Which diamond should I buy? In need of some help...

[thezook]

I''ve been looking at diamond for just a few weeks now, first in B&M stores, and now online. Frankly, I''m in completely over my head. In the physical stores, I feel I''m being sold something overpriced and of questionable quality. Online, I fear buying something that won''t look good to my eye. I could really use either some reassurance or some help...maybe both!

I found a stone I thought I liked at Shane Co. and put it on layaway. I think I regret that decision and will get a refund, but I''ll include relevant info for your input. It is SI2, J color, 83 points, and a very god cut (of course this is all graded in-house, not independently). I like the size. We''re really looking at rings specifically between .8 and .9 carats at this point. The J color was noticeable when the ring was viewed from beneath, but my girlfriend and I could see nothing when we viewed the diamond from above as it sat in the white gold setting. The clarity grade is what most confuses me. We could not see any inclusion, even with the loupe, nor the jeweler have any luck pointing out the inclusion which she described as a "pin prick" sort of thing.

Having really begun to study online now, I realize that I really should have been able to see something to warrant that SI2 grade, right? And is it possible that the J is as colorless from above as it seemed?

After poking around and reading a lot here on pricescope, I think I would like to contact a local jeweler (or a non-local one you on this board an recommend?) to make something similar to a ring set my girlfriend fell in love with at Shane Co. (http://www.shaneco.com/Catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?X=41008218&C0=1&C1=3&A1=Metal|White+Gold&A2=Gem|Diamond&C3=94&A3=Stone+Shape|Round&C94=97&SZ=5)

Moreover, I want to go ahead and buy a diamond online to try to increase the quality for the money. We are really looking for something that shines and sparkles like nothing else. The "on paper" characteristics of the diamond matter less to us as long as they don''t interfere with this main objective. I''ve narrowed my search down to a couple diamonds I like, but I am VERY open to better suggestions if you have them:

1) http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Diamond_Details.aspx?idno=28012#
2) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268858.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I guess I don''t know where to come down on color vs. clarity, and I feel so powerless to see the impact of varying degree of clarity as I shop online. I know there are a great many experts on this board, so any help from you all is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[sarge55]

I''m certainly not an expert but I saw your post and would really encourage you to slow down and take your time learning about diamonds. I knew I wanted a larger stone, >2 carats. I was willing to wait to get exactly what I wanted since I knew I wasn''t going to get another stone! I learned that CUT is the single most important quality in a stone. I spent almost 5 months going to stores and looking at stones on line. The stores could not even begin to compete with the price from an on line vendor. I ended up purchasing an AGS ideal - H&A cut, H color, S1 clarity that was 2.2 carats. I took it to an independent appraiser before I had it set and the appraisal came back at $1500 more than I had paid. Not a day goes by that someone doesn''t compliment me on the stone.
Many people on this site encouraged me to consider clarity of Si since they are typically eye clean. No one will look at the ring with anything except their eyes except a jeweler. All jewelers who have looked at the stone (while I was looking for settings) had trouble finding it.
Take your time and do some research same as you would do buying a house, car or any other major purchase. I think you''ll be very happy with the money you can save. Just be sure the on line vendor is reputable. I also recommend looking at some stones at a store in the color and clarity range you are considering to see if you can "see the difference", just don''t overwhelm yourself at one sitting. Good luck!

 

[Lorelei]

Hi the zook

Both diamonds look great that you linked so you are definitely on the right track. As for colour and clarity you could consider VS2 to SI1 if the SI is verified eyeclean by a trusted vendor and G or H colour ( I or J could work too as you have viewed these grades) and still have a very clean and white diamond if the cut is excellent.

 

[thezook]

Thanks for the replies so far! I am still curious what all of you think. I feel like the JamesAllen diamond may represent an overall better value, but the more i read on this board the more I hear about how amazing WhiteFlash ACA cuts are. Do you think the cut will help make up for the lower color? Is the ACA cut significantly better than the JamesAllen stone? Any help is much appreciated! Thanks all!

P.S. I''ve been snooping for recommendations on custom work. I am looking for a relatively simple white gold pave setting, but want a good combination of price and quality. Do you have recommendations in this arena as well?

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 12/1/2009 9:57:50 PM
Author: sarge55
I''m certainly not an expert but I saw your post and would really encourage you to slow down and take your time learning about diamonds. I knew I wanted a larger stone, >2 carats. I was willing to wait to get exactly what I wanted since I knew I wasn''t going to get another stone! I learned that CUT is the single most important quality in a stone. I spent almost 5 months going to stores and looking at stones on line. The stores could not even begin to compete with the price from an on line vendor. I ended up purchasing an AGS ideal - H&A cut, H color, S1 clarity that was 2.2 carats. I took it to an independent appraiser before I had it set and the appraisal came back at $1500 more than I had paid. Not a day goes by that someone doesn''t compliment me on the stone.
Many people on this site encouraged me to consider clarity of Si since they are typically eye clean. No one will look at the ring with anything except their eyes except a jeweler. All jewelers who have looked at the stone (while I was looking for settings) had trouble finding it.
Take your time and do some research same as you would do buying a house, car or any other major purchase. I think you''ll be very happy with the money you can save. Just be sure the on line vendor is reputable. I also recommend looking at some stones at a store in the color and clarity range you are considering to see if you can ''see the difference'', just don''t overwhelm yourself at one sitting. Good luck!

Ditto - this is good advice (which I followed) and my experience was much the same.

I would also suggest finding a setting you like first and then selecting a stone from that vendor. You will save some headaches. The setting can actually be the hardest part of the process.

 

[tonyc2387]

Date: 12/4/2009 3:22:04 AM
Author: thezook
Thanks for the replies so far! I am still curious what all of you think. I feel like the JamesAllen diamond may represent an overall better value, but the more i read on this board the more I hear about how amazing WhiteFlash ACA cuts are. Do you think the cut will help make up for the lower color? Is the ACA cut significantly better than the JamesAllen stone? Any help is much appreciated! Thanks all!


P.S. I've been snooping for recommendations on custom work. I am looking for a relatively simple white gold pave setting, but want a good combination of price and quality. Do you have recommendations in this arena as well?

Cut helps color, but only in face up position. Past VS2 you won't notice any difference in clarity, and VVS1 really starts stepping up in price. The JA stone is on hold so I can't compare price, but take a look at this one: 0.804 H VS2 ACA.

ETA: This one too, .807 H VS2 ACA and this one is worth considering as well, .834 I VS1 ACA

Also, keep in mind pave settings are harder to clean - danger of stones popping out in ultrasonic cleaners. Both vendors have tons of pave settings though... do you know if she likes 4 or 6 prong? tiffany or cathedral style? or basket, bezel, halo even?

 

[thezook]

Well, we have debated between four or six prong. We like the look of six prongs a bit better, but only when the prongs are made to be very unobtrusive. She is definitely a fan of tiffany settings. Cathedral settings are out. Milgrain is a plus, and .02 stones in the pave are the ideal size for her petite finger and subjective taste. Unfortunately, most of the settings I find use .03 melee or larger

Also, I''m hoping more people might weigh in on whether the whiteflash ACA represents a genuinely better cut than the jamesallen "ideal" cut. If the cut is perceived to be comparable, I think that diamond represents the better option for me as it is more colorless. If the ACA is simply a better cut, however, I think I will choose cut over color since we already know that J diamonds don''t bother us way too much. I did ask for an ideal scope image from jamesallen which they promised me by Tuesday.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/5/2009 3:39:34 PM
Author: thezook
Well, we have debated between four or six prong. We like the look of six prongs a bit better, but only when the prongs are made to be very unobtrusive. She is definitely a fan of tiffany settings. Cathedral settings are out. Milgrain is a plus, and .02 stones in the pave are the ideal size for her petite finger and subjective taste. Unfortunately, most of the settings I find use .03 melee or larger

Also, I''m hoping more people might weigh in on whether the whiteflash ACA represents a genuinely better cut than the jamesallen ''ideal'' cut. If the cut is perceived to be comparable, I think that diamond represents the better option for me as it is more colorless. If the ACA is simply a better cut, however, I think I will choose cut over color since we already know that J diamonds don''t bother us way too much. I did ask for an ideal scope image from jamesallen which they promised me by Tuesday.

Post the IS image when you get it then we will have a better idea.

 

[thezook]

I have been trying to post the ideal scope images or even the links to the ideal scope images for the last our, and I keep getting the forum error message telling me to contact the administrator! Why can''t I even post a link to the pictures?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/8/2009 4:04:33 PM
Author: thezook
I have been trying to post the ideal scope images or even the links to the ideal scope images for the last our, and I keep getting the forum error message telling me to contact the administrator! Why can''t I even post a link to the pictures?

Make the filename unique and don''t use any unusual characters in that filename. Check the file isn''t too big to post, if you are still having trouble email admin using the msg admin button and they will post the images for you.

 

[Ali]

Per Pricescope policies, all photos must be uploaded directly to the forums. No photo hosting sites/links allowed

 

[thezook]

Hmmm, I see. Sorry about that. I''ve just seen so many posts with multiple photos. And I read the FAQ post about how they must be previously hosted on the PS server for there to by multiples, bit how does one go about getting them posted on PS in the first place? Oh well, it''s really of no consequence. I''ll just post the images one at a time.

This first one is the ideal scope of the Jared Allen .81, Ideal, H, VS2 eyeclean

 

[thezook]

This next one is the ideal scope of the Whiteflash, .83, ACA, J, VVSI

Both diamonds are almost the same exact price.

 

[Lorelei]

Both look great, do you have the hearts images for the ACA and for the JA diamond if it is also h&a please?

 

[thezook]

I''ll attach the H&A pic from the WF diamond, but the JA is listed as an "Ideal" cut (not in their H&A collection) and I have no H&A picture for it. Perhaps that ought to be my determining factor right there?

 

[Lorelei]

The hearts image looks good. As for the JA being a non h&a that doesn''t matter at all unless you want a h&a diamond, this is down to personal preference.

 

[thezook]

I hear what you''re saying, and I know the entire buying process comes down to preference, but do you have a subjective, "gut level" recommendation? I am very inexperienced at this game, and would love any input to help me commit to making a purchase of this size online

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/10/2009 3:48:44 AM
Author: thezook
I hear what you''re saying, and I know the entire buying process comes down to preference, but do you have a subjective, ''gut level'' recommendation? I am very inexperienced at this game, and would love any input to help me commit to making a purchase of this size online

Its hard to say.....Both look like great diamonds, if you like the idea of h&a then the WF stone is the one to go for, if you aren''t concerned with that then the JA diamond also looks good. Just a point to consider, if you ever wanted to upgrade the diamond, both vendors have upgrade policies but I would read through the terms and conditions of each and factor that into your decision.

 

[stone-cold11]

Ditto.

 

[tonyc2387]

Date: 12/5/2009 3:39:34 PM
Author: thezook
Also, I''m hoping more people might weigh in on whether the whiteflash ACA represents a genuinely better cut than the jamesallen ''ideal'' cut. If the cut is perceived to be comparable, I think that diamond represents the better option for me as it is more colorless. If the ACA is simply a better cut, however, I think I will choose cut over color since we already know that J diamonds don''t bother us way too much. I did ask for an ideal scope image from jamesallen which they promised me by Tuesday.

You can probably think of JA''s ''ideal'' cut approximately equal to WF''s ''expert selection'' cuts. They''re all fantastic cuts, but "TrueHearts" and "ACA" H&A diamonds are just a step better. Think of it like a corvette zr1 vs 911 turbo... to the average driver, both cars are stupid fast; to the trained driver, the 911 is just a little better. (This is what Lorelei was trying to say... H&A is more of a personal preference; unless you''re really, really into diamonds, you won''t notice much of a difference.)

That being said, I''m partial to WF''s upgrade policy... and call me biased, but I think the I VS1 I posted splits the difference in what you''ve been looking for nicely