Venzen007
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2008
- Messages
- 212
I''m currently buying a center stone for an engagement ring. I have a budget, of course, like most people, and I want to maximize the diamond I buy to that amount. That budget is around the 3,000 USD range. I''m currently looking at a few different stones, two from a brick and mortar store and a couple from bluenile, though not being able to look at the stones from bluenile is a bit disconcerting, and any suggestions or advice in that area would be appreciated.
Basically, the two stones from the brick and mortar establishment, and first, out of all the physical places I''ve been to, and that is quite a few, this graduate gemologist and owner of the store stands out head and shoulders above the other places as far as trustworthiness. Anyway, the two stones...
One is 0.724, AGS certed, great ratio of 2.04:1, F color, SI1 clarity (though qualifying this, I can just barely barely see what I would call a small feather toward the edge at about the midpoint of the stone without a loop. The other inclusions are only visible with the loop, a couple of needles, and some little bubble looking things). Polish:Good, Symmetry: Good, Table is 55.9%, Depth was somewhere near 65%. Girdle slightly thick to thick. This is priced at $2990 USD. What I like about this stone is the nearly 2:1 proportions and the color.
The other is a 0.78, GIA certed, slightly squat ratio of 1.78:1, G color, SI1 clarity (though qualifying this, not only can I not see any inclusions without the loop, I couldn''t see any with the loop and had to get owner to help point out the inclusions, which even he had to look for, commenting that on a good day, that stone could have been a VS2.) Polish: Excellent, Symmetry: Very good, Table 57% Depth 60%, girdle the same as the other. This one is $2600 USD. What I like about this stone was that it had more of a "glittery" effect and the fact that I could hardly see, even with the loop, any inclusions.
Comparing the two stones, side by side, I can barely make out a color difference, but only occasionally. The different isn''t clear all the time (I spent a couple of hours staring at these side by side, by the way), but it is there. I, of course, like the whiter stone, and the ratio of the whiter stone. The other one, however, is more, well, for lack of a better word, "glitterier"? It seems like it sends more light out and is overall a "clearer" stone, not really speaking about inclusions. The F color has some "flat" spots. But, the G color doesn''t quite have the ratio shape I''m looking for, but it''s very close.
So, considering the price, are these prices reasonable for a non-chain brick and mortar shop? Also, Between these two stones that I compared side by side today, is there an obvious better stone with this information, or is it going to come down to just personal preference?
Next, as a reminder, what about Bluenile? Can I buy a stone based solely on the "facts" without seeing it?
Thanks!
Basically, the two stones from the brick and mortar establishment, and first, out of all the physical places I''ve been to, and that is quite a few, this graduate gemologist and owner of the store stands out head and shoulders above the other places as far as trustworthiness. Anyway, the two stones...
One is 0.724, AGS certed, great ratio of 2.04:1, F color, SI1 clarity (though qualifying this, I can just barely barely see what I would call a small feather toward the edge at about the midpoint of the stone without a loop. The other inclusions are only visible with the loop, a couple of needles, and some little bubble looking things). Polish:Good, Symmetry: Good, Table is 55.9%, Depth was somewhere near 65%. Girdle slightly thick to thick. This is priced at $2990 USD. What I like about this stone is the nearly 2:1 proportions and the color.
The other is a 0.78, GIA certed, slightly squat ratio of 1.78:1, G color, SI1 clarity (though qualifying this, not only can I not see any inclusions without the loop, I couldn''t see any with the loop and had to get owner to help point out the inclusions, which even he had to look for, commenting that on a good day, that stone could have been a VS2.) Polish: Excellent, Symmetry: Very good, Table 57% Depth 60%, girdle the same as the other. This one is $2600 USD. What I like about this stone was that it had more of a "glittery" effect and the fact that I could hardly see, even with the loop, any inclusions.
Comparing the two stones, side by side, I can barely make out a color difference, but only occasionally. The different isn''t clear all the time (I spent a couple of hours staring at these side by side, by the way), but it is there. I, of course, like the whiter stone, and the ratio of the whiter stone. The other one, however, is more, well, for lack of a better word, "glitterier"? It seems like it sends more light out and is overall a "clearer" stone, not really speaking about inclusions. The F color has some "flat" spots. But, the G color doesn''t quite have the ratio shape I''m looking for, but it''s very close.
So, considering the price, are these prices reasonable for a non-chain brick and mortar shop? Also, Between these two stones that I compared side by side today, is there an obvious better stone with this information, or is it going to come down to just personal preference?
Next, as a reminder, what about Bluenile? Can I buy a stone based solely on the "facts" without seeing it?
Thanks!
Thanks for the advice so far!
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