what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requested?

[db3737]

Hello pricescope, I have been lurking on the site trying to gain as much knowledge as I can on selecting a good princess cut for my fiancee. She currently has the 1/4 brilliant cut diamond on yellow gold setting I proposed to her with and shes never complained and loves her beautiful little stone (it is a good cut btw) but I think its time to get her something a little bigger and flashier in white gold now that I am not as financially strapped as I was when I first proposed. Im looking at getting around a 1 carat vvs clarity, D-F color princess cut... possibly with some faint flouro in it since she likes the blue hue

I have noticed that some places like whiteflash have ASET images on their "A CUT ABOVE" line, brian gavin has for his "brian gavin princess cuts" collection, and I would imagine that any AGS graded princess cuts would come with an ASET and idealscope image on the listing but are there any places besides these websites that have ASET images on some of their cuts?

from what I understand James Allen will provide up to 3 ASET images at your request and was wondering if any other vendors/dealers/merchants do this?

Any help is greatly appreciated

btw im in the san antonio tx(willing to travel) area and would appreciate any recommendations on some good places with a pretty large inventory/supply that I could possibly go check out in person if possible instead of purchasing online

 

[Christina...]

Re: what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requeste

Good Old Gold, JA, White Flash, BGD, and Engagement RIngs Direct (I think) all offer ASETs of the stone.

You may want to consider VS stones rather than VVS stones. You will pay a hefty premium for the VVS quality and will never be able to visually appreciate it. Your budget will go a lot further (read, bigger diamond) by sticking with VS stones. Likewise with DEF color. Some people are extremely color sensitive, and you or your gf may be one of these people and if so, then colorless stones might be the right choice for you. But again purchasing a G or maybe an H will allow you a very white face up stone and be easier on the budget.

Here are a couple of examples for you (I"m not recommending these stones, it's just to give you an idea of the cost and size difference)
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1468398.asp $7500. E VVS2 1ct

or....

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1497787.asp $6300 H VS2 1.25ct

again, these aren't recommendations, just gives you an idea of how much further your budget can go by coming down just a bit in color and clarity can get you. The H would still be very white and eye clean.

Some people are also looking for a mind clean stone, and if you are one of these people than you may want to stick to your parameters. My husband is one of these people, my asscher was a VVS1, my RB is an SI2, I can see as many inclusions in my SI2 as I did my VVs1...none! Of course this is rarely the case with SI diamonds, and I'm not suggesting that you go with SI's but I think you will understand my point.


edit: I forgot to mention both WF and BGD are in TX. WF is opening a BM store, but I'm not sure when the doors open. Both will allow you to visit them and view diamonds in person though.

 

[db3737]

Re: what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requeste

thank you very much for the advice!

It didnt even dawn on me to check to locations of BGD or WF, their just a few hours drive from me. The advantage of buying local is I get to see what Im buying up close and personal but then I have to pay tax lol.

I had also been considering like you said going with a VS clarity and possibly down to a G to save money, at this point I havent really done any shopping in person but plan to go this week to actually sit down and compare grades side by side to see if I really need to go that high up in grade or if I can bump it down a little, I figure ill set my standards high for now and the only thing ill have to loose later is that ill save some money on a lesser quality diamond if i decide to go that route. I have a pretty good eye while my fiancee doesnt really have the best of vision but like you said I guess its a mentality thing just knowing that my cut is probably going to be better than most everyone else out on the street with mall bought stones.... I never payed any attention to diamond clarity or grade till I noticed how many inclusions are in my mother in laws 1.5 carat... im guessing its like a I1, I2, I3 ....she thinks its nice beautiful and big compared to my fiancees IF 1/4 but I can tell the difference in quality

 

[Christina...]

Re: what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requeste

You are so lucky to be close to both WF and BGD. I would love to have an opportunity to visit them both someday. They are both highly respected PS vendors and I think that you will learn a lot from them. I've read threads by others that have been able to personally visit and they couldn't say enough about either of them.

I agree that once you have an opportunity to view some stones, you will have a better idea of what your ideal parameters are. Have you had an opportunity to discuss with your gf what she thinks are the most important aspects of the diamond? That may help you decide as well. She may have grown very fond of her IF stone and feel that a stone with any inclusions is unacceptable, or she may decide that she has a case of DSS (diamond shrinkage syndrome) and decide that she wants the largest stone in budget. Who knows?! But that's the great thing about diamonds, there is a perfect combination out there for everyone. I'm lucky because I'm not particularly color or clarity sensitive so as long as it's eye clean and near colorless, I can concentrate my budget on cut and size!

Keep us posted on your progress, I'll be excited to hear about your upcoming trip to WF and BGD and see what you selected!

 

[db3737]

Re: what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requeste

Well she loves her ring, it was the ring my dad originally gave to my mom so it is somewhat of sentimental value, its a round brilliant IF clarity 1/4 carat on a simple solitaire 18k yellow gold, im not sure what the color grade is on it but its a very nice little stone. she is petite and has smaller hands/fingers size 5 when i first gave her the ring she loved it she was so happy and shes never complained about it.

we had gone to look at some when we first got engaged and she liked some of the 3/4 carats on white gold but insisted that she loved the ring she had and didnt need anything bigger and after seeing some prices insisted that she did not want another ring and that she would rather save the money towards savings for a house/condo/apartment... now that we have finally payed off all of our debts and going to start on saving towards the house I decided it would be a nice time to surprise her and get the new ring purchase out of the way now that way we can start on the house next. so she doesn't know im shopping around shes always been the type that always insist on getting her whatever I felt like getting her when it came to gifts, and insist I have great taste and she loves whatever I pick for her and that it makes it more special that way than if she were to pick it, I thought about bringing her in on the shopping but I had a feeling she would tell me that.

I have been looking at some solasferas princess's on GOG latelly they seem to have very nice brilliance and fire!

is there anyone else who carries solasferas?

Her birthday is near the end of august so im hoping to get something together by then maybe sooner since i tend to be a little impulsive

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requeste

I would recommend the AGS Ideal cut princess stones at GOG, WF, and BG as well as the Solasfera cuts at GOG. I definitely appreciate good clarity, but seriously, you can't see anything in a VS1 stone with a 10x loupe. So I'd broaden those parameters just a bit because you can get a larger stone if you maybe go to G VS1.

Are you sure she wants a princess cut? It sounds like she is happy with her round.

 

[db3737]

Re: what dealers/vendors will supply ASET images if requeste

yes she is is happy with her round, but when we were looking at rings she liked the princess cuts, I will be contacting GOG to see what options they have as far as solasferas and then ultimately have to just bring her in and ask her what she thinks before purchasing to double make sure thats what she would want. As you all mentioned I will be broadening the range to include VS1&2 possibly SI1 as long as its very eye clean as for the color im not shure I want to go lower than a G