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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 2.01

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 6.97*6.84*4.94

Length/Width Ratio: 1.02

Depth: 72.2%

Table: 69%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $15,620

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 AGS Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.53

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: VS1

Diamond Cut: Ideal

Measurements: 7.35*7.39*4.60

Depth: 62.3%

Table: 54.7%

Crown Angle: 35.0°

Crown %: 15.9%

Pavilion Angle: 40.8°

Pavilion %: 43.0%

Diamond Polish: Ideal

Diamond Symmetry: Ideal

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $16,270

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

Another style that’s very popular nowadays is the cathedral style (named such for the high raised basket resembling cathedral style architecture) engagement ring with small pave side diamonds running along the sides of the shank.

James Allen has a number of engagement rings with this style.  My favorite of them all is the 18k White Gold Channel Set Round Brilliant Diamond Engagement Ring.

The high color of the small pave side stones in the shank of this setting (F Color to G Color) will match very nicely with today’s selected diamond.

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 Enlarge

Carats: 2.01

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 7.77*7.24*4.92

Length/Width Ratio: 1.07

Depth: 68.0%

Table: 64%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $16,360

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

James Allen also has a large variety of engagement rings to choose from to pair with today’s daily diamond selection.  If you’d like to replicate the classic platinum tiffany style engagement ring, then look no further than James Allen’s 2.5mm Knife Edge Platinum Solitaire Engagement Ring.  The “knife edge” look is the signature Tiffany Setting look.

As always with our Daily Diamond selections, today’s stone is completely clean to the naked eye.  The SI1 inclusions are spread around the perimeter of the diamond.  The table of the stone is completely clean.  In fact, you might even be able to cover one of the inclusions in the corner with a prong, although this isn’t crucial since anyway that inclusion won’t be visible to the naked eye.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

A. Take a look at the attached screenshot. That’s most likely your stone. I searched for 2.05 H VS2 and the exact table and depth specified. That’s the only stone that came up. That price is the wholesale cost of the stone. The guy is taking you for a ride. He’s making 27%! Nobody does that any more.

I can get you the same stone for cost + a 10% brokering fee. let me know if you’re interested.

Q. Thank you for the quick response. That has to be the same one. It has the exact measurements as the GIA report he sent me via email. I was already leaning towards using this guy as a jeweler for the setting, but not necessarily for purchasing the rock.

I don’t mean to offend, but I am a little wary of purchasing through an individual I found over the internet. Although I don’t have a problem with Blue Nile or James Allen, it is harder to verify an individual than a corporation. That being said, my budget is $15,000 and I am trying to find the best emerald cut diamond I can. I have been using your website as a guide (it is very helpful having someone tell me I don’t need to buy a flawless stone) and was shooting for around 2 carats, but bigger would always be better.

A. I totally understand your reservations about having me broker you a stone. $15,000 is not a small amount of money. I’ll just offer you two things that might change your mind. Firstly, I can provide you with several references of people whom I’ve brokered stones for in the past. And secondly, the way it would work is that if I find a stone for you in the US, you will pay the stone’s owner directly. You will be wiring money directly to a wholesale diamond company – not me as an individual. Once you know the company’s name, you can feel free to do your due diligence. You’ll just be sending me my brokering fee. So there’s no risk of me running off with $15K.

If I find you a stone in Israel (where I live), then you’ll be invoiced through my friend’s company, www.fancydiamonds.net. They’re a very well established company around for several years with a very professional website. They’ve been around long enough that it won’t be difficult at all to find positive reviews about them on the ‘net. If you still have hesitations, I’d be happy to recommend specific stones to you online based on your budget and specifications. Just let me know! …… FYI: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Premium-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1125757.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 Looks like JA had it listed and it was sold.

Q. I think if I had a reference I could talk to stateside and it was a domestic company I would feel pretty comfortable with it. My work computer won’t let me get to fancydiamonds.net due to the word Cydia somewhere on the page. Apparently Cydia is an iPhone hack that they don’t want employees getting a hold of.

I would be happy to talk to you over the phone. My direct line is in my signature. With the commission I guess we would be looking at approximately $13,500 for the cost of the rock. I did notice that the James Allen markup for that stone was approximately 8%, so maybe that is the route to go. I am assuming you are compensated by them if you direct me there as well.

A. That’s so funny about cydia. I was curious, so I went to the page. Cydia is found one place on the home page. Unfortunately for them, it’s here: fanCYDIAmonds.net!

JA’s markup is closer to 15%. They probably have an agreement with that one vendor that knocks their cost down 10% or so from the advertised price on Rapnet. You are correct. JA does pay me a commission for traffic I refer to them. There’s an article about it on my site called “Truth about TruthAboutDiamonds.com.” I’ll give you a call later. Things are very busy in my house now. It’s almost dinner time here (I’m in Israel). Can I give you a call later tonight? Say, in about 3-4 hours?

Q. That works for me. Thanks.

A. You know what, I thought about it, and I think you’ll be better of just buying from James Allen. I can’t offer some of the support that they offer (30 day return policy, etc). And I’d rather you just do what you’re comfortable doing. I’m confident I can save you money, but it probably won’t be anything too significant in your price range. So here’s what i found for you on james allen: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1201389.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1269572.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1128349.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 Each of those is at least as nice as the stone you were offered. The first one, the 1.89 is the nicest cut. Great l/w ratio. Depth and table are right where they should be. Even though it’s the lightest stone, it’s the longest because of it’s better l/w ratio. Let me know what you think.

Q. What do you think of this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Premium-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1278425.asp

I am guessing 1.4-1.5 is considered the best emerald cut ratio? My overall inspiration is this ring, which my girlfriend has said she likes a lot.

http://www.bridal.cartier.com/index.php?t=1&nav=ficheprod&ref=N4190700&cc=us&codeLang=en

A. That stone looks stubby to me. Also, it’s deep. Compare the LxW to the 1.89 stone, and you’ll see that the 1.89 will look bigger.

Also, it’s less deep, so it’s weight isn’t wasted on it’s depth, its spread out in its area.

Q. I checked out Fancy Diamonds.net on my home computer and I would like to pursue having you potentially broker a diamond for me. I did see they have a New York office and seem quite reputable. The 1.89 carat diamond you listed below is definitely the best bang for my buck and has some of the best proportions I have seen. That being said it is a bit smaller and slightly less than I was hoping to spend. I understand you are fairly busy with Widow’s Mite, and I know this probably isn’t a particularly large purchase for you. That being said, I am excited by the potential of getting a larger, equally high quality (or better) diamond for a similar price.

I also noticed that when comparing James Allen images, the color change from H to G appears pretty evident. I can’t tell if it is just the photography or if it is only evident when compared side by side.

A. Wow. You’re good I actually sold thewidowsmite.net about 3 months ago. I need to update my linkedin profile.

Most likely, the difference in color you spotted was just an issue of photography. I’ve seen D color stones that have a yellowish tinge in the JA pics. The only thing I have found those pics to be useful for is to judge inclusions. Sunday is a full workday in Israel, so I will begin my search tomorrow for stones in Israel and update you if I have found anything. Alternatively, take a look at the attached screenshot. It’s search results from Rapnet which is the largest online wholesale trading site for the diamond trade. I searched for H+ VS2+. L/W Ratios 1.35-1.60. And max cost 14,000. I sorted the results descending by size. Have a look and let me know if anything catches your eye.

2.00 G VS2

…….

GIA Cert for 2.01 GVVS2

I hope you’re enjoying your weekend so far. Good news. I have two great stones to show you that we found today in Israel.

One is a G VS2 2.00. The broker didn’t have the cert available with him, but it’s GIA certified. The price on this one is $16000. That one’s nice, and it’s a decent deal. The pic is attached. The next stone, though, is a killer deal. We found a seller that is desperate to sell a beautiful stone. Attached is the cert and the pic of the stone. It’s a G VVS2 2.01. It’s got a great make for an emerald, with a perfect L/W ratio. The price for this one is $16,800. Compare this with the cheapest 2ct GVVS2 EM on James Allen for $18,150. I know it’s more than what you had hoped to spend, but relatively speaking, it’s a much better value.

2.01 G VVS2

Let me know what you think!

Q. Thanks for the suggestions. The two diamonds that you sent me are definitely beautiful, but are outside of my budget. My total cost with your commission for the 2.01 would be $18,480. That is just a little too high.

When I got into the office this morning I printed out the RapNet search you sent me and spent some time looking at it. The one stone that seems like a good value to me is the 2.05 carat H VVS2 from Edalati. I also found its listing on Blue Nile: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=bbt#diamonds_pid=LD01594526. It is a little shorter than 1.5, but I am not sure if that will make a huge difference in the setting I have picked out.

Alternatively, I thought the 2.11 carat from Maxnew looked like a deal. It’s L/W ratio is 1.51 and pretty shallow. I couldn’t find that one on either James Allen or Blue Nile. If you could give me your thoughts on those two, it would be a huge help.

A. Miscommunication – the prices I quoted INCLUDED the commission.

Q. In that case, the 2.00 carat diamond looks great. A couple of questions. The table is a little smaller than the range that you recommend on truthaboutdiamonds.com. How will that affect its appearance? There don’t appear to be any eye visible inclusions from the picture, is that accurate? Both BN and JA have cut ratings. That isn’t in the GIA report, so what is it based on and in your opinion where would this diamond fall?

This does appear to be a pretty good deal. Blue Nile has a comparably priced stone, but it has strong fluorescence.

A. Does this change your perspective? Can you do 16,800? I checked BN also, and the nice make 2 ct GVVS2s are way over 16,8000.

Q. It does. I think our emails are crossing each other in the Atlantic somewhere. I had a few questions regarding the 2.0.

A. The 2.00 or the 2.01? What are the questions?

Q. I apologize. The 2.01 carat diamond that had the GIA report.

A. What are the questions?

Q. The table is a little smaller than the range that you recommend on truthaboutdiamonds.com. How will that affect its appearance?

There don’t appear to be any eye visible inclusions from the picture, is that accurate?

Both BN and JA have cut ratings. That isn’t in the GIA report, so what is it based on and in your opinion where would this diamond fall?

This does appear to be a pretty good deal. Blue Nile has a comparably priced stone, but it has strong fluorescence.

A. Ok, Here we go! Lets get the easy stuff out of the way first.

1) The BN comparable stone is not only strong flr, it’s also a very ugly make. Deep stone, big table, and off-square and off-rectangular. 1.15 or something like that ratio.

2) A VVS2 will never be visible to the naked eye. It’s microscopic. See my article “diamond clarity chart” here: http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/diamond-clarity-chart/

3) BJ and JA have a table of parameter ranges. If any of the parameters of a given stone fall beyond the range of one grade (ie, ideal), it gets knocked down to the lower level (ie, premium or very good). For example, lets say for rounds, JA’s ideal parameters for depth are about 60-62.5 and their parameters for table are 53-57. So if a stone has depth and table in that range, it’s ideal. Their next their might have a range of 59-59.9 and 62.6-63.5 for depth and 50-52 and 58-60 for table size for “premium.” The bounds of the different ranges are chosen on a very subjective basis. This is why I basically tell people to ignore the store’s cut grades. With rounds, you can always just rely on the GIA cert (which is based on a much more elegant solution that looks at combinations of parameters, and not at individual parameters separately). With square/rect fancy shapes, it’s pretty easy to learn what to look for. For the round-sided fancy shapes (oval, marquise, pear), it’s pretty much impossible to judge on parameters alone. You need a picture or even to see the stone in person.

4) The one diamond shape where the parameters matter the least is the emerald cut. Of course, L/W matters, because the basic shape of the diamond is affected, and part of the beauty of an emerald cut is its adherence to the natural beauty of the 1.5 rectangular ratio. Depth matters too, but not because it affect brilliance, because it simply affects how big the face of your diamond will be. With other shapes, the depth matters much more because it has a direct affect on the stone’s brilliance (how light is reflected around on the inside of the stone). Emerald cuts, though, aren’t brilliant cuts. They’re not cut to reflect light around and make sparkle. They’re cut to show off the simple beauty of the luster of a diamond. So shallow or deep, the diamond is still going to just be a clear mineral that you’re see light pass through (and not bounce around a thousand times). Likewise with the table size. With other shapes, the table size has a direct correlation to how well the light is reflected around inside the diamond. With Emeralds, though, it’s really just about how it makes the outside of the diamond look. You don’t want a diamond that just has a big flat window on top, you want a stone that’s built up a little bit with a few step facets on the sides. A smaller table adds to the beauty of an Emerald – it doesn’t detract from it. btw, take a look at this stone: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1270856.asp You see, according to JA’s own parameter table, the parameters of the 2.01 would get an “Ideal” grade. Sorry I kind of rambled there, but was it clear?

Q. That is helps a lot. I do really like the stone, and I think it is within my price range. How would the billing work? Would this be through FancyDiamonds.net or another company? How would I be invoiced?

A. through fancydiamonds. You could either pay by wire or they could send you a google checkout invoice, but then they’d have to add 5% to cover their expenses.

Q. Either way I would like to see a formal invoice from the Company. I hope you understand that I am trying to add a layer of security for myself.

A. Of course. I don’t believe it will be a problem.

Q. I would like to go ahead with the purchase then for the 2.01 carat VVS2 diamond then. Please let me know what the next steps are.

A. Great! Do you want to pay by wire or google checkout (credit card)?

Q. Preferably by wire.

A. Here’s the instructions. If you can send the wire today, it’ll show tomorrow in Israel, and we’ll be able to make the shipment tomorrow as well. Please send your mailing address. is the phone number below the number you want on the shipment?

Q. I probably won’t be completing the wire today. I need to call my bank to get instructions from them as well. Would you be opposed to my contacting Leibish & Co. through their website to ask about your relationship with them?

A. Of course not! Go right ahead. The ceo is the closest thing I have to a brother.

Q. Despite my worries that this all seems a little too good to be true, everything appears to be transparent and legitimate. I just got off the phone with Yossi and he was very helpful. It is a bank holiday today in the U.S. (Martin Luther King Day) so my bank is currently closed. I talked to their customer service line and I need to go into the branch to wire the money. I will most likely be able to get it out on Wednesday.

Thank you for your help, and I am looking forward to seeing the diamond next week.

A. Great to hear. You will not be disappointed – I’m sure of that.

I’m here if you have any more questions.

Q. I completed the wire this afternoon. I don’t know how long it will take to show up in Israel. The bank told me anywhere from 2-10 days, but I doubt it will be that long.

A. In our experience, the money always shows up the following morning in Israel. ….. Just wanted to let you know the money arrived as expect this morning.

Q. What is the timeline for shipping?

A. Shipping today. Takes 2 days from Israel. Attached is the invoice you’ll be getting in the shipment. …… Hey *****. Did you receive the diamond? What do you think?

Q. I got the stone on Friday. It is beautiful and completely clear. I am hoping to get it appraised at lunch today. The jeweler that helped me look at settings on Saturday was very impressed with my buy and complimented the stone.

Thanks for the help!

…….

I got the diamond appraised today at lunch. Although it takes a couple of weeks to get the paper appraisal, he said he told me it would retail in the “low twenties.” I am currently shopping around for a setting, but that is a much easier task. Thanks again for all your help, and I am so happy this worked out. Although a bit of a leap of faith, you and Leibish and Co. couldn’t have been more professional. Let me know if there is a place I can provide a review because it would definitely be positive. I will definitely be referring my friends.

A. Sorry it took so long to respond to your wonderful update. I’m very happy to hear you’re totally satisfied with the purchase. I also want to thank you for taking that leap of faith. It’s easy from our side, because we know you’ll end up being completely satisfied with buying from us, but I recognize that the decision to buy from a complete stranger halfway across the world is not a simple one in the slightest.

If you have some spare time, it could really help me out if you wouldn’t mind leaving a little bit of feedback on ivouch.com. This helps me convince future customers that it’s safe and beneficial to buy through my brokering service. If you can do it, I would be most grateful. Here is a direct link if you decide to write something:

(URL REMOVED)

Thank you once again. And may you and your future wife share a long life together filled with health, happiness, and love.

Q. I just posted a review on iVouch. As I said before, it was a great buying experience, and I am happy I trusted you. After I propose next month I will be telling all of my friends that I know the guy that can get them great diamonds for a great price.

(see his ivouch here: http://www.ivouch.com/truthaboutdiamonds-com/great-diamond-buying-experience)

A. I couldn’t have asked for anything better! Thank you once again.

A: I’m so sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. My mother and in-laws are both visiting us now in Israel and life has been a little crazy.

Would you mind telling me your budget? This would help me greatly. This way I can tell you the best Princess and Round you can get for your budget and then it will be a lot easier to decide between the two.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Q: Thanks for getting back to me, and Happy Chanukkah-my family just visited for the holiday as well so I know what it’s like! I’d prefer to spend at or below 20k. However, if there is something that dazzles the senses I might be able to manage 23-25k. Also, I know I said a 2 carat was optimum, but after reading your stories/advice-I am thinking maybe I should go bigger, and not waste the money on top shelf 4c’s, just so its “eye-clear” etc.(except Cut- I think the cut has to be near ideal/excellent to get the brillance-fire, right?).  Also, if your broker/commission service would produce a better price, and be mutually beneficial, that may be of interest-please advise. I was hoping to give it on Jan 15. I am in Las Vegas. Well, I reallly appreciate your help!

A: I think your revised priorities are right on track.  I would recommend you get an H or I color stone with SI2 clarity that I will verify to be eye-clean.  As you mentioned, you should definitely stick to ideal/excellent cut grades.

It seems like you can get a stone in this quality range clearly under $20K at 2.5cts.  That’s a significant and noticeable bump from 2cts.  If you wanted to get a full 3 cts, that would probably be around $25,000.

If I find a stone for you here in Israel, I could probably also get it set in something very basic for you to propose with, unless you already know exactly what she wants, in which case it might be better if you get it set yourself.

If you compare these prices with what you find on James Allen right now, you’ll see it’s basically the same.  Let me find a few actual stones and give you real prices, and then it will be much easier to compare.  I’m almost always able to beat the prices online, it’s just a matter of finding the right stone.

If I can’t beat the prices, then I’ll definitely let you know and help you pick the best stone online.

……

I wasn’t able to find a lot today, but I did manage to spot a very nice 2.51 I SI1 GIA certified Excellent Cut VG/VG Pol/Sym.  Your price on the stone would be 18,222.

That’s a good example of how I can be cheaper than the stores online.  Let me know if you’d like me to pursue this one further.  I can get you a scan of the certificate tomorrow and possibly even a photo of the diamond.

Q: Ira, thanks, a good start. I’m in meetings all day, but will get back to you this evening.

……

That’s a good range on carat size, 2.5 to 2.75, no need to go to 3. Yeah, I think ideal/excellent cut is a must. What’s the chance of finding a G/H and VS1/2 in my carat/price range. I know that’s mighty wishful, but it might happen. Let me know what you come up with. Talk to you soon.

A: I just checked for you and while I don’t have any specific stones now that I’m seeing, I have a feel for the price range, and it’s going to be way out of your budget.  An excellent cut H VS2 2.50 carat stone is going to be around 30,000.

But I honestly don’t believe there’s any added benefit to going that high in clarity.  If I find you an eye-clean SI2, it’s going to look exactly the same to your eye, but feel a lot different to your wallet.

……

Actually, I just saw a 2.62 H VS2 triple excellent for 28750.  It’s still significantly over your budget, but I did want to let you know about it anyway.

……

So here’s what I accomplished today. The I SI1 from yesterday is no good. IT has a black inclusion in the center that’s eye-visible.

I found two new stones today. Attached are their certs.

One is a 2.52 I IS1, and one is a 2.62 I SI2. Both triple excellent GIA. Both gorgeous stones with very nice translucent/whiteish inclusions that are totally eye clean. They both look totally white face-up. They are two killer stones. I also managed to get a picture of them both. But honestly, they’re both so nice and eye clean, that you can’t really tell them apart in the picture.

The price for the SI1 is 20,000 even. The price for the SI2 is 18500.

Cert of 2.52ct Stone

2.52ct & 2.62ct Diamonds

Cert of 2.62ct Stone

2.62ct & 2.52ct Diamonds

Q:Hi Ira, understood. 28k to 30k is too far over budget. Let’s just aim for the best that’s out there around my budget. 20k I liked the stone you mentioned, just wanted to see if there was some room to go up 1 step in clarity etc. Oh, what is” triple ” excellent?

A: Triple Excellent means that GIA gave the diamond the highest grade possible for Polish, Symmetry, and Cut.   Basically, it means the cut on the diamond is as good as it can be.  It’s top quality.

Q: Great work. I will view them today and get back to you. Going into meeting right now. Thanks Ira!

…..

Both those stones look amazing. You probably hear this alot, but, I am trusting your judgment-you have the best knowledge and experience. You certainly impressed me and I am grateful for your insight and help. To me, they look like near twins. Although, the 2.52 I SI1 appears just a hair brighter/clearer/H&A-ish. So, I guess that is the front runner to me.

One is drawn to the larger 2.62, but doesn’t the picture and lighting (or diamond itself) seem slightly less bright/clear/fire in comparison?

What do you think? Is there a difference between the two?

Is it worth going to an H color?

For what its worth, Bluenile had some 2.55 GIA Ideal H SI2 for 18-21k. However, as you pointed out, not all inclusions/color are what they say on paper and requires a trained eye to inspect it (i.e., the first one you spotted-w/ black marks).

Also, at some point, I will need to know how the whole payment-shipping will be accomplished. I will probably have it first set in a simple setting to propose. If the stone happens to be in Israel already, a setting with your contact may be easiest, especially with my desired timeline. Thanks!

A:  One thing I forgot to mention – the two stones were switched between the two pictures The stone on the right in both pictures was simply facing the camera more directly, that’s why you were able to see the H&A patterns easier. I actually think you should go for the 2.62. There’s one more stone that a vendor here in the bourse is returning from Hong Kong that is due to arrive today. I want to examine that stone first, and then we should make a decision. I very much appreciate your trust, and I want to make sure we get the best stone for you for the money.

Getting a simple setting shouldn’t be a problem, either. There might be one small issue with it, though. I’ll get back to that in a second.

The way it works when I broker stones for people in Israel is the customer wires money to my friend’s company. You can take a look at their site. www.fancydiamonds.net. Maybe while you’re there, see if anything they have looks interesting to you. They specialize in fancy color diamonds. (ie. this stone http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/3483.htm is 3.19 carats fancy yellow cushion cut for just under $20k) Since only official members of the Israel diamond bourse can buy and sell, they handle my transactions for me (and take a fee, of course). I’ll send you the wiring instructions when you’re ready.

The issue is that it’s very hard to get wholesale trading companies to agree to allow a return. All transactions in the bourse are final once the traditional “mazal u’vracha” (hebrew for “luck and blessing”) has been said and a handshake given. So asking a vendor to allow a return for up to a week or two is usually like pulling teeth. Getting it is difficult but usually not a problem, but it’s generally not more than a week or two. So having the stone set will simply take another day or two out of that window for you. I’ll leave that decision up to you.

So I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve seen the new stone. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Q: Great Ira, I look forward to seeing what the Hong Kong stone is like.  Also, for clarity, which is the 2.62 diamond in the pics, they both look so much alike in size.

A: The HK stone won’t arrive until Sunday as it turns out. Do you have time to wait?

Q: No problem, Sundays fine.

A: Great. I’ll get back to you then.  Enjoy your long weekend!

Q: Hi Ira, any word yet?

A: Sorry about the delay. The company claims it had issues with Israeli customs when it was shipped back from HK. Give me tomorrow – if they don’t deliver, then its clear they’re playing games. I’ll give you an answer either way tomorrow.

…….

Ok, got some good info for you today.

The 2.51 we spoke about is finally in. The good news is that this SI1 is cheaper than the other one. This one’s 18,700 vs. 20,000 for the other one. The bad news is that the SI1 is a small black spot in the center of the stone. With a jewelers loupe you see it right away, but with the naked eye, you don’t see it right away. It’s the kind of thing where if you held the stone up to the light and looked at it very closely, you’d be able to spot it after 10 seconds or so. So you’ll have to decide for yourself whether this will bother you (and your fiance) or not. My wife’s diamond has a similar spot, and she never noticed it.

I also found for you a 2.31 I SI1. This one also has a great price, but also has a blackish inclusion in the center. But this one is even more faint than the other (and likewise harder to see). This one costs $16,500. That’s a really great price.

I also found a 2.28 H SI1. Price on this one is 19,200. The SI1 on this stone is perfect. The only downside to this stone is that it’s a VG cut, but face up it really looks beautiful. It’s very very hard to notice any real difference in sparkle.

The certs and pics of the stones are attached. The 2.51 is in both of the pics.

In my opinion, the 2.31 is the best deal out of any of these. The stone has Medium blue fluorescence which actually makes the I look a tiny bit whiter. There’s no discernable difference in color between the I with the Medium Fluorescence and the 2.28 H Color. From 12 inches away, the stone is eye clean. I just think you’re getting more for your money vs. the other four stones we’ve discussed. Even though it’s 20 points lighter than the 2.51, it’s only 0.09mm smaller in diameter. That difference in size isn’t even perceptible to the naked eye, so it really looks like a full 2.5 ct stone.

I look forward to hearing from you!

2.51ct & 2.28ct Diamonds

Cert of 2.28ct Diamond

2.51ct & 2.31ct Diamonds

Cert of 2.51ct Diamond

Cert of 2.31ct

Q: My finace will not care if a jeweler notices a small inclusion under a loup, but I definitely want it to be eye-clean. She WILL be showing it off-not b/c a snobby girl, just one that puts a lot of attention and pride in her jewelry. If looking with naked eye she can see inclusions/black outs-i want to pass on those diamonds. Thus, I’m a little hesitant about the 2.51.

The 2.31 seems like a good choice, especially b/c you favor it too. Again, I assume that b/c the black inclusion is faint and smaller than the 2.51, this will not be noticeable to the naked eye. I also like the price.

The prior emailed 2.62 is a very impressive stone also, and without the black out inclusions, this has got to be in the running too.

I do have a couple follow up questions:
1.Does the blue flour. give any milky tone to the stone in the 2.31?
2.you and i were impressed by the prior 2 diamonds(2.5/2.62), especially the white inclusions/cleanliness and triple excellent cut. So, how does 2.31 compare? Why go with the 2.31 over the 2.62?

Thanks for all your help; I think we are near a decision.

A: About the fluorescence: there’s absolutely no milkiness/cloudiness in that stone.  Med fluorescence on an I color will never be milky.  I actually recommend specifically seeking out this combination in my article about Fluorescence (http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-fluorescence/ – see the “bottom line recommendation”)

It’s true the 2.62 is a great stone, but i’m not sure it’s worth $2000 more.  The cut (which is most important) is just as nice on the 2.31.  The color on the 2.31 is slightly better due to the fluorescence.  And both are clean to the naked eye.  And remember, the 2.31 is an SI1 whereas the 2.62 is an SI2.  So the cheaper price is really significantly cheaper.  If both were SI2s, then you could understand the price difference would be related to the size.  If the underlying price level were the same, then the 2.31 should be about the same price as the 2.62 because it’s an SI1 and the 2.62 is an SI2, but it’s still $2000 cheaper.  It’s just a significantly better value.

There’s one more issue.  The vendor that owns the 2.62 is a very rigid company. They have the largest inventory in the Israel market for large excellent cut GIA certified stones.  Their business model is that they ask high prices and wait for the right customer.  That’s why the prices last week were just OK.   But it might also be an issue with them to guarantee a certain amount of time to allow you to return the stone.  Since all transactions in the Israel diamond bourse are final wholesale transactions between dealers, we need to request a special exception in your case to allow you to return the stone.  I can’t take the risk of owning the stone myself.

The owner of the 2.31 is just a regular company looking to move their merchandise at a price they’re comfortable with.  They like to turn their inventory as fast as possible (unlike the owner of the 2.62 who is much more patient).  So it wont’ be a problem getting them to agree to a return period.

Let me know what you’d like to do!  The quicker you decide, the better the odds they won’t be sold to someone else.

Q: Your advice is sound and good. Let’s go with the 2.31 SI 1 . I need to know exactly how to pay for the diamond. Totals,wiring instr. etc. Do they accept any VISA or all in cash.

When Can you have it here? I leave January 14th, and need my guys here to set it in a ring first.

Many thanks! I am confident the ring will be great!

A: I think that’s the best choice.  You can pay by credit card via google checkout or paypal, but we’d have to add on about 5% to cover the expenses.  The best option is to send a wire transfer.  See the attached file for instructions.

If you send the wire today (tomorrow for you – Wednesday), then we’ll have it on Thursday and ship it then.  In that case, you’ll have it on Friday.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Q: Thanks for the wire instructions. Becuase of my timeline, I cannot spare the week long delay of bank procedures in order to wire the full amount. So, I will wire half, and pay the rest through credit card paypal. Does this cover everything:
($8,250) wire, ($8,250) paypal; 5% CC fee ($412.50).

A: That should work fine.  Can you get the wire out today so we can arrange the shipment tomorrow?  The diamond bourse is closed on Friday (not because it’s 1/1 – it’s closed every Friday), so the next available day to ship would be Sunday (it’s opened Sunday – Thursday.  Sunday is a regular work day in Israel).

I emailed Yossi Polnauer, CEO of Leibish Fancy Diamonds, requesting him to send you an invoice for 8662.50.  He just got back to me quickly that he prefers Google Checkout.  It works the same way.  Let me know if it’s a problem.

Q: Should get it done, in the works! If it doesn’t go out till Sun. that should be enough time too.

……

Sent full payment to Yossi today 1/2 by wire, 1/2 by Google. I gave him my shipping address too. Your help was immense. Thank you! I’ll check back with you soon.

…..

The diamond arrived today! Looks great. Taking it to get set& will let you know how it goes!

A: Great to hear! I knew you’d love it. I’d love to hear how the ring turns out.

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 2.05

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: VS2

Measurements: 7.14*7.09*4.91

Length/Width Ratio: 1.01

Depth: 69.3%

Table: 70%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $15,870

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

James Allen also has a great selection of engagement rings to choose from to match with this diamond.  When buying such a nice large princess cut like today’s selection, you need to find an equally special engagement ring setting to match with it.  One such ring is James Allen’s 18k White Gold Channel-Set Diamond Engagement Ring.  This ring will truly highlight the beauty of the princess cut.

Today’s diamond, like the other princess cut selections, is a truly perfect princess cut.  The parameters are right in the perfect ranges.  The stone is totally clean to the naked eye.

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 Enlarge

Carats: 2.01

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: VS2 Clarity

Measurements: 8.10*7.34*4.71

Length/Width Ratio: 1.10

Depth: 64.2%

Table: 60%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $15,920

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

James Allen also has a great selection of engagement rings to choose from to match with this diamond.  One engagement ring in particular that I think would look great is this simple 2mm Knife Edge 18k White Gold Solitaire Ring.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen