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josef

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
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Hi Folks - I''ve been reading the posts on this website for the last few days to absorb what''s been said out here. At the same time, I''ve been looking for a nice engagement diamond ring for my GF. I''m brand new when it comes to diamond and jewelry as such. The info I get is from my mom, my sister and my sis in law and each have their own story..


This is my story -


I walked over to Tiffany''s 2 weeks back and I saw a really good diamond (according to me - it sparkled). It was VVS1, .93 and H color. It costed $12k. It definitely wasn''t on my budget but since it was Tiffany''s and it really shined, thought maybe I should just go for it and get done with it. After talking to my GF, she really didn''t care much for Tiffany diamond but more so for a Good cut, clarity, color diamond (Whatever that means). I''ve been hearing a lot about BlueNile and so, have been checking on the website.


My budget was more so between $8k to $9500. Def wanna keep it below $10k.


I was wondering if you guys out here can take a look at the few stones I picked up and let me know if this is a good pick or am I missing something. Obviously, I want a good bang for my buck but this whole process is so confusing.


http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01097712&filter_id=0


http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01094180&filter_id=0


http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01086122&filter_id=0


The key items I''m looking for is VVS1, E or F and somewhere from .9 to 1.05 CT . What else should I be looking for. I''m pretty comfortable buying from BN since I''ve been hearing quite a bit about them plus, know someone who has bought it and seems happy with the purchase.


I would really appreciate your input. I''m also running out of time. We are taking a trip next month and I want to have this with me when we travelling.


Thanks for your help
Joe
 
hey joe
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welcome to ps!
nice budget
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give this search http://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx a try and see if there is anything that fits your criteria. i like it because the hca scores are already calculated and most, if not all, of the diamonds have idealscope images. some even have aset images.
 
I love high color and clarity diamonds, but does it have to be VVS1? You realize you can't see inclusions with a loupe in VS1 and up, right? I'll show you some I like, but I want to be sure you won't consider VVS2 and VS1. I am picky and I went with VS1 because I can't see a thing in it with 10x magnification. You can get over the 1 carat mark if you go to VVS2 or VS1.
 
I liked your choices. I am not an expert but I wanted to chime in to let you know the first one had a thin to medium girdle which experts online here have cautioned against because they can actually break. I read one post where it said, "its not if it's when" regarding a thin girdle.

I liked your choices of vvs1 and vvs2 (lots of people online here like to sacrifice clarity for size by purchasing a "clean eye" stone which is fine too ..I don't want anyone to get mad at me about this.. but from what your girlfriend expressed she wanted in a diamond I think you are in the right range.) This kind of stuff, color clarity is all a matter of preference. Always pick excellent or ideal cut, of course

Keep in mind what kind of setting you might want will cost you anywhere from 300-3000. If it's intricate, not everyone can make it. (I'm learning this the hard way)

To see how the light will reflect in the diamond plug in the numbers into the cut advisor:

http://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

If the link does not work, go to the main page and click on the cut adviser. Get the numbers from the GIA report.

Okay, I guess let the experts weigh in on this one. Good luck and Congrats!
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Here are some options if you can go to VVS2 which allows you to go over a carat. I promise you can''t see inclusions in a VVS2!

1.0 F VVS2, $9761 with pricescope/wire discount

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-290245.htm

1.06 F VVS2, $9715

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-329903.htm#

I do recommend buying from a vendor such as WhiteFlash or Good Old Gold who offer a lifetime trade-up policy. These two also offer photos and additional evaluations of their in-house diamonds. You''ll expand your choices if you decide to look at VS1.
 
Date: 7/11/2007 9:11:33 PM
Author: init4thecake
I liked your choices. I am not an expert but I wanted to chime in to let you know the first one had a thin to medium girdle which experts online here have cautioned against because they can actually break. I read one post where it said, ''its not if it''s when'' regarding a thin girdle.
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Just wanted to make a little correction here. Thin girdles are fine. It is very thin girdles one must be wary of. Ideal cut diamonds can have thin, medium, or slightly thick girdles.
 
She really is keen about the VVS1 and E&F. She is OK with the size if it drops. What is your opinion on Bluenile and also, buying diamonds online ?
 
Date: 7/11/2007 9:19:45 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 7/11/2007 9:11:33 PM
Author: init4thecake
I liked your choices. I am not an expert but I wanted to chime in to let you know the first one had a thin to medium girdle which experts online here have cautioned against because they can actually break. I read one post where it said, ''its not if it''s when'' regarding a thin girdle.
Click to expand...
Just wanted to make a little correction here. Thin girdles are fine. It is very thin girdles one must be wary of. Ideal cut diamonds can have thin, medium, or slightly thick girdles.
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ditto.
sincerely,
thin diamond girdle owner
 

Thanks a lot. Yeah, I noticed that when I spoke to an agent at BN, you can''t really upgrade. Couple of things going for BN is someone I know bought it from them and also, I read a article in NY times and also in Wallstreet journal about them. They seem to be well known in UK as well. My GF is from London and so, she has heard quite a bit about them as well. At first, I was planning on walking to a store and picking it up.


Don''t ask me why she wants a VVS1 as opposed to a VVS2 although, you can''t really see the difference. Tried to reason this out with her, but she doesn''t get it or does not want to get it. At the end, I guess I just have to go with what she wants.


Thx for your input though...

 
Oh no.. sorry about the mis-information. I went looking for the post and then saw the "very thin girdle" there and realized my error. I should have just let the experts weigh in on that issue.. they''d catch it if it was a problem. I now know better for next time.
 
Date: 7/11/2007 9:26:23 PM
Author: josef

At the end, I guess I just have to go with what she wants.

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i forsee a successful marriage in your future
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Date: 7/11/2007 9:22:01 PM
Author: josef
She really is keen about the VVS1 and E&F. She is OK with the size if it drops. What is your opinion on Bluenile and also, buying diamonds online ?
Click to expand...
Last year my husband bought me a diamond for our anniversary and we bought online from Good Old Gold. We had such a great experience that we bought diamond studs from WhiteFlash for Christmas. I have 100% confidence in those two vendors, and I wanted a 100% trade-in policy in the event I decided to go up in size or color, etc. later on.

I''ll look more closely at the BN diamonds for you, but I don''t believe they provide photos, which I don''t like. And they also do not have a trade-in policy the last I heard. I''ll look and be right back.
 
Of the Blue Nile diamonds, I think number 1 and number 3 are the best. It is just a matter of whether you want to pay for the E color over F. If she values high color and clarity, you may as well go for the E! But they likely are both very lovely stones from the information we are given.
 
Date: 7/11/2007 9:29:23 PM
Author: belle

Date: 7/11/2007 9:26:23 PM
Author: josef


At the end, I guess I just have to go with what she wants.

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i forsee a successful marriage in your future
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Absolutely, I agree!
 
How much should I really worry about not being able to upgrade. Yeah, she is saying that she would never upgrade this ring since it has a sentimental value. I''m quite sure everyone must have said that when they started. 10 yrs down the line, you probably see things differently. If I do get the GIA cert, shouldn''t it be fairly safer to assume that we will get back close to the amount I spend on it .. 90% to 95% of the value.
 
Date: 7/11/2007 9:52:00 PM
Author: josef
How much should I really worry about not being able to upgrade. Yeah, she is saying that she would never upgrade this ring since it has a sentimental value. I''m quite sure everyone must have said that when they started. 10 yrs down the line, you probably see things differently. If I do get the GIA cert, shouldn''t it be fairly safer to assume that we will get back close to the amount I spend on it .. 90% to 95% of the value.
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the upgrade thing is a nice draw. not an absolute necessity but is a very, very nice option. options are always good! and yes, a few years (months for some of us!
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) changes things. it''s nice to know you will get 100% of the purchase price towards another diamond with an upgrade policy. it''s there if you need it.
do not assume that you will get 90-95% of the value if you sell, i''m afraid that number is not anywhere near reality.
 
No, you''d be lucky to get 50-60% trying to resell it. That is why the upgrade policies are so appealing. I will say, though, that I did keep my original diamond for sentimental reasons even though my husband gave me a new one for an anniversary. So if you are willing to let her keep this one and upgrade by buying her another, then that would work!
 
Date: 7/11/2007 9:52:00 PM
Author: josef
How much should I really worry about not being able to upgrade. Yeah, she is saying that she would never upgrade this ring since it has a sentimental value. I''m quite sure everyone must have said that when they started. 10 yrs down the line, you probably see things differently. If I do get the GIA cert, shouldn''t it be fairly safer to assume that we will get back close to the amount I spend on it .. 90% to 95% of the value.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, 90-95% on a resale is VERY inflated. You''d be lucky to get half the value 10 years down the line. If I were you, I''d stick with a vendor that has a lifetime upgrade policy! I like the stones that diamondseeker posted. It''s a shame that your girl is so set on that particular color/clarity combo, because you could get a diamond with no visual difference for a lot less money or a bigger one for the same amount!

Check out this one if you''re willing to bump up the budget a few thousand...it''s the only E/F VVS1 on Good Old Gold, and it looks fantastic, but it''s over budget.

This one could be nice (gets a 1.8 on HCA); ask WF to call it in if you''re interested.
 

Funny you say that. The most expensive tangible thing I have bought so far is a Plasma TV for $ 2.5K The price drops each day, but I choose never to search for the model and make ever again so that I have to feel bad again.


Telling me that its not gonna hold 90% of the value is def news to me mmmm

 
I believe Good Old Gold even has a lifetime buy-back policy at 75% which is better than you can do with a direct resale.

Bottom line, if for any reason you think you''d ever want to sell or trade-in the diamond, you need to look at WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold. If you think she''ll keep this diamond forever even if you want to give her a new diamond for an anniversary someday, then it won''t matter.
 
What effect does the flourescence actually have on the stone. Should it be OK if I pick a diamond which has a light flourescence or should I stay away from any flourescence.
 
None, slight, faint, medium are all fine. You have to be careful if it says strong flourescence because a small number of those may cause a milky look to the stone. But no worries with smaller amounts at all.

(I do not like that last 1 ct. stone posted from WF, though. It is not an in-house stone, and it gets very good on cut, is too deep, etc. The ones I posted above are better but VVS2.)
 
Date: 7/11/2007 10:23:39 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
(I do not like that last 1 ct. stone posted from WF, though. It is not an in-house stone, and it gets very good on cut, is too deep, etc. The ones I posted above are better but VVS2.)
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Yeah, I agree, but I still think it may be worth checking out since it''s the only E/F VVS1 we''ve found within budget at a place with an upgrade policy. Perhaps the Tiff ring is actually the way to go here, although I know nothing about Tiff''s upgrade policy.
 
Date: 7/11/2007 10:34:47 PM
Author: jstarfireb


Date: 7/11/2007 10:23:39 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
(I do not like that last 1 ct. stone posted from WF, though. It is not an in-house stone, and it gets very good on cut, is too deep, etc. The ones I posted above are better but VVS2.)
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Yeah, I agree, but I still think it may be worth checking out since it's the only E/F VVS1 we've found within budget at a place with an upgrade policy. Perhaps the Tiff ring is actually the way to go here, although I know nothing about Tiff's upgrade policy.
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If he went to that price range, I am sure he'd expand his selection with the online vendors! But really, the other F VVS2's would be better than this F VVS1 overall. I wouldn't sacrifice the excellent/ideal cut for the VVS1 designation over a VVS2.

I believe Tiffany allows one upgrade and it must be DOUBLE the amount of the original ring! I do not like that kind of restriction!
 
Date: 7/11/2007 10:38:41 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I believe Tiffany allows one upgrade and it must be DOUBLE the amount of the original ring! I do not like that kind of restriction!
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Ouch! That''s one heck of an upgrade.

No argument there that the VVS2s you posted are much nicer than the last WF one I found! It just seems like the OP''s girlfriend is really not willing to go lower than VVS1...
 
Date: 7/11/2007 10:39:48 PM
Author: jstarfireb
Hmmm...does James Allen have an upgrade policy? There are a few possibilities there:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=997665
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1048748
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1035090 - best cut, but a tad over budget
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=940447 - cut is slightly sub-ideal (table is too big), but the picture looks decent
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They only offer a 5 year uograde policy and give 100% for in-house stones and 80% for other stones. I just don't think 5 years is good enough. It's often later than that when people decide to upgrade...like 10, 20 or 30 years!

This one is beautiful, though, if he decides the upgrade policy does not matter and goes up in price:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1035090
 
Most of the time, the crown angle is recommended to be between 34 and 35. I don''t like that one as well as number 1 and 3 of your original Blue Nile choices.
 
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