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PleaseSayYes

PleaseSayYes

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 26, 2008
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75
Hi all,

First, let me say, as an average guy beginning to delve into the absolute chaos that is engagement ring shopping, this forum has been a godsend. You guys are awesome.

So I''ve been browsing all over, trying to find of course the perfect ring. I started with a total ring budget of around 6500-7500, but the more research I did the more I realised I just wanted to be happy with my purchase, and worry about financing later.

As a compulsive perfectionist, a lot of numbers and terms began solidifying themselves in my head, particularly "1 carat", "colorless", and "clean to the naked eye". Also, she wants a round. This led me to want to find the best 1.00, F (lowest colorless), VS2 (lowest clean to the eye), GIA certified round diamond I could find.

Obviously, the cut factor is something I am unsure of and out of my league on, and that is where my question comes in. I have seemingly found a suitable diamond at Union Diamond here: http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&item_id=AA829981&&1.00ct-F-VS2-Round-Brilliant-Cut-Diamond

It seems excellent because the cut is labeled as signature ideal, and the imperfections look to be perfectly set up to be hidden by a prong, well off of the table field of view. However, when I open the GIA cert, it says the cut is merely "Good" as opposed to excellent or anything else. Additionally, Union Diamonds has several comparable size/color/clarity diamonds, all of which are at least $500 or more higher. So what gives?

Should I value the Signature Ideal label, or the Good tag? Is this the best diamond for my criteria? Any other places I should look?

Thanks.

T
 
This is actually a rather poorly cut stone. The piece of rough was too flat to yield an ideal cut 1 carat, so the cutter had to get creative. You should check stones that are 1.00/1.01 cts to see if they are cheating on the cut.

It seems that as long as you fall within a certain depth and table percentage, you can get the Ideal classification on UD.
 
Ah, well I''m glad I posted then, thanks!

That''s not good to hear though, so I should totally go by GIA as far as cut grade then? I may have to revamp my selection tactics, the more I see all these charts equating cut with shine and sparkle, the more I think this is the way I need to be leaning, instead of color/clarity. At least I got size down...
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GIA cut grade is not accurate at it's extremes.

Rely on something more than just GIA.
 
So then what should I go by? I just found the HCA calc, is there a level I should be shooting for there, and then just plug in the numbers I get off the GIA report? Thanks for helping a bling noob.
 
Date: 5/27/2008 12:00:50 AM
Author: PleaseSayYes
Ah, well I'm glad I posted then, thanks!


That's not good to hear though, so I should totally go by GIA as far as cut grade then? I may have to revamp my selection tactics, the more I see all these charts equating cut with shine and sparkle, the more I think this is the way I need to be leaning, instead of color/clarity. At least I got size down...
37.gif
Click to expand...

You want the best cut possible. Period. If you want to make it really easy on yourself, stick with stones graded by AGS that get a "0" or "ideal" rating. They are the most reliable as far as cut goes. Whiteflash's ACA stones and Good Old Gold's H&A stones are both excellent examples of this and are also great vendors to work with!

The HCA is a rejection tool, not a selection tool. So consider anything with a score under 2.
 
Julie: I know this sounds crazy, but I couldn''t make myself buy the .97 one. Normally I''m sure it''s the girl fussing about carat size, but it''s one of those in my head things... I tried to get a good job to be able to afford a nice, 1 carat ring, and I''ll be damned if I''m not going to deliver for my own peace of mind
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Neat: I REALLY like that first one, the 1.001. The more I think about it I think you guys are right about Cut being uber important, and I''m willing to drop to SI or even G if necessary. In you guy''s opinion, how would you rank the real world importance of each feature of cut/color/clarity, if I had to move one way or another on the scale?

7500 is kind of my max budget for a stone and a nice pave lined ring, so a stone of 7k will really limit me. I''d do it and find the money if I really felt it was the right stone though. Doesn''t WF have some PS discount or something?
 
Date: 5/27/2008 12:35:23 AM
Author: PleaseSayYes
Julie: I know this sounds crazy, but I couldn''t make myself buy the .97 one. Normally I''m sure it''s the girl fussing about carat size, but it''s one of those in my head things... I tried to get a good job to be able to afford a nice, 1 carat ring, and I''ll be damned if I''m not going to deliver for my own peace of mind
2.gif



Neat: I REALLY like that first one, the 1.001. The more I think about it I think you guys are right about Cut being uber important, and I''m willing to drop to SI or even G if necessary. In you guy''s opinion, how would you rank the real world importance of each feature of cut/color/clarity, if I had to move one way or another on the scale?


7500 is kind of my max budget for a stone and a nice pave lined ring, so a stone of 7k will really limit me. I''d do it and find the money if I really felt it was the right stone though. Doesn''t WF have some PS discount or something?
Click to expand...

If $7500 is your max budget for the ring AND the stone, I would certainly drop to G in a heartbeat. I have a G cushion and it is absolutely gorgeous, no trace of color at all. AND it gives you way more options!!!

I rank color above clarity assuming it''s eyeclean, but I also wouldn''t hesitate to buy a G or an H either. And cut is the absolute MOST IMPORTANT THING!
 
cut is the most important. then, size.

after that, F-->G or VS2-->SI1 is not really important. If you sent it back to the lab, it might come back one grade different, anyway.
 
Well from just using the enlarged image to judge eye-cleanness, the F-SI2 is still my favorite:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-920322.htm

Also, The PS search lists it at $6344, which should put me in my range for a decent ring (I think I want something like this:
http://www.robbinsbrothers.com/ProductSearch/productDetail.asp?prod_id=30705&pType=ring&intIsJewelry=0&strdf=&stIRP=1495#price , and can hopefully talk R&B down to ~1200 from the 1495, unless you guys know a better place to look). Is that 6344 with a wire xfer, or is that on top? Probably going to have to use a CC for this.

For the ring, I just want a pretty simple pave thing, no cathedral, I want it to stay in a circle all the way around the top until the prongs, and as a bonus I like how this ring has the anti-slip bottom.

Still SO glad I came here to talk about cut, I''ll probably call whiteflash tomorrow, and may go see it since I live in Houston!
36.gif
 
Get a quote from Pearlman''s for the Jaffe.
 
Will do.
 
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