So anyways, here are the details I wanted to provide you. First off, I am looking to buy this rign for my girlfriend, but my first main question is “Is now the time to buy?” I ask this because I am in no huge rush to purchase the ring since I won’t be popping the question until this summer. I have read on websites that buying around Christmas/Valentine’s day is not a good time to buy diamonds because prices are inflated. In your experience is that true? Let me know your thoughts on if I should wait or what you think (I do have the money to make the purchase whenever).
Now when I do purchase, I definitely want to look at all the websites, but I agree, the James Allen site looks really good. So that would be an awesome one to start with. Now below I have answered the questions you asked:

• Is your goal cheapest price for given parameters, or best diamond for fixed budget?
o My goal is to get the best diamond for a fixed budget. Now there is something her to consider as well. My girlfriend has very small hands so anything larger than 1.4 Carats actually starts looking too big. So I am looking for a size in the range of 1.25-1.4 Carats. I also want to make it as “Sparkly” as possible (sorry for the poor terms, ha). So I know I want to go with an ideal cut. Also, while getting a good deal price was is definitely awesome, I want to keep my purchase definitely between 9-10k (with a 10.5k max).
• Shape
o Round
• Desired Color Range
o I would like your opinion on this, but I am thinking that I will go with an “H” for color
• Desired Clarity
o Again I would like your opinion on this and I actually think this is where I could use the most help. Before I found your website, I was looking at VVS2, but the more I have read, it looks like I might be able to knock this down a bit and get more “bang for my buck” (aka get a very nice, very shiny ring and save some money on this feature). However, I still don’t trust my judgment on what I should get. My girlfriend is definitely not the type to go “comparing her ring to other peoples or in jewelers” so again as long as the clarity is pretty good (no big visible spots) and it gives and overall very sparkly diamond, I think it would be perfect.
• Budget
o Again, my budget is 9k-10k with a 10.5 max. And to be honest, I have budgeted for this much, so I don’t really want to go below 9k.
• Anything else you might feel is relevant
o I think this pretty much sums everything up. Again, I really appreciate this and please let me know if I can give you any more info. When I actually go about purchasing this I will DEFINITELY make sure I have the cookies on so that you get credit. Thanks again!

A: THanks for writing, and thanks for the very kind words about the site! Listen, in all honestly, I would say you should hold off for a while. not because prices are higher now (they’re not) but because there’s no reason you should have a $10,000 ring sitting in your house for 6 months. Buy it within 30 days of the time you plan on proposing so if there’s an issue and she doens’t like it, you can return it.

Q: Very good point and I think I’ll do that. Is it ok that I still reach out to you when it gets around that time? Thanks!

A: Of course!

Q: Thanks again Ira! Really appreciate it and I’ll reach out to you in a couple of months. Have a great day!
…….
Hope you had a great weekend! I am still going to reach out to you in several months about my diamond purchase, but I was just wondering if you had any advice (or links to a website) that would give any information on the pros/cons of platinum vs. Gold. All these places keep trying to sell me on platinum and I really want to see if it is worth it.

Thanks again!!

A: I think the major benefits are that plat doesn’t require maintenance to stay white and it’s hypoallergenic.

Q: Hope you are doing well!

So I just wanted to let you know that I am now somewhat open to buying my diamond earlier than I originally thought. While I still probably won’t give it to her until June, I am pretty confident I have a good ring in mind and that she will love it, so I don’t think I need to worry about the 30 day return policy. That being said, if I buy it early and I don’t like it, then I can return it (because I believe on your website you said Jared Allen is pretty good with their returns).

Anyways, I am in NO RUSH AT ALL, but if one of these days you are browsing and see something that fits this a little, just let me know (I changed what I was looking for a bit based on your website recommendations, and I went to a jeweler and actually looked at some stones that were S1 clarity and you really couldn’t see anything at all!): Anyways here is what I am thinking:

Cut: Ideal
Clarity: S1 or VS2 (probably go with a good S1)
Color: H
Carots: slightly less than 1.5 ish (can be slightly less based on your writeup that they get marked up when they hit 1.5, so a 1.47-1.49 would work just fine!)
Polish/Symmetry/Depth/Table/Girdle – Whatever you think is good based on your writeup
Florescence: I know you said that for colors H Floresence might actually help it, but again I will trust your judgment on this

Max Price: $10,500ish (Somewhat flexible) – but anything a bit lower would be great too!

Again, no rush, just if you see something when you are browsing.

Thanks again!!!

A: I took a look for you and here’s what I found:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1357338.asp
and
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353935.asp

I like the 1.43 better since it looks cleaner. But if this is what you want, you should jump on it soon as diamonds of this size are few and far between – I’m actually amazed that I found two 1.40-1.49s for you with H SI1. I didn’t think I’d find any!

Q: thanks a ton Ira! do you think the 1.43 would look good to the naked eye?? that’s all that really matters to me

A: Oh yeah!

Here are the details:

- Is your goal cheapest price for given parameters, or best diamond for fixed budget?
No, it is not. Quality is very important.

- Shape
Princess shape.

- Desired Color Range
I, H, G

- Desired Clarity
VS2 – VVS2

- Desired Cut
Very Good – Ideal

- Desired Size
1.70 – 1.90

- Budget
8,000 – 12,000

Thank you.

A: Here are some very fine options. Each is eye clean of course, and each has a near-perfect cut:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1314714.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1280747.asp

Q: I had actually picked the first one – 1.77, so this reassures my decision. Thank you for your help. Would you recommend buying off of James Allen?

…….

Can you please provide me with your opinion of this diamond versus the other ones that you sent. It seems to be priced well:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243862.asp

A: Most definitely I recommend them. I’ve had a ton of experience over the past year and a half since I started the site sending people to JA – I’ve never heard any complaints. Everyone’s extremely pleased with them.

As for the I VS2 you linked to, the cut isn’t QUITE as nice as the H VS1, but you know what, for that much of a difference in price, you might be better off with the one you picked! If you’re setting it in a solitaire setting, then for sure go with the I VS2. Otherwise, you might need to stick with H or better in color to match the side stones.

Q: Thank you for your help. It is very much appreciated. I am looking at this setting with a single diamond.
Selected Setting:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/1-carat-solitaire-engagement-ring.html

Here are the 5 diamonds I have narrowed it down to:

I VS1 – $9520
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1318388.asp

I VS2 – $9780
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243862.asp

G VS2 – $12170
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1280747.asp

H VS1 – $11050
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1314714.asp

I VS2 – $9270
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1339636.asp

I am having trouble deciding if I should spend the extra 2000-3000 dollars on the G and H. I guess I just don’t have the experience to determine the exact difference in the diamonds.
I am trying to keep the diamond at around $10000 since the setting is around $1500.
Which one would you recommend? Also do you think the setting I selected will look fine with the selected diamonds?

Thank you!

A: That ring will look fantastic with any of these stones. Since you’re setting it in a solitaire, I really think your best bet is to go with an I color. There’s almost no visual difference between an I and H face-up mounted in a ring. So $1500 is a lot of money to pay for such an extremely minor effect.

Let me know what you decide in the end!

Q: That helps me narrow it down. Now to choose which I color one i want.
When I make my final decision I will be sure to let you know.

…….

Does a “thick” girdle matter? Do you think I should not consider diamonds with thick girdles.

…….

I think I have picked this one. I am not 100% certain yet, but I am leaning towards this one. It seems to be the best value for the largest size, and overall it seems to be a clean diamond.
What do you think?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1249096.asp

Thanks.

A: Thick is Ok. Just stay away from “extremely thick” or “extremely thin”

…….

That’s a fantastic stone with an amazing value at 1.91cts. These are very very rare, so you should snap it up before someone else does!

Q: That’s great news. I was reading information online that said you don’t want a diamond in the 1.5-2.0 range that has a “I color” since you will really notice it. I guess that is not the case?

A: nope. Complete nonsense!

Q: Excellent, I will order it as soon as I can. Thank you for all of your help.

A: My pleasure! Please stay in touch and let me know how it goes and what you think of it when it arrives!

Q: I really appreciate your help and expertise. I ordered the ring tonight. I am anxious to see what it looks like.
Is there anything I can do to put a review on your website or help you out in any way?

A: Thanks for letting me know! Lets make a deal – wait until you get the ring. If you love it, then I’ll hit you up for a review

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):

Shape: Oval

Click on image for enlarged photo.

Carats: 1.51

Diamond Color: H

Diamond Clarity: VS1

Measurements: 8.52*6.39*4.26

Depth: 66.7%

Table: 54%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: Faint

Diamond Price: $9,630

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

I’m looking for a 1.5-2ct and my budget is around 10-15k USD. I think she would pref round but I’m not sure I don’t want to screw this up like I did with the expensive bag I bought her… she’s not a high-maintenance/materialistic girl but I wanted to make her feel special and it backfired big time!

I was looking at a IF [Internally Flawless] on bluenile to be safe but after reading your site, you have a good point about the industry guilt people into overspending even if it won’t be appreciated. Eye-clean is a really strong point but does it matter in terms of the meaning to say it was IF?

Thanks for your help Ira, I hope you can get back to me with your recommendations but even so, your site has been amazingly helpful already!

I’m truly impressed with your site and yourself. I hope your site continues to grow and take off in popularity and I will lend my support

A: Thanks for your very kind words. My wife is actually 2 years older than me, so I can relate

Now, about your diamond – I don’t understand this question, “Eye-clean is a really strong point but does it matter in terms of the meaning to say it was IF?”

Could you please elaborate on that?

Q: Glad I found someone who can relate!

Sorry about the confusion, what I meant was I was looking at getting a IF diamond (esp if it is online). However reading your points about being ‘eye-clean’ makes a lot of sense since our eyes can’t really tell the difference between IF or FL or VVS1 (depending of course on where inclusion is and if it is black etc.)

Then I spoke to my sister and her point was wouldn’t IF be symbolic of our love? What would getting her a flawed diamond say? Or how would she feel if her friends start gossiping/talking about their rings? So I was wondering what’s your take on that and the value/symbolic meaning of getting a IF diamond.

A: If you believe in symbolism created artificially by a company that profits from the creation of that symbol, then sure, go for it!

(sorry for the sarcasm, but I think you get my point)

Q: Haha touche!

That’s a very potent point there… thanks for that. Your sarcasm is appreciated.

Well that’s exactly why I would greatly appreciate your recommendations on diamonds here Ira. I don’t feel very confident picking out something eye-clean online.

A: :) Here’s my suggestions:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1335616.asp – Totally eye clean. GIA Triple excellent ideal cut.

for a princess cut:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1346258.asp – an amazing value for a 2ct H VS1 princess. Great cut.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1254904.asp – Another great option.

have a look and let me know what you think!

Q: Wow Ira…

The 2ct VS1 really does stand out!

Not quite sure of the appeal of the 3rd one tho?

A: Yeah, you’re right. The 2ct H VS1 princess is a much better value than the 1.80 G VS1.

Q: I feel convinced about the 2ct princess but I worry because I think she might prefer a round though, are there any other rounds you think are worth looking at?

A: THis might be as close as you can get:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1351792.asp

Q: Thanks for your recommendations Ira. I was wondering what you think about a 2ct round with a lower colour?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1333904.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310668.asp

…….

BTW I referred my colleague (Stanley) at work to your site and explained/shared your excellent points about clarity, eye-clean etc. He’s now going to buy a better valued engagement ring from jamesallen.com rather than bluenile – it’s testament to your excellent site and honest and v.experienced advice…

Thanks again for everything Ira

A: Great! make sure to tell him to use the TADJ10 coupon code to get 10% off the setting. Also, have him send me an email if he’d like me to help him find a stone.

…….

I really like this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310668.asp

I know it’s a lot more money, but I’m afraid the K would look too warm.

Q: Wow, its perfect!

I think/feel this is the one

A: Sounds great! Let me know how it goes! I would love to hear your impressions after you see it with your own eyes!

Q: Unfortunately that diamond was no longer available when they checked

I’ve been re-looking at diamonds and have spoken to some reps from James Allen.

I was interested in this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1332481.asp

But their gemologist recommends this one over the above:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1354574.asp

I can’t help but feel uncomfortable with the latter, not just given the inclusions but the fact that it is listed as Ideal on their site yet the GIA says Very Good?

Would appreciate your kind (honest) thoughts.

A: I agree with you on this one. I think that first one is a fantastic choice.

Q: Thanks for your advice as always!

The reps from James Allen got back to and I’m about to make a decisions on the two and I just realised I actually I got the links mixed up when I asked for your advice! so sorry!

The first link, 1332481 is the one that had a Very Good cut grade but was listed as Ideal on the site. This is the one they recommended, which is at 9150 (but I’m told should now be higher given change in Rapport Price Index but since they had it on hold, this has not changed).

The second one, 1354574 is Ideal. But they said had the least colour performance compared. This was priced at 8810, but since Rapport Price Index has changed, now is 9250.

Would be very grateful (as always) for your opinion here Ira… I’m told they both have comparable light performance but I’m concerned about 1332481′s cut grade of Very Good and the numerous inclusions shown in it’s GIA report that are on the face. 1354574 has a feather but this is underneath on the pavilion. 1354574 seems like a better choice but the price is now comparable…

I also checked out something called, Holloway Cut Advisor (http://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca/) and 1354574 scores better than 1332481… Maybe I’m over thinking this?

I can’t thank you enough already Ira… sorry my case has taken so long… I can’t wait to finally put my diamond purchasing days behind me…

Thanks so much

A: You know, the truth is you probably wouldn’t be able to see the difference between the two stones if they were in front of you, so I would say to just go with the cheaper one. It’s really splitting hairs at this point. Occasionally, a stone misses an “excellent” cut because of some kind of technicality. It looks like it’s because of the girdle size in this case. So I don’t think you should be afraid of going for the VG stone in this case.

Best of luck!

Q: Ira- do you have any idea why this diamond seems to be so discounted for its color? i know the clarity is low – am i missing something???? the clarity seems to be miss categorized.

A: It’s cheap only because of its clarity. It’s not hard to believe that the SI2 lies in such a way in this stone that it’s not visible face-up. It happens all the time.

Q: Thanks for your thoughts. I was able to get the GIA report from James Allen. Is there anyway i can get it to you for your review? I just want to make sure the report lines up with your initial thoughts.

How visible do you think the cloud directly to the left of the center is by the naked eye?

Thanks.

A: I’ll contact you via email.

Q: The cert is attached.

A: Very interesting cert. Feathers are generally very clear and blend in nicely with the rest of the stone. Looking at the stone from the sides, you’ll almost certainly see something there, but from the top, I would guess that it would look like the picture (clean). Here’s what I think – for a stone like this, it might be worth it to just buy it with the mindset that you’ll just return it if you can see the inclusions yourself. It’s the kind of thing that’s very subjective. Meaning, if you ask JA to inspect it, they’re always going to err on the side of caution and tell you not to get it because they don’t like to deal with returns – they’re expensive. But from your perspective, it’s very likely that you wouldn’t see the inclusions that the gemologist at JA sees. So why not give it a shot?

Q: Thanks again for your time. The setting will be similar to this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/designer-jewelry/meno-collection-by-danhov/ring/item_294-1130.asp

This setting may eliminate seeing anything from the side. I think I might take your advice and just buy the stone.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again.

A: Go for it! And PLEASE let me know what you think when it arrives. I’m very curious – especially in your case.

Q: I just found this Asscher: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Premium-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1276069.asp

The price is very appealing on this one. What do you think of the color/clarity?

I promise I won’t bother you everyday. I really appreciate your help.

A: No Good. Look at the bottom of the pic. The feather is strong and obvious.

…….

And you’re not a bother!

Q: Alright – this is the last one I will ask you to look at. If this one is no good then i will likely get the one that you initially reviewed on your website. The cert says the fluorescence is “faint”. Would that make an H diamond look a little more clear?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1275911.asp

If you still think the 1.72 F SI2 is a better option i will pull the trigger on that one.

thanks.

A: Faint fluor has no effect whatsoever.

I don’t like this H SI1. spready inclusions like the ones on this stone will be visible because it’s an asscher. On a round, it would be great.

I think you should give the F SI2 a try and see what happens when it arrives.

Q: Me again. James Allen has been stalling with putting the F SI2 back on the internet so i can take another look at it before i purchase. To be honest, that diamond is a little more than i wanted to spend. I was hoping to be all in for 10K with the setting. I’d like your opinion on another diamond on JA. Its smaller and the color isn’t as good. Can you give me your opinion on the diamond below. Does it look a little yellow to you? As always, i appreciate and value your opinion.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1353122.asp

A: That’s a VERY nice looking stone. Don’t worry about H color – it’ll look totally white to your eye. It’s definitely a less risky choice than the SI2.

Q: Great- Before i buy this stone i wanted to show you another diamond and get your opinion as it compares to the previous one. Its the same size and clarity but an I color. It is $1500 cheaper than the H color. In your opinion – is it worth spending the extra $1500 to get the H? Will there be a noticable difference to the naked eye? I should preface the question by saying i DO NOT want a yellowish looking diamond. I’ve looked at some I color cushion cuts in person and they seem to have a yellowish tint.

H color link: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1353122.asp

I color link: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1335557.asp

A: yeah, I would definitely err on the side of caution with an asscher and say you should go with the painful decision and buy the H.

http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=2527

I really like this ring. It’s over 2 carats. My first concern is color – J – while you recommend H or better for emerald / assher cuts. Should I be concerned about the color of this particular stone? It looks fine to me in the photo.

I guess my other concern is will the whether I will be disappointed in the radiance / sparkle of this stone. I do prefer the more organized pattern of the assher cut over the somewhat disorganized pattern of a radiant cut, but what you gain in order / structure you lose in sparkle, so I guess it’s a bit of a tradeoff.

If you had any thoughts, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks.

A: Thanks for writing. Have you considered a cushion cut? Cushions can look either like a radiant (call it the “Broken glass’ look), or a more patterned symmetrical look like a round. And they’re brilliant in the same way rounds are as well. I think that might be exactly what you’re looking for. Let me know if you’d like me to help you find one.

As for the color, you can’t really see color in a still photo like that. But you can trust me on this – the stone would definitely have a yellow tinge.

Q: I’ll research the cushion cut. I can always buy just the setting for the ring I showed you, and could buy the diamond elsewhere. Could I then just have any local jeweler set the stone in the ring?

A: Yeah, that’s definitely a possibility.

If you want, let me know your budget, and I’ll send you some links to stones that I recommend.

Q: Thanks Ira. I’m looking to spend about $10k, and would not want anything less than 2 carats.

A: That’s on the stone alone, or including the setting?

Q: Probably both stone and setting. I just started looking, so my parameters are still somewhat fluid.

…….

I liked the cushion cut stones, so I may follow your recommendation there.

The other thing I should mention is that I may get the setting I showed you in yellow gold rather than platinum. So if I went for a cushion cut with that setting in yellow gold rather than platinum, should I get an I or a J color as you recommend in your color recommendation web page? Thanks.

A: That’s definitely the case. You should take advantage of the yellow gold and get a J.

Q: This would be one option in an I color. What do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1316046.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: That’s a great looking stone!

Here are a few more that I like:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1184114.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1096811.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1333535.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – no pic yet, but has potential!

Q: Thanks for the good advice and for sending me those links.

With respect to the stone I emailed you about last time, I sent the link (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1316046.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 ) to the jeweler who makes the ring and who would be setting the stone. She was concerned with the strong fluorescence, thinking that it might make the stone look milky or cloudy. What do you think about the fluorescence issue?

(She also lightheartedly chastised James Allen for calling the cut “ideal,” saying that the GIA only assigns “ideal” cuts to round diamonds. J )

I liked the first two stones that you sent me, and would probably lean toward the larger stone (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1184114.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 ) but I am concerned about the K color. You think those K stones would look okay against a 14k yellow gold setting? I would just hate for them to look dull. This is one of those situations where I would love to go to a brick and mortar store and ask to look at K stones against a 14k gold setting, just to see for myself. The Ks sure are a lot cheaper, though!

Here are a couple of others in the J color that I came across that I liked:

Pricey, but very symmetrical looking and beautiful: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1268807.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Much less expensive, but not such a great photo: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1319292.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

From the photos, the second stone doesn’t seem to have the sparkle of the first stone. I can’t tell if that’s because it’s a poor photo, or something inherent in the stones. But that’s a $3,500 difference for two stones that on paper appear to be very similar. I can’t quite understand why the first stone is so much more expensive.

Thanks for all your help, Ira.

…….

This one might also be worth inspecting. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1246881.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 No photo up yet. They want me to send them an email to get the photo. Would it be better if you made the inquiry, so you can get the commission?

A: Let me hit your points one by one.

1) It’s quite rare for Strong fluorescence to make an I color stone look milky. You can always ask JA to take a look for you to confirm this.

2) K color wouldn’t make the stone look dull, it’ll just make it look slightly yellowish. But I agree, you probably shouldn’t go for this until you’ve seen one up close.

3) The expensive one looks like it’s make by a specialty cutter that makes this unique type of cushion. It’s not a standard looking stone, but some kind of special cut. Looks incredible.

4) Even if the 2.44 is nice, I’m not sure it’s worth more money than the 2.30. It’s only marginally larger in LxW.

Q: This is fun. I feel like I’m becoming the amateur diamond expert here!

So here’s what I did. I contacted James Allen via chat and asked if their gemologist could look at the 2.30 (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1316046.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 ) to check for milkiness or cloudiness associated with the fluorescence. At that point, the rep told me I could also have the gemologist to compare it to two other stones, so I took her up on the offer.

So I linked the rep to the 2.41 color K that you recommended (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1184114.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 ) and asked that the gemologist review the color, so see how it would look against a 14K yellow gold setting. So on that one, the gemologist will address my concern over color.

Finally, I gave her the 2.11 special cut (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1268807.asp ). I have to admit, I find this stone captivating. Even the rep said it was gorgeous, and she looks at stones all day. I wonder how much of a difference it will make to the naked eye, but under the virtual loupe it’s really magnificent.

I also told the chat rep that I was working with you. So when it’s time to finalize, please let me know what to do to make sure that you get your commission.

Cost aside, I’d probably go for the 2.11, but the fact that it costs $5K more than the 2.41 is tough to swallow. Do you have a strong preference for any of the above three?

A: Unfortunately, I feel exactly the same way you do about the 3 options! So that doesn’t help you one way or the other. If it were my money, I’d feel the exact same tension in my gut as you’re probably feeling now

As for the commission, normally, if you’re buying a ring also, and use the coupon code I provide, then that acts as a fail-safe measure (it supposed to track automatically with cookies and whatnot). But the truth is, their system has been having problems lately. So if you don’t mind, please provide me with the order number after you place it so I can make sure it tracks properly.

Thanks! Let me know what they say!

Q: I think I’m going to go with the more expensive stone. The jeweler which will set the stone really loved it. What’s the coupon code? I don’t know anything about that. Thanks.

A: I’m sorry I wasn’t available last night to answer your emails. I fell asleep on the couch after I put my kids to sleep, so when I went up to bed, I set my alarm for 4:00am to get up to start working early. I see that you placed the order – thanks for remembering to send me the order number. That will help a lot!

Just to make you feel better – I actually don’t have a coupon code for a loose diamond. The code I have is only for an engagement ring setting.

Congrats! And please let me know what you think of the stone when it arrives!

I’m planning to get engaged early next year and have started to take a look at rings. Based on your article about Diamond Stud Earrings, I have pretty much decided to buy from James Allen, since they seem to be high quality, reliable and reasonably priced.

With that said, I’m totally open to your suggestions…

Here are my thoughts so far:

Cut:

I was thinking of going with a cushion cut, because my girlfriend doesn’t like the round cut, and the princess cut just looks a little bland to me. I like the cushion cut because it’s square-ish but seems to sparkle like a round cut. What are your thoughts on this? Would I be better with a princess cut or is a cushion cut good?

Weight:

I’d like something bigger than 1.5 karats, and smaller than 2.5 karats. Obviously that’s a huge range, but ultimately I’m looking for the best value for money. I want my girlfriend to look at the ring and have that ”wow” factor.

Color/Clarity:

This is where I get stuck. I want the diamond to be eye-clean. This is imperative. I also don’t want it to be visibly yellow to the naked eye in normal lighting. Based on my reading, I’m thinking that I need at least a VS2 and H color, but again, I want the best value for money. If it makes sense to get something better, I’m all for it.

Budget:

I’m looking to spend between $10,000 and $15,000 on the diamond itself. Obviously, the cheaper the better – but ultimately I’m looking for a purchase that will wow my girlfriend and represent outstanding value for money.

OK, so that’s all I have. If you could help me, I would REALLY appreciate it.

Thanks and regards.

A: Thanks for writing and thanks for the kind words about the site!

Here’s what I think:

1) Cut- outside of round, it’s 100% a matter of taste. Meaning, objectively, rounds are the most brilliant. But after that, it’s whatever looks nice to you. So if you like cushion, then cushion it is! No reason to 2nd guess yourself.

2) Weight – we’ll get the largest we can within your budget keeping the other parameters at a good level.

3) Color/Clarity – Color for a cushion should be H or better. Cushions and radiants show color the most out of any of the shapes. In terms of clarity, we’ll find the lowest we can that’s still eye clean.

So here’s what I found:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1317193.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1324987.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1318991.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281685.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Have a look at those and let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks so much for the response and sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I’m looking to make this purchase as soon as I get my bonus from work (Dec 31st).

I am still a little torn between the Princess Cut and the Cushion Cut. Do you have any thoughts/advice to sway me one way or the other. I know you said it’s just personal preference, but I’m having a really hard time choosing. If there was one diamond in either cut that represented exceptional value for money, I could be swayed one way or the other.

I noticed on James Allen’s website that Polish and Symmetry are also mentioned. Do you have any thoughts on these criteria? How important are they?

Additionally, one thing that’s important to me is that I want a square diamond, meaning that (if I choose a cushion cut) I want the diamond to be visibly square and not rectangular. It seems that there are some that are more rectangular than square out there.

Also, I wanted to know how I can compensate you for your time and assistance. Do you accept donations via PayPal, or is there some other method? I would really like to thank you for all your help.

Kindest regards

A: As for polish and symmetry, see my articles here:

http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-polish/

http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-symmetry/

And as for the other question about compensation, no need. See this article here:

http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/truthaboutdiamonds-com/

Yes, it’s definitely true that most cushions are slightly square. You can find some that are square, you just need to keep looking. Princess cuts, on the other hand, are much more commonly square.

Here are a few nice princesses to compare with the cushions:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052811.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1284247.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Q: Thanks for the information… Much appreciated.

I did some searching on my own on James Allen’s site and came up with these. If you don’t mind, can you take a look and give me your thoughts?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1334074.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1325864.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 **

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281685.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1257258.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1317193.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1284247.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1259337.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 **

The two diamonds with the ** next to them appear to be standouts to me, but then again, I’m not the expert

If you could give me your thoughts, I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to be subjective too – if you think Princess is better then Cushion (without any facts, just preference) then feel free to tell me that. I’m really bad at this stuff, so I very much appreciate your expertise.

A: Really, not that it matters, but I, personally, prefer cushions to princess cuts. Only because I like rounds the best and cushions more closely resemble rounds than princess cuts.

I like this one the best:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1334074.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I prefer this faceted look to the crushed ice look (again, because that’s more like how a round diamond performs).

Q: Sounds good. Cushion cut it is

Can I ask, why do you prefer this diamond:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1334074.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Over this one…

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1325864.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 **

I would appreciate your thoughts. Sorry for all the questions but as you’ll appreciate this is a huge purchase for me, not just financially but emotionally too

Thanks so much for all your help. If I am asking too many questions or taking up too much of your time, please let me know…

A: Absolutely no need to apologize for questions!

When you look at the picture of the F VS2, you see how inside the stone it looks like a bag of broken glass, or crushed ice? That’s typically the look of a radiant cut. Many cushions are cut the same way, but I much prefer the neat symmetrical look of the G VS1. It’s much more how a round diamond looks.

Q: I see what you mean now about the “crushed ice” look versus the clean look. I also like the clean (more symmetrical) look better.

What do you think of this diamond?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1342722.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s $2000 cheaper then the other one:

My other concern about this diamond is the inclusion in the center. This first link about seems to be cleaner.

Also, do you have any recommendations on settings? My girlfriend likes the pave/channel set rings best. I was considering these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-0-54ct-French-Cut-Pave-Diamond-Ring.html?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/designer-jewelry/meno-collection-by-danhov/ring/item_412-4013.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-Pave-Set-4-Prong-Ring.html?a_aid=dmnd1357

Also, do you prefer White Gold or Platinum? I’ve read pluses and minues of both, but White Gold seems to be brighter and cheaper.

Thanks once again for all the help…

A: In terms of WG vs Plat and settings, I’m definitely not the guy to talk to. My professional experience is limited to the loose diamond trade. I was never in the jewelry business.

I think that stone you found (the H VVS2) is fantastic. It’s most definitely the better value of the two.

Q: Thanks for your help… I think I have narrowed it down to four stones now… I have the first one on hold, as I think it’s probably the best value for money. With that said, I’d like your final opinion…

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1345229.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1280627.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1345224.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Also, I noticed from reading the GIA report that these stones have different cuts. Two of them are “Cushion Brilliant Cuts”, one is a “Cushion Modified Brilliant Cut” and the other is an “Old Mine Cut”. Can you tell me the differences/advantages of each? If you have a preference (even if personal) please let me know.

By the way, I picked a setting… I’m going with this one

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/ring/item_412-3713.asp

Finally, if there a special “coupon code” or something I need to use when ordering from James Allen to make sure you get compensated. I would also really like to get you a gift or do something personally to thank you for all your help and attention. Please let me know what I can do…

A: The difference between the Old Miner, cushion and cushion modified is simply a matter of different nuances in their faceting patterns. This would best be expressed in the GIA inclusion plot where you can clearly see the lines that define the facets. I don’t think there’s any particular benefit of one over the other.

As for which of the four I like the best, I actually would not have chosen the H VVS2. It’s the smallest of the four by far (not in carats, but in LxW dimensions). Since it’s on hold, I can’t see the price, but if the others are too much more money, I think it might be a worthwhile move to go for one of the others. This one looks the nicest to me:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1280627.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

As for a coupon code, use TAD0611, it’ll give you 10% off the setting. You actually shouldn’t need to use it for me to get credit, but it always helps in case there’s some kind of malfunction in the tracking system. Thank you very much for being so concerned!

As for getting me a gift, I truly appreciate it, but it’s absolutely unnecessary!

Let me know what you decide to go with in the end.

Best Wishes.

Q: The H VVS2 is actually quite a bit cheaper than the others, if you remember you commented that it was excellent value for money. I believe the price was $11,400 (give or take $100). The other stones are $15-$16K, and even though they are bigger, in terms of visible area they only appear to be 0.5mm larger in length/width. I wonder if that will really be visible. I don’t have an issue spending the extra money, if you think it’s worth it.

My main priorities are that I want a stone that’s eye clean, square (ideally a ratio of 1.05 or less, 1.00 would be ideal), and represents the best value for money. I also want something that has a small “wow factor” when I give it to my girlfriend…

What are your thoughts? I plan to purchase today/tomorrow (whenever I hear back from you) so if you could let me know your final thoughts, I would really appreciate it. To me, the 1.71 H VVS2, seemed to be an excellent deal but I’m not opposed at all to buying something else, if you think there’s a better option… If you could pick a “daily diamond” to meet my criteria, what would it be?

Thanks for the coupon code. I’ll make sure I use it. I’ll also give you my order number once I’ve placed the order to ensure you get compensated.

A: Woh! That’s most definitely a meaningful difference in price! 0.5mm is most definitely noticeable. Easily noticeable. But whether or not that’s worth almost 5 Gs is definitely hard to call. If it were me and my money, I would say no. But this is completely a personal decision.

Q: I’m inclined to agree with you… It’s not that I mind spending more, but $5,000 for an extra 0.42mm in width and 0.38 in depth seems like a tough call… I think 1.71 carats is still a decent sized stone and should have a bit of a wow factor. What do you think?

I did some calculations, and it seems that the 1.71 H VVS is significantly better value:

1.71 H VVS2:

6.74mm x 6.72mm = 45.3 sq mm

$11,400 / 45.3 = $251.66 per sq mm

$11,400 /1.71 = $6,666.66 per carat

2.02 H VS2:

7.16mm x 7.10mm = 50.8 sq mm

$16,010 / 50.8 = $315.15 per sq mm

$16,010 / 2.02 = $7,925.74 per carat

A: You must have been an economics major  I agree wholeheartedly. Go for the 1.71.

Q: Actually, I was a business major but yes, I like to over-analyze

Thanks for all the advice and putting up with my never-ending analysis and questions. I’ll use your coupon with James Allen and will send you the order number once the order is placed.

Seriously though, please let me get you a gift or something… Is there anything you miss/need from the US? I can ship it to you in Israel You have been an important part of this life-changing process and I want you to know that your help and advice has been invaluable. I thank you, and more importantly, my future-fiancé thanks you too

A: I’m a b-school grad as well I actually went to Wharton undergrad and subsequently wasted my education when I went into the diamond business! (don’t tell my parents)

Your offer again really is so kind and generous. It shows a level of sensitivity on your part that is quite astonishing. I’m speaking specifically about the fact that you recognized that my wife and I are Americans living in a new country. It’s a common dilemma for people like us living in Israel; longing for things from the “old country” is a part of our daily lives. But I would never expect an “outsider” to understand that – and especially not coming to those conclusions on his own. Just to give you an idea of how appropriate your offer was, I showed your email to my wife, and she immediately called out jokingly, “tell him to send us some lysol wipes!” It’s always the little stupid things that you miss the most!

But really, it’s completely not-necessary. All I would ask is that when you get the ring and you are (hopefully!) very satisfied, you’ll write me a review on ivouch. That would be really amazing!

Q: Wharton is a great school, arguably the best in the US if not the world. One of my very good friends graduated from there a few years ago

It’s funny, I completely recognize the situation you’re in. I’m not sure if I told you this, but I’m actually British. I moved to the US 10 years ago with my job. I was meant to be here for a three month assignment, but I just ended up really liking it here, and after a year, I decided to relocate. My parents and extended family are still in the UK, but my girlfriend’s family have “adopted” me, which really helps We live in Houston, TX. It’s actually a great town, very cheap, lots to do, but obviously it lacks the history of the North-East. I love my life here, and I have no desire to move back to the UK (far too expensive) but there are things I miss. When friends come to visit, I have them bring me new supplies. For your wife, it’s Lysol wipes, for me it’s HP Sauce and Orange Squash. In case you’re not familiar with either of those, here is an explanation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squash_(drink)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Sauce

I’d be absolutely delighted to leave you a glowing review on iVouch. I will do it as soon as I place the order. Also, I’d love to send you some Lysol Wipes (no joke). I really understand how it’s the small things you miss the most. If you send me your address, I’ll buy a big pack from Costco and ship them to you. It is the very least I can do, and I’d be delighted to do so.

As far as the diamond purchase is concerned, I e-mailed with xxxx at James Allen. He seems really nice. He offered to place both stones on hold and have their “graduate gemologist” examine both stones to see if there is anything else (other than the obvious) to justify the $5K price difference. Unless there is something overwhelming that I missed, I plan to order the 1.71 H VVS2 as soon as I get the report back from them.

So, what made you decide to move to Israel? I have spent some time in the Middle-East, although never in Israel itself. I’ve been to Dubai on business several times (my client in Oil & Gas has operations there). I’ve also been to Egypt when I was a child, and vacationed in Turkey when I was in my teens. It’s a magical part of the world, very rich in history and culture

Anyway, I’ve rambled on long enough. Thanks so much for everything, and let me know where I can ship those Lysol wipes

A: There are a lot of ex-Brits in Israel as well, so I’m actually quite familiar with HP Sauce As I was reading that paragraph, I was sure it was going to end with you saying that you can’t live without your fix of Marmite! That’s the big thing with ex-Brits and South Africans here. There’s plenty of both in Israel.

I’ve actually been to Houston many times. It used to be one of my favorite cities to visit for work (back when I was a traveling diamond salesman). I’ve been to Dubai as well many times (also selling diamonds, not killing Hamas operatives). Not a simple feat from Israel, but possible if you travel through mutually friendly countries like Jordan or Turkey, and if you have an American passport.

As for why we moved to Israel, my wife and I both spent significant time here both in high school and college and just fell in love. Jews have been around a long time, and when you feel like a living vibrant part of such an ancient and rich history, it fills your life with immense meaning. That’s a feeling you just can’t get living outside of Israel as a Jew. We both just felt the ultimate sense of belonging when we were here.

I discussed it with my wife back and forth. On the one hand, it’s crazy that you should be spending so much money on shipping me a box of lysol wipes – especially since I”ll be very nicely compensated for the help I’ve given you already. On the other hand, getting a shipment of lysol wipes from a customer in the USA as a token of gratitude is such a priceless story, it’d almost be a crime to not let it happen! With your permission, I’d love to turn this into a Q&A (of course with your name taken out – and I’ll change the country of origin in your private story). I’ll end the Q&A with a picture of my wife and I holding your package of wipes! My wife and I both commented that you remind me very much of my father. This is just the kind of insane thing he would do in a heart beat

So – here’s the address:

xxxxxxx

Tell your fiance to be I think she’s going to have a wonderful life.

Q: I have to say your e-mail brought a smile to my face I also like Marmite, although I’m able to find that in the local grocery store now… They have a “British” section where they sell it, along with certain other UK items…

I know what you mean about it being hard to get into Dubai. Their immigration officials are not the politest or most moderate people by any stretch… I’ve been there multiple times and could tell you numerous horror stories. Suffice is to say that although Dubai is pitched as being a “moderate” and “forward-thinking” state, they are still 100 years behind the US or UK in terms of their civil liberties… and by the way, even if you did go there to hunt Hamas operatives, I certainly wouldn’t hold it against you, haha. I’m a vehement supporter of Israel and it’s right to exist peacefully without persecution or terror

I have never been to Israel, although I hope to some day. I have always wanted to visit Eilat. I’ve heard it is beautiful…

I’d be delighted to ship you the wipes… As soon as I get back from my New Year’s Trip, I’ll send them to you. I’ll also send you a shipping confirmation once I do, so you can track them. I agree that it will make a great Q&A story. You also don’t need to change my name or country of origin (just put Matt G. or omit my last name), as I’d be happy and proud to be a small part of your website. I can also show my girlfriend once I’ve proposed and she has accepted

By the way, I also wanted to mention that I purchased from princess cut diamond stud earrings from James Allen back in October (Order # xxxxx). Please make sure you got credit for that purchase too, as it was based on your recommendations (from the site). Here’s a link to the Order Confirmation:

xxxxxxx

Ira, thanks once again for all your help I’ll be in touch once again when I have ordered the ring and shipped your wipes.

A: You want to hear something insane? That purchase you made did in fact track, but only just LAST NIGHT. That URL you sent me is actually what James Allen uses to synchronize tracking cookies for orders placed over the phone. So what must have happened was that you originally either bought the pair over the phone, or bought it from a computer that was different from the one from which you were browsing my site. And then you probably originally clicked on that link from a different computer as well (or maybe an iphone or something like that). And you probably clicked on that URL last night as you were sending it to me from your original Truth About Diamond browsing computer and only then did it finally synchronize. Unbelievable! Thanks!!!

Q: Please see below… As soon as I have the order number, I’ll send it to you. BTW, I tried to use your coupon code (TAD0611) online, just to check it worked, and it said it wasn’t valid. Regardless, I am sure the guy at JA will find the right code, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.

I’ll be picking up your Lysol Wipes sometime this week, and will let you know as soon as they are shipped.

Thanks so much for all your help

FORWARDED MESSAGE (from the customer to James Allen):

First off, I would like diamond 1342722 with the 11042P Platinum Setting (Ring Size 6.5):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1342722.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/ring/item_412-3713.asp

I would also like to order the 14003P matching wedding band (Ring Size 6.5):

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-and-anniversary/Ladies-Diamond-Rings/Platinum-French-Pave-Wedding-Ring.html

Please ship in presentation boxes.

Please also apply coupon code TAD0611 to give 10% off the engagement ring setting. I got this code from Ira Weissman (http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com) who helped me pick the stone.

Also please apply coupon code WEDDJA to give 10% off the wedding band. I got this code from xxxx during our online chat session.

A: Thanks for the update! The coupon code will only work if there’s a ring and diamond in the cart together. Was that the case when you tested it out?

Q: I believe it was, and I couldn’t get it to work. In the end, I placed the order via e-mail so it didn’t matter

Hopefully it will track with the cookies on my browser (I clicked the link from this computer to make sure), but please validate just in case.

I’ll let you know as soon as I ship the wipes

A: Great! It tracked successfully! Thanks so much. I’m looking forward to hearing your report when it arrives!

Q: Just wanted to let you know that I got the ring… Unfortunately, I have to say I was a little disappointed. The stone is nice, but they did a terrible job with the setting. So, it will have to go back to James Allen and be fixed or swapped out for something else. The way it’s set, you can’t even tell it’s a cushion cut, it looks more like a princess cut to me, plus the prongs are poorly aligned.

In any case, I have some time, so no worries I will say the stone was nice, so that’s good…

xxxx (sales manager) is supposed to call me tomorrow to get this resolved. I’ll keep you posted

Seeing as it now has to go back anyway, are there any other stones you recommend for me? Maybe something a little bigger that’s good value for money? Let me know if you have time to look and if anything jumps out at you.

By the way, I picked up your Lysol wipes Tell your wife I’ll ship them this weekend…

…….

As a follow up, I saw a couple of nice Princess Cuts on James Allen’s site. What do you think of these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1350178.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Here’s the one I actually purchased…

http://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/N459-5PIC.JPG?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: I read this this morning and it left a bit pit in my stomach all day. I’m telling you the honest truth, in 2010, I referred about 500 sales to james allen, and I might have heard a complaint like yours one other time. So all I could think about after reading this was “OF ALL PEOPLE, WHY HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I feel so bad. And I commend you on your super positive attitude.

I saw the other email. If you want to switch to princess, then the 2.02 VS2 is a much better buy. You’ll notice that the LxW of the two stones is basically the same even though the 2.18 is 0.16 larger. So you’re paying for extra size you’ll never be able to see.

If you wanted to stick with cushion, then I found this nice option:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1333891.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Please let me know what happens. If there’s anything I can do to help smooth the process over, please let me know.

Q: Please don’t feel bad at all… It’s not a big deal, and just part of the fun when buying online I’m not angry, upset or even frustrated. I don’t plan to propose until Valentine’s Day, so there’s plenty of time to make the right purchase

Also, if we really look at the issue, it’s the setting, not the stone. The stone you recommended is very nice, but given that I have to return the ring anyway, I thought I might opt for something larger. Even if I keep the same stone, I’m sure I’ll be very happy with the right setting. You were also very clear in pointing out that you don’t have any expertise on settings – just purchasing loose diamonds – so please don’t feel bad at all.

The stone was a little “darker” than I expected, although I think that’s because of the setting. It’s on a pave band which has lots of little round cut diamonds. I think cushion cuts look more “antique” by default, so I think it might only look that way because of the setting. James Allen recommended stepping up to a G color, but I’m not sure it’s worth it.

I know you’re not an expert on settings but do you have any advice/guidance for me in this area, even as a layman? I’d welcome your input, since I’m feeling a bit lost

I’ve decided that I’m going to get one of these stones (unless you advise going for the G color), in you’re honest opinion, given everything we’ve discussed and all our exchanges, which would you go for?

Original: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1342722.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Princess: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Cushion: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1333891.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

The original stone was around $11,500. Prices are listed for the others.

Ira, once again thanks for everything. I really feel like we’re friends now, and I value your advice.

Look forward to hearing from you.

A: If you like the stone that you currently have, why pay so much more? The question of princess vs. cushion is totally a matter of personal preference. If you do decide to go with princess and you wanted to spend less, like the original cushion, then this might be a nice option:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1284247.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

As for the setting, I’m as much of a male as you are as it seems. My wife wore the ring I got her for a couple years, then switched to a princess cut from a round and totally changed her setting.

Would you be open to just getting a basic solitaire and going setting shopping with her after you pop the question?

Q: Thanks for the feedback… I really appreciate it.

I guess my question is this… How noticeable is the size difference between 6.74 x 6.72 and 7.14 x 7.07. I’ve tried drawing it, but honestly the width of my pen is thicker than the difference However, I’ve heard that 0.5mm is a big difference in the diamond world.

Your idea of getting a basic solitaire setting is not a bad one. My girlfriend likes the pave rings, but my honest opinion is that all the “bling” detracts from the diamond. I mean, my thought is that the diamond costs 10X (or more) than the setting, and the setting should just be a means of getting it onto the finger securely. I guess I’m weird like that

I also read that you can purchase stones from the boursa in Israel. Is there any advantage to going this route, or does JA have the best prices.

Click to Enlarge

A: The difference is just enough to notice that it’s bigger, but not really much more than that. It’s possible I could find a better deal in Israel, but probably not by much. I just took a look and I can get the stone in the attached cert for about $10,500.

But I can’t get it set for you, so you have to figure you’re going to pay more locally to get it set than you would if you bought the stone and ring from JA.

Q: Thanks for all the info. Right now, I’m leaning towards either getting a different setting, and probably keeping the same stone. I just hope they don’t damage the stone in any way when removing it from the setting. They really did a poor job of setting this one. I couldn’t take a pic (not enough zoom to see it) but see the attached diagram and you’ll know what I mean. I would have thought that the setting would be symmetrical on a square stone.

Misaligned Ring

By the way, what happened to the “Diamond Search” section on your site? It seems to have disappeared. I loved using it, as you can sort by LxW ratio, which you can’t do on James Allen’s site…

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted on what I decide, I’ll also ship your wipes to you this weekend (or next week at latest – as there’s a chance I may have to go out of town on business). I can’t wait to see the pic of your wife holding them in the Q&A

…….

Here’s another example of a setting issue. This one is even on JA’s website! Looking at the pic, the stone doesn’t even appear to be parallel with the diamond, and the prongs are absolutely not symmetrical, even though this is a Princess Cut diamond…

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/sold/settings-with-sidestones/1121/Side-Stone-Engagement-Rings.html?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: Dont worry too much about the diamond getting damaged. If it does, you’re 100% not liable at all for any damage. So trust me, they’ll be VERY careful

sorry about the diamond search. It has become too much of a pain to maintain. The only vendor who was cooperative in sending me properly formatted feeds was JA. It’s true that it’s frustrating as heck that JA doesn’t have a L/W ratio filter!

Q: No worries, I went with Platinum in the end, since that’s what all the research I did recommended. It cost me $900 more, but I figured that’s a small amount compared to $12K for the stone

Thanks once again for all your help. Once I get the new ring, I’ll send you a pic. Hopefully this one is set correctly this time. In going through the JA site, there were multiple examples of rings with the same issues that mine had. I guess maybe it’s common with setting diamonds, since I can’t imagine JA is worse than any other jeweller

I e-mailed xxxx and told him that it’s imperative the prongs are symmetrical and aligned properly this time. Hopefully that will make a difference. Once I have the new order number, I’ll send it to you to make sure you get credit.

A: Great! I’m sure they’re going to be extremely careful this time

Q: They better, or it will be going back a second time Seriously though, I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll let you know as soon as I get it.

…….

By the way, here’s the new order, just so you can make sure it tracks correctly:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A: Yup. Came through already!

Q:  Hope you are well I just wanted to drop you a quick e-mail to make sure everything went OK with my order(s) tracking correctly. My ring is due to ship on 2/2 (my birthday) and I can’t wait to see it

Also, I tried to ship your Lysol wipes today, but unfortunately, I don’t have your Postal Code. Can you send it to me please? I can then ship the items tomorrow…

Hope all is well with you. Look forward to hearing from you…

By the way, did you know that Costco sells engagement rings? Crazy but true… I came across this awesome yellow diamond ring… It’s not for me, but seemed like great value. I had a jewelry store in Santa Fe, NM try to sell me something similar for double the cost several months ago

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspxProdid=11617924&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=88419&hierPath=108*88419*&lang=en-US

Thanks.

A: Yep, everything looks like it tracked fine. Thanks again! You actually don’t need to use the Israeli postal code, but here it is anyway if they give you trouble again: xxxxx

I actually did know about costco’s diamonds. Don’t be deterred, though, JA’s margins are still smaller. Although that is a very good price for a fancy yellow of that size.

Q: I’m glad everything worked out. I’m excited to get the ring, it should be here Thurs or Fri (weather permitting).

You’re right about Costco’s margins, on their regular diamonds, I would have paid at least $2000 more for the same stone I purchased from JA. I’m happy with what I got, and you did a great job of helping me pick it. It seems that yellow diamonds are quite a bit cheaper than regular “H color” diamonds.

I shipped the Lysol Wipes today. You have four large containers with two different flavors (well, I guess they are not edible so I should probably say “fragrances” but you get what I mean, haha). I ended up shipping them by US Priority Mail, because FedEx was overpriced. You should get them in a week or so, customs permitting

Let me know once they arrive, and I’ll shoot you an e-mail once I get the rings from James Allen

Take care.

A: you got a deal!

Click to Enlarge

Q: Hope all is well… I just wanted to shoot you an e-mail to let you know that I got the ring, and I’m very happy about it. It looks great, and my girlfriend will love it. I have attached a pic so you can see (I took it with my phone so it’s not the best quality). I wasn’t sure at first (just pre-proposal nerves), but now I absolutely love it… The stone is amazing.

Also, I wanted to see if you got the Lysol Wipes. If not, they should arrive very soon. I sent them on 2/1. They told me it would take 6 days minimum plus the customs clearance, so keep me posted.

Anyway, I guess that’s all for now.

A: The ring looks great!! I’m so happy it finally worked out!! The post office in Israel is a lot less efficient than the US postal service. I’ll be receiving a slip in my mailbox telling me that i need to go to the post office to pick it up. I haven’t checked the mail yet today – we don’t have boxes on our house. They only deliver mail to centralized mailbox stations on every block. SO it might be there. I’m going out later to pick up my son at a basketball game, so I’ll make sure to check!

We’ll be in touch!

…..

Matt - what can I say!  You are a very special person and your wife to be is a lucky woman.  The Q&A should be up in the next week or so – I’ll drop you an email when it’s finished so you can check it out.  Please be in touch if you’re ever in Israel – I would love the honor of meeting you face to face one day.

Enjoying our Gift from Matt G!

Q: Great to hear from you   We just got back from vacation early this morning…  Everything went great!  I proposed on Valentine’s Day and Erica said yes.  She also loved the ring   I’m glad you got the wipes…  Hope they were what you wanted.  I look forward to reading the blog when it is posted.

I can’t thank you enough for all the help, time and effort you spent with me in choosing the right diamond.  It’s really perfect for Erica and she loves it.

Thanks again…  When you need more Lysol wipes, shoot me an e-mail and I’ll send you another batch

A: Congrats!!  I’m putting the finishing touches on the Q&A right now. I’m very excited to put it up.  I really feel that it’s going to be very interesting for many readers.
As for your insane offer to refill our stock of Lysol wipes, this time I will forcefully refuse!  Although I will be happy to make a deal with you and gladly accept an ivouch review

If you have the time, here’s a link:

(LINK REMOVED)  (You can view the ivouch review here)

Thanks again!!  People like you make this business personally fulfilling as well as financially fulfilling.

Today I decided to get back in the daily diamond game right at a very popular price point – the best round brilliant diamond for $10,000.  Today’s stone looks like a great find.  The inclusions in the center are going to be invisible to the naked eye and the orangy inclusion on the side (at about 5 o’clock in the picture) can be covered by the prong on the ring.  An I color diamond is still going to look white to your eye as well, and the Excellent cut grade is going to ensure a very brilliant stone, so this stone really offers fantastic value.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Shape: Round Brilliant

Carats: 1.63

Diamond Cut: Excellent

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 7.58*7.66*4.63

Depth: 60.8%

Table: 56%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $9,860

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarg

Shape: Oval

Carats: 1.51

Diamond Color: F

Diamond Clarity: VS1

Measurements: 8.77*6.00*4.06

Length/Width Ratio: 1.46

Depth: 67.7%

Table: 55%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $10,310

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Would you point me to any particular diamonds at James Allen?

Thank you very much.

A: Thanks for writing!  Quick question – that budget of $10k is for the stone and the ring together, or just for the stone? If that includes the ring, how much does that ring cost?

Q: Budget includes the ring, which is $950.

A: It wasn’t clear whether you specifically wanted ONLY a 1ct stone, or that’s just what you thought you were going to end up with. So I’m going to send you two groups of suggestions. Group one will be the largest/best stone for your budget of $9250 for the diamond. Group two will be the best deal for a 1ct diamond.

Group One:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1282015.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – huge spread. Totally eye clean. GIA Triple excellent.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1288632.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – Eye clean. Triple excellent.

Group Two:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1308171.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357- Eye clean. Excellent Cut. GREAT value at just under 1.00ct.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306824.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – eye clean. Triple excellent.

So have a look at those and let me know what you think. Unless the side stones on that ring you’re considering are D/E color, which is EXTREMELY unlikely, all four of these stones will match wonderfully with your ring and look completely white.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Q: Hi, Ira! This is fantastic! While I am tempted by the big rocks in Group One, I am really looking for the Group Two recommendations. Especially the value I can get for just under a carat. A couple questions – both of the Group 2 suggestions have GIA certs, but the certs have different formats. Why is that? Also, specifically — the first one mentions a laser mark. Is the diamond actually laser-marked? I consider that a plus. And one cert shows a map of the flaws, but the other does not. I like the map. Finally, the first one notes “cloud” for “Clarity Characteristics.” Is that going to reduce the scintillation? I particularly like the sparkly appearance. Thank you so much.

A: The two different certs are the GIA full cert and GIA Diamond Dossier. The difference is simple – the DD costs less, so generally for smaller stones (usually under 1 carat), diamond manufacturers prefer the cheaper DD, since otherwise, the cert ends up costing too high of a percentage of the diamond’s value.

One thing that’s left off the DD to make it cheaper is the inclusion plot.

A laser mark is an optional service GIA provides where they’ll laser inscribe the girdle of the diamond with the GIA cert number.

I actually want to retract my recommendation of the 2nd sotne. Now that JA has upgraded their site, the picture is much clearer and there’s an obvious inclusion that I missed on teh bottom of the picture. It’s all on the side, but it’s quite large.

As for the first stone, that “cloud” won’t make a difference. Some diamonds are really cloudy, and that can affect brilliance in a noticeable way. But here, the “cloud” just refers to a small cluster of very small inclusions. These aren’t nearly stark enough to affect brilliance. But you can always ask JA to perform a physical check for you just to be sure.

Q: Thanks for the explanation, Ira. It’s a big help to be able to work with you. I like the one just under a carat, and am going to keep it on my short list, but I think I am going to look at something between your original 2 groups, see what I can find for $6500.

Have a great day. I visited Israel for a week on business once, and took a 2-day sightseeing tour that took us to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Megiddo, Galilee, all over the country. It is a beautiful land.

A: I agree, Israel is a beautiful land indeed! My wife is actually a tour guide.

Would you like me to send you some suggestions for $6500?

Q: I would appreciate any suggestions you have in that range, thank you very much.

A: Sure thing . check these out:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1307677.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1259391.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310730.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Q: Okay, I’ve now seen enough stones in person and with your help on the James Allen site that I’ve been able to refine what I want. I’ve decided on a 1.4 – 1.5 carat, H color (or close) and raised my budget to $8500 for the diamond (not including the ring). I confirmed that the diamonds on the ring are G/H, SI1/SI2, excellent cut. I found the following two. Can you give me your opinion of them and also point me to any others that you think I should look at? I’m still not concerned about the clarity grade so long as it’s eye clean; I’m willing to look at an I color if you think it’s a “high I”; and I’m willing to relax the cut down one grade so long as it is beautiful!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1274593.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1270850.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: I took a look at those two stones. I’m not crazy about the 1.42 because it has VG cut and it looks like it might be slightly cloudy as well.

Actually, the 1.50ct is a VG cut as well. I really think you’d be best off sticking with EX cuts only.

Here’s what I found that I liked:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1305811.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (the brown you see is just a reflection of something else – it’s not in the diamond).

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315262.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Let me know what you think!

Q: Ira, those both look like very good options. I noticed the first has an AGS cert. Based on your review of AGS & GIA, would it be reasonable to assume the GIA certified stone (the second one) is probably a bit better than the AGS one? Would it be appropriate for me to ask a James Allen customer service rep to look at both of them and give me their opinion? Thanks, this is exciting!

A: It definitely can’t hurt to ask them their opinion.  Go for it!

Q: I finally got the report (email mixup) from JamesAllen on the two 1.51 carat stones you suggested. I talked with their salesperson, who said based on this report she would not recommend the 1315262, but the 1305811 might work.

Please take a look at what the gemologist says (below) and let me know if you agree the 1305811 is a good value? Would you suggest I look further or consider this a good find?

A: I’d say go for it.  My perspective will always be limited because I’m just looking at a 2D image. They’re seeing the stone live.  That stone, 1305811 looks really good.  The price is right, and the gemologists description sounds good as well.

Q: WOOHOO!! Just bought this one! Told them you held my hand all the way! Thank you so much! I’ll let you know when I get to see it!

A: Sounds great!  I can’t wait to hear what you think when it arrives!

Q: We are thrilled with this diamond! We had to use a loupe to see the inclusions. Maybe a trained eye can pick it up, but we sure can’t. When I called IDC to order the setting, she said she appreciated that we had given her the opportunity to compete, but that she couldn’t get close. (They were in the $10K range, we paid less than $8500.) She told us we got a great value. I got good service from James Allen, and plan to recommend them, but it was really the education from TruthAboutDiamonds.com and my correspondence with you that made all the difference. You are offering a valuable service to novice diamond buyers and an influential referral service for James Allen. I hope they appreciate the business you send their way! Ira, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! I am happy to provide a testimonial for you, feel free to use my words.

A: This was such a wonderful email to receive! Thank you for sending it!

If you could provide a review on ivouch, that would be amazing! Even if you just copied this email and pasted it there, it would be fantastic. Here’s a link if you can do it:

(LINK REMOVED)

Thank you. And I’m very happy for you that you’re happy with the diamond!

Q: Done! Thanks, and cheers!

A: It’s great!  Thanks so much! (You can view the ivouch review here)