Input on BN Diamonds

[BrilliantDummie]

FYI,

I am in the process of return my stone back to B2C, I can keep you updated on the return/refund process.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the stone and I wish so much that I could keep it! Unfortunately I took it over to the guys who have the setting that my gf picked out and the stone is slightly too big for it. It intrudes somewhat on the diamonds sitting on the outside and it would look much better with a stone that is just a little bit smaller, probably a 0.90ct. So I have to return this one and look for something else with maybe much better quality since it wil have to be under 1ct.

If you are interested in the one I had maybe you can ask B2C to pull it for you when they recieve it? Earlier I posted the link to my thread where I show off the ASET and IS images of the stone and its GIA number.

Just another option.

Ugh I hate having to send this stone back, 3 months of searching down the drain

 

[zoebartlett]

Mike, even though I don't have the same level of experience with diamonds as other PSers, I've been here for years. I usually post in another forum here though and just lurk in RT. It's great to read this thread and continue to learn more right along with you. I love John Pollard's analogies, by the way! It's been fun reading your first post and then subsequent ones and seeing you realize that there's a whole other world out there than BN. It's so easy to get sucked in to nitpicking every little thing, and before you know it, you're on information overload. I know what that's like. Anyway, I hope you stick around after purchasing your diamond for your girlfriend. I've enjoyed reading your posts.

 

[Mike714321]

BD, sorry about your luck. That's probably something I should look into as well! Do you know what the GIA report number is on it or what B2C's SKU was on it? keep me updated on how the return goes as I may be purchasing from B2C as well.

Zoe, Thanks for the words. I've definitely learned a lot about diamonds since posting here. Ironically, I just contacted a local jeweler about settings and mentioned I was looking to buy online after the guy at another place kinda blew me off. He asked what I was looking for and within an hour he's returned back to me 3 stones that all seem pretty ideal to me, same quality as what's in my top picks so far AND in the price range. I don't know how that happened, but I like to think that it was cause I was able to shoot off my search criteria to him in a pretty precise way now that I've been learned! I thought for sure I'd be buying online and there's totally a chance I may still be doing that, but I'm going to go look at two he's got here local first.

One is a 1.01ct GIA triple Ex SI1 H color with an HCA of 1.3. (GIA Report 1179259646). The other is a 1.025ct AGS Triple 0 SI1 I color with an HCA of 1.1 and the ASET in the lab looks decent (AGS Report 104071165028 and 1.025ct).

The majority I've found online and that are in my list are better clarity and lower cost and I think I'm past the stage of being uncomfortable with buying "sight unseen" now that I know about the IS and ASET pictures as well as being able to have B2C or whoever hold it, send me more info, ship, then I still have a return window if I'm not impressed.

I'll keep an open mind, maybe they'll make me a deal I can't refuse, but right now, I still think I'm looking at better stones online than what they've got to show me based on what I have from them right now. In a weird sort of way, I almost wish he'd email me a face picture, the IS, ASET, and H&A pictures first, then I could put them into my chart and see what I think. Then if I go in and am blown away by it then I'm almost be guaranteed that some of my other picks on my list should be even better!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mike714321]

Okay... I think I've narrowed down my list to 4, yes, just 4! Perhaps 3! The last one at 4th I am waiting on as many pictures as possible. Hopefully they can get me at least the Real, IS, and ASET. I don't really know if H&A pics are useful. Hopefully they can get them. Plot looks pretty decent on it and the HCA is good, plus it's 1.11ct! After I get pictures I'll update or toss it and just have the 3 to sort.

Large picture: http://s30.postimg.org/5xzmre5pr/Final4.jpg

The local place that said they had some stones called me today and 2 of the 3 I liked they had sold, so he said they're going to keep looking and we'll talk next week after the 4th and see where we're at. I told him I couldn't guarantee I wouldn't buy something online by then.

A question about insurance... I called my insurance company who I have my home and car with about loose diamonds. He said they wouldn't cover it. The jeweler I've been talking to said that technically his insurance would cover it while it was being set, but I don't know if he was making a technicality and I'd have to like, go to court if that were to happen... or if he was stating I don't need to worry. My insurance guy said one thing I could do was have the stone set in a temporary ring, get it appraised, insure it, then it'd be cover for the real setting. I guess the main point here is that I'd want to be certain the temporary "setting" was into something easy, lol, like Play-doh! Any tips on how I'd get the stone insured while it's being set?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Gypsy]

All of them are lovely. Is there a vendor that has a setting you want?

What are the color grades and prices of the three?

 

[Mike714321]

They are all color I and are between $6,650 and $6,800 without bank wire discount. I'm really hoping I can get real, IS, and ASET pictures of that 1.11ct stone and that it's beautiful lol.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Gypsy]

I like the WF stone. That's the one I'd get. Small table, great ASET and lovely hearts. And VS1 to boot.

 

[Mike714321]

I like the WF stone. That's the one I'd get. Small table, great ASET and lovely hearts. And VS1 to boot.

I really like the contrast in the first two. Being that it appears to be cut well, is the real picture simply bad photography? I suppose I could ask WF for more pictures.

B2C said they'd get back to me in 24 hours with as much on that 1.11ct VS1 stone I've got zilch on right now. Fingers crossed but I'm not going to be disappointed if it's not as great as the other 3 are all still great options. I guess I better start researching the return policies and nitty gritty between B2C and WF.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mike714321]

Is there a vendor that has a setting you want?

To be honest I haven't looked at settings from online vendors. Partly because I know of at least two that I really like locally and also partly because I'd like to actually have that in hand before purchasing. If I purchase locally then I'll have a b&m store to take it to for cleaning and etc that, depending on the store, may offer those services at discounts. I guess that's a moot point if say WF partners with a b&m store, but I haven't heard of anything like that.

Regarding my insurance question, and maybe this is silly, but... do jewelry stores have "fake" settings? Like, a $50 copper ring that is a tension setting or whatever type setting is the most fragile? They'd just pop it in, give the whole ring an appraisal, and fax that to the insurance company for coverage? My insurance guy said he's heard of stuff like this being done to circumvent their policy of not covering loose diamonds. Actually, now that I think about it, the guy at the jewelry store mentioned "presentation" rings that some couples use to temporarily hold a diamond so a guy can get to asking before the ring is completed. Perhaps this is a route to go?

Thanks for the vote Gypsy. I'll add it to my decision-making board!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Gypsy]

No. Please don't get that stone set into some kind of junk setting and give it to your lady.

Either propose with the stone loose. Or in a temporary white GOLD setting for 350. If you are going that route.

And Jewelers Mutual will cover the loose stone during setting.


I do highly suggest you get the setting and the stone in the same place though.

And WF and BGD have some lovely settings.

It doesn't hurt to take a look.

 

[Mike714321]

No. Please don't get that stone set into some kind of junk setting and give it to your lady.

Sorry, no, you're right. I meant have it placed in something junk and as easy as possible so that my insurance company can cover it. The stone remains covered under my insurance when it's being moved into a new setting. I wouldn't be popping the Q with the junk setting!

I'll look into Jewelers Mutual and entertain a setting online as well. Depending on the process, it really may be cheaper to see if I can get the jeweler to set it temporarily in something that is cheap and low risk to set so I can roll with my existing insurance company.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mike714321]

Okay everyone... the pictures are in. I think I know which one to get, but I'd really appreciate some input on my final 4. I'm focused on the 1.11ct stone ranked 1st in my list right now. I've had B2C place 24 hour holds on #1 and #2 for me.

Comparison Picture of all 4 together: http://postimg.org/image/poy3ukzbj/full/

1. 1.11ct VS1 I color GIA Triple Ex with a 1.6 HCA. Pictures linked below, none at site.
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5098702-1.11-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VS1-clarity.aspx
Actual: http://postimg.org/image/80pa9z8gp/full/
IS: http://postimg.org/image/ulnf7l5ez/full/
ASET: http://postimg.org/image/z3k426kf1/full/
Arrows: http://postimg.org/image/95fg0k4dt/full/
Hearts: http://postimg.org/image/7s61vvtrv/full/

2. 1.02ct VS2 I color GIA Triple Ex with a 1.6 HCA. All pictures (less arrows) at site.
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5115883-1.02-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VS2-clarity.aspx

3. 1.00ct VS1I color GIA Triple Ex with a 1.4 HCA. All pictures (less arrows) at site.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3100976.htm

4. 1.06ct SI1 I color GIA Triple Ex with a 1.3 HCA. All pictures at site.
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4747873-1.06-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-SI1-clarity.aspx


I'm really glad the one stone with NO info was the one I selected as my last ditch effort to get pictures of. What does PS think?! If there's a general consensus then I think I'm ready to purchase ASAP.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[luvdajules]

A quick threadjack for Brilliant Dummie, I noticed there's a couple pre-loved stones that might be a fit for you. One is un-used Brian Gavin Signature stone, around 0.85 ct. The other is a WF ACA G/Si1 0.858 ct. 6.1mm, recently price reduced to $4650 which includes setting but maybe take less since you only want stone. Anyway, just a thought if you check up on this thread. Done with threadjack,

Hi OP, I like 3 because of the proportions and WF lifetime upgrade policy, but 4,2,1 are pretty nice too. I think they all are very nice, really. 1 has the advantage of being 6.6 mm.

 

[Mike714321]

Thanks for the input ldj! At this point, now that I think all my choices appear to have great cut/symmetry I'm focusing on what she might like, and I think size is the main one. I doubt she'll ever know just how much effort goes into comparing and searching; but you can see "weight", so if all are in my price range, all are the same color, all are GIA triple ex, all have HCA's below 2, and all look to have good looking ASET and IS, then all I should have left to pick is carat and non-numeric data ie, beauty, which is obviously hard to do with just one face-up picture, but hey, it's the internet.

I did forget to mention that as far as I can tell, they all have girdles that seem ok. I don't know if any pictures show painted/digging, but I have avoided anything with thin girdles, the worst being the WF with a thin to medium girdle. Also, on that 1.11ct stone, is it likely that those specs are just dirt or something? It's a VS1 stone and the plots only show 1 cloud and 1 pinpoint on the face and there's nothing in the comments about other stuff not being shown. There's also what looks like some thread or something on the girdle, surely it's not something IN the stone right?!

Anyway, I know some will say "it sounds like you've made your decision", and I may have, but... I'm still interested in what people think on PS. What can I say, I like checks. Being an engineer, it's like having my fellow engineers make sure I didn't royally screw something!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mike714321]

Thank you everyone for helping me learn about diamonds! An immeasurable amount of useful members here and information!
I created a new thread for the final 4 stones, input, and where I'll be posting pictures I get from B2C or perhaps WF before purchasing. The new thread is linked below:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamonds-on-24hr-hold-seeking-input.203621/

Again, thank you so much to PS for all the help. Such a friendly forum, I may just have to stay and help other rooks who pass through! I hope my thread can be a great reference for people searching Google and PS who may have been in the same boat I was in!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[SirGuy]

Such a friendly forum, I may just have to stay and help other rooks who pass through! I hope my thread can be a great reference for people searching Google and PS who may have been in the same boat I was in!

Thanks,
Mike

This forum is only as good as the people in it who pass on what they've learned. I hope you decide to stick around afterwards and keep learning and helping others.

 

[Mike714321]

Updated:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/she-said-yes-loves-her-ring.205119/