Is this true or do they want more money out of me? [UK BASED]

[PapaSB]

Currently working out which diamond/ring to get for the misses.

Ideally, it would be a 1ct pricess cut yellow gold ring on a white gold mount.

Spoke to someone this morning on the phone (who is down Hatton Garden for the UK people here) and he said that you would need a minimum of a VS1 and a F to sit on the ring for that size.

This I wasn''t aware of, that the bigger the ct the whiter and fewer inclusions you must have - is this true?

Also, he gave me a ''rough'' idea of the price - which was in the region of 4000 GBP.

Does any of that stack up for your more experience guys?

 

[WinkHPD]

Pure unadulterated horse manure.

No other way to say it that is printable in a family forum.

Wink

 

[PapaSB]

Thanks Wink for the controlled response.

I am due to pop down there tomorrow to have a look, please note the word "look"! There are loads of diamond shops in Hatton Garden, and i will probably use it as an experience.

My original thoughts were to get an H, VS2 on a Priness cut, 1ct.

Anyone got one like that? Anyone know of a prices for a stone in the UK? The US costs are always cheaper I know.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 8:24:27 AM
Author: PapaSB
Thanks Wink for the controlled response.


I am due to pop down there tomorrow to have a look, please note the word ''look''! There are loads of diamond shops in Hatton Garden, and i will probably use it as an experience.


My original thoughts were to get an H, VS2 on a Priness cut, 1ct.


Anyone got one like that? Anyone know of a prices for a stone in the UK? The US costs are always cheaper I know.

I''m in the UK as well. My plan is to do my window shopping here in the UK, figure out what colours I like, and then order online from Whiteflash or Good Old Gold and spend roughly half the money for the same ring.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/19/2008 8:24:27 AM
Author: PapaSB
Thanks Wink for the controlled response.

I am due to pop down there tomorrow to have a look, please note the word ''look''! There are loads of diamond shops in Hatton Garden, and i will probably use it as an experience.

My original thoughts were to get an H, VS2 on a Priness cut, 1ct.

Anyone got one like that? Anyone know of a prices for a stone in the UK? The US costs are always cheaper I know.

I think that would be just fine, as long as the stone is cut well. Squares tend to show color a little easier than rounds, and any stone shape will show more color if not well cut.

I don''t know if shops there would carry many/any AGS stones, but if you could look at AGS0 Princess, that would definitely help ensure you get a decent stone.

 

[PapaSB]

Most of the shops in Hatton Garden carry a AGI certificate for their stones.

I know there is a comparison somewhere on this site (or maybe google) where it aligns them (as they are all slightly different).

It is mad that the UK prices are so much more than the US prices. Is it the UK import costs? Either way, its mad!

Good to know that the stone should be ok, I had done quite a bit if thinking and viewing in the high street shops in the UK (Ernest Jones) so that i could get an idea of the style she would want. The prices in the High Street / Mall stores are even higher that the Hatton Garden prices.

 

[gwendolyn]

Just to give you an idea, here''s an 1.004 ct H VS2 ACA Princess from Whiteflash for $4587 (about £2300): http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-617021.htm

Don''t let them talk you into going into a higher colour grade if that isn''t what you want! But for the sake of comparison, here''s a 1.01ct F SI1 ACA Princess from WF for $5295 (about £2700): http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-617014.htm

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 8:43:08 AM
Author: PapaSB
Most of the shops in Hatton Garden carry a AGI certificate for their stones.


I know there is a comparison somewhere on this site (or maybe google) where it aligns them (as they are all slightly different).


It is mad that the UK prices are so much more than the US prices. Is it the UK import costs? Either way, its mad!


Good to know that the stone should be ok, I had done quite a bit if thinking and viewing in the high street shops in the UK (Ernest Jones) so that i could get an idea of the style she would want. The prices in the High Street / Mall stores are even higher that the Hatton Garden prices.

There are a few UKers on this site, many of whom have ordered their rings from overseas and ended up savings (literally) thousands. You have to pay the VAT to customs upon the package''s entry to the UK, but even figuring in that price, you still save a ton of money.

I wish I could figure out the mark-up here as well. It''s truly insane!

 

[Maisie]

When I worked for Goldsmiths I was told that they multiply the price by 3 on most jewellery. Thats one heck of a lot of money they are adding on!!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 9:27:21 AM
Author: Maisie
When I worked for Goldsmiths I was told that they multiply the price by 3 on most jewellery. Thats one heck of a lot of money they are adding on!!

Do they get away with it because not enough consumers do price comparisons?! That really is insane!

 

[PapaSB]

Well, perhaps i need to review this WhiteFlash (or Mr Winks site) site a bit better then.

I was going to do the whole HG trip thing, but I might look into the US sites to understand that a bit more.

Any more information would be fantastically useful. I think i know what I am after, but would be happy to listen to ring, setting info as well.


[P.s. really annoyed about being treated like a muppet by HG guy!

]

 

[Maisie]

They can get away with it because most of the general public don''t have a clue about diamonds. The diamonds are not even very good quality.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 2/19/2008 9:37:54 AM
Author: PapaSB
Well, perhaps i need to review this WhiteFlash (or Mr Winks site) site a bit better then.

I was going to do the whole HG trip thing, but I might look into the US sites to understand that a bit more.

Any more information would be fantastically useful. I think i know what I am after, but would be happy to listen to ring, setting info as well.


[P.s. really annoyed about being treated like a muppet by HG guy!

]

I would highly recommend Whiteflash to you (I live in the UK and have bought from them three times now) and Wink is a great guy too.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 9:37:54 AM
Author: PapaSB
Well, perhaps i need to review this WhiteFlash (or Mr Winks site) site a bit better then.


I was going to do the whole HG trip thing, but I might look into the US sites to understand that a bit more.


Any more information would be fantastically useful. I think i know what I am after, but would be happy to listen to ring, setting info as well.



[P.s. really annoyed about being treated like a muppet by HG guy!

]

I''d be annoyed too, my friend, but think of it this way--you found Pricescope and got educated BEFORE giving them your hard-earned cash! This is fantastic!!

How about you start from the beginning, and tell us what you total budget is, what kind of settings you''re looking for, and we''ll see what we can find for you?

 

[EricaR]

There are quite a few PS vendors that people here rave about, including WhiteFlash (who I went with) and Good Old Gold. What I would do is use the Pricescope diamond search with the approximate color/clarity/size you want to look at, then print out the results. Make sure to check the "ASG0" checkbox. This will give you a range of prices for diamonds that you KNOW are ideal cut. Bring the printouts with you to the store so that you can see the price they give you and compare it to what you would pay online. This was quite the eye opener for me!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/19/2008 9:37:54 AM
Author: PapaSB


[P.s. really annoyed about being treated like a muppet by HG guy!

]

I understand, many of us have been there. But as Gwen said, and I''ll say, just be glad you found this place.

 

[PapaSB]

Right, the scope is this.

Gold ring, white setting for the stone.

Princess cut.

As big as possible.

Ideally an H or above (thats my opinion)

Ideally a VS2 or above (again, this is what I think)

Budget is variable - basically, if i found the right stone (/ring) i would do everything i can to ensure that i could afford it.

I appreciate that its not going to be cheap - happy to have assistance!

[Still mighty annoyed with HG!]

 

[gwendolyn]

When you say "gold ring, white setting for the stone," you mean a yellow gold band with a white gold or platinum head? Or did you just mean you want the whole thing to be white gold?

Any idea if you want a plain band, diamond sidestones, any of that jazz?

I am sick today so I have the whole day to look for you.

 

[PapaSB]

I know the band i want, its the stone thats the thing that takes the time to find!

:S

 

[gwendolyn]

You could do something like this setting (£450 for white gold): http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/-X-Prong--for-Princess_982.htm

Or this setting (£175):
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/4-Prong-tiffany-style-for-fancy-cut_756.htm

Or, if you want a bit more bling, maybe this one? (£450 for white gold): http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Legato--with-Shared-Prong_1058.htm

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 10:08:07 AM
Author: PapaSB
I know the band i want, its the stone thats the thing that takes the time to find!


:S

Oh ok, ignore my previous post then. Was going to try to put the whole package together for you.

 

[gwendolyn]

GOG has this princess--I don't know anything about that cut of stone, so you'd probably want someone who knows about princesses to verify that it's good:

1.2ct H VS2, $5689.20 bank wire price: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3980/

 

[PapaSB]

Based on my searching in this forum, it appears that most if not all sellers advertisting are highly regarded and can be trusted.

Is there any difference between them? Is there one that stands out as excellent, or is it as this forum seems to be suggesting, down to personal preference and ''gut feel''?

 

[gwendolyn]

Again, I know nothing about princess angles and whatnot, so this would need to be checked by someone more knowledgeable than myself, but for the price that other jeweler was telling you to spend on an F/G stone of unknown cut quality, you can maybe get something half again as large with an ideal cut!

1.51ct H VS2 ideal cut from James Allen, $8780: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1120836.asp

Or, a bit smaller but one step up in colour:

1.31ct G VS2 ideal cut from James Allen, $7430: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1120830.asp



Again, I know nothing about princess cut numbers, so other folks will have to verify that these are ok.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 10:41:35 AM
Author: PapaSB
Based on my searching in this forum, it appears that most if not all sellers advertisting are highly regarded and can be trusted.


Is there any difference between them? Is there one that stands out as excellent, or is it as this forum seems to be suggesting, down to personal preference and ''gut feel''?

I think a couple of them have lifetime upgrade policies, where you can trade in your ring to get a bigger/better/different one in the future, so if that would be something you''d be interested in, that could affect your choice. I''m not an upgrade girl, so I don''t remember which ones have it--I want to say WF and one of the other big ones (GOG, maybe?).

I really love the WF ACAs, because they essentially guarantee a great stone cut-wise, and the staff are really great. GOG is fantastic because they have educational videos up on their website and are happy to take videos of stones if you can get in to see them in person, and they also have a great staff as well! Some PS vendors will offer a discount if you mention PS when you buy too.

If you do some searching on here, you''ll see that the same companies keep popping up again and again with rave reviews. Those are the ones I personally would stick to.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 2/19/2008 8:24:27 AM
Author: PapaSB
Thanks Wink for the controlled response.

I am due to pop down there tomorrow to have a look, please note the word ''look''! There are loads of diamond shops in Hatton Garden, and i will probably use it as an experience.

My original thoughts were to get an H, VS2 on a Priness cut, 1ct.

Anyone got one like that? Anyone know of a prices for a stone in the UK? The US costs are always cheaper I know.

You could pop over the channel to Brussels, (no idea of cost) take the train or bus for less than $10 to Antwerpen and see Antwerp Paul, spend a nice day or two on holidays in Antwerpen, maybe a day trip to Bruge or Amsterdam, pop back over the channel and voila, one diamond, one vacation and change in your pocket from your original budget...

Wink

 

[gwendolyn]

Hmm, Wink here has a 1.18ct E VS2 for $8361: http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid%5B%5D=169&src=loupe

Higher than you were looking for in colour, but thought I''d pass it on anyway.

 

[PapaSB]

What should you specifically look for in a princess cut diamond which you wouldn''t in a brilliant round?

Are there some simple things to look out for?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/19/2008 11:28:54 AM
Author: PapaSB
What should you specifically look for in a princess cut diamond which you wouldn''t in a brilliant round?


Are there some simple things to look out for?

You''re really looking for a reply from someone other than me, but I''m going to reply anyway.

I''m not trying to alarm you or anything, mate. I have a list of numbers for round brilliants where, if the stone you''re looking at falls within all the ranges, you''ve got yourself a killer stone! You almost don''t even need to look at it to be assured that it will be a great performer.

As far as I know, rounds are the only stones you can do that with. All other cuts have more variables (I think, could be wrong), so you can''t just go by a list of recommended numbers. I''d be inclined to say that any of the ACA Princesses should be fantastic because they''re ACAs, but I don''t know this for a fact because I don''t know princess cuts.

 

[Cleo]

Just wanted to say ''Hello'' as I''m in the UK.. and we bought our diamond online from the US, and saved a fortune.

Can''t help with your princess cut I''m afraid, as I only really know anything about Round Brilliants... but thre are lots of lovely PSers who will help you.

So glad you cut through the Hatton Garden BS - well done.

Just as a heads-up, we bought a 1ct, AGS0 Ideal, F VS2 for something like $7200.

You do have to pay an extra 17.5% import/customs which kind of sucks - but it still works out wayyyyyyyy cheaper than buying in a Bricks & mortar (B&M) store.

If I''d tried to buy my ring, with those stats, in a UK B&M I''d have been looking at something approaching £10,000.

Gulp.

Whiteflash & Good Old Gold are used by most PSers and sound awesome. I used DiamondsonWeb.com, who were great.

Do your research in the B&Ms and then buy online.

The other thing I would suggest is perhaps consider dropping to SI1 clarity, to save money and perhaps allow you to go bigger in size, or up in colour, within your budget. Even buying online, you can get the vendor to confirm if your stone is eye clean... so no worries about visible inclusions.

x x x