope some of the rambling actually helps.

Btw, I have no connection with WF and no particular sympathy for H&A round diamonds. In this case, the extra precission seems an appealing treat compared to the local diamond of unknown cut quality and matching price.

All... just IMO.

 

[thebeaud]

Okay, thanks for all the feedback and explanation. I did do some research on the H&A after I posted, but it''s good to get another perspective. Since last weekend, I met with my local jeweler and have kind of narrowed it to two stones.

One is a 1.65 ct, E, SI2, with VG polish & symmetry and an EGL certificate. This is one I looked at before and although I don''t care for the SI2 on paper, it''s pretty much eye clean and with the great color - it really looks brilliant! I don''t know much about the EGL certification, but I saw in another posting that they tend to rank color higher??

The other was a 1.51 ct, G, VS2, but with no certificate. It was about $1300 more and obviously .14 smaller! Another beautiful stone, for sure.

Putting them side-to-side, the 1.65 just spoke to me more, although I realize that could be all about size. I''m really concerned about the SI2, though, so any thoughts on which of the two stones you would select? I''m sure everyone hates these questions, but it helps to ask. In the store, everyone went to the 1.65, even though it was cheaper. The color and carat weight obviously jumped out more than the clarity on the other stone..

 

[Kaleigh]

Sounds like the 1.65 really spoke to you. EGL certs have been known to be a little loose on color and clarity. You would be looking at an F at worse I think. You saw this stone and thought it was eye clean?? Sounds like it may just be the one?? Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/27/2005 12:32:3 PM
Author: thebeaud

I'm sure everyone hates these questions, but it helps to ask...

No I don't

If the price for the EGL piece is right (and that would mean a bit of discount compared to GIA), why not. SI2 is a tricky place to start second-guessing grades, because the step from SI2 to I1 makes quite a bit of difference in price while there clearly are borderline cases which could go either way. The "eye clean" quality has little to do with the grade, as far as I know.

It does seem unusual that a stone with such high color was sent to EGL in the first place: perhaps they were really keen to avoind the "I1" label. or... who knows ?

Now that you have seen and judged this diamond to be nicer compared to others, the only difference that grades might make is the price. For better or worse, the scribbles on paper dictate value at least as much (if not more) than the looks.

I have lost track of prices. How does it compare to THIS ?

 

[thebeaud]

Date: 4/27/2005 12:47:44 PM
Author: valeria101

Date: 4/27/2005 12:32:3 PM
Author: thebeaud

I''m sure everyone hates these questions, but it helps to ask...

No I don''t

If the price for the EGL piece is right (and that would mean a bit of discount compared to GIA), why not. SI2 is a tricky place to start second-guessing grades, because the step from SI2 to I1 makes quite a bit of difference in price while there clearly are borderline cases which could go either way. The ''eye clean'' quality has little to do with the grade, as far as I know.

It does seem unusual that a stone with such high color was sent to EGL in the first place: perhaps they were really keen to avoind the ''I1'' label. or... who knows ?

Now that you have seen and judged this diamond to be nicer compared to others, the only difference that grades might make is the price. For better or worse, the scribbles on paper dictate value at least as much (if not more) than the looks.

I have lost track of prices. How does it compare to THIS ?

Thanks Ana for all your insight. I took the plunge and bought the 1.65 stone!! The very small inclusion that I could see if I really focused hard (only after looking through the loupe) was on the edge of the diamond. They were able to set it and the prong covers it completely, so it looks amazing.

And with regards to "speaking to me", it didn''t really hit me until I saw it in its setting in the little box. Just having the stone placed loosely in a setting doesn''t give you the full experience. But this morning when I looked at it....it just looks incredible! I cannot freakin'' wait to give it to my GF!!!

Thanks again for all your assistance!

 

[belle]

yay! congrats thebeaud!!

you do know that you must post pics.....right!?

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Date: 4/28/2005 4:15:17 PM
Author: thebeaud

And with regards to ''speaking to me'', it didn''t really hit me until I saw it in its setting in the little box. Just having the stone placed loosely in a setting doesn''t give you the full experience. But this morning when I looked at it....it just looks incredible! I cannot freakin'' wait to give it to my GF!!!

Thanks again for all your assistance!

ooo i know that feeling.

And I''m sure she wont be your girlfriend for long when you present it to her