Please help me find my engagement ring! Round 2-5 Carats

[heididdl]

The 2 we were shown today were:

2.17 F color, SI2, GIA cert = $22,750

3.27 K color, SI1, GIA cert = $28,000


They will be getting more stones in later this week, in the 3-5 carat range so we will likely go back again. Any opinions on these prices? Has anyone used the Rapaport price charts? That's how it appeared they were determining the prices they quoted us.

Exactly tyhe point of looking on line "THEY WILL BE GETTING MORE STONES IN THIS WEEK" two at a time week after week you get fustrated and settle for something you really don't want.

That's why people find PS and buy online vendor stones. Or take a trip to NYC and see several of these vendors in person.

 

[iota15]

Wow. Gypsy. I learn so much reading from you. Thank you for putting all of this together. You are such a great resource.

 

[Gypsy]

If they can't provide you with AGS0 diamonds or if they talk smack about AGS, since they don't carry them then I would be wary. I'd also be wary if a 'diamond cutter' worth their salt doesn't have an idealscope. If they don't... I'd walk.

And yes, I agree. If you are paying 90k or anywhere near it... spend the money to fly to NY and see what GOG and ERD have to offer you .
Or to Houston to see BGD and WF.

OR... like we said earlier, go to Dimend Scassi in Chicago where you live.

Thank you Iota

 

[SandyinAnaheim]

4. Costco RUN Away ,,,,,only second to Jared or Kay jewelers lol

Costco is not as bad as all THAT. Their return policy alone verifies that. I went to Jareds, Kay and Robbins Brothers, amongst others. Bought an ER from Costco.com and promptly returned it - hassle free. IMHO, they're heads and shoulders above Jareds, Kay and Robbins Brothers, who try to convince you that H-L I2s are what everyone has. Costco tells you that the stone you will receive will be at least an I. I spoke to a gemologist there before I bought and she said some of the rings sold were an F or G, so I went for it. But that's not what I got - although the melee was spectacular, which of course was the problem. Although, their one of a kind rings are what the GIA report says they are. But they're not a deal at all if you've learned anything and looked around. What Costco has going for them is their easy return policy for a year with no resizing - but that's hardly a benefit if you're not happy with the stone.

I've been shopping for 3 months now and have learned:

1. You will get what you pay for
2. There is no such thing as a "used" diamond for discount; they will just send it to the lab for a new report and you won't know
3. Do NOT rely on a GIA XXX alone - GIA is inclusive and sells out in the name of profit - AGS is exclusionary
4. Take a look at eBay; you will see tens of thousands of people who bought diamonds without knowing the first thing about them but bought anyway because they were sparkly under the lights of a retail store
5. Diamonds should not be an impulse purchase unless you've got LOTS of excess money
6. If someone tells you they have a stone rated by EGL or some other company, run. Only trust AGS, or GIA if you know how to read their results as mentioned above.

I have been lurking and learning here for months but this has become my first post only because I have been in the same boat for the past few months and dislike seeing Costco compared to Jareds or Kays - because they're not even in the same league.

 

[DNTA22]

I have the GIA certificate numbers.

4.01 ct round cut diamond, certificate #: 2151465344

7.39 ct round cut diamond, certificate #: 2151468924

After talking with the the jeweler, I am more interested in AGS certified diamond. He was explaining that basically jewelers can "protest" GIA ratings and ask for a re-grade in order to charge more for the same diamond.

Any recommendations on how to find AGS certified diamonds? I will search the forums for answers on this as well. I just feel this is a big investment and neither one of us is experienced in buying diamonds so I want to make sure we are getting something great for the money we will be spending!!

 

[Gypsy]

Did you read what I posted for you before? Go back and please read and study what I posted for you before.


Also ALL of the BGD diamonds I linked to you are AGS diamonds.

You have been given a lot of information. It's time you spent some time with it and study it.

I will run the two diamonds you posted for you, this time. But I will show you how to do it for yourself going forward as well.

 

[Gypsy]

OK so if you'd read any of the things I posted for you before you would have already crossed these off your list. Both of them. AND walked away from any jeweler who is claiming these are worth buying.

https://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pagename=GST%2FDispatcher&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=2151465344 This one is only " good " cut.

Here's more information (again, please make sure you are studying the content we post for you):
To summarize cut grades for you: (this applies to GIA and ONLY to true modern round brilliants).

Excellent: Some are better than others, run through the HCA and work with a vendor that can get you idealscope image.
Very good: Not good enough
Good: Poor
Fair: Foul
Poor: Execrable

It's very deep with a huge table. BAD, BAD, BAD.

The 4 carat J is the one in the middle here:


This one: https://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pagename=GST%2FDispatcher&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=2151468924 Is an M. So it's a VERY VERY tinted stone at that size (NOT white) and it's got the biggest table I've ever seen on a round brilliant (terrible) and is over shallow to boot.
This might be the worst cut GIA stone I've ever heard of. In the chart I posted above it is the "VERY SHALLOW" appears dark stone. Which combined with an M means that they have trouble GIVING this stone away.

Any jeweler that is even presenting these two to you with a straight face is not just BAD. They are TERRIBLE.

 

[Gypsy]

I posted IV league stones for you. And you went to a jeweler who decided to show you a bunch of highschool drop outs.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/3.087-g-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104066449001 Everything in perfect balance. And medium Fluorescence to boot. And BGD Blues are pre-screened and have no negative effects. BGD has MUCH nicer in house settings that suit your requirements so that's why I am listing it first. BGD is in TX and is not going anywhere. Plus they have an awesome upgrade policy. I've bought from them many times and their pieces appraise VERY well in both setting and stone quality. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/brian-gavins-blue-diamonds-with-fluorescence/

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/3.51-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-280423
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/3.32-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-269256
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/3.06-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-228937
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/3.01-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-25749

 

[Gypsy]

How to help yourself.

GIA:
Stick to GIA Excellent cuts only.
Then RUN NUMBERS THROUGH: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca 2 and over is PASS. 2.5-2.1 is a maybe if you are working with a vendor that provides idealscopes (this is explained to you in my previous posts). Any score over 2.6 is a FAIL.
Then get an idealscope.

AGS:
Stick to AGS0. You are fine.

 

[Gypsy]

Since you are looking at large J's and M colors. Here are some nice ones for you to consider.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/4.01-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-28547 Get idealscope
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/4.02-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-28769 Get idealscope
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/4.37-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-28673 Get idealscope
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4299032-5.25-carat-Round-diamond-K-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=4299032&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com (ask if eyeclean, if so ask them to get you an idealscope image and a picture of it).
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4650003-5.31-carat-Round-diamond-J-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=4650003&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com (ask if eyeclean, if so ask them to get you an idealscope image and a picture of it).