Help Needed! Thoughts on This Diamond?

[lktx]

Hi all,

I found a diamond I'm interested in on James Allen. Unfortunately it's not on the beta site? Anyway, I plan to request more info about it tomorrow, unless you guys see something questionable about it. It scored a 1.3 on the HCA. I know that people here know *a lot* more about inclusion placement, etc., than I do. Thanks!

 

[04diamond<3]

Hi all,

I found a diamond I'm interested in on James Allen. Unfortunately it's not on the beta site? Anyway, I plan to request more info about it tomorrow, unless you guys see something questionable about it. It scored a 1.3 on the HCA. I know that people here know *a lot* more about inclusion placement, etc., than I do. Thanks!]

Hi...I think it looks great, and it seems like if the inclusion is noticeable then it may be possible to hide it under a prong. I agree that you should talk to the gemologist on staff and get as much information on the stone as you can, I'd also ask for a video and the idealscope image. It looks pretty good from the numbers and a 1.3 on the HCA is impressive. Let us know what they say.

 

[Christina...]

I think the stone looks great based on the numbers, but I disagree about the inclusion placement, if the gemologist determines that they are eye visible a prong will not cover them. The prong only covers the very edge of the girdle, the inclusions are plotted very close to the table. Your best bet is to have gemologist review it and give you his opinion. I've found JA to be very honest and trustworthy in their assessments. What is the clarity grade btw?

 

[04diamond<3]

I think the stone looks great based on the numbers, but I disagree about the inclusion placement, if the gemologist determines that they are eye visible a prong will not cover them. The prong only covers the very edge of the girdle, the inclusions are plotted very close to the table. Your best bet is to have gemologist review it and give you his opinion. I've found JA to be very honest and trustworthy in their assessments. What is the clarity grade btw?

Of course you disagree. I said "it may be possible" that a prong could cover it and to check with them either way.

 

[Christina...]

I think the stone looks great based on the numbers, but I disagree about the inclusion placement, if the gemologist determines that they are eye visible a prong will not cover them. The prong only covers the very edge of the girdle, the inclusions are plotted very close to the table. Your best bet is to have gemologist review it and give you his opinion. I've found JA to be very honest and trustworthy in their assessments. What is the clarity grade btw?

Of course you disagree. I said "it may be possible" that a prong could cover it and to check with them either way.

Umm, I'm not sure what you mean by this.... Have I offended or insulted you in some way 04diamond<3??

 

[lktx]

Thanks for your thoughts. It's an SI1 -- should have mentioned that in the original post.

 

[Christina...]

I'd be more concerned if you had come back and said that it was an SI2. SI1's are much more likely to be eye clean, but the gemologist will be able to tell you for sure. Have you asked for an idealscope?

 

[lktx]

Not yet. I will ask for one tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[Lula]

Looks like a nice diamond -- you might want to ask the gemologist for his/her opinion on the cloud, i.e., is the cloud visible from some angles and is it impacting the brilliance of the stone in that area.

 

[lktx]

Looks like a nice diamond -- you might want to ask the gemologist for his/her opinion on the cloud, i.e., is the cloud visible from some angles and is it impacting the brilliance of the stone in that area.

Thank you! I really appreciate having targeted questions to ask.

 

[04diamond<3]

I think the stone looks great based on the numbers, but I disagree about the inclusion placement, if the gemologist determines that they are eye visible a prong will not cover them. The prong only covers the very edge of the girdle, the inclusions are plotted very close to the table. Your best bet is to have gemologist review it and give you his opinion. I've found JA to be very honest and trustworthy in their assessments. What is the clarity grade btw?

Of course you disagree. I said "it may be possible" that a prong could cover it and to check with them either way.

Umm, I'm not sure what you mean by this.... Have I offended or insulted you in some way 04diamond<3??

Just been feeling like you and ironically someone else that just commented on this thread always have something to say contradictory to anything I say even if what I said was "it may...or you should check with the gemologist". I'm sure you meant nothing by it, and that's fine. Just been a smidge irritable lately.

 

[Christina...]

I think the stone looks great based on the numbers, but I disagree about the inclusion placement, if the gemologist determines that they are eye visible a prong will not cover them. The prong only covers the very edge of the girdle, the inclusions are plotted very close to the table. Your best bet is to have gemologist review it and give you his opinion. I've found JA to be very honest and trustworthy in their assessments. What is the clarity grade btw?

Of course you disagree. I said "it may be possible" that a prong could cover it and to check with them either way.

Umm, I'm not sure what you mean by this.... Have I offended or insulted you in some way 04diamond<3??

Just been feeling like you and ironically someone else that just commented on this thread always have something to say contradictory to anything I say even if what I said was "it may...or you should check with the gemologist". I'm sure you meant nothing by it, and that's fine. Just been a smidge irritable lately.

I'm not really sure what to say other than I assure you that my intent wasn't to follow you around and undermine you. I think that you will find that PS is a very large forum and many of us have varying opinions and yet all somehow manage to post side by side and with respect. Everyone's opinions are appreciate here and there is room for them all.

Very sorry for the thread jack lktx! I'm looking forward to hearing what JA has to say about your stone!!

 

[lktx]

YOU GUYS. Idealscope is in. Thoughts? I have no idea how to read these things. I've looked at the tutorials, and I'm still a little fuzzy. I think it looks good though, especially coupled with the description below. Correct me if I'm wrong!

I've also included the gemologist description. I've redacted the numbers to protect my pretties for the moment. The diamond I've posted info about above is referred to below as "Diamond #1." JA is pretty straight forward/accurate in their descriptions, right?

"I'm happy to share that our gemologist found diamond Diamond #1 (x.xxcrt J SI1) to have great fire, brilliance, and scintillation and to perform the strongest of the bunch! It has a true "J" color, which only possesses a very faint amount of warmth. Its inclusions blend well and the average eye should view the diamond as eye clean. Normally our gemologists do not report on inclusions from closer than eight inches, but they've made the exception for you and said that you probably will have to hold the diamond three to four inches from the eye and directly under light for the inclusions to be visible. Please keep in mind that the cleanliness of a diamond is subjective since everyone's vision is different, but this is defintiely great news for an SI1 diamond of this size!

Diamonds #2 (x.xxcrt I SI1) and #3 (x.xxcrt I SI1) also have great fire, brilliance, and scintillation and are nearly as bright as diamond Diamond #1. They each possess a true "I" color, and the inclusions blend well and both will face eye clean.

All three of your diamonds are great options, but since Diamond #1 is the largest and is priced so well, I would encourage you to move forward with that diamond. It's a fantastic value and I believe you'll find to look beautiful in person."

 

[04diamond<3]

I think the idealscope looks gorgeous! They confirmed it's eye clean, so I'd go with it.

 

[lktx]

Thanks! SO and I are going to discuss tonight -- fingers crossed that he is as moved by this option as I am.

Any other opinions?

 

[yssie]

First - thank you for posting the proportions diagram and inclusion plot, most people insist on listing things in text and then we have to ask again for all the stuff they've left out!

And some questions anyway
How big is the stone? Round to the nearest quarter carat if you want to keep it under wraps.
Age of report?
Any comments in the "additional comments" section?

IS looks fine, very good of them to offer more details on the visibility of the inclusions! The one at 4 o'clock in the crown plot (what is it? crystal/knot/cavity?) might be prongable on a smaller stone... fact that they specified body colour "for a stone of this size" makes me think that's probably not the case though! It's difficult on a bigger stone even if the prong reaches b/c the prong would have to bisect two facets to reach it (difficult to do well, I should say). Something to ask about if you're interested/concerned.

 

[lktx]

Yssie, thanks for your help!

Approximate ct weight is 2.25! The report is from June 2012, and the comments state that "additional clouds aren't shown."

I think the 4 o'clock inclusion may be a cluster of crystals? When I get home I can post a screen shot that includes the key to the inclusion plot (shoulda done that before!).

 

[lktx]

OH, I also meant to ask if you guys think the 4 o'clock inclusion on the plot is visible in the picture at around 10 o'clock. I should have taken a magnified screen shot as well -- I'm sad that this diamond isn't showing on the beta site for me to admire. At any rate, if that little thing is in fact the 4 o'clock inclusion, I don't mind it at all.

ETA: To clarify, I mean the 10 o'clock of the picture in the first post, not the IS.

 

[yssie]

Approximate ct weight is 2.25! The report is from June 2012, and the comments state that "additional clouds aren't shown."
No worries then

I think the 4 o'clock inclusion may be a cluster of crystals? When I get home I can post a screen shot that includes the key to the inclusion plot (shoulda done that before!).
Okay, given the size and crown angle (both good things! ) I don't think it'd be trivial to cover, if that's what you want, but definitely something to ask about! In what order are the inclusions listed on the report (what's first)? The first inclusion listed is the most "severe" - the grade-making inclusion - but in my experience the grade-making inclusion isn't always the most *visible* so... yeah, I'd just ask.

 

[lktx]

The inclusions are listed in the following order:

Left column:
Cloud
Crystal
Feather
Needle

Right column:
Indented Natural
Natural

 

[pandabee]

lktx I don't have any guidance except that it looks stunning and I am so excited for you!!!!

 

[lktx]

lktx I don't have any guidance except that it looks stunning and I am so excited for you!!!!

Well I have yet to convince SO that *now* is the right time to buy, though he did encourage me to ask for more information about this stone, and he did inquire the other day as to if I had gotten the idealscopes yet...

We're going to discuss tonight. Wish me luck!

 

[Fly Girl]

OH, I also meant to ask if you guys think the 4 o'clock inclusion on the plot is visible in the picture at around 10 o'clock. I should have taken a magnified screen shot as well -- I'm sad that this diamond isn't showing on the beta site for me to admire. At any rate, if that little thing is in fact the 4 o'clock inclusion, I don't mind it at all.

ETA: To clarify, I mean the 10 o'clock of the picture in the first post, not the IS.

I see the 4 o'clock inclusion from the plot at 10 o'clock in the picture and at 2 o'clock in the IS.

If the JA gemologist says the brilliance is not affected by the clouds and the stone is eye-clean, I think you have a winner. Note that she says the average eye will find it eye-clean. If you are very fussy, you will want to pass. This looks like a beatiful diamond and a good value.

 

[lktx]

^ Nope, not fussy! As long as the brilliance isn't affected and the inclusions don't reach out and slap me in the face, I'm cool with them. Also, this may be a little weird, but I kind of like some inclusions because they're like little birthmarks (okay, that's probably weird).

Anyway, I hope I'll be able to call this one my own soon.

 

[Fly Girl]

^ Nope, not fussy! As long as the brilliance isn't affected and the inclusions don't reach out and slap me in the face, I'm cool with them. Also, this may be a little weird, but I kind of like some inclusions because they're like little birthmarks (okay, that's probably weird).

Anyway, I hope I'll be able to call this one my own soon.

That's a great attitude. No one will notice what you know is there. All people will see is the sparkle. And, you get better size and save a few bucks for a great setting.

 

[pandabee]

^ Nope, not fussy! As long as the brilliance isn't affected and the inclusions don't reach out and slap me in the face, I'm cool with them. Also, this may be a little weird, but I kind of like some inclusions because they're like little birthmarks (okay, that's probably weird).

Anyway, I hope I'll be able to call this one my own soon.

That's a great attitude. No one will notice what you know is there. All people will see is the sparkle. And, you get better size and save a few bucks for a great setting.

yay!! I have my fingers crossed for you and wishing lots of dust your way!

 

[lktx]

So we ordered the diamond yesterday. It's a 2.30 J SI1, and we got it for $16,341. SO and I are both a little freaked out because this is the biggest purchase either one of us has made. Thoughts on the price? I thought it was pretty good.

I won't get to see the diamond; it's going straight to SO, who will have it appraised. If the diamond looks good to SO and the appraiser (and I expect that it will), SO will have it set and will surprise me at some point over the next few months.

 

[04diamond<3]

So we ordered the diamond yesterday. It's a 2.30 J SI1, and we got it for $16,341. SO and I are both a little freaked out because this is the biggest purchase either one of us has made. Thoughts on the price? I thought it was pretty good.

I won't get to see the diamond; it's going straight to SO, who will have it appraised. If the diamond looks good to SO and the appraiser (and I expect that it will), SO will have it set and will surprise me at some point over the next few months.

That's SO exciting!!! Considering this was their comp:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/2.32-carat-J-color-SI1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-89739

Yes, I think you got it for a fantastic price!!!! Can't wait to see pictures and congrats on starting your engagement!

 

[lktx]

Thanks for the reassurance.

SO is nervous because I previously told him that it's nearly impossible to "beat the market"; the people who are pricing these diamonds are experts and aren't going to sell something for less than they think it's worth.

He's thinking we may have missed something -- why is a diamond that appears to be a really good bet priced several thousand lower than comps? But it seems to totally check out. Both the HCA score and IS image look good; it's represented as eye clean and as a strong performer. SO is like "what are we missing???" Hopefully an independent appraisal will put his mind at ease?

 

[04diamond<3]

Thanks for the reassurance.

SO is nervous because I previously told him that it's nearly impossible to "beat the market"; the people who are pricing these diamonds are experts and aren't going to sell something for less than they think it's worth.

He's thinking we may have missed something -- why is a diamond that appears to be a really good bet priced several thousand lower than comps? But it seems to totally check out. Both the HCA score and IS image look good; it's represented as eye clean and as a strong performer. SO is like "what are we missing???" Hopefully an independent appraisal will put his mind at ease?

haha, yeah. My DH is like that. But I've been on this forum long enough, so he knows that I'd never do anything that didn't check out. Anyways, yeah! Take it to an appraiser right after you get it, get it insured, and just to ease your SO, go to your local jeweler and ask them to appraise it. Even ask if they have something similar and he'll see the significant price difference. DO NOT tell them where you got your stone from though! Say it was an heirloom or something. I went to our local jeweler and saw a 2ct G SI1 for $35,000, JA has one for $22,000 AND I get a 5% discount from them! It's really just about doing your research and knowing where to go.