Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Your thoughts on these james allen diamonds?

C

celtic11

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Messages
19
I'm looking at a couple of princess cuts from James allen. I have to sacrifice quality for size to fit my budget (8- 9,500). They seem to give a generous discount to pricescope, is there any requirement to be eligible for the discount? Anyways, here are a couple I'm considering (all are I, VS1 or VS2):

1.7 ct http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1304192.asp

1.75 ct http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1128004.asp

1.8 ct http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1286333.asp

Really, I'm interested in any of their princess cuts in the 1.7-1.8ct range and around 8,900 to 9,500 before the pricescope discount. do any of you experts out there find one particularly eye catching?
 
I am not really wild about any of them... I worry you are sacrificing too much on cut for size. A large but lifeless diamond is not pretty in my opinion. ETA: If you really want size at the expense of cut then please see the diamonds in person before committing to make sure you are ok with the compromise.

These look better and are not very much smaller:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6491/
If eye clean a real deal: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7012/
 
Have you thought about a halo setting on a smaller diamonds?? It REALLY makes for better hand presence.
 
Dreamer_D|1290044361|2770789 said:
Have you thought about a halo setting on a smaller diamonds?? It REALLY makes for better hand presence.
Click to expand...

She is really set on solitaire. She also only appreciates how the diamond shows to the naked eye and wants a big princess cut diamond to show off.
 
Dreamer_D|1290043983|2770781 said:
I am not really wild about any of them... I worry you are sacrificing too much on cut for size. A large but lifeless diamond is not pretty in my opinion. ETA: If you really want size at the expense of cut then please see the diamonds in person before committing to make sure you are ok with the compromise.

These look better and are not very much smaller:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6491/
If eye clean a real deal: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7012/
Click to expand...

Forgive my naivety, but what spec of these diamonds makes them better quality? They do look brilliant. I see that they are lower on the clarity scale than the james allen diamonds with the same color. Is it the cut that makes them better? Thank you for these links! I really do like the first one you posted.
 
Have you thought about lowering your clarity requirements? If she's after a big diamond to show off, and you're considering I color stones, why not lower the clarity to at least VS2, or eye clean Si1/Si2?

Have the vendor check whether a stone you are interested in is eye clean. There are plenty of eye clean Si1, and even Si2's out there... and if you can't see with the nekkid eye any imperfections (and there are no integrity problems) - it doesn't really matter whether you have a Si or a VS2/VS1, does it?
 
iota15|1290045223|2770810 said:
Have you thought about lowering your clarity requirements? If she's after a big diamond to show off, and you're considering I color stones, why not lower the clarity to at least VS2, or eye clean Si1/Si2?

Have the vendor check whether a stone you are interested in is eye clean. There are plenty of eye clean Si1, and even Si2's out there... and if you can't see with the nekkid eye any imperfections (and there are no integrity problems) - it doesn't really matter whether you have a Si or a VS2/VS1, does it?
Click to expand...

Can these online vendors recommended on this forum be trusted to vouch a Si1 or Si2 is eye clean? It seems like that is somewhat subjective. And I feel like I can get a better deal and have more options in getting a diamond online. But yeah, it sounds like improving color and lowering clarity to just eye clean is the way to go for me. Thanks!
 
Both of Dreamer's GOG stones are cut very well. You can see that immediately in the Aset images (green, red ad blue colored picture) posted by GOG. Well cut = beautiful, sparkly diamond.

With JA's stones, you should ask them for an Aset image if you are considering them. They're not really singing to me either, but they could be good light performers.
 
I think you should go with SI1, as long as it is eye clean you won't see any different. Base on my own experience, my ER is 0.37D IF and it costs me $1550, my mother earring is 0.44 D Si1 each and cost only $950 each(and they are ACA WF!), when I put them next to each other all I can see is my mother's stone is bigger than mine! And even when I put they so close to my eye I still can't see any inclusion! Maybe it's because they are so small, your is much bigger but I think if the vendors from PS said it's eye clean then it should really be. If I buy any diamond again I will just buy SI1 eye clean or VS2 only if there is no other bigger SI1 stone =)
 
celtic11|1290045070|2770804 said:
Dreamer_D|1290043983|2770781 said:
I am not really wild about any of them... I worry you are sacrificing too much on cut for size. A large but lifeless diamond is not pretty in my opinion. ETA: If you really want size at the expense of cut then please see the diamonds in person before committing to make sure you are ok with the compromise.

These look better and are not very much smaller:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6491/
If eye clean a real deal: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7012/
Click to expand...

Forgive my naivety, but what spec of these diamonds makes them better quality? They do look brilliant. I see that they are lower on the clarity scale than the james allen diamonds with the same color. Is it the cut that makes them better? Thank you for these links! I really do like the first one you posted.
Click to expand...

The only factor that matters to create a sparkly and beautiful diamond is the cut, which refers to the angles of the facets and the size of the table and depth etc. Princess cuts are not graded by GIA, and so in my opinion, and pretty notorious for being poorly cut. That means a pretty lifeless diamond that does not sparkle and wow when you see it. I suggested the stones from GOG because they are a vendor who hand picks their in house diamonds so that they are really great cuts. When buying a princess, I suggest working with a trusted vendor who can use his/her knowledge to help you pick a winner. An alternative is to look for AGS graded princess cuts because that lab does offer a cut quaity grade.

Here is a video to help you see the difference between a well cut princes cut and a poorly cut princess cut: http://www.vimeo.com/9687632 AGS0 is the best, AGS1 is a step down, and AGS2 is lower still in cut qualityI think the difference is pretty obvious. Most on the market are probably worse even than the "bad" one in this video.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top