Hello everyone!
Thanks much for reading and for your responses in advance. I'm a long-time lurker of these forums and website, and after months of research I think I may be finally ready to make a diamond engagement ring purchase. Just a little background: I have the (mis)fortune of working less than a block away from the Seybold building in Miami (one of the main diamond districts in the U.S.), so I've had the chance to look at a lot of stones since I started looking at rings in December. Unfortunately, I've come to the realization that (no offense to anyone please!) 99.9% of vendors (not limited to retail stores, I've gone to the higher floors and perimeter "brokers" and "wholesalers" as well) in this place are out for blood, and the place is a shark tank. I decided recently I'd be better served by limiting my research to online sources only for the stone.
So here are my questions about the diamond: My GF wants a princess cut main stone, as big and as shiny as possible. From experience, I know an I color and SI clarity diamond will maximize size for my budget of $6.5k for the stone (I can't tell the difference between an "F" or an "I", so an "I" it is... and as long as the rock is eye-clean, I'm good), so I'm pretty much restricting my search to these two parameters. My main issue is with Cut. Up until now, I've been looking for diamonds between 62-70% table and 64-75% depth. After researching, I found the diamond below, which I think will be a great buy (vendor confirmed it is eye-clean):
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-3506783...edium=referral&utm_campaign=diamondreview.com
This is before visiting BGD's website. I then looked for a BG signature stone that would best fit my specs and maximize value:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.064-g-si1-princess-diamond-ags-104062402001
This got me all confused.... My main question at this point is, how much value lies in the BG signature designation? is it really worth it to sacrifice 30 points and a whole lot of size for the better light performance? I know there's a lot more to cut than table and depth, so I'm reluctant to make a blind purchase without more grading information on the most important of the Cs... Any and all comments and opinion regarding this would be appreciated!
Now, as far as the setting is concerned, I did find a jeweler in my vicinity who was recommended to me by a coworker. I spoke to him, and he can make the setting I want in platinum for $1,000 plus cost of the channel set stones (should be around an extra $200-$300); he also agreed to set the stone for me. A similar setting sells for around $3,000 online, so the cost saving is substantial. Would you guys recommend this? what are the risks and possible rewards? I've never worked with this person, and his only reference is that of a coworker with whom I don't have much of a relationship with.
As stated above, I'd appreciate any and all comments and suggestions - Thanks much in advance!
Ruben F.
Thanks much for reading and for your responses in advance. I'm a long-time lurker of these forums and website, and after months of research I think I may be finally ready to make a diamond engagement ring purchase. Just a little background: I have the (mis)fortune of working less than a block away from the Seybold building in Miami (one of the main diamond districts in the U.S.), so I've had the chance to look at a lot of stones since I started looking at rings in December. Unfortunately, I've come to the realization that (no offense to anyone please!) 99.9% of vendors (not limited to retail stores, I've gone to the higher floors and perimeter "brokers" and "wholesalers" as well) in this place are out for blood, and the place is a shark tank. I decided recently I'd be better served by limiting my research to online sources only for the stone.
So here are my questions about the diamond: My GF wants a princess cut main stone, as big and as shiny as possible. From experience, I know an I color and SI clarity diamond will maximize size for my budget of $6.5k for the stone (I can't tell the difference between an "F" or an "I", so an "I" it is... and as long as the rock is eye-clean, I'm good), so I'm pretty much restricting my search to these two parameters. My main issue is with Cut. Up until now, I've been looking for diamonds between 62-70% table and 64-75% depth. After researching, I found the diamond below, which I think will be a great buy (vendor confirmed it is eye-clean):
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-3506783...edium=referral&utm_campaign=diamondreview.com
This is before visiting BGD's website. I then looked for a BG signature stone that would best fit my specs and maximize value:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.064-g-si1-princess-diamond-ags-104062402001
This got me all confused.... My main question at this point is, how much value lies in the BG signature designation? is it really worth it to sacrifice 30 points and a whole lot of size for the better light performance? I know there's a lot more to cut than table and depth, so I'm reluctant to make a blind purchase without more grading information on the most important of the Cs... Any and all comments and opinion regarding this would be appreciated!
Now, as far as the setting is concerned, I did find a jeweler in my vicinity who was recommended to me by a coworker. I spoke to him, and he can make the setting I want in platinum for $1,000 plus cost of the channel set stones (should be around an extra $200-$300); he also agreed to set the stone for me. A similar setting sells for around $3,000 online, so the cost saving is substantial. Would you guys recommend this? what are the risks and possible rewards? I've never worked with this person, and his only reference is that of a coworker with whom I don't have much of a relationship with.
As stated above, I'd appreciate any and all comments and suggestions - Thanks much in advance!
Ruben F.
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