4 replies to this topic

[emg2525]

I have been looking for a round diamond in the 1.75 carat range, G/H color, VS2 or better based on GIA. I expected this loose stone to be in the 12k-13k range.

Color then clarity are my priorities, however table, depth, crown, pavillion, etc...are all very important to me. I would rather have a spectacular 1.60 carat diamond, then a more-flawed 2 carat diamond for the same price.

The person who is creating my ring for me came highly recomended. He has provided me with some diamonds in my range. However, he recently brought to my attention a diamond that he says is an absolute bargain. It has some less than ideal numbers, but he says this would be his first choice hands down. The price of the diamond is within my range (and not over my budget) so I think he truly is being honest with me.

EGL US Rated (I know, I know). 2.02 Carat. Round Brilliant, H, VS2. 62.9% Depth, 61% Table, 13.7 Crown %, 42.7% Pavillion, 34.8% Crown Angle, 40.7%. GIrdle - Sl thick to thick faceted. Polish very good, symmetry very good, Fluorescence None. Culet None, Cut Grade Very Good.

So - please...be brutally honest!

[davidelevi]

You want brutal... you get me.

Reconsider your priorities. Please. Unless you have already looked at several tens of diamonds, and really have come to the conclusion that you like G/H as a colour most of all, and that you are uncomfortable with an eye-clean SI2, just in case any inclusion can be seen by an eagle-eyed person when kissing the hand of your beloved. However, if that is indeed the case, be aware that in objective terms, an EGL H-VS2 could easily be graded by GIA as J-SI1 (then again, it might not, and it might be an H-VS2, but the chances are it's not)

Honest - colour grades in colourless are very very close, and clarity grades next to each other below I1 require a 10x loupe to be told apart. Don't assume that because a diamond is (slightly) more coloured or (slightly) more included it is necessarily less spectacular. Cut quality has a lot to do with that: a well cut diamond will look whiter, and it will sparkle so much that any inclusions will be a lot less visible; a poorly cut diamond will look like a badly melted ice cube, no matter how colourless or free from inclusions.

Leaving the clarity and colour questions, I would be suspicious of the "wunderful" stone you are being presented with:

1. Coincidentally it is at hand... and fits your parameters, but it is the best choice in the world. How odd, isn't it? One just wonders for whom it is a bargain.
2. It's just above 2 carats, with a thick girdle and very deep cut - this means in the best of cases you are paying a considerable premium for a weight you can't see (it's all in the middle and bottom of the stone). In the worst case, it's really poorly cut as well
3. Cut proportions are - in as far as one can judge from four numbers - hem, a little unusual? Not way off (except for the depth/girdle), but not a classic look either.
4. EGL - not necessarily the end of the world, but don't make the mistake of thinking different labs' grades are comparable (except between GIA and AGS). And never, ever assume that a stone has a certain lab's papers by pure chance. Remember who paid for that paper, and what they are using it for (answer: the dealer, and it is for selling the stone to you).

Having said this, the proof of any pudding is in the eating. Have you seen it? Have you compared it to other stones of similar price but different characteristics? Have you compared it to a truly well cut stone (go to Jared's and ask to see their AGS0 diamonds, or go to Tiffany's)? Which do you like best?

ETA - do the comparison regardless of price; just see what a well cut diamonds looks like, and what a so-so one with similar size, colour and clarity looks like. Then decide what to prioritise.

Edited by davidelevi, 20 October 2009 - 01:03 PM.

[davidelevi]

One more thing - for 12-13k you should be perfectly able to find a well-cut 1.7x, properly graded H-VS2. Don't be fooled into buying something you don't want or like "because it's a bargain".

[emg2525]

Thanks for your thoughts...much appreciated.

At the end of the day, I want this thing to be the most beautiful, sparkling diamond I can buy.

I'm gathering from your feedback that you would prioritize cut, followed by color and clarity, amongst the many other numbers to consider.

Thanks for your feedback.

[denverappraiser]

You’re betting heavily on the word of the jeweler here. That’s ok, but be aware of what you are doing. Spend some time playing with the database at the top of the page under ‘find online jeweler’. Even if you have no intention of shopping online this is a helpful tool. Search for a 2.00-2.03/H/VS2 and then click on the price column header to sort the results. Notice how much difference the lab makes. I see results from $9400 – over $22k offered by the same half dozen dealers. The difference has to do with the reliability of the lab and the detail of the stone beyond those 3 attributes. Is yours a bargain? Maybe, but in both cases you’re making this decision based on the endorsement of the jeweler and your own eyes. It’s important to decide how much credibility you want to put in that endorsement and that isn’t the sort of thing a bunch of Internet strangers who have never either seen the stone or met the jeweler can answer.

Neil