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Opinion on loose diamond

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steve811

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
6
I'm looking into buying a loose diamond and seperate setting for an E ring. My employer has access to loose stones that have been salvaged through insurance claims. I've looked through what they have available in my budget and took one out on loan from them to have a few jewlers look at it for their thoughts. My employer has a jewler that grades the stones (no cert) and put the stone at:
H / I1 / 1.11 CT / 6.60mm x 4.05 / round brilliant

The 2 jewlers that I took the loose stone to agreed for the most part, with one calling it a I color w/ a slight florescence and the other calling it at SI2. Both said it would look great set, as the inclusion is a feather? that I can only barely see without a 10x magnifying glass; and it is on the edge and would be mostly hidden.

Im attaching some cell phone pics (will get some beter ones with my digital camera) showing the stone in a holder. The pictures don't capture how much the stone sparkles.
My employer would let me get this stone for $2900.
link to the setting I'm interested in (white gold). http://www.stuller.com/products/120979/3235496/?groupId=5058



I saw that this forum seems to be very helpfull so I thought I would ask for some opinions; I dont have a huge budget for this but I think that I might have a good deal here for the price.
Thanks in advance!

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I'll tell you honestly that I would never put an I1 diamond in an engagement ring, although some people might find it a good choice for earrings. I would be very afraid of an I1 feather inclusion since a feather means crack. Rings do get hit on things and I would be afraid there could be further damage to the stone especially if near the edge. I really would try to get a better quality one for an engagement ring, even if it is a little smaller. I don't think that is a steal of a deal for an uncertified stone, either.

In addition, if she asked for a wide shank ring, then that one is probably fine. But a thinner band/shank usually will make a stone look larger than a wider one. I'd go with a 2 to 2.5 mm shank max.
 
Smal cracks makes sense from what I saw at the 10X. From what I understand most of the diamonds that my company has are recuts, so I guess they are recutting stones that may have been previously chipped. I'd like to keep the stone around 4k and know I'm ok with H or I color. I'd like it to be eye clean as well. How large of a diamond am I probably looking at here. I've searched online but cant really figure out what stones would be eye clean.
 
 
I was searching around the B2C site and saw where they have their own grading reports. How good in comparison to GIA are they?
 
I wouldn't recommend B2C...but James Allen just started putting videos on their site of their stones and all their stones are GIA or AGS graded. Plus they have a lifetime upgrade policy. Here's a comparable stone I found it's a G color I1 (those inclusions can totally be hidden by prongs) and it's not a feather so it wont cause structural issues. And - it's ideal cut and gorgeous and over a carat!!

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.02-carat-G-color-I1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-153324

Another options:

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.90-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-163656

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.90-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-175233

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.90-carat-I-color-SI1-clarity-sku-180297

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.90-carat-G-color-SI1-clarity-sku-180164

Last one - budget friendly!

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.92-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-184228
 
04diamond<3|1357738092|3351164 said:
I wouldn't recommend B2C...but James Allen just started putting videos on their site of their stones and all their stones are GIA or AGS graded. Plus they have a lifetime upgrade policy. Here's a comparable stone I found it's a G color I1 (those inclusions can totally be hidden by prongs) and it's not a feather so it wont cause structural issues. And - it's ideal cut and gorgeous and over a carat!!

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.02-carat-G-color-I1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-153324

Do you think that the black inclusionclose to the center of the stone is easily visible without magnification?



http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.00-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-sku-183639

what about the line in the middle of the top on this one?
Click to expand...
 
steve811|1357742616|3351221 said:
04diamond<3|1357738092|3351164 said:
I wouldn't recommend B2C...but James Allen just started putting videos on their site of their stones and all their stones are GIA or AGS graded. Plus they have a lifetime upgrade policy. Here's a comparable stone I found it's a G color I1 (those inclusions can totally be hidden by prongs) and it's not a feather so it wont cause structural issues. And - it's ideal cut and gorgeous and over a carat!!

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.02-carat-G-color-I1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-153324

Do you think that the black inclusionclose to the center of the stone is easily visible without magnification?



http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.00-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-sku-183639

what about the line in the middle of the top on this one?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

On that I1, yes it will be visible, BUT it is small enough that it can be hidden by a prong which honestly, the best type of stone IMO (unless you have the $$$ for an IF). You cover that up, and the stone looks completely clean! I almost bought one of these a few months ago but I didn't have the fund fast enough and sure enough someone else took it.

The second stone - I really wouldn't worry about it. You have to remember that the video is magnified and it's hardly noticeable in the video so unless you're really looking for it IRL, i wouldn't be too concerned with it. GIA rated this SI2 which means that it will be visible under 10X magnification.
 
On that I1, yes it will be visible, BUT it is small enough that it can be hidden by a prong which honestly, the best type of stone IMO (unless you have the $$$ for an IF). You cover that up, and the stone looks completely clean! I almost bought one of these a few months ago but I didn't have the fund fast enough and sure enough someone else took it.

I see the inclusion on the side and agree that it could be easilt covered by a prong, but will the 2 black dots in the direct center of the face of the stone be visible or would they only be visible under 10x?
Does James Allen provide the ideal scope pictures?
 
I like this one. You would receive a discount for being a PS member but it would likely still be a bit out of budget, I'm guess it would be around $4400-$4500 with the discount.

http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.21-carat-G-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-52899



This one is a K and a tiny bit deep, but I think it's a very pretty diamond and very clean for an SI2.
http://beta.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.06-carat-K-color-SI2-clarity-Ideal-cut-sku-139392

It's likely that you will see the inclusions on the table of the I1 and yes JA will allow you up 3 free idealscope images.
 
steve811|1357752337|3351361 said:
On that I1, yes it will be visible, BUT it is small enough that it can be hidden by a prong which honestly, the best type of stone IMO (unless you have the $$$ for an IF). You cover that up, and the stone looks completely clean! I almost bought one of these a few months ago but I didn't have the fund fast enough and sure enough someone else took it.

I see the inclusion on the side and agree that it could be easilt covered by a prong, but will the 2 black dots in the direct center of the face of the stone be visible or would they only be visible under 10x?
Does James Allen provide the ideal scope pictures?
Click to expand...

Yes they do, and you should put it on hold and ask for them. The picture on their site is already magnified. So it'll be smaller than the tiny picture of the diamond on the bottom left corner on their page. You should talk to them because I'm pretty sure they can send the stone to a local jeweler for you to inspect it. Or you can ask their on staff gemologist about the inclusions. Those other dots are very small (I have some in my stone about that size and it's very very difficult to see them) and you shouldn't be able to see them with your naked eye.

That other scratch at the bottom would be a concern to me. Are you having this set in a 4 or six prong? I would suggest six just because it shelters the diamond better and with a stone like this the prongs will help cover those inclusions.
 
Blue Nile has this one
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=NavDiaSea#diamonds_pid=LD03048152 1.01 J SI1, It could be eye clean depending on the color of that crystal, the cut is very close to one of my personal favs and it has strong blue fluorescence which will help the J color appear more white in lighting environments with UV such as daylight. The problem with BN is that they do not supply anymore information than you see on their site. They will contact the dealer holding the stone and ask if the stone is eye clean though, but you have to keep in my mind that the dealer is trying to sell the stone. However you do have a 30 return period if you don't like the diamond, but they don't pay for return shipping so you would be out that expense. Since you are considering I1's anyway, do you happen to know the proportions of the stone you have on loan? You could purchase an ideal scope of your own and view it, I'd also suggest having an independent appraiser evaluate the stone since it isn't graded and there may be a durability risk. There is a list of PS approved appraisers under the 'resources' tab above if you were interested in going that route. If everything checked out with the appraiser you could discuss the benefits of having the stone sent to GIA or AGS for a grading report.
 
How much of a discount does JA offer to picescope members? Is it about 15%?
 
steve811|1357754752|3351383 said:
How much of a discount does JA offer to picescope members? Is it about 15%?
Click to expand...

The I1 stone...You may get it for 3900 or 4000, but I'd check with them for an exact number. PUT IT ON HOLD ASAP if you're interested in it. If you request an idealscope on it, it will remain on hold till they get it for you.
 
steve811|1357754752|3351383 said:
How much of a discount does JA offer to picescope members? Is it about 15%?
Click to expand...



I can't remember, but I think that it was more like 6-10% and then an additional 1.5% if you paid by wire transfer. I was thinking that ID Jewelry has come up with some amazing stones for PSer that were trying to stretch the budget to meet certain size requirements. I think they would be worth a call.

http://idjewelryonline.com/
 
I just wanted to mention that the JA I1 still has feathers located at the girdles edge so it's possible that it isn't any safer than the stone that you already have in your possession but will cost you nearly 2k more. It also only scores a 2.8 on the HCA, typically we suggest that you only consider stones that score under 2. In my opinion there are several things about this stone to be concerned about. You really need to have a gemologist thoroughly evaluate it before you make a decision and I think that I would have it independently appraised after receiving it as well, you'll want to do this for insurance reasons anyway.

ETA I just checked my receipts from JA and it looks to be approx a 5.5% PS discount and then 1.5 wire transfer discount.
 
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