Help me pick a diamond

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Clumpy Dumpy

Clumpy Dumpy

O.G.
Dec 30, 2006
111
0
#1
I'm finally ready to buy a diamond solitaire necklace. I want to order from Blue Nile and my budget is $1600 for the diamond. I would like a round diamond around 0.5ct with an ideal cut.

What do you guys think of this one? I ran an HCA report and it got "0.9 Excellent Within TIC Range." What else should I consider when picking the right diamond?

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-i-color-si1-clarity_LD02224366

Stock number: LD02224366
Price: $1,567
Bank wire price: $1,544
Price per carat: $2,612
Carat weight: 0.60
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 61.4%
Table %: 57%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Medium
Measurements: 5.44 x 5.40 x 3.32 mm
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Or is it worth it to go smaller, better clarity and cheaper? I'm sort of worried about ordering a diamond on the internet so should I compensate by upping the clarity just in case?

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-i-color-vvs2-clarity_LD02144696

Stock number: LD02144696
Price: $1,477
Bank wire price: $1,455
Price per carat: $3,143
Carat weight: 0.47
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VVS2
Depth %: 60.7%
Table %: 58%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Medium
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.04 x 5.03 x 3.06 mm
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#4
OH its great, I like 55% tables more than 57% but it's got all ideal info, and gets a great HCA AND its' got medium blue flor, something I adore. Itll look whiter than an I.
 
#5
Don't worry about going up on the clarity just because you are ordering it online from BN. If you do a search you will see that pretty much every TPF member has been happy w their diamond purchases from BN. I would go as far as to say that my BN diamond is even more sparkly than my e ring. What pendant are you ordering? The first diamond sounds good to me as well.
 
#6
I have an SI1 pendant and when its set you cannot tell the difference. If you plan on doing other things with the diamond, go ahead and go for the VVS2.

If you don't, then anything from VS1-SI1 would likely be fine as a pendant.
 
#7
NurseAnn said:
What pendant are you ordering?
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I'm trying to pick between the double bail and petite bail setting and leaning toward the double bail. I like the petite bail because it looks more modern BUT I'm worried about flipping/twisting.

Does anyone have a petite bail pendant??? I couldn't find any reviews/modeling pics of it on the internet. Plenty of the bezel, but NOTHING for the petite bail.

I originally wanted the bezel because I loooove the Tiffany&Co DBTY. But the BN bezel isn't as dainty and I think that would be a deal breaker. Plus, I want to get a pair of matching studs in the future :graucho: and I don't like the bezel setting for studs.
 
#8
I've ordered a few diamond pieces from Blue Nile and been very happy with everything. Right now they have a code: BNFALL31, which gives 20% off the setting for the 'build-your-own' pieces, and 10% off all ready-made jewelry. It's good until 9-27.
 
#9
I do like the size/clarity combo of the first one better, but the only thing that concerns me is it is the cheapest stone on the page when you seach in the I/SI1/Ideal/.59-.60 range. Since the numbers of proportions read great I would be concerned of why it is much less than stones with similar specs by bluenile. My guess would be it may have yellow instead of blue fluorescence (the report only says medium) or it may have a black, and possibly eye visible inclusion (it is not super common, but may happen in an SI1). I would call them and ask them about these too things. Remember, bluenile is basically a dropshipper, so these are in no way "handpicked" stones that they have physically seen and bought for inventory. They simply put a set markup on the lists of stones that diamond dealers have to offer and let you choose what you want. The cheapest stone on the list isn't always the "best deal". Often it is cheaper for a reason. Not saying this isn't a good stone, just giving some food for thought. Good luck!
 
#11
If it's not noted by name as another color, it's blue. And that is almost certainly the reason its lower priced. Despite it being an awesome feature of a stone, it's not commonly loved by the 'industry'. But I love it.
 
#12
ame said:
If it's not noted by name as another color, it's blue. And that is almost certainly the reason its lower priced. Despite it being an awesome feature of a stone, it's not commonly loved by the 'industry'. But I love it.
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Yes, I love blue fluorescence too! Can improve face up color in most lighting conditions for sure. Actually, I find medium blue fluorescence on an I color coresponds accurately with M. Rapaports Price Indications for Fluorescent diamonds in this category of 0 to +2 percent price change compared to non-fluorscent stones. Very true That D-F colors with medium compare -3 to -7 percent and strong blue even more. Article on posted somewhere on pscope too. :p

Also, I did not know until recently, but GIA states on their website that they note color of fluorescence at Medium intensity on up, faint and under color is not always noted. My bad, At first I was thinking it was faint and medium both that didn't list the color....just got paranoid.
 
#13
Thank you everyone for your opinions and the coupon code!!

I'm only going to use the diamond for a pendant so I'll stick with SI1.

BUT I'm starting to have second thoughts about this 0.60ct diamond. I could save $200 if I went to 0.5ct. There's only a 0.2mm size difference between 0.5ct and 0.6ct which I doubt is discernible to the eye.

What do you guys think of this one? I guess it's not as good as the 0.6ct diamond because that one got "Excellent" on all the HCA factors??

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#14
Missrocks said:
I do like the size/clarity combo of the first one better, but the only thing that concerns me is it is the cheapest stone on the page when you seach in the I/SI1/Ideal/.59-.60 range. Since the numbers of proportions read great I would be concerned of why it is much less than stones with similar specs by bluenile. My guess would be it may have yellow instead of blue fluorescence (the report only says medium) or it may have a black, and possibly eye visible inclusion (it is not super common, but may happen in an SI1). I would call them and ask them about these too things. Remember, bluenile is basically a dropshipper, so these are in no way "handpicked" stones that they have physically seen and bought for inventory. They simply put a set markup on the lists of stones that diamond dealers have to offer and let you choose what you want. The cheapest stone on the list isn't always the "best deal". Often it is cheaper for a reason. Not saying this isn't a good stone, just giving some food for thought. Good luck!
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You made a very good observation/point. I never thought to check how the diamond priced compared to others with the same specs. I just called Blue Nile (when I should be sleeping, URGH) to ask if the 0.60ct diamond was eye clean and gemologist report said it was eye clean to 12 inches. The sales associate said that eye clean is considered 6-8 inches so she wouldn't call that diamond eye clean. So that diamond gets the boot.

I also asked her to check the 0.51ct diamond for eye cleanliness and she said they would email me the results in around 24 hours. Should I be asking anything else about the diamond?
 
#15
My definition of eye clean means that it cannot be seen without a loupe, period. Distance, whatever, nothing is a factor. If I can see it without a loupe at all it's not eye clean.

Further--it is EXTREMELY RARE to find a stone that gets an Excellent on all four of the HCA qualities. But that .51 sounds fantastic.
 
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