Which diamond is best?

[kimophan]

I have narrowed my choices to 3 diamonds. Which one is the best choice?

Diamond #1:
Grading Report: AGSL
Price: $27,960
Carat Weight: 1.91
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Cut: Ideal
Fluorescence: Neglible
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Depth %: 62.4
Table %: 54.8
Crown Angle 34.9
Pavilion Angle 40.7
Crown Height 15.8
Pavilion Depth 42.8

Diamond #2:
Grading Report: GIA
Price: $35,590
Carat Weight: 2.02
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Cut: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Thin
Culet: None
Depth %: 61
Table %: 56
Crown Angle 34.5
Pavilion Angle 40.8

Diamond #3:
Grading Report: GIA
Price: $31,560
Carat Weight: 1.78
Color: E
Clarity: VS1
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Cut: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Medium
Culet: None
Depth %: 61.4
Table %: 56
Crown Angle 34.5
Pavilion Angle 40.6
Crown Height 15.5
Pavilion Depth 43

Ideal Scopes are attached.

 

[Ellen]

Hi kimo, when you get time, could you please post the diameters too? Thanks!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

How much do you want to spend? There''s a pretty big difference in $27,000 and $34,000! If money is no object, #2 looks like it has great numbers. #1 is great except I usualy like the depth to be in the 60-61.9 range. That''s why Ellen is asking you for measurements. Deeper stones sometimes face up smaller than they would if less deep. I''ll just rule out #3 because it is smallest!

 

[kimophan]

Here are the diameters of the diamonds:
Diamond 1
7.9 x 7.95 x 4.95

Diamond 2:
8.14 x 8.19 x 4.98

Diamond 3:
7.79 x 7.77 x 4.78

 

[kimophan]

Money is not an issue since I''ll be spending ~$30K so $5K is not a big difference to me.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

#1 might just be bad photography considering it is AGS0. But if you can swing the $34,000 and she wants a 2 carat stone, then I think #2 has no negatives whatsoever. #3 looks great, too, but it is so close to the price of #2, that it is almost a shame not to go on over to the 2 ct. mark.

 

[Ellen]

Before I make a suggestion, are all these with the same vendor, and are all actually in their possession?

 

[kimophan]

All of the diamonds are from James Allen. They currently have the diamonds on hold for me. Here are the links:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1131275.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1140029.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1172559.asp

 

[Ellen]

Thanks kimo.

Personally, I''d shoot for #1 first. Unless being able to say her stone is 2 cts is important, it just saves some money, to basically get the same visual affect as the larger stone. Once you get up to this ct weight area, the jump between 1 and 2 is really not going to be that noticeable once it''s set.

I too think it''s probably just a bad photo of 1, but I''d have Jim at JA give it a thorough look first. And, since they are all there, he could compare with the others, if you wanted, just in case one clearly stood out above the rest.

 

[kimophan]

Have you dealt with Jim before? Are they the kind of people who pressure you to buy? Here''s my story. I contacted them yesterday on 4 diamonds and they put these diamonds on hold for me, which was a really nice gesture. Then Jim called me around 3pm eastern time to let me know that there''s another buyer interested in the 1.91 diamond and that I have until 6PM eastern time to make up my mind because the other buyer is willing to buy. What do you think about this?

I did emailed them back asking for more time, until tomorrow noon. I''m just nervouse becuase 1) buying on the internet 2) big $$ transactions, 3) haven''t seen the diamond in person, 4) pressure to buy!

What do you think about the depth in #1 as mentioned by the other person?

 

[Ellen]

Ok, first, while I personally have never bought through JA, I am well aware of their reputation. I have seen them go above and beyond for customers on here. And no, they are not the pushy, high pressure kind. If Jim told you someone else is interested, I believe him. Lots of people are buying stones every day.

I understand this is a big purchase, and how nervous one can be. I was there once too.

They have a great return policy, so I would recommend making an appt. with an independant appraiser, and have them look at it once you get it. That way you''ll know for sure.

As far as the depth, it''s deeper than we see on some, but it''s definitely not horrible. And it''s still facing up an acceptable size for the ct. weight.

 

[DiamondExpert]

Time is money, so you might be pushing your luck here...don't be upset/suspicious by/of the circumstances. A buyer in hand is better than 2 (or more) tying up product.

He's aware you can only purchase one of the stones, so tying up 4 is a bit excessive, and you take your chances of being forced to make a quick desicion.

He's esentially offered you the right of first refusal by reserving them for you, so you at least have that option.
Good luck!

 

[kimophan]

I have decided to buy a different diamond, not from James Allen. But I thought it''s only fair to put in a few words for James and Josh at JA. Both J&J have been so good to me in the entire process; they were very patient and addressed all my questions promptly. One of the reasons why I didn''t buy from them was because I didn''t get a chance to meet them in person and that I was not comfortable with online transactions. I have to say that both Josh and Jim are the nicest salespeople that I talked to.

Thanks all for your input.