4 replies to this topic

[Madryn]

So that last time I posted something, I got some really good feed back on the princes cut and what I could get for $5K. Thanks to every ones help I've decided not to go with the princes cut and go for the round instead. After looking around locally I’ve narrowed it down to 3 stones and they are practically all the same in my eyes, so I need a little bit of advice to which will be my best buy.

1)
0.90 ct

G

VS2

GIA

Cut – VG

Sym – VG

Polish – VG

$5,000 w/ platinum setting


[url="http://www.longsjewelers.com/"][url]http://www.longsjewelers.com/[/url][/url]





2)
1.00 ct

G

VS2

GIA

Cut – VG

Sym – E

Polish – VG

$5,400 w/ platinum setting


[url="http://www.longsjewelers.com/"][url]http://www.longsjewelers.com/[/url][/url]





3)
0.75 ct

G

SI1

AGS

Cut – X

Sym – X

Polish - X

$6,000 w/ white gold setting


[url="http://www.heartsonfire.com/learn-about-our-diamonds/beyond-the-4cs.aspx"][url]http://www.heartsonf...nd-the-4cs.aspx[/url][/url]



On other question – I understand the difference of hearts and arrows but why is it when I looked at diamonds 1 & 2 with a microscope they were clear as ice but when I looked at the HOF under a magnifying glass the hearts had a purple tint to it just like the web site. I asked the jeweler if there was florescent in it and he said no. We looked at other HOF and they all had that purplish tint. Is this a characteristic of HOF or was the magnifying glass rigged?

[LaurieH]

It might be that the HoF viewer (or Hearts & Arrows viewer, as they're usually called) are foil wrapped inside, so the color shows the contrast in the pattern--face up you see "arrows", face down you see "hearts". I've usually seen them foiled either red or blue, but I suppose they could be purple, too. Perhaps the jeweler didn't realize what you were asking and it's so second nature to them to use that foiled viewer, they didn't think about that might be what you mentioned. AFAIK, NO diamond fluoresces purple--just yellow, blue, whiteish, and more rarely, pink, orange or VERY VERY rarely (think Hope Diamond) red.

As far as selecting from the 3 diamonds you've listed, you haven't mentioned a few other important points that others will ask for, which are the measurements, angle % and whether or not the diamond fluoresces. Those are important things to know in being able to give a better answer. If you have that information, if you'll modify your original post (so you don't have to retype EVERYTHING) with that information thrown in--as much as you've got--and we'll be happy to chime in with more help for ya!

btw...welcome back!

[davidelevi]

Well, I'll take a different approach here. Rather than asking for the angles etc. I'd stay with your assertion that "they look the same to you". If that's the case, and you have looked at all 3 stones attentively and in different lighting conditions, I'd be very very tempted to go for the 1.00.

The HoF is probably "better" cut (in as much as such a thing exists - it is certainly cut to tighter tolerances than the other two), but if you can't see the difference what's the point? For $400 on the 0.90 you get the bragging rights that go with "a full carat", and it may not be a bad thing. So the 1.00 it is for me.

Having said this, let us know the other info, and we can help you find out potential weak spots that you can look for (in as much as possible from the grading info, i.e. not very much!)

[Madryn]

Laurie / David,

Thank you guys so much. All your inputs have been so helpful. I think I got one last question to ask and I'll be making my purchase.

So I went and asked about bout the dimensions. Like you guys suggested and I got them but I saw another ring that kind of threw me of to another directon. Basically I saw a HoF that really got my attention and unwanted you to see your opinions.

As of right now I'm down to choosing between Diamond 1) above and this HoF I just saw. Have a look at the info below and let me know which one i should get.

1)
Spec see above...
Dim 6.04 x 6.07 x 3.39 pavilion angle 49%
41% for either table or crown, i forgot which one.

2)
HoF

Center diamond 0.588

Diamond around setting .328 total

Center diamond is

G

SI1

$5,100 w/ Setting ( four prong 18k white gold)

I'm leaning on the HoF because when we put it up to a 1.25ct G-VS1 solitaire similar to diamond 1. It really out performed it in terms of shine and attention grabbing. So I feel like I get more from the HoF then Diamond 1. Also I'm a little bias because I worked on their main office in Boston and meet with the VIPs. I just wish there was no such thing as work ethics and I could have asked for a great deal but this is what I'm working with. Please help....

[davidelevi]

At the end of the day, you are the one buying (and possibly wearing) the ring - go with what you feel most comfortable with. HoF stones are always well cut; that's their whole selling point; I just think the premium they ask is rather steep and not always justified.

As to asking for a great deal - there is no ethical constraint on asking for that. It's not like you are saying to the dealer "I am a personal friend of X, Y or Z and if you don't give me a good deal someone will be very displeased and petrol bomb your shop/kidnap your children/remove your dealership". Do bear in mind, however, that while dealer margins may be a little higher on branded stones, the higher price is also because the manufacturer is asking for more money.