Got the ring in hand; Here''s stats, want opinions

[NewlyEngaged]

Wow, okay. Have the ring in hand now. IT IS GORGEOUS!! I am thrilled with the results. I don''t have pictures yet, but will in a week or so and will post then (after I propose). ''MichealF'' posted yesterday that he was proposing last night and was so nervous, etc. I really wasn''t nervous until my jeweler called me last night and said the ring was done and I could pick it up. I hung up the phone and then started getting really nervous. Good nervous, but nervous. Funny how having the ring in hand lets reality kick in. Anyways... The center stone is a Princess cut, 1.00 carat, G, VVS2, GIA #11998558, 6.01 x 5.57 x 3.91 (not perfectly square, but square enough), depth is 70.2%, table is 86%, Girdle is Extremely Thin to Medium, Culet=None, Polish=Good, Symmetry=Good, Flourescence=Faint, Comments=Surface Graining is not shown. I paid $4500 for the stone. Whole ring is (from appraisal description): Ladies Platinum and 18K yellow gold (two-tone, virtually all Plat though) hand made ring containing (1) princess cut diamond weighing 1.00 (rest you know), Ring also contains six (6) princess cut diamonds weighing a total of .31 carats, G, VS2 and two (2) round full cut diamonds weighing .39 carats, G, VS2. Had the center stone off set, i.e. points are at top and bottom and side to side, not traditional four corners. Total cost including center diamond was $6,425 (before tax). Got this from a B & M. Curious of people''s thoughts. I feel very, very good about the price and the quality. The ring is amazing. Absolutely gorgeous far exceeding my expectations when designing it. Planning to propose next Sunday (Aug 10th) while we are in NY together for the weekend. Gondola ride in Central Park is the plan (weather permitting). Okay all... Bring on the comments. Love hearing from people.

 

[smaggard]

Sounds awesome...congrats! ahhh nerves...I'll be popping the question the day before in NY City as well. Get there the 9th (Sat) afternoon, and will likely do it before dinner...it's getting closer and closer!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Hi SoonToBe. Thanks for your email requesting comments.

Sounds like a great price on the stone coming from a B&M jeweler. Very high color and clarity! The GIA cert is nice too, knowing that they are typically conservative graders.

The mounting is priced right where handmade platinum mountings usually are, and I'll bet it's gorgeous.

The depth looks nice on the stone. Is the table 86%, as you typed, or 68%?

I'm assuming the extremely thin portion of the girdle to be at one or more of the points, which is fairly common with princess cuts. I'm assuming you had the appraiser evaluate it for you, and the setter probably did his part in making sure the setting protected those areas. Shouldn't be a problem if it was properly handled.

Without the crown and pavilion information it's tough to comment much further on the diamond, but from your reaction I'm sure it's got plenty of sex appeal.

Congratulations!

 

[NewlyEngaged]

Thanks! I typed correctly. The table is 86%. I know that seems a bit high, but I honestly am not sure what the main or major drawback(s) are to having a larger table. I will say that the stone looks larger than a 1.00. What else should I know? Also... How can I get crown and pavilion data? Are there other cut advisors you recommend that do not rely on culet or pavilion?

THANKS!

 

[NewlyEngaged]

Thanks Smaggard. Good luck to you as well. We fly into NY on Friday AM and I am waiting until Sunday to propose. So I have to sneak around with the ring all weekend as I don't want to leave in the room and "sneaking" to the hotel safe and getting back at it again, without her knowing will be too suspicious. So I will just sneakily hang on to the ring for 2 extremely long and painful and stressful and long and did I mention long, days.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Richard Sherwood posts:

"I'm sure it's got plenty of sex appeal."

Lol......Hey Richard Don't all diamonds have sex appeal?!?

Soontobe:

I can't wait to see your photo's and congratulations!!

-Josh

 

[Richard Sherwood]

-----------
The table is 86%. I know that seems a bit high, but I honestly am
not sure what the main or major drawback(s) are to having a larger
table.
-----------

It's a trade-off. A larger table goes along with a lower crown which means you have less "prism angles" created by the slope of the bezel facets which means you have less "fire" (colored light return dispersed by the "prism" bezel facets).

86% table is pretty big, but princess cuts are generally known as being heavier on the white light return (brilliance) than on the colored light return (fire) anyway, and from your description it sounds like your stone is doing it's job in that area.

The only way to get crown/pavilion information is through a Sarin report, Megascope report, or gemologist's assessment. Was the appraiser who did your report a gemologist? Perhaps you could give him a call sometime and tell him you'd like to have the crown/pavilion information also.

 

[NewlyEngaged]

Thanks again for the feedback Richard. The appraiser was also the owner of the store I bought the ring from. My family has dealt with him (and his father before him) for literally 30+ years. I know him and more importantly trust him. He was excellent to deal with. Didn't take a dime from me until yesterday when I picked up the ring. He brought in several stones in my price and size range for me to look at and didn't bother showing me stones he said were not that good, etc. He let me walk outside with two stones side by side (without escort) so I can see the stones in natural light. Granted, he knows where to find me if I bolt, but I am certain a mall jeweler would laugh if I said I wanted to see the stones in natural light, etc. I am interested in finding out the crown and pavilion (simply for curiosity sake), but I put him through the ringer during this whole process, I would hate to offend him if I called asking for that data. I don't even know how readily available that stuff is? My jeweler is Richard Hoffman of Hoffman's Jeweler's (http://www.hoffmanjewelers.com) in Highland Park, IL (just outside of Chicago). Heard of him? So what about getting the crown and pavilion... Could it be an insult if I ask him for that? Are there other ways to obtain this information? I would and do recommend Hoffman's. He has gorgeous stuff and a huge selection of e-ring settings. So I trust he sold me a great stone and ring. I am simply curious now, after hearing so many on here speak of the ratings from the cut advisor, etc. Sorry... I am babbling now. I will stop. THANKS!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Any gemologist should be able give you the crown height and pavilion depth. You can also get this from the Sarin & Megascope reports. You could call around and ask your local jewelers or appraisers who in your area has one.

The two best objective tools for measuring light return performance are the BrillianceScope and IdealScope. The brilliancescope gives linear readings and photos of light return performance while an IdealScope photo gives a visual assessment distinguished by varying color intensities.

Both pieces of equipment are fairly cutting edge, and not found in most jewelry stores. Quite a few appraisers are using the IdealScope, while the only appraiser I know of that has a BrillianceScope is RockDoc (Bill Lieberum, of Consumers Gem Lab in Baco Raton, Fl.)

You didn't mention if the fellow who did your appraisal was a gemologist. I'm curious if he is. Did he sign his name with the identifier "GG", or "Graduate Gemologist, GIA"?

 

[NewlyEngaged]

Oh, sorry. No, he did not sign as such. I don't know if he is or not, but based on the lack of initials next to his name, I should assume he is not?

The appraisal says "Replacement Value: $11,500". Should I get a certified appraisal from a Gemologist then? For extra security and peace of mind?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

It's up to you. From what you've described, you've got an excellent body color stone with excellent clarity. The cut probably ranks an AGA Cut Class 4A, which is a "fair" make.

You paid a very fair price for it, and have a GIA cert nailing down the color and clarity, along with an appraisal that you can use for insurance purposes.

You're happy with the visual impact of the diamond, the price, and the ring made for it. I'd say file the papers away and enjoy the ring along with your new relationship.

 

[pyramid]

I am just a consumer but it doesn't seem as though you have a good cut here.

Take a look at this site http://www.gemappraisers.com/

it is the site of Oldminer who posts on this messageboard and has charts for various fancy cut diamonds from a drop down window you can choose princess cut. Although there are no ideal rules for fancy cut diamonds these charts show what has been considered to be parameters where the best performing stones have been found.

 

[NewlyEngaged]

Richard... Thank you very, VERY much for your time and comments. I am very happy with the stone and the ring in general. It looks outstanding (pics to be posted the week of the 11th). I guess in the few weeks I've been on this site and the few months I've been shopping online and in person and that I have been educating myself I've learned a lot. The biggest thing I learned is that I ultimately have to be happy with the price, the look of the stone and the overall finished product. If I sought out the perfect diamond as far as the 4 C's and the perfect depth, table, polish, etc, etc, etc, I would simply drive myself insane (well, more insane). I started out trying to do that and indeed was driving myself nuts. I finally learned through a couple of friends and mostly from this site that if I like it and it "speaks" to me, that is what matters most. So thanks to everyone on here for their gracious comments, suggestions and patience. I look forward to posting the pics in the next week (I will take after I propose as it is my gf's digital camera and she's not in town). So thanks to all.

 

[Mara]

Do not worry about offending or insulting the jeweler to ask for more information. Am I missing something or is this your hard earned money you are spending with him? Assuming it is, you have every right to get every question answered and then some. Just because you felt like you asked him alot of questions or he did alot for you or he has 'gorgeous stuff' does not mean that you shouldn't try to satisfy your curiousity on a purchase you made with alot of trepidation.

We put our jeweler through the ringer and I still wasn't 100% satisfied and for that reason, I will probably buy online for future diamond purchases because at least you are working with nuts like yourself who understand the insanity. Working with an offline jeweler was fine, but he didn't get 1/2 of what I was asking him to do or if he did, he probably felt it was unnecessary because I should just use my eyes and trust him when he said it was beautiful. I got everything I asked for but there were things he could not supply that I knew I wouldn't ask for. After the purchase was done, I bought him and sent an IdealScope for him to play around with and use for future purchases. I figured this would be invaluable in helping him weed out the duds from the great stones that his wholesaler sent him in the future. He said its a cool tool but he hardly uses it. Oh well!

So ask your questions and get your answers. You definitely can go insane with too much information, but after you have the info you wonder how you ever made a purchase without it!

Can't wait to see pictures...