Help : How to start buying a Diamond

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/4/2009 11:35:43 AM
Author: sctutor
Ok, tried calling direct to Josh to get to Jim but no pick up.
Just at that time got a email from Jim.

Essentially, Kim said they realized that several of their H&A diamonds were listed on the website at cost price.
They realized it yesterday and corrected.

Jim was earnest in his email and I can't fault him for this mistake. He offered a further $70 discount to $3300.
I probably need to go for a smaller diamond to fit my $3100 Budget or raised $200 more.

Can you guys help me with this? with my budget, should I get
1) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193804.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131
or
2) http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848243.htm

OR should i raised the $200 (which is about SGD$380) more for
1) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1213131.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131 --> which I posted the Ideal scope
or
2) http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1843965.htm

Thanks lots and lost
Lau

oh and I left this out

3) http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848247.htm

I will just fix your links to make it easier.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193804.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848243.htm

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1213131.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1843965.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848247.htm

They are all nice diamonds, so I would pick the one which matches your budget the best. Also just to mention if an upgrade might ever be a possibility in the future, both WF and JA offer upgrade policies but the terms of each vary, so you might want to check the terms and conditions of each and factor that into your decision. If you want a branded hearts and arrows diamond then one of the WF A Cut Above is the way to go.

 

[sctutor]

Thanks Lorelei,

I didn''t know WF is branded.
Hmmm...general opinion wise, is the WF ACA H&A really better than JA H&A?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/4/2009 12:41:16 PM
Author: sctutor
Thanks Lorelei,

I didn't know WF is branded.
Hmmm...general opinion wise, is the WF ACA H&A really better than JA H&A?

I wouldn't say one is better than the other. The WF ACA is a branded h&a diamond as you know, JA h&a are not a branded cut to the best of my knowledge. Hearts images are needed to judge a h&a diamond which WF supply, JA don't have these so it is more difficult to judge the hearts which are a crucial factor with this cutting style.

This tutorial might help - http://diamonds.pricescope.com/hna.asp

 

[gordon96]

dont mean to hi-jack the post, but great discussions! I''m also a newbie, and learning so much from this.....thnks

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/4/2009 3:16:25 PM
Author: gordon96
dont mean to hi-jack the post, but great discussions! I''m also a newbie, and learning so much from this.....thnks

Your hijack is not a problem gordon, and welcome to Pricescope! Thanks for your positive feedback - much appreciated!!

 

[sctutor]

Thanks for so much help.

Does anyone know how can I see the pricescope discounteed price from WF?
I can see the price in the search by cut from pricescope.
But when I click into the WF website, i can''t see the discounted price anywhere

Regards,
Lau

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/4/2009 11:34:54 PM
Author: sctutor
Thanks for so much help.

Does anyone know how can I see the pricescope discounteed price from WF?
I can see the price in the search by cut from pricescope.
But when I click into the WF website, i can't see the discounted price anywhere

Regards,
Lau

Morning Lau,

You will see the price marked with an asterisk on the PS search, that is the discount which is marked * SP. If you look at the diamond's actual page on the website, sometimes the full price is listed and not the discounted price.

 

[sctutor]

Hi everyone

I bought the diamond...finally
It''s
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848247.htm

As you can tell from this thread, I was deciding between JA and WF. JA being about $100 cheaper but WF has a lot more information about thir diamonds.

What tipped me over was the service, I tried calling WF and somehow I could get through from Singapore.
So I sent them an email, and within 30 mins, I got a reply from the agent tracy and she offered to call me.
So while I was still emailing JA, tracy called me and offered all sorts of advice, and finally I took up this diamond.

It''s a huge investment for me, I''m so excited I can''t wait for it to be sent over.

Thank you so so much Lorerei and all of you who helped me made the decision.

Anyone have any idea where is a good place to set the ring in Singapore?

 

[Lorelei]

YAY!!! I am delighted for you - many congrats!!!

 

[sctutor]

Thanks

I almost can''t wait to post the photos here

Lau

 

[sparkles]

Congrats Sctutor. I am also in Singapore and also bought from WF, Traci. I had a great experience buying from them....

 

[DiamondsDiamonds]

Congratulations! Nice choice.

 

[sctutor]

Thanks for all the encouragement.
No actual date for proposal yet.
But valentine''s too early for me.
Still need to set the ring.

Thanks for the advice.
I think I shall skip the GIA part, what do you guys think?
I suspect AGS is good enough, should i want, will probably get a normal independent appraisal.

Yup I did in total about 8 months of research by now.
first a visit to the shops to check the price.
Then a real lot of reading online.
Then about 6 months of roaming so many shops big and small to
1) check the price
2) listen to what they have to say about their diamonds.
And trust me, you really learn a lot from the salesman.

then final 2 months spent online : I''ve search about >20 different online stores including those in australia. But eventuallys ettled for this.
And of course, when down to the crutch, pricescope offered me so much expert non bias advice in just a few days.

btw, my package is in Singapore Fedex now. I have to delay shipment by 1 day becuase i''m having valentine''s dinner with my gf tomorrow.
Ah....so agonising

Lau

 

[blastdoor]

Date: 2/11/2009 10:27:55 AM
Author: sctutor
I think I shall skip the GIA part, what do you guys think?

I suspect AGS is good enough, should i want, will probably get a normal independent appraisal.

you won''t go wrong with either GIA or AGS..

 

[sparkles]

How exciting....Your girl will absolutely adore it...you gotta come back with pictures , the proposal story , the whole lot!

 

[sctutor]

Yeah...I got the package today.
Fedex made a boo boo and "forgot" to deliver my package in the morning.
I had to call them to remind them. Got it in the end still in the evening.

It''s beautiful....came with an ideal scope...so took some hearts and arrows picture (but not as nice as the ones WF took).

Problem is i can''t take the picture of the diamond, even in macro mode. it comes out blur.
Any suggestions how to?

Once again, thanks to lorelei, blastdoor and everyone here, it was a wonderful thing to recieve. even though i''llb e giving it away it april
Lau

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/13/2009 9:10:41 AM
Author: sctutor
Yeah...I got the package today.
Fedex made a boo boo and 'forgot' to deliver my package in the morning.
I had to call them to remind them. Got it in the end still in the evening.

It's beautiful....came with an ideal scope...so took some hearts and arrows picture (but not as nice as the ones WF took).

Problem is i can't take the picture of the diamond, even in macro mode. it comes out blur.
Any suggestions how to?

Once again, thanks to lorelei, blastdoor and everyone here, it was a wonderful thing to recieve. even though i'llb e giving it away it april
Lau

MANY CONGRATS TO YOU!!!! And it was my pleasure helping you!

I will post a link which might help with the pics

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/photography-101.62920/

 

[sctutor]

Hi everyone,
sorry for the long delay.
i somehow could take a proper shot of my diamond until i set it.
then my camera finally manage to focus...
not very good my skills i thinl.

here''s a few shot

this is my 1st arrow shot

 

[sctutor]

Hearts

 

[sctutor]

i love this shot

 

[sctutor]

taken in sunlight

 

[sctutor]

top side view

That''s all i managed to take without blurring .

Thanks once again to all for help .

Next to visit proposal ideas

 

[Lorelei]

SUPERB!!!!

So wonderful to see the finished result, many congrats to you and thanks so much for the pics!

 

[blastdoor]

nice!!

next up hand shots and proposal story!! heehee...

and congrats!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/27/2009 9:42:52 AM
Author: blastdoor
nice!!

next up hand shots and proposal story!! heehee...

and congrats!!!

Oh most definitely!!