Which Vendor? Which Stone?

[Iowa Lizzy]

This is going to be strictly based on individual opinions I''m sure, but I am just wondering, which vendor would YOU buy a diamond from. I''ve been really looking at the stones on Whiteflash, James Allen and Excel. I noticed the prices for comparable diamonds on all three of these sites differ quite a bit (with Whiteflash seeming most expensive and Excel the least).

FYI: I am looking for something around 2 carats. Round Brilliant. Color: F-J. Clarity: VVS2-SI (eyeclean of course). Oh, and obviously ideal cut. AGS preferably.

SO has a budget of $20,000 (this is to include stone, setting AND wedding band). Do I need to lower my carat size to get in this price range? Have I asked enough questions yet? Haha. Many many thanks in advance!!

And also, I''m interested in a simple Tiffany solitaire replica for the ering and shared prong eternity ring for the wedding band. Are my expectations too high for my budget?

 

[AprilBaby]

I would buy from James Allen or Whiteflash because I don't know as much about Excel but I am sure they are all excellent vendors! I also know Good Old Gold and Winfields have excellent reputations! Did you read the testimonial section to see what others say? Your ring sounds like it will be lovely but I am not qualified to tell you what is a good deal so I leave it to the others....

 

[karee888]

Excel is great! I just got a radiant from them and it''s totally gorgeous. They have tons of good feedback as well. Give Judah or Barry a call - they''ll answer any questions you might have.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/18/2009 9:38:25 PM
Author:Iowa Lizzy
This is going to be strictly based on individual opinions I''m sure, but I am just wondering, which vendor would YOU buy a diamond from. I''ve been really looking at the stones on Whiteflash, James Allen and Excel. I noticed the prices for comparable diamonds on all three of these sites differ quite a bit (with Whiteflash seeming most expensive and Excel the least).

FYI: I am looking for something around 2 carats. Round Brilliant. Color: F-J. Clarity: VVS2-SI (eyeclean of course). Oh, and obviously ideal cut. AGS preferably.

SO has a budget of $20,000 (this is to include stone, setting AND wedding band). Do I need to lower my carat size to get in this price range? Have I asked enough questions yet? Haha. Many many thanks in advance!!

And also, I''m interested in a simple Tiffany solitaire replica for the ering and shared prong eternity ring for the wedding band. Are my expectations too high for my budget?

I have worked with WF and been very pleased, I would also not hesitate to work with Excel or James Allen.

 

[swingirl]

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4550/

This might work if it leaves enough for you setting and band.

Any of the mentioned vendors are good to work with. It just matters which has the stone you want. WF has a nice selection of setings and bands on their website where you can get ideas.

 

[honey22]

That looks like a really nice stone, and it''s a good compromise.

If you want to get a super duper cut, then drop your size to just under 2ct and save $$$. Try looking in the 0.8ct - 1.95ct range, they are harder to find but worth the savings.

Good luck!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash are both Pricescope vendors with excellent service and the best in-house collection of ideal cut stones, as far as I know. I have bought from both of them. They have better trade-in policies than James Allen does, but you can get some good diamonds from them if you really sift through them.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

Thanks for the responses so far! The reason I like JA so much is probably that I''m able to view actual diamond photos and the cert with almost every stone. The thing I''m not excited about are their settings. Whiteflash and Excel seem to have the best Tiffany solitaire replicas.

Right now I''m leaning toward Excel. That stone on Good Old Gold is GORGEOUS, just what I''m looking for, but maybe a little out of my price range.

I''ll be in New York in March. Which PS vendors have stores there?

 

[mryan]

i recently went with GOG. it was really between GOG or WF.. GOG won out (didnt like the few specs on that WF sent me). they are also located in NY.. My gf is from NY and is going home early next month to visit so i may see if GOG will let her stop by and see the diamond (but not take it with her! lol) unless they finish it before then.

 

[Kelli]

I''ve had experience with Whiteflash and they are WONDERFUL! I do see that their prices are a little higher, but I''d probably go with them again if I had more money to spend. I''m SURE that any of the others you''ve mentioned are great as well, it would just be the trust factor for me, knowing my diamond has already been in their hands and I was more than pleased with it. But I would go with one of the others if I saw the exact same thing for a cheaper price or if WF didn''t have exactly what I was looking for at the time.