Upgrade To 3 Stone Ring Pt. 2

[jadeleaves]

Hello Pricescopers!

The saga continues...

I posted awhile back with regards to upgrading to a 3 stone ring. I have done heaps of research and have asked vendors to match a stone to my current stone. The sarin data for mine:

Weight: 0.50ct
Diameter: 5.02 (5.01-5.03) x 3.20mm
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Crown Angle: 34.9*
Pavilion Angle: 41.4*
Table Size: 54.8%
Culet: 1.0% Very Small
Girdle Min: 2.0% SL Thick
Girdle Max: 3.0% Thick
Girdle Avg: 2.6% SL Thick
Total Depth: 63.7%

Sarin data for a *hopefully* matching stone:

48ct F SI1
Measurements: 4.91 – 5.04 x 3.17
Total depth: 63.7%
Crown angles: 35.5
Pavilion angles: 41.7
Table: 54.2
Girdle: 1.1 – 2.1

My question is - based on the figures, it seems like they do match? If so, should I take the plunge and go for this stone and give the go ahead to find an ideal cut center stone? I am fully aware that my stone is not a good cut, and have decided that as long as the side stones are matched, I can *live* with an ideal cut center stone

 

[jadeleaves]

I have gotten 2 other vendors to match a stone to mine and these are their specs:

Stone 2:
Weight: 0.46ct
Diameter: 5.03 (5.03-5.04)x 2.94mm
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Crown Angle: 31.7*
Pavilion Angle: 40.7*
Table Size: 62.6%
Culet: 1.2% Small
Girdle Min: 1.4% Medium
Girdle Max: 2.0& SL Thick
Girdle Avg: 1.6% Medium
Total Depth: 58.4%
Price: AUD$3300.00

Stone 3:
Weight: 0.50ct
Diameter: 5.00-5.03mm
Color: F/G
Clarity: VS2
Crown Angle: 33.3%
Pavilion Angle: 41*
Table Size: 59.3%
Culet: None
Girdle: Medium
Total Depth: 59.8%
Price: AUD$2000.00

Stone 1 (see previous post) is USD$1095.00, Stone2 is roughly USD$2350.26 , Stone 3 is USD$1424.40. Stone 2 is ideal cut, and the vendor for Stone 3 said it's F/G but when I asked why the split grading, he said because it's not sent to an idependent gemmologist for a grading report yet.

 

[jadeleaves]

Stone 1 was matched using Sarin data I provided, Stone 2 was matched by taking my stone out of the setting at the B&M, and Stone 3 was matched by the vendor flying to Melbourne to have a look at my stone (he was here on business trip).

I am inclined to go with Stone 1 because the service I got from the vendor is impeccable (fast response, knowledgeable) but I just need some opinions on all 3 matched stones and pricing. Vendor for Stone 3 didn't clarify the questions I've raised on the info he's given me. Stone 2 is just a tad too expensive

Also, I will be buying online if I go with Stone 1. That said, I do have confidence in the online vendor with matching my stone based on stuff I've read here.

Opinions please?

 

[hoorray]

Stone 1 just doesn't have great numbers -- it's pretty steep and deep. It does seem to match your stone pretty well, but it may look dark, and not have much life to it. It sounds as if you haven't seen it. Has the vendor talked to you about what it looks like? Can he send you an idealscope picture? I know you want them to match, but I would think that you would want some life in the stone as well, even if it isn't an ideal cut. I would be tempted to either keep looking or get more info on stone #3.

If you have seen it, you think it is a good match, and you like it, that is the bottom line, and you can ignore the number except for the matching part.

 

[jadeleaves]

----------------
On 5/28/2004 8:04:31 PM lop wrote:

Stone 1 just doesn't have great numbers -- it's pretty steep and deep. It does seem to match your stone pretty well, but it may look dark, and not have much life to it. It sounds as if you haven't seen it. Has the vendor talked to you about what it looks like? ----------------

Dear Lop,

I am aware that Stone 1 doesn't have great numbers, but then bearing in mind my current stone has got similar numbers too. I haven't seen the stone as it's from an online vendor in the US and I am in Australia.

The only stone I've seen is Stone 2 - but at AUD$3300 it is just too expensive because I want to put more of my budget into the center stone. The vendor for Stone 1 sent me a gem report for both my current stone and the stone he found for me, and they look pretty similar to me - is the gem report a good indication of the simillarity in the stones?

 

[jadeleaves]

I have attached the gemreports from the vendor for Stone 1:

 

[hoorray]

Hi Jadedleaves,

The first stone does look like a great match to your stone. I guess my perspective is that I would look for a stone that matches in diameter, table, and color, and from there let things vary to get better sparkle. However, you already have your stone, and know what it looks like, so that helps buying sight unseen since they have pretty similar specs. Your eyes can tell you more than numbers. I don't really know more than what is obvious about the Gem report, so can't really give you any insight.

I agree the number 2 is overkill $$-wise, so if you don't see anything in-between, maybe stone #1 is the one.

Sounds like a fun project!

 

[jadeleaves]

Dear lop,

I don't think I know enough abt diamonds to answer my own qns

However, the gem report looks similar to me. I was told by Stone 2's sales consultant that my stone was "not a bad stone", and given that I've seen mine next to an ideal cut 0.45ct G VS1(HCA score 2.1 i think), mine seems to hold up pretty well

The vendor of Stone 3 will be showing me the stone in a wk's time - shld I wait or give the go-ahead to vendor 1?

Ahh, choices!!!

 

[hoorray]

It's hard for me to say, I'm just a consumer who has bought a few diamonds recently, not an expert. But the diameter, color, and table specs are very similar between your stone and stone #1. Those are what I've focused on most when matching stones for earrings, with good success. The table is larger in #3, which may make a difference -- how big, I don't know. If your stone looks nice to you, than I would say, why not? Do you have a return policy just in case it really doesn't turn out to be what you want? (It's always a good thing to have one -- regardless of the specs -- just for protection.) There is still a $400US difference between #1 and #3, which is not trivial.

 

[jadeleaves]

Thanks for that lop - I guess I'll wait and see if other PScopers can help me out with the stone's suitability, and go from there!

Edited to add:

I am not sure of the return policy for this particular stone - have emailed the vendor.

Yes the USD$400 difference can be better used towards the purchase of the center stone.

 

[tomatoe]

Jade, you may not end up saving much with stone #1 after paying for the TT, international shipping and Aussie GST. Wait to see stone 3

 

[jadeleaves]

Tomatoe,

Intl Shipping is USD$100. Aussie GST is 10%, and custom processing fee is $50, according to a fellow pscoper, dorothysoos.

I know I might not end up saving much on Stone 1, but the prices of the larger stones I'm looking at is definitely lower than local prices.

Hmm

 

[Rhino]

Hi Jade,




To help you draw a more educated comparison I've generated two Gem files for you based on the measurements of stones 2 & 3 so you can compare these models with the other.

 

[Rhino]

...

 

[jadeleaves]

----------------
On 5/30/2004 6:04:16 PM Rhino wrote:



Hi Jade,


To help you draw a more educated comparison I've generated two Gem files for you based on the measurements of stones 2 & 3 so you can compare these models with the other.
----------------

Thank you so much Jon! I am at work at the moment and don't have the gem files for stone 1 and my current stone - shall compare them when I get home tonight.

I am sure that stone 1 is the way to go though, but there is this little voice at the back of my mind telling me that I shld scrap the idea of matching another stone to mine and shld get 3 new stones instead.

But I love my stone and what it symbolizes!

(nevermind me I am just being my usual indecisive self

)

 

[jadeleaves]

Ok - I'm home now and finally had the chance to compare all 4 gem files (thanks Rhino!)

I've put together a collage of the light return, leakage, idealscope images etc etc. To my *amateur* eyes, Stone 1 seems like the best match?

Any opinions? Remember, we're looking for a match in terms of optics - I already know my stone is *ahem* of a rather poor cut.

The pics are arranged in order of:

My current stone - Stone 1
Stone 2 - Stone 3

Help! This is driving me nuts

 

[jadeleaves]

Ok - here's the summary of the 4 stones.

Rhino, why is it that the size of the stones in the summary section does not really correspond to the size I've listed? Namely, my stone is a .50ct, Stone 1 is a .48ct, Stone 2 is a .50ct and Stone 3 is a .46ct - this is the first time I've actually seen a gem file, so I am not familiar with how it works