1) 1.01ct H SI1 Round Brilliant Excellent Cut for $5770

2) 1.06 G VVS2 Round Brilliant Excellent Cut for $13,500

I wore them both on my pinky and asked random strangers on the street if they could see if there’s a difference or not!  Take a look and enjoy!

Absolutely!  Mistakenly, a lot of people save money for an engagement ring yet they save no money for the actual proposal.  The first question people will ask your partner once they announce their engagement is, “How did he propose?”  Don’t you want the story that they will tell their friends, family, and your future children to be a good one?

You should spend what you feel comfortable spending.  You should look at your budget and figure out how much you can spend realistically.  I have seen people spend $100 to $5000 on their proposals.  Keep in mind, it isn’t how much you spend that makes a great proposal; it’s the small details that create the most impact.

At a bare minimum you should give yourself at least 30 days to plan an amazing and well thought-out proposal.  6 months would be even better though.

That all depends on what kind of person your partner is.  If your partner is a very extroverted person that loves to be the center of attention, then a public proposal might be the right move.  However, if your partner is introverted and likes to keep things private, it is probably not the right idea.  Here is a great article to help you decide.  http://blog.theheartbandits.com/whats-better-a-public-or-private-proposal/

No matter if your partner knows it may be coming soon, they will not know how or when it will happen.  That is the surprise.  And while you do want it to be a surprise, anticipation is a good thing.  That moment right before you propose when your partner is feeling butterflies and thinking, “Is this it?” is all part of the magic in a proposal.

The best thing you can do is to infuse your proposal with details about your partner and your relationship.  Think about what her favorite things are or what his hobbies are.  Don’t forget about inside jokes.

Most definitely.  At a bare minimum, have a photographer nearby to capture one of the most special days of your lives.  Your partner will be so happy that you took the care to document the moment.

If you want to plan the best proposal possible with the least amount of stress, you should hire a Proposal Planner.  A Proposal Planner will help create the perfect proposal concept and execute the idea.

Definitely tell the least amount possible so that there is little chance of your surprise being ruined.

The Heart Bandits are Proposal Planners who help people all over the world propose marriage.   They are Proposal Experts and have been featured in the New York Times, Fox News, Houston Chronicle, Orange County Register, Brides Magazine and many more. Contact The Heart Bandits to have them plan your marriage proposal and ensure that your big moment stands out from the rest. For more information about The Heart Bandits, visit www.theheartbandits.com.

According to theknot.com TV, one of the premiere wedding planning websites, the fashion of men’s wedding bands is becoming more popular and more sophisticated. Bill Fulle of Baily Banks & Biddle explains the evolution of this niche market:

“The new thing in men’s wedding bands is that they now have a choice. Thirty years ago if you were a man and you came in, we asked you what width plain gold band you wanted. Those were your choices. We now have platinum, we have yellow gold, we have pink gold. Men’s diamonds are more popular than they ever have been. We’ve got some of the houses carving beautiful designs in the platinum.”

But this market is only starting to expand, as traditionally, rings have been a women’s domain and that which was assigned to men consisted of plain wedding bands or chunky pinky rings. “Fifteen percent of sales are now men’s jewelry,” says Eddie Rosenberg, president and chief executive of Spectore, a manufacturer of titanium jewelry in Deerfield Beach, Fla. “I defy you to walk into a jewelry store and find more than 3 percent of jewelry dedicated to men.”

We expect to see a wider breadth of styles this year in the men’s ring department – anything from which metal to the design of the ring itself. Ellyn Mishkin of Gordon’s Jewelers says that she is noticing more men interested in unusual metals for their wedding bands, such as titanium, palladium, tungsten, and stainless steel. She says, “We see more men taking more interest and having it be a personal choice [more] than it used to be.”

Mark Schneider from Zales says the new trends for men this year are platinum, white gold, and diamonds. Small diamonds set all over the wedding band is becoming more masculine, as after all, says Schneider, “Let’s face it, if you are putting beautiful diamonds on her finger, why not wear some yourself?”

stephenwebster.com

A case in point of a jewelry designer catering to this up-and-coming market is London’s Stephen Webster. He says he has had an overwhelming response to his gold and platinum men’s designs in his new bridal collection. “Men are loving it. They’re so very loyal.” Webster says he will expand the men’s section of his collection for the next season due to growing demand.

Whether you or your man prefer the simple yet classy looks of our fathers or the more modern interpretations of our generation, chances are good that you will benefit from the sheer variety of styles now available today. Take your time and choose something that makes sense for your fashion sense and lifestyle. After all, trends come and go, but your wedding jewelry should last forever.

Sources:
http://www.jckonline.com/2011/12/22/cool-jewels-new-year?utm_source=JCK+eNewsletters&utm_campaign=a1710510db-2011_01_14_Top_Story_Saturday1_13_2012&utm_medium=email

http://wedding.theknot.com/getting-engaged/engagement-rings/articles/6-engagement-ring-trends.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Guitarist asking Isaac for any requests. Photo courtesy Andrea Patrica Photography

Isaac really wanted to propose to his girlfriend Christine on November 12, 2011.  This was the only day that he could do it because he was going to have all of her friends and family in town at the same time.  They were all going to be together at his apartment that evening so he wanted it to be the place where he announced their engagement and they could all celebrate together.  His plan was set to do a flash mob performance at a local outdoor mall where the performers would take off their jackets to reveal t-shirts spelling out the proposal.  Unfortunately, as luck would have it, a week before he was going to propose the weather forecast said that it was going to rain that day so his entire plan needed to change.  Isaac was in a scramble to do something different on that exact date.  He contacted The Heart Bandits and we created a marriage proposal ideathat he loved.

Isaac was aware that Christine knew he was going to propose soon so he wanted to do something that would be a complete surprise for her.  He also wanted to incorporate personal touches of their relationship into the surprise while also capturing the moment on film and video.  Together, we came up with a plan that would be to total surprise and still provide the anticipation that is important in a proposal.  This is how his wedding proposal went down.

Isaac proposing marriage to Christine. Photo courtesy Andrea Patrica Photography

Isaac took Christine to her favorite shopping plaza for a seemingly normal day.  Right before lunch they stopped by an Italian restaurant that had a covered patio to have a drink.  While at this patio, they noticed an acoustic guitarist playing music and another couple there requesting songs and videotaping.  That other couple was actually Michele and Marvin from The Heart Bandits pretending to be patrons ready with the video camera to capture the whole thing.  After a few songs, the guitarist approached Christine and Isaac and handed Christine a flower.  He asked if they had any requests.  Isaac said he only would request a song if he knew “their song” which was “Better Together” by Jack Johnson.  The musician was in on the plan so of course he knew the song and began playing it, all the while creating some anticipation with Christine regarding what was really going on.  After the song, the musician handed Christine an envelope that read “Kes Kes” which was Isaac’s nickname for her.  Once she opened it, it read “Isaac would like to know if you would marry him?”  She was in total shock reading this and seeing Isaac down on one knee ready with an engagement ring.  She of course said yes and the musician played their song again as celebration.  The whole thing was captured by a photographer who was hidden throughout the whole process.  The Heart Bandits also captured the whole proposal on video by sitting a couple of tables away.

It was an amazing proposal and it was perfect for Christine because it was a surprise and had a lot of elements that were unique and personal to them.  The song had a lot of meaning for them and they were happy to have captured the whole thing on film.

The Heart Bandits are Proposal Planners who help people all over the world propose marriage.   They are Proposal Experts and have been featured in the New York Times, Fox News, Houston Chronicle, Orange County Register, Brides Magazine and many more. Contact The Heart Bandits to have them plan your marriage proposal and ensure that your big moment stands out from the rest. For more information about The Heart Bandits, visit www.theheartbandits.com.

The new mobile site boasts a fully interactive experience to make browsing their jewelry easier than ever. You can price-check diamonds for the best deal and build your own engagement ring setting from the full selection of setting styles like solitaire, channel, pave, and contemporary rings. If you’re in the market for other diamond jewelry as we approach Valentine’s Day, you can also use the new site to shop for diamond pendants and studs.

“We have worked hard to provide mobile users with a first-class interactive user experience, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” says David Berkovits, Marketing Director at James Allen. “To celebrate, we are giving away an amazing diamond iPhone case. This giveaway is our most exciting to date and it’s our way of saying ‘thanks’ to all the James Allen fans that have helped elevate our brand to the next level.”

“We’re the only site on the Internet that displays over 20,000 actual photos of our diamond inventory, and now you’ve got them all in the palm of your hand. This Valentine’s Day, shop with our mobile site and don’t miss the opportunity to win an incredible diamond iPhone case,” added Berkovits.

To sign up for this gorgeous give-away, go to http://www.JamesAllen.com .

Source:

http://enewschannels.com/2012/01/25/enc14175_035820.php

courtesy of ronmartin.net

Well, that seems to be only part of the story. While it’s true that this segment of the population is the most Internet-savvy, it does not necessarily imply that such skills influence shopping behavior. We may surf online to compare prices and get an idea of what inventory is out there, but we may still want to step into a brick-and-mortar store to get a personal encounter with a product.

This is what JCK Magazine recently discovered about the 18-25 year-old shoppers: more than 68% prefer to shop for clothing and shoes in stores rather than online, according to a joint survey by LIM College and the National Retail Federation Student Association.

“Retail observers have been significantly overestimating our use of online and digital technology for shopping,” said Nicole Flasch-Mihalko, a member of the LIM College NRFSA team, in a statement. “We like shopping in stores and are not as engaged in shopping on the Internet as many have touted. I guess the demise of the brick and mortar format of retailing—at least for 18-25 year-olds—is grossly exaggerated.”

Interestingly, 66% of this age group shops online to check out prices and browse what’s out there, but only 23% shop from a tablet or smartphone. And only 20% of young shoppers purchase from “flash sale” sites such as Rue La La and Gilt Groupe. Actually, the survey found that most interviewed were not familiar with these sites at all.

Olivia Cornell from Cornell’s Jewelers in Rochester, N.Y., says the young crowd wants to come in and see what the jewelry looks like in person. “I see a lot of young women shopping for special occasions like graduations, a new job, or a promotion,” she says. “Girls nowadays are much more sophisticated. They have a handle on their own style.”

Sharran Selig from Bill Selig Jewelers in Windsor, Conn., says that her customers “typically look online, but generally want to come in and see the jewelry in person.”

And when it comes to buying fashion jewelry in a brick-and-mortar store versus buying online, there may not be huge savings since both types of establishments must stock quite a bit of inventory. But when we start to think about big ticket items like diamond jewelry – specifically engagement rings, stud earrings, and the like – there are clear advantages to buying online.

As you can see from our review of the brick-and-mortar establishment Zales, there are significant advantages to buying diamonds online. First, online stores like James Allen and DiamondWave have “virtual” inventory in that they showcase private stock from all over the world on their websites, but only when the consumer makes the purchase does the website then buy the diamond from the private vendor. This is in stark contrast to a conventional walk-in store that must stock – at its own cost or on commission – a sizable amount of expensive inventory.

This takes us to our second advantage of buying online: it’s just too expensive for traditional stores to carry inventory that can match the sheer selection of products that you can find online. When you go online, your options of what’s out there, from the most classic round brilliant cut one carat diamond to the more daring two carat cushion cut, are just so much more varied.

And finally, let’s look at one more area that will really drive the point home. Brick-and-mortar establishments have astronomical overhead costs for a much smaller clientele. Each month they must pay rent, employee salaries, utilities, insurance, etc. and all these costs are passed on to the consumer in the price of the diamond jewelry. By contrast, online vendors have worldwide exposure and much less overhead to contend with, often hiring a fraction of the employees in one or two locations and spending far less on rent, utilities, and insurance.

Now how do we resolve the advantages of buying diamonds online with the findings of shopping habits of the younger generation? First of all, there is nothing wrong with walking into a jewelry store and seeing what catches your eye. It’s important to know your style, and for some people, that means actually putting the ring on your finger for a trial run. Many Truth About Diamonds readers have done just that in order to get a more accurate idea of what looks good on their hands.

But ultimately, we need to remember that the Internet is still young, and we have some catching up to do in terms of our shopping behavior. The more people educate themselves about purchasing diamonds online, the better it will be for the growing online diamond market. In short, it’s just a matter of time until the rest of the market climbs onboard the savings train. All aboard!

Source:
http://www.jckonline.com/2012/01/23/survey-young-consumers-still-favor-brick-and-mortar-stores

Well this unusual engagement ring story just may be a “rare antiquity” before its time. Take a talented and creative guy who wants to propose to his girlfriend but doesn’t have a ring and add a girlfriend who can’t get enough of Indiana Jones, and you might end up with a story like this.

Redditor Homerliwag wanted to pop the big question to his girlfriend Aimee on 11-11-11. Being that he hadn’t yet procured the necessary ring, he bought himself some time with a clever trick that left her excited and eager for the next act. He filled a ring box with a tiny bag of sand and told her that Indiana Jones must have gotten there first. Strong work, Redditor.

He then set to work on creating a one-of-a-kind engagement ring inspired both by Aimee’s taste and imagery from the Indiana Jones movies.

http://www.themarysue.com/indiana-jones-engagement-ring/

http://www.themarysue.com/indiana-jones-engagement-ring/

Once the custom ring was ready, the only mystery that remained was how to present it to the future bride while maintaining the big-screen suspense. The answer lay in designing another custom ring box, this time out of “a 1920′s steel soap bar box and us[ing] sculpting clay to create the look of ancient ruins inside. I then presented the box mixed with 4 other interesting boxes. Now, with the theme of “You must choose wisely…” from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, I used a magician’s trick to make her “select” the correct box. I asked her if she “chose wisely”. Then I opened her selected box revealing “The Whip.”

And we can only imagine her astonishment and joy. Now that’s a proposal to tell the grandkids about. After they already know all about Indy, the ‘idol,’ and the coiled whip, of course.

Source:
http://www.themarysue.com/indiana-jones-engagement-ring/

idc-diamond.com

Clarity-enhanced diamonds are diamonds that have undergone a process of cleaning to remove certain types of inclusions. The enhancement procedure may consist of any of the following techniques: deep boiling, laser drilling, special laser drilling, or fracture filling.

Diamond Traces says it only makes sense to enhance diamonds 0.20 carats in size or larger, as diamonds of smaller carat size do not benefit significantly enough from the enhancement process.

Apparently consumers are now more open to considering clarity-enhanced diamonds as a viable alternative to untreated diamonds. Diamond Traces cited findings from a survey it recently conducted that 37% of all diamond consumers are open to such a purchase, as compared to 15% in 2010.

The major advantage to consumers is the potential to save about 50% by purchasing an enhanced diamond, as compared to an untreated diamond of similar quality. Clarity-enhanced diamonds, therefore, could be a promising option for those looking to maximize their diamond spending dollars.

Source:
http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/english/News.aspx?boneId=918&objid=10521

Retro is in and vintage settings are definitely a great option if you are looking for a more traditional look. The attention to fine detail in these heirloom settings is evident in the hand-crafted metal and diamond work, making this option a great one for a classy timeless ring, already perfect to be handed down to the next generation some day. You will most likely see the conventional yet stunning round brilliant cut diamond in this setting.

hydroponicsonline.com

Another trend that we expect to see more of this year is the “diamonds-all-around” look both on engagement rings and wedding bands. If you’re going for a glamorous, eye-popping style, then this might be right for you. And most likely you will see this setting using platinum, the hot ticket metal this season.

Here’s a quick FYI on diamonds-all-around, or pavé, as it’s known in the industry, from James Allen: “A pave diamond ring is one that is encrusted with very small diamonds all along the band to give the appearance of solid diamond surface, rather than a metal band. Because pave-set diamonds use only tiny beads or prongs to hold them in place, very little of the metal band shows through and the diamonds all appear to be free-standing. Settings like this can either go around the whole band (“full pave”) or stop halfway around (“half pave”). Most people find a full pave setting visually impressive, but prefer the comfort of a half pave setting, as the tiny diamonds are less likely to rub against the other fingers. Also, a full pave ring can almost be too much brilliance, drawing attention away from the center diamond.

“Micro pave rings are even more delicate and intricate than regular pave settings. The individual stones are so small that they appear to blend together and create extraordinary fire. Also, because the diamonds are smaller than in a traditional pave setting, the surface is much smoother and less likely to rub against the other fingers.”

Diamonds-all-around can enhance the size of your center diamond and generally make what would have been a plain solitaire setting into a sparkly work of art. This style is appropriate for all diamond shapes and the possibilities for creativity are endless. 

I hugely value cut and I have been looking at Blue Nile and their signature cut. Obviously, I am paying more for the signature brand. So, I used the more stringent table(60.1 to 61.9) and depth%(55 to 57) values for the signature to filter out some ideals on Blue Nile and James Allen. Am on the right track to get the shiniest diamond?

A: Not necessarily. GIA’s cut grade innovations proved that you can’t look at diamond measurements in a vacuum. It’s the combinations of measurements that matter. Send me the links to the stones you’re considering and I”ll be happy to take a look!

Q: Thanks for the quick response. I have beeen spending a lot of time on your website and am learning a lot from the Q & A’s of others and your responses. I am almost certainly going to order the ring from James Allen and want your advice before I do so. I will start short listing stones real soon. The one thing I couldn’t find something on was the Hearts and Arrows cut on James Allen. Is it worth going for the Hearts and Arrows cut vs the ideal cut? I obviously want to get the best cut possible. I hope the H & A doesn’t increase costs by by a 1000!

Also, I placed an order for the ring yest. evening. It’s tacori style 2616rd65 in white gold http://www.tacori.com/Engagement-Rings/2616RD65. She’s a fan of Tacori and I like this ring because of the crescents and intricate work. The diamonds on it as I’m sure you already know are G and VS. So, my solitaire has to be min. G correct? Do you have any comments on the kind of solitaire I should be looking for? I want to go over carat and below 1.15. the max the ring can hold i’ve been told is 1.2. My budget is 8000 Canadian dollars. I obviously don’t want to max out my budget -unless there is something really worth it.

I will propose on March the 19th (date obviously is imp. ) and the Tacori ring will be here by the first week of March for sure. I plan to order the diamand by then so that I have enough time to set and possibly return it and get another one.

Sorry for the ramble.

A: I think you could actually go down to an H center stone and still have a beautiful white looking ring. The question of H&A is a tricky one. There is a small visual benefit, that’s true, but it’s not exactly mind-blowingly noticeable. It’s subtle. And that subtle difference costs a lot of money, so it’s a call you’ll have to make on your own.

Q: It’s been a while. I’ve just been waiting for the Tacori ring and it is going to be in this week. So, I want to get on the diamond right away since the day is very close.

1) Since you said that the H&A cut costs a lot of money, can you by looking at the technical specs on the James Allen site be able to tell which less expensive Excellent cut would just about make the H&A or is close enough? I don’t want to purchase from Blue Nile simply because of the inability to see the diamond (as you said).

2) You said that I could go also go for a H colour diamond and be fine for the ring I’ve chosen. I’m wondering what effect the colour/cut would have on a diamond. For example, would a diamond with Excellent cut and colour G or perhaps E have the same effect as colour H and H & A keeping everything else constant? Or am I way out to lunch?

3) Based on you response, do you have any recommendations for:

Carat: 1.0 to 1.2 (the bigger the better)
Clarity: Eye Clean
Colour: G or H depends on your answer
Cut: depends on your answer
Budget: Canadian Dollars 8500 max.- I don’t want to max it out for sure . Unless there is something great that you recommend.

I think my ideal case would be SI 1 (eye clean), H&A, G colour in the 7K or less range. But maybe I want my cake and eat it too. Pls. be brutally honest with me if my thought process is nuts!

4) I saw a few H&A SI 1 diamonds on James Allen and they had a black spot in the middle. Surely that would be visible to the naked eye right?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1336412.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1255560.asp

Thanks a lot!

A: nice to hear back from you. The two H&A stones you linked to definitely have great cuts, but their strong black inclusions worry me. I think they will indeed by visible to the naked eye.

Since your ring will be so white with such high color diamonds, I think pushing to a G color might actually be a good idea in this case. Lets see what I can come up with!
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1334506.asp

I think this stone has it all for you. Let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks for the quick response. That’s a beautiful stone. I would prefer to bring the size down a to 1.15/6 max. I’m concerned the setting may be affected since the jewweller told me that 1.2 is the absolute max.

What about my question, “Can you by looking at the technical specs on the James Allen site be able to tell which less expensive Excellent cut would just about make the H&A or is close enough?” Are the specs for the diamond you gave me for close in terms of H&A and excellent cut?

I saw a few neat ones below. They are all H&A. Would I be overpaying for any of these?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236916.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1195055.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1354956.asp

Do you have any ‘steals’ in the H&A category Ira? Because I’m sure only you’d find it.

Thanks again.

A: That’s a smart move, because the 1.20ct stone I recommended was particularly large for its weight – it faces up more like a 1.30ct stone.

Sorry I didn’t answer the other question. Unfortunately, I can’t tell for sure re: finding a non H&A that’s close to H&A. I can estimate, but there’s no way to know for sure without seeing the stone up close.

The H&As you linked to look great! This one seems the best to me:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236916.asp

Unfortunately, there aren’t any steals in the H&A category!

Q: Thanks for the reply Ira. I am hoping that you can look at these next few that are in my $8000 range.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1354955.asp (not worht the price for a VS2 over the SI 1 that you preferred in the previous e-mail)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344947.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1317136.asp

Which one is your pick?

Apart from price, which one do you recommend for the style of ring between your pick from above and the your pick for the 7000 range (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236916.asp). Would D colour have a big impact as opposed to G?

I honestly am hoping to get something in the 1.05/06/07 range that’s 7000K range. But I don’t see any. Do you?

A: Honestly, you can choose between those three stones by flipping a 3-sided coin. I can pretty much guarantee you that if they were in front of you right now, you would not in any way be able to distinguish them one from the other.

The D SI1 is a much better buy than these. You can definitely see the difference if a D is next to a G. The only thing you gain in the other direction is higher clarity, and that adds nothing to the visual appeal of the stone.

Q: 1) Thanks for the response. I am extremely close to deciding here. I saw the AGS certificate for my shortlisted diamonds and it doesn’t show the inclusions clearly at all. The GIA certs are very clear but the AGS isn’t. Is there a risk with the AGS certification particularly with regards to diamond integrity?? Are the certs much better when viewed in person??

2) Also, my short list has come down to 3 choices and I am hoping that you give me some advice to help me decide. The short list and my comments with respect to each other are as under:

2a) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236916.asp
Pros: Colour D. Cons: Size is 1.01 want a 1.05/6/7 ideally.

2b) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1354956.asp
Pros: Carat is 1.07 Cons: G colour and this huge feather on the left. Would that be visible or affect the integrity of diamond?

2c) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344947.asp
Pros: Carat 1.06 Cons: G colour, price is $1000 more.

Ignoring the price, I guess I want you to tell me if the G colour 1.07/6 carat dimond is better or worse compared to the D colour 1.01 carat for my ring style. I feel that the bigger size would mean more surface area causing the diamond to appear to sparkle more. The ring diamonds are VS G. http://www.tacori.com/Engagement-Rings/2616RD65

Thanks a million!
A stressed xxxxxx

A: I still think the D is the better choice. The size difference is only 0.2mm which is just on the border between not noticeable at all, and JUST BARELY noticeable. The difference in color, however, is much more easily noticeable.

Q: So i spoke to a James Allen rep and she said that there is a good enough risk that the diamond inclusion for http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236916.asp could be seen if held close to the eye. She spoke about how eye clean is about 6 to 8 inches and encouraged to buy a VS2 instead. I am not doubting her integrity but I would like to have your opinion on the matter.

A: I’m surprised she said that. If you’re concerned, ask them to have the stone pulled and inspected face to face by their gemologists to tell you for sure.
…….
Btw, I spoke with a contact at JA about this, and they were very surprised. Do you by any chance remember the name of the person who helped you on the phone who gave you this advice?

Q: I beleive her name was Angelia or Angelina. She said she’s been in the diamond business since 1990. I called JA again since I thought it could merely be opinion. The second person male ( I forgot his name) didn’t strongly say that I will the D stone inclusion would e visible to the eye, but again spoke about the 6 to 8 inches and said upclose it could be a problem. She also spoke about the diamond getting dirty with oil and dirt which may perhaps make the inclusion more vivisble. It obviously made me very nervous. I want to order the diamond today and am hoping to reach a conclusion soon since I am running short on time.

I’ll call JA and ask them to pull the diamond and have a gemologist look at it face to face.

I can’t tell you how much i appreciate your help Ira. Thanks
…….
I called again and ended up speaking to Josh Cales who is manager there and he said that he was very surprised that I got that information about that D 1.01 diamond. He said that he 100% sure that the diamond in question 1236916 is eye clean and said that he’ll pay in advance for the return shipping because I won’t return it since it’s eye clean. He also bet his next pay chequeover it. He asked me the person’s name I spoke to and was disppointed with what I was told. He said that he will use this example as a training tool today.

I told him that I have been consulting you and that your opinion of the matter and he agreed with you 100%. So, I’ve made the purchase. I am very confident that the diamond will be good. I will look at at it closely when it arrives and hope to see nothing.

Once again, thanks a million Ira. Your website helped immensely clear the air on so very many issues with regards to the diamond and made it possible for me to get to the point of buying one. I wouldn’t be able to do it without you.

I will let you know when I receive the diamond. It’ll probably be here on Monday or Tuesday at the latest since I am using bank wire to save some money.

A very grateful xxxxx

A: My pleasure! Please let me know what you think when it arrives!

Q: I got the diamond after a lot of hassle. It was shipped on the Friday before the last and would’ve been here the next day. But the JA guys put the wrong country code and it was on route to Andorra! After a lot of stress, I got it last Thursday-5 days late.

The only good thing out of all that is the diamond. It is absolutely wonderful. It is eye-clean just as you said. I got engaged on Sat and my fiancee loves it! Your recommendation for the D colour diamond instead of the G was excellent. It made the whole setting stand out. I’m glad I went with it.

Thanks a lot once again Ira. I wouldn’t be able to do this without your input and guidance.

A: Glad to hear it all worked out in the end! And thanks for stroking my ego that my call on the D was right!!

If you have the time, do you think you might be able to leave me a review on ivouch? If you could, I would be extremely grateful. HEre’s a direct link should you find the time:
xxxxxxx

Thanks! And congrats!

Q: Done. it was a pleasure. Thanks again.

[LINK TO IVOUCH REVIEW]

A: It’s fantastic!! Thanks so much!!