Where to purchase Super / Signature / Ideal / Superduper H&R diamond?

[chow3630]

I’m searching for a G - SI1 – 1 carat.

I would like a quality diamond, but my priority is on sparkling fire / brilliance stone.

Any advice as to which vendors that provide the best bang for the buck?


Appreciate your assistance in advance,
Tony

 

[quaeritur]

I second what Mara says (ha ha, that's funny, like Mara needs anyone to second her opinion, with 7 gajillion posts to her name!

). One thing to add... DirtCheapDiamonds has a wonderful selection in their Signature Series that takes less sifting through. I'm in love with at least two stones there!

 

[pqcollectibles]

Mara gave you some good candidates to begin your search with. Keep in mind that the diamond inventory is constantly changing. If you have a bit of time to wait and watch, you may snag a super deal.

Another way to help maximize your budget would be to consider H color diamonds as well. Most people cannot discern 1 grade color difference. If you set a G and an H side by side, most people could not tell you which one is which.

You can search among diamonds with known HCA scores here:

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

Just enter your carat weight, color, and clarity preferences. You'll get a list of the better performers available.

 

[BostonDan]

I tried quite a few and settled on www.usacerteddiamonds.com.

They were very helpful hasslefree and found me a better stone for the money than what a friends father in the busines could find me. I was a bit nervious working with the internet, but used a well regarded independent appraiser and did great.

Also one piece of advice many people gave on this forum was to look at high quality AGS 000 diamonds as many will qualify for hearts and arrows if the dimensions and angles are right, AGS lets you see the info, ask for a sarin for GIA's. H&A is branding, don't get me wrong to have the brand they must be show the hearts and arrows perfectly but the stone doesn't have to be branded to have the H&A's perfect, you just have search harder for it. Its worth saving about $500 or so.

Good luck!

I'm finally done and very lucky to have gotten some great advise from this forum!