Confused and need your advice

[kenobrit]

My husband wanted to surprise me and decided to begin shopping for a new engagement ring. I was so excited but am now confused and scared I am making the wrong decision. I wanted a larger diamond something @ 2.00 carats but a good quality diamond too. To make a long story short, we found a nice diamond, it is a GIA certified round 2.01 carat diamond, I in color, VS1, graded as ''''very good'''' with cut and brilliance but has a strong blue flourescence? The jeweler showed me several diamonds and I loved the one but it was too expensive, it was 2.23 carats (H, SI1, no flourescence, etc.). I was let down from this and decided to pick the other 2.01 carat diamond and paid $18,800 (which includes the 18K white gold setting with 1.00 carat diamonds in it as well).

Does this sound like a good quality diamond and ring, I am so scared I am making the wrong decision and am supposed to pick up the final product tomorrow.

Help!!!

 

[windowshopper]

we would need all ther information from the certificicate as well as the type of certificate to even begin commenting

 

[kenobrit]

I saw the certificate and it was a GIS certificat but as far as the other details, I cannot remember them such as depth%, etc.? The polish and symmetry were rated as ''very good'', Color=I, Clarity=VS1, Flourescence=Strong blue, carat weight=2.01, shape=round.

 

[kenobrit]

Oops I mean GIA certiciate...

 

[Patty]

Your GIA certificate is a good place to start, but it will not tell you about the cut of the stone. For that, you need the angles that a Sarin report will give you. The table and depth percentages off the GIA certificate will give us a little bit more info, but the angles are what really matter and for those you''d need your jeweler to get a Sarin report for you.

The presence of Strong Flourescence can make the stone appear whiter when facing up. A small percentage of stones with strong blue can appear milky/oily or hazy. Did you make sure that this is not the case?

It sounds like the larger stone was more attractive to you. Was it just because of the size or were there other reasons that it appealed to you?

Can your jeweler get in any other stones for you? I think that if you are happy with an SI stone and it''s eye-clean, then I would not pay the extra money that a VS stone costs. Maybe he could find something in a slightly larger size but with a lower clarity and the same color?

 

[windowshopper]

patty is right----------just cert and data off that dont tell you everything but the numbers are a good place for an initial impression--especially does the diameter match the appropriate carat weight-----------you need to provide all that data to start................and good question why did you like the other better?

 

[kenobrit]

Hey guys,

Thanks for both of you replies. The reason I think I am hooked on the first diamond I mentioned is the size and the way it looked in the ring (it was the 6th diamond they brought out and I loved it). To be honest with you though, although it was higher in color (H) than the diamond I bought (I), it was more cloudy/hazy. This ring is very crystal clear but I didn''t get to see it in daylight and the fact it has strong blue flourescent scares me. Tomorrow when I go to the store and they have the diamond set in the ring, I will look at it in the sunlight. I am just so scared I made the wrong decision and feel bad that they put so much time and effort into this ring to turn back now. The store guarantees customer satisfaction so if I don''t get that ''Wow'' feeling, I am going to tell them I am not comfortable with the diamond specs and the way it looks in the ring. I feel like the biggest brat and should be grateful. My hisband feels bad and feels he can''t satisfy me, and now I feel bad too...

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/15/2005 3:52:48 PM
Author: kenobrit
[...]
My husband feels bad and feels he can't satisfy me, and now I feel bad too...

Noooo... that's too much for a piece of jewelry. Can you still replace the stone, if, by any chance you stop liking it first thing in the morning ?

If you serach for "buyer's remorse" on this forum you will find a couple dozen stories very, very close to your feeling, as much as these things show in a post, of course.

I can't see the diamond, only hear what you say about it. There are quite a few happy owners of diamonds with strong blue fluorescence here - some like the idea, so not. If anything at all shows in the stone, that will only be for some special ocasion (when there is enough UW in the light around) and that can be the one secret between you and the diamond. The rest of the world will likely see a stone that's way more "colorless" than other I color just because of that fluorescence.

Assuming this stone has good brilliance, fluorescence is not a bad thing. And brilliant it should be, since you chose it from several and brilliance is what stands out immediately

Hope the 0.2 worth helps a bit.

 

[asblackrock]

Hi Sharon
You mention that the setting has 1 ct diamonds as well. Does this mean that it is a 3 stone ring?
From what I have read on this forum, as long as it does not create a hazy effect, fluorescence is very much a matter of personal taste. In the past it has added value to diamonds, not so now. Trends alter.
The one thing I would personally think would be important is that the fluorescence is the same in the other diamonds in the setting if it is a 3 stone ring. It may look mismatched in certain lighting conditions otherwise.

 

[kenobrit]

That is something I didn''t think about is how the larger diamond would look with the smaller ones around it. I know I shouldn''t care what the jewelers think but I will feel like a royal pain in the ass if I am not happy with the ring tomorrow. Those are all good points you bring up. If the setting comes out the way I like it but the diamond does not, I am sure it wouldn''t be a huge hassle for them to show me additional diamonds they have in stock and replace it right?

 

[Patty]

Yes, it should be no problem for them to show you other diamonds that they have in stock!

Fluorescence is not a bad thing if it does not make the stone appear cloudy or oily in sunlight. In fact, if you do a search here on fluorescence you will find that many people prefer it in their diamonds. It will make the stone give off a blue/purple-ish tint in the sun and it will glow under blacklights. Both of my stones have it and I love it.

If the stone you bought appeared more crisp than the H colored stone, then I think you made the right choice.

I almost always have buyer''s remorse and I know what it''s like to doubt yourself. Take your time when you pick up the ring and do not feel pressured to be happy just because they have spent a lot of time on you. That is their job and you are investing almost $19k. You should be VERY happy for that much money!

So, is the ring a three stone or are there lots of small diamonds in the setting?

 

[kenobrit]

Hi Patty,

You mae me feel better b/c at first I never heard of flourescence in a diamond, I always thought there was none since all the diamonds I have seen said none in their description. Does it look blue in sunlight? This diamond is ''strong blue'' flourescence but I know there are a variety of levels. It was very crisp and clear when I held it in the light next to the other diamond (the H) and this was much more brilliant and clear than the other. It was not foggy or hazy at all indoors. Is the color ''I'' typically a good color? My previous diamond was < 1 carat and was an F which is why I am so concerned about this one being ''I''.

The setting is pretty, it''s a white gold setting, with 3 smaller diamonds going down the ring on each side of the center stone but I am having them add one more to each side so it gives the illusion that there are diamonds going all the way around. There are also even smaller diamonds on the top and bottom part of the ring which is really pretty. You are right in saying that I should not be ashamed to say something and look at other stones if this one does not feel right tomorrow. I just hate being too fussy (since I already was yesterday) and causing trouble but in this instance, spending that much cash I want to be 110% sure not 98% which I am right now. As you say my mind may change tomorrow and I may love it! It is different seeing the ring all put together and sparkling clean, rather than seeing the ring unclean and the jeweler sitting the stone on top of the ring without it being set.

I just don''t want to have any kind of regrets but this jeweler is really well known in Philadelphia and guarantees customer satisfaction always, everything is on paper.

 

[asblackrock]

Hi Sharon
Good luck for tomorrow. I know it is agonizing waiting and worrying if you have made the right decision!

You need to remember that you have seen 6 stones side by side and this one really appealed, so have some confidence in your choice. Our eyes are very good at picking up small differences when we can make direct comparisons. I would, however, look at the ring under different lighting conditions eg non halogen room lighting, outdoors in both sunshine and shade, and also very dull, diffuse indoor light. I recently purchase a diamond and when I got it home I was amazed how much its characteristics altered as the lighting altered. Luckily I love it under all conditions (it is particularly beautiful when I just wake up, as with low light levels the sparkle has gone, but the beauty of the cut stands out), but I had not considered this much beforehand. I am waiting for it to be set at the moment.

If anything about the ring leaves you uncertain, don''t hesitate to speak up though. A 2 ct diamond in a setting like that should just be mindblowing!

 

[kenobrit]

Thanks Angela, you guys have made me feel somewhat better and more confident about going in tomorrow to see the finished product. I''m trying my hardest to stay neutral so I don''t freak out tomorrow b/c I may love it!!

Sounds like you are really happy with your ring, congratulations. It is a hard thing to decide on and it seems like there is always a doubt in your mind if you''ve picked the right one! You just have to have that feeling