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Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamond!

M

mson

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
6
Hi all,

I can't believe how amazing a resource PriceScope is! I've learned so much here, and have now joined to post and seek your advice and suggestions... :)

I'm looking for:

carat: at least .9 (full carat would be nice if you think it's possible)
color: to F? G?
clarity: to VS1? VS2?
cut: ideal/excellent; H&S?
budget: ~$5000? flexible if need be

I've come across several posts from user Lorelei with recommended depth/table percentages and crown/pavilion angles (thanks!), and I gather that everyone here strongly recommends buying from PS vendors and being able to see pictures, IS images, etc. Here's one that I found using the PS search:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544702.htm

Oh and the diamond will be set on a solitaire platinum ring, I'm thinking six-prong. They generally seem pretty bulky though, so if anyone has a good suggestion for a more delicate looking setting, please let me know.

Thanks so much!
Martin
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

the stone you posted is excellent! well done- if you really would like to hit the 1ct mark, you could drop down in color or clarity. The ideal cut will make it sparkly and beautiful- hide color better- make it harder to see inclusions.

you can hit 1ct- but this is I SI1. You have to see how comfortable you are with an I color and SI1 clarity. IF you are looking for an eyeclean stone- SI1 can be a great value as long as you speak to the vendor and have them tell you if it is eyeclean to your ideal.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315233.asp

another option

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2372515.htm
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

good advice- see ideal cut stones in person- of comparable size in G, H, I to see how color sensitive you are, and what your "color" sweet spot is. Many people here have I and J color stones and love them. They were able to go bigger in carat, and get a stone that faces up creamy white- as opposed to bright white white...

I:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/i-color-stones-in-platinum.9689/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/is-there-thread-for-i-color-stones.39886/
J:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/j-color-stones-in-platinum.24731/
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...latinum-tiffany-solitaire-from-niceice.12734/
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

mson|1291159417|2783418 said:
Hi all,

I can't believe how amazing a resource PriceScope is! I've learned so much here, and have now joined to post and seek your advice and suggestions... :)

I'm looking for:

carat: at least .9 (full carat would be nice if you think it's possible)
color: to F? G? See some stones in person in your desired size range, photos cannot tell you what your preferences and tolerances will be
clarity: to VS1? VS2? Anything over VS2 is overkill in this size unless you want a high-clarity stone for personal/cultural reasons
cut: ideal/excellent; H&S? Not always causally correlated. You can have ugly H&As and you can have beautiful non-branded stones, but usually branded stones are convenient purchases because they A) are cut to specific requirements that guarantee a pleasing appearance, B) are in-house and thus easy to have your rep check over, C) are often H&A for those that like knowing their diamond has been cut to this optical precision. But you pay a price for that convenience.
budget: ~$5000? flexible if need be

I've come across several posts from user Lorelei with recommended depth/table percentages and crown/pavilion angles (thanks!), and I gather that everyone here strongly recommends buying from PS vendors and being able to see pictures, IS images, etc. Here's one that I found using the PS search:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544702.htm

Oh and the diamond will be set on a solitaire platinum ring, I'm thinking six-prong. They generally seem pretty bulky though, so if anyone has a good suggestion for a more delicate looking setting, please let me know.

Thanks so much!
Martin
Click to expand...

The stone you chose is lovely, as are Amy's two recommendations :))
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Thanks, Amy and Yssie! I am leaning towards better color and clarity over the larger carat, I think. That said, I'll definitely check some in person to see if I can even tell the difference...

And do you have any recs for the type of thin platinum solitaire setting that would work well in this size? I like the look of the classic six prong from above, but from the side the prongs look so bulky!

M
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

O,9 vs 1 carat won't make a big difference visually, it's more about how your gf would feel about having a diamond that is not 1 full carat...after all 0,9 is almost 1 carat ;) and the difference in price is really significant, so unless your gf really insists on 1 carat it may not be worth it.

As for the color you should make sure you and your girlfriend are not too sensitive to color before you opt for anything below G: take some time to compare diamonds of different colors in a store.
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Was just scrolling through those threads of I color and J color...

is it bad that I honestly couldn't tell a difference between any of them (color-wise). Or is that normal for photographs?

Maybe my eyes just suck
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Just means you are not color sensitive (which in my mind is a good thing). Any ideas about your GF?
I have a beautiful J colored stone. Have you seen the color videos by GOG? Its a good view if you havent
seen it yet.

http://www.vimeo.com/3288695
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

tyty, when we FIRST went diamond shopping, she was definitely not color sensitive.

I'm just worried that she will become color sensitive when her friends get engaged and have F-D color stones on their fingers :bigsmile:

We looked at a J and compared to an H and I and honestly could not tell the difference. We started seeing a slight difference above that, but still, it wasn't THAT significant.

So for me, it's really about the cut of the stone (triple EX certified please) and an eye clear clarity whether it be SI1 or VS1. From there, I know size is more important to my gf then color so long as it truly (to our eyes) is not yellow in comparison to ones of similar price
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Wow, had to hold off on the diamond search for a bit, and the ones I had been looking at are now gone. :( Which of the following available ones I found would you recommend?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1336416.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2164509.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7482
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544701.htm

Thank you!

M
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

mson|1291765211|2790318 said:
Wow, had to hold off on the diamond search for a bit, and the ones I had been looking at are now gone. :( Which of the following available ones I found would you recommend?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1336416.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2164509.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7482
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544701.htm

Thank you!

M
Click to expand...

they are all well cut (request hearts for #1) but you have a huge variety in price, colour/size/clarity there... what do you want? VS1 is overkill in this size - VS2 will be eyeclean by the most persnickety standards

the size difference between #1 and #4 will be obvious to the naked eye, and the price difference between the two is significant...the vendors also have different upgrade/trade-in/buyback policies, something to consider
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Thanks Yssie! Yeah, these seem to be pretty much the only ones below $7K now when you search with Lorelei's cheat sheet parameters. I am most seriously considering #3 and #4, would you have an opinion on which one is better? #1 seems good but is smaller than I'd prefer (but wow so much cheaper), and #2 is an H which I am less comfortable with. I guess I would be most comfortable with an F VS2 that's at least .9. And ~$5-6K... Slim pickings it seems though!
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

IMO that cheat sheet is unnecessarily restrictive :sick: what is ultimately important is not just what it *is* but how it all works together. But yes - slim pickings in the just under 1ct range are unfortunately quite normal!


Do you have a setting from either GOG or WF in mind? The prices are close - if you do, just go with whichever vendor has the setting you want. If not - would choose the GOG. Slightly cheaper, a ton and then some information, and a slightly better buyback policy - none of my reasons for choosing one over the other have anything to do w/ the quality of the stones themselves
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

I love the two from Brian Gavin, great size, great price and great fluor too!
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Yssie|1291785366|2790601 said:
IMO that cheat sheet is unnecessarily restrictive :sick: what is ultimately important is not just what it *is* but how it all works together. But yes - slim pickings in the just under 1ct range are unfortunately quite normal!


Do you have a setting from either GOG or WF in mind? The prices are close - if you do, just go with whichever vendor has the setting you want. If not - would choose the GOG. Slightly cheaper, a ton and then some information, and a slightly better buyback policy - none of my reasons for choosing one over the other have anything to do w/ the quality of the stones themselves
Click to expand...


Ditto- if you stick with the same vendor for setting and stone, they may be able to get you the "repeat customer" discount, an added bonus.
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

the 3rd or 4th option you listed are both fantastic! I think it depends on what you are going for. I actually think I would pick- out of those two- I would go for whiteflash. It's F VSI and cut fantastically- it's .933. In comparison- they are both F, both ideal cuts- but the whiteflash stone is better clarity, a tad bigger, and cheaper! *not cheaper by a lot though, lol*

That would be my reasoning for going with the whiteflash over the good old gold stone. With both the whiteflash stone and good old old you also get the lifetime trade up....so that is the same as well.
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

mson|1291765211|2790318 said:
Wow, had to hold off on the diamond search for a bit, and the ones I had been looking at are now gone. :( Which of the following available ones I found would you recommend?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1336416.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2164509.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7482
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544701.htm

Thank you!

M
Click to expand...


side note- sometimes "lurkers" will read threads, see excellent finds being discussed and snatch them up! Good idea to put strong candidates on hold while posting them for discussion so you won't get bamboozeled!
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Thanks SO MUCH everyone for the advice!! I went with #4!! Now to figure out exactly how to give it to her... :)

M
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

yay! congrats on the purchase. can't wait to see the finished product
 
Re: Would appreciate advice/suggestions for engagement diamo

Wow, had no idea Whiteflash takes and sends pics before they ship... Nice touch! Can't wait to see it in person!
MartinSon_121410a.jpg
 
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