What could be wrong with this...

[TwiceShy]

or is it a price mistake? I'm so frustrated with the GIA/AGS vs EGL system, and how ridiculously different they can be, but ultimately I'm just looking for the biggest eye-clean princess cut I can find for my budget. The actual cert stats make little difference to her, so I'm really just looking to get the biggest bang for the buck on a $5k-$6k stone. It's going on a yellow gold band so the color can even creep into I-J due to reflections coming up from the band anyway (or so I've read).

Is this stone (and many other EGL certs like it) not even worth looking at? Is 1.5ct even possible on a eye-clean VS2-SI1 with I-J color in my price range?

Thanks everyone in advance as I start the process!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Danger Will Robinson!!

 

[MissStepcut]

I don't think you're going to find a 1.5 carat princess for $6k without seriously compromising on color or eye-cleanness. I am a lot more willing to compromise on "quality" to reach that finger coverage than most PSers are, but in this case, your budget and tastes are too far apart. I suppose your best bet is combing pawn shops, ebay and other places where diamonds show up on the secondary market (like OakGem.com, JewelsbyEricaGrace.com, etc) but it's going to take a lot of time and patience, and you're going to have to learn a lot more about how to land a bargain that way.

 

[cspear1]

I was told by a reputable appraiser here in Miami, at the Seybold Building, that EGL certificates are okay, but the EGL International, hold no weight and you shouldn't look at diamonds with an EGL International certificate. Unless you get it checked out by an appraiser and be sure you have a return policy.

 

[JulieN]

You should be able to do at least 1.2 carats or so, just haven't been able to find the right combo of color and clarity that would put it in budget.

 

[Amys Bling]

my concern is that you have no idea who well that stone is cut. That determine how well the stone performs. Buying a poorly cut stone could result in a dead looking stone, that holds more color, and inclusions are more easily visible because the cut isn't able to hide them as well.

Only AGS grades princess cut quality- you would want AGS0 cut princess if you want great quality stone buying sight unseen. If you don't go with AGS you really need an ASET to determine how well the stone will perform.

 

[TwiceShy]

Thanks everyone for the information and advice. I decided to push my budget a bit and start looking only at GIA certs. And again, this is going in a yellow gold setting so I think color would/should be where any compromise is made? Here are some of the stones I've been eyeing.

1.52ct J VVS2 (recommended by Mike @ http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com)
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1454122.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

1.52ct J VS1
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=638388&ref=pricescope

1.54ct J VS2 (cloud in cert?)
http://www.solomonbrothers.com/DiamondDetail.aspx?sku=4Y65F653&affiliate=9318613A-AD0C-4530-A456-0409DFEFB8DE%20&utm_source=PriceScope

1.61ct J VVS2
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-2612617-1.61-carat-Princess-diamond-J-color-VVS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=2612617&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

1.8ct K VS1
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-1963297-1.80-carat-Princess-diamond-K-color-VS1-Clarity.aspx?sku=1963297&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

 

[Rockdiamond]

I was told by a reputable appraiser here in Miami, at the Seybold Building, that EGL certificates are okay, but the EGL International, hold no weight and you shouldn't look at diamonds with an EGL International certificate. Unless you get it checked out by an appraiser and be sure you have a return policy.

CSper.....the "appraiser" that told you that is only reputable to those sellers he's helping.
EGL reports are ok- for sellers who wish to misrepresent grades to buyers. They are however NOT ok for consumers.
Unles a seller is clear about this, they're guilty of misrepresentation, or lack or experience int he diamond business.
An appraiser telling you to trust an EGL report? ......

 

[marygrace]

Personally, I like a smaller table. The EGL had one of 79%. Here is a loose guideline for AGS grading of princess cuts:

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-grading-chart-princess

 

[marygrace]

Thanks everyone for the information and advice. I decided to push my budget a bit and start looking only at GIA certs. And again, this is going in a yellow gold setting so I think color would/should be where any compromise is made? Here are some of the stones I've been eyeing.

1.52ct J VVS2 (recommended by Mike @ http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com)
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1454122.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Ask JA for an ASET and post it here. Could bea winner.