Ok, I finally have enough posts to start a thread haha. Anywho, I came across this site on a google search and it has TONS of very knowledgeable members, so I joined cause I have some questions! I've learned much since I signed up, so I don't have as many questions, but I'm sure more will arise. Anyway, I'm looking at diamond rings, and I've narrowed it down, but i want to hear some of your tips/suggestions/dos/don'ts/etc etc. I'm looking at color "I"s and whiter, and clarities SI1 and clearer. Reading that cut is the most important, I'm only looking at ideal/excellent cuts. I know to trust GIA and AGS (though I've read that AGS has slightly "tighter" cut requirements), and to take EGL and others with a grain of salt. I'm looking at a round brilliant cut. My total allowance is ~$8,000, and I've found a setting I REALLY like for $1,800 (platinum, cross over type), so that'll bring my stone allowance to ~$6,500. I'm looking to buy online, because basically growing up with a computer in my hands I've got all the knowledge I need right here! I do want to go to a store to at least get an idea of the various grades for the categories. I've priced a few places (jamesallen, whiteflash, goodforgold, shaneco, bluenile, etc), and they're all pretty comparable. Any positive or negative insight on various online vendors? What do you think (as far as structure, how you like it is all opinion - and I love it!) of this setting: click me!. Discuss! Thanks in advance!
Diamond advice please!
- Thread starter dlaude6
- Start date
I have done alot of research recently too and yes if I were to make my purchase online, I would definitely go with James Allen. I love their site and for the same stone, they have the lowest price so I think you are definitely on the right path. For polish and symmetry, I wouldn't go below VG. As for Fluorescense, you might get away with faint although I think none is recommedended. I ended up buying my stone at the Diamond Center locally because with all the homework I have done, I was able to negotiate a really good deal and it's comforting to be able to look at the stone under different kinds of microscope to see the hearts and arrows, and the inclusions before making the purchase. I love the setting you picked, I had a similar setting years ago when I got a promise ring from DH but this one on James Allen looks fantastic! Though $1800 even for platinum seems to be a little steep and I think you may be able to get some discount combined with your stone purchase if you call them. Good Luck!
I purchased my ring from good old gold and had a wonderful experience. I ended up with a true hearts and arrows from their collection. People were always very helpful and would take pictures, videos and anything really that would make me feel like I understood what i was buying better. Their overall prices is higher than most online vendors but it's worth it for the customer service i received and knowing that they have a great trade up policy in case i wanted to. Even though I don't play on it, it's nice to know it's an option!
Also, what's great was that it came with an appraisal that I could used towards insurance. Although it is somewhat considered bias to use the one from the vendor I felt his assessment was fair and it included all the images to provide insurance so that I can make sure I get a great cut if for any reasons I need to replace it.
However, I saw that your setting is from James Allen so maybe going with a diamond from them will give you a better overall price? or see if goodoldgold will make a custom setting like that. My sister also purchased her stone from james allen and was happy with her purchase though too.
Did you have any idea of what kind of round stone you wanted? there are lots of different ones. Hearts & Arrows? Old Mine? Solesfera? Star129? Eighternity?
Also, what's great was that it came with an appraisal that I could used towards insurance. Although it is somewhat considered bias to use the one from the vendor I felt his assessment was fair and it included all the images to provide insurance so that I can make sure I get a great cut if for any reasons I need to replace it.
However, I saw that your setting is from James Allen so maybe going with a diamond from them will give you a better overall price? or see if goodoldgold will make a custom setting like that. My sister also purchased her stone from james allen and was happy with her purchase though too.
Did you have any idea of what kind of round stone you wanted? there are lots of different ones. Hearts & Arrows? Old Mine? Solesfera? Star129? Eighternity?
Ah that brings up a good point - how likely are online stores to do discounts if I call in to speak with them direct? Yes, I gasped at $1800 but I really like the setting! My gf (had to google DH, tons of abbreviations on this website! There should be a sticky with all of them! haha...well there might be, just didn't see it...yet) already hinted that she prefers platinum over white gold, so if KNOW that much, I might as well go with that! haha. She wants it to be a surprise ("I don't care what the ring looks like, it's the man I care about" blah blah haha) so I'm doing a ton of research to gather as much data as I can!
It is very likely that they will discount if you call. I called them, they said they don't discount the stone but they can do something about the setting. Though I never went through with the transaction since I am not buying online anymore. Also consider doing a wire instead of a credit card payment to get 1.5% off. DH is Dear Husband incase you haven't found out yet. Congratulations and I am sure your gf would love the ring you decide on.
Some good tips there, thanks!
Oh no...there's more than one kind of brilliant cut? I've read about hearts and arrows, but I thought that was just a james allen description. Uh oh, do you realize the can of worms you just opened up? haha. Please school me on the various round cuts out there!
I'm sorry! But I definitely want you to pick the right diamond cut for you. I'm not an expert on any of these but here are the links so you can visually see the differences.
This is the hearts & arrows modern cut: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8217/
-it's the traditional modern cut with the 8 arrows
This is the star129 cut: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8196/
-it has more facets than most other diamonds and Ame is our resident expert
This is an old mine cut: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7818/
- it looks almost like a flower and has chunky facets. it tends to sometimes face up smaller than a traditional hearts and arrow one
This is the solesfera cut: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8020/
-it's a new cut that is supposed to maximize brilliance and has 10 arrows
This is eighternity cut: http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/5813/
-don't know too much about this personally.
There might be more that I'm unfamiliar with.
I like the hearts and arrows.
I like the star129 cut.
Prefer others over the old mine cut.
Solesfera cut looks like longer, thinner hearts and arrows cut - it's nice.
I like the eighternity cut - it looks real busy!
Phew, that wasn't bad! Looking at those, I don't think I'd most definitely need a certain cut, and I wouldn't rule one out because of the cut either.
Thanks for the schooling!
I have been through GIA so I have a little more knowledge than most but many of us will chime in! I do own a Star129, I've owned more than one. If you prefer a H&A or specialty ideal, like the Solasfera, I have seen many of those. Eighternity is a branded H&A cut, quite lovely, but I never found them totally worth the premium myself. Solasfera is kind of a neat pattern but you have to really love the way the stone returns light, same with Star129. If you don't like a lot of smaller fire vs fewer broader fire, you won't care for that.
If you love that setting from James Allen you are better to stick with the same vendor for the stone simply because of ease AND because you're not shipping things all around. While JA and GOG are both in NYC area, they are able to get things between each other though I would strongly advise not using multiple vendors.
I have purchased more than once from Good Old Gold and had great experiences. Jon at GOG is ALL about how the stones optics work. He likes great cuts and he runs about a million tests. I have also purchased from Whiteflash and can say with certainty that I will NEVER buy from them again, nor will I from their former owners who now own Brian Gavin Diamonds, simply from past terrible experiences. The diamonds are fantastic. Craftsmanship and customer service sucked so bad I still have nightmares.
You can definitely ask GOG about the setting and see if they can get something similar or even THAT setting from a supplier for the same price.
A few I found that look ok:
This Star is maybe not the best Star I've seen but it's in budget, Id ask for more pics because it might not be in the holder right:
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8056/
5,931.00
This star is much nicer:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8196/
$6,166.00
H&A
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8169/
would need to check on that inclusion.
Price: $5,918
(Bank wire price: $5,718)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8255/
Price: $5,680
(Bank wire price: $5,488)
Could be nice:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1338412.asp
Price: $6,410
would want more info on:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1371851.asp
Price: $6,480
If you love that setting from James Allen you are better to stick with the same vendor for the stone simply because of ease AND because you're not shipping things all around. While JA and GOG are both in NYC area, they are able to get things between each other though I would strongly advise not using multiple vendors.
I have purchased more than once from Good Old Gold and had great experiences. Jon at GOG is ALL about how the stones optics work. He likes great cuts and he runs about a million tests. I have also purchased from Whiteflash and can say with certainty that I will NEVER buy from them again, nor will I from their former owners who now own Brian Gavin Diamonds, simply from past terrible experiences. The diamonds are fantastic. Craftsmanship and customer service sucked so bad I still have nightmares.
You can definitely ask GOG about the setting and see if they can get something similar or even THAT setting from a supplier for the same price.
A few I found that look ok:
This Star is maybe not the best Star I've seen but it's in budget, Id ask for more pics because it might not be in the holder right:
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8056/
5,931.00
This star is much nicer:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8196/
$6,166.00
H&A
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8169/
would need to check on that inclusion.
Price: $5,918
(Bank wire price: $5,718)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8255/
Price: $5,680
(Bank wire price: $5,488)
Could be nice:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1338412.asp
Price: $6,410
would want more info on:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1371851.asp
Price: $6,480
If you call GOG about those Star129s we showed, ask for more photos. Those are VERY subjective. I personally love my current and loved my former also. Every one is different, I've noticed.
I didn't see a lot on the James Allen site that wow'd me, the photos look horrid, so they might just be doing nice stones a serious disservice
but the quickloupe didn't impress me either.
I didn't see a lot on the James Allen site that wow'd me, the photos look horrid, so they might just be doing nice stones a serious disservice
but the quickloupe didn't impress me either.I didn't see a lot on the James Allen site that wow'd me, the photos look horrid, so they might just be doing nice stones a serious disservice
The quicklope doesn't really impress me, either. I won't pretend to know anything at all, but it seems like they make 'average' stones look 'less than average' in an attempt to have you up your price. haha. I know this isn't the case, but a totally ignorant male (like myself!) might think that!
Thanks, I am glad I can share info people can use!Wow, very informative, Ame,I learned something new too, thanks!
Yknow, that's entirely plausable!
I have to say my opinion on clarity grading with GIA has been subpar lately. I really feel like they are lumping stuff that should be SI1 or worse in the VS2 category lately. Any black inclusion should automatically be SI. But there's like eye-visible crap in many VS2s even VS1s lately and I do not get it. It's not properly graded if you can see that with bare eyes. They've been very lax on clarity, IMO, for about the last year, easily. I was never really wowwed with AGS's clarity grading.
The one thing I will warn you about with Star129: they no longer purchase or cut rough above SI. There might be a few lucky VS2's floating in there, as a fluke, but they deliberately buy lower rough now because they can. The cut does help mask some inclusions well. I would need more photos and info from Jon about those inclusions but they might be clean enough for my tastes. I have a VS1 and it was definitely a pre-owned diamond, someone traded this back in for either larger or lower clarity or something. But it was my gain, for sure.