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!

Would you mind taking a look at an image for me and letting me know your opinion on whether this stone is eye clean? Any help you could provide would be enormously appreciated.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1189574.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (I see a lot of inclusions at 10x, most of which look black, but will these be visible to the naked eye? I like the pairing of the I color with Med. Blue flourescence, and the 2.04 karat size is nice also.)

A: That stone’s a beauty! You did a great job selecting it. It will definitely be eye clean. No doubt about it.

Just in case you didn’t notice it on the site, make sure to use the TAD0611 coupon to get 10% off the setting!

Q: Thank you for your prompt reply, your feedback is much appreciated. Thanks for the tip on the setting–

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

Q: I had contacted you a while back to get your opinion on a stone I was looking at at JA. Well, I haven’t yet pulled the trigger on that diamond, but I’m about to make a purchase (I’m doing this within the next 24 hours, God willing) and was wondering if you would look at one final group of stones for me and make a recommendation between them. They’re all I color and around 2 carat. My main requirements are an excellent cut and that the stone be completely eye-clean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1189574.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (this is the one you’ve already looked at for me) Superb cut (AGS 0), plus medium blue flour., my only concerns are the two black inclusions, 1 in table, 1 at edge of kite facet at top.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1334888.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 Another superb cut (AGS 0), no flourescence, one small black inclusion in the table.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1237563.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 AGS cut grade 1, no flourescence, I would venture a guess that this one is most definitely eye clean; its also the most expensive of the 4

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1303000.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

(this one’s a bit of a reach I think as far as eye-cleanliness, but the cost is substantially less than the other 3, only slightly smaller (1.90), and the cut grade is excellent (AGS 1 or 2)

Any advice you could give would be enormously helpful.

Thank you kindly, and best regards.

A: Great to hear from you again.

Here’s what I would suggest: This one -

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1303000.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

appears to be head and shoulders above the others a much better value. But, the fact that it’s been around so long makes me nervous. So I would suggest you contact JA and have them review the stone face to face just to make sure nothing’s wrong with it. IF there is, then I would say just to go with the next cheapest stone, since they’re all so nice that you selected:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1334888.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Let me know what they say!

Q: I called JA about those 2 stones and their GG’s opinion was that they are both eye clean (in fact, they apparently raved about the 1.9 carat ’000 diamond, though I’m not entirely sure why as they both had excellent dimensions). Based on that opinion and on your recommendation, I went with the ’000 diamond in the six-prong platinum knife edge setting (I used your 10% off code for that). For about 14k shipped, I think that I did very well (provided that this stone is as beautiful as I hope that it is). I should hopefully get the ring just before Thanksgiving, and I’ll let you know what I think.

Thanks a lot for all of your help, I certainly can’t thank you enough for your opinions and for getting me to the point where I was confident enough to make this purchase. This is an experience that I won’t forget.

Best regards

(P.S. — if you’re ever in need of intellectual property counsel in the U.S., don’t hesitate to reach out to me so that I can return the favor. My firm’s website is www.designip.com).

A: Sounds great! I look forward to getting your eye-witness report! And thanks for your offer of professional services! And likewise, if you ever come to Israel and need a guide, I know the best one in Israel! (my wife, of course )

Q: I just wanted to let you know that I received the ring on Monday morning, and it was even more beautiful than I thought it would be. I presented it to my (now fiancee) on Tuesday night and she was absolutely blown away. Thank you for all of your great advice, which made the outcome of this process a rousing success. I will certainly recommend your site to all of my friends who are on the market. God bless you, and take care.

A: Thanks so much for thinking of me and sending me this very kind email. I very much appreciate it!

Do you think you could take a few minutes and do me a small favor and leave me a short review on ivouch? If you could, I would be most grateful!

Link to ivouch review

Thanks again! And may you and your fiance live a long life together filled with health, happiness, and love!

Congratulations!

…….

just saw your review. It’s fantastic!! Thanks so much!

Q: You’re very welcome! Best of luck with the business. When my future wife and I travel to Israel (she studied in Jordan for a year and wants to go back, which will coincide with at least a trip to Jerusalem), we’ll look you guys up. Take care of yourself, and thanks again.

A: Fantastic! I look forward to it! I live very close to Jlem. Check it out on google maps: Ma’aleh Adumim

I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading your site and I want to say thank you for the abundance of honest information you’ve made available. I always do as much online research as I can before making a significant purchase of any kind and it is particularly frustrating how diverse the information is regarding diamonds. It probably stems from the ”illusion” factor of the industry you mentioned. I’m having a hard time coming to terms with spending $15k on an engagement ring because social practice says I should. I was coming to terms with it thinking of it as asset diversification till I read more about diamond depreciation. In your experience what percentage loss should I expect on the loose stone? I know the setting is a near total loss.

So far I have been working with a local independent jeweler but the online prices have me thinking otherwise. I’m happy with the setting I’ve chosen but I’m wondering if I should source the loose stone elsewhere. I’ve been looking at Princess cut, 2+ct., I+ color, SI1+ clarity, GIA/AGS. They have been in the $13k-$14k range (not including tax) for the loose stone. The setting I’ve chosen is $2k and I’d like to be out the door at $15k (preferrably less).

I have spent time browsing Blue Nile and James Allen but I’m not really comfortable buying sight unseen. The virtual loop is a nice feature but I think it is more of a gimmick than a useful tool since you can’t adjust the focal point nor do they tell you the magnification. From your experience have you been surprised by inclusions and defects that didn’t show up in the virtual loop.

I plan to open a new credit card with a zero percent offer and cash back. If the new card(s) works out I would be able to take advantage of James Allen’s and blue nile’s 30 day return policy if I wasn’t satisfied.

I would appreciate any help or advice you could offer.

Thank you.

A: I’m sorry you’re faced with the frustration of knowing you have to buy this stupid thing even though you know it makes no sense. But I feel that it’s better to be a frustrated wise man than a blissful ignoramus!

It’s hard to evaluate just how much the value will drop initially. If you buy from the lowest margin places available, like online from james allen, then the loss down to the “market price” is about 15%. But then you have the problem of finding someone to sell it to. Nobody in the business will buy a stone from you at “market price.” They’ll want to pay at least 10% less. So figure 25% at best out the door.

The Virtual loupe on JA is definitely not a gimmick. At least when you compare it to buying blindly from BN. It’s not perfect, but I know I can detect whether inclusions will be visual to the naked eye or not in the vast majority of cases – but only because of my experience.

Anyhow, here are two fantastic stones with truly special cuts:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-954255.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1304228.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Looks eye clean. Super brilliant.

Let me know what you think!

Q: Thank you for your prompt reply! After reading much more of your site yesterday (Q+A particularly) I was looking forward to hearing from you. Truthfully I spent eight hours online researching diamonds yesterday. I noticed that you are a Canes fan so congratulations on climbing back into the top 25. My girlfriend is an FSU alum but please don’t hold that against her We live in Ft. Lauderdale so not too far from your old stomping ground (in the relative vastness of the internet). The local shop I’m working with is J. R. Dunn in case you are familiar with them. Close friends of ours recently purchased an engagement ring and Rolex through them and gave us the recommendation. My girlfriend happened to be with our friend when she picked up her ring after sizing and my girlfriend picked out two settings for her wish list. She mentioned it to me in passing one night and I’m pretty sure she thinks I wasn’t paying attention or forgot so it will be nice to surprise her with one that she has chosen.

In my research last yesterday I did see that JA offers to buy back the stone within two years for 70% of purchase price so that is in line with your 25% estimate. I was reading horror stories about people getting 33% back so that is a bit easier to handle

On to the stones…

The GIA report on this one scares me a bit with all the inclusions and the comments. The black spot near the top looks like it would be visible to the naked eye. I have set high standards in my head and I know I need to come to terms with it (I’m working on it). Using the Virtual loop I can see a lot of what is there and it’s a bit un-nerving. Great price though I’d be happy to pay more for a cleaner stone.

What should I take from the comments saying things aren’t shown? Does that mean they aren’t visible or just that they couldn’t accurately represent them on the report? Also, should I be concerned that the GIA report was generated in 2007? It seems like all the others I’m looking at are from 2010. I’m sure the stone could be resubmitted for a newer report and I’d never know but it just struck me as odd.

I prefer this stone to the other you recommended however I can’t see the inclusions listed on the report using the Virtual loop so I’m not sure what to make of that. I would need to defer to your experience there. The report comments mention additional clouds are not shown. Back to my earlier question, what should I make of that? I think I see a cloud in the lower left corner of the table. Am I right? In your experience which is more detrimental to the overall appearance/quality of the stone, the black inclusion in the first stone or the cloud in the second?

Here are some others that interest me. I appreciate your take on them:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1303890.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Big stone but the limited specs look good. For the price there has to be something wrong with it. I’ve requested the report so we’ll see.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1324386.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

VVS2 which I know you don’t typically recommend but pricing is in line with lower clarity stones.

I read your guide on Princess cut and you mentioned the sweet spot for depth was in the 68%-73% range. Can you elaborate a bit more on what impact the table size has since you mentioned there were two schools of thought? The two stones you recommended had small tables whereas there are plenty in the 70%-75% range.

I was approved for one card yesterday and I am awaiting it’s arrival in the mail. I applied for a second as well and should hear back in the next week. If I need to I can proceed without the second card. I’m looking to make my purchase before the end of the month to give my local jeweler enough time to set the stone. I am looking to propose around the 20th or 21st of November as our birthdays are that week. I’m not going to rush anything though so if timing doesn’t work out I’m OK with that.

Thank you for your time and assistance!

A: You should know better. Being ranked #25 for a ‘Canes fan is absolutely nothing to celebrate. It’s sad, but today’s Canes bear no resemblance to the Canes I grew up watching.

1) I just realized it should be rejected in any event because it has an extremely thin girdle

2) You would never be able to see a VS1 with the VL anyway. That’s why you can’t see anything. VS1s are bordering on microscopic.

3) Can’t comment on an SI1 without seeing it!

4) Looks nice, but I prefer the smaller table look of the first two.

I think the two different approaches to table size is really just a matter of preference. Small tables are definitely harder to come by and carry more of a “prestige” but many people think larger tables (to a degree) are just as nice.

Q: Hi Ira – I hope the past week has treated you well. I have reserved a stone at my local shop as a fall back but I’m confident I can do better online. The local stone is a 2.00ct H SI1 for $13,450 and they’ve agreed to knock $450 off the setting if I buy their stone but I would still have to pay 6% sales tax.

I went ahead and had James Allen’s gemologist take a look at a few stones for me and I’ve pasted the feedback below:

(2.01ct I VS1 $12,300) This diamond faces up allot smaller and darker than the 2.21ct. This has the worst make and cut of the three.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1279114.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

(2.21ct I SI1 $13,500) This diamond faces up the largest of the three. It faces up slightly rectangular and faces the brightest. This diamond is slightly cloudy from additional clouds that are not plotted, however, they are not terribly offensive. This diamond is 100% eye- clean and the best of the bunch.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1244887.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

(2.01ct I VS2 $12,860) This diamond faces up square and eye clean, but faces up the darkest. The feather reflects throughout the face of the diamond under magnification.

I was surprised to hear the first stone received the worst remarks. There is a decent price difference between that one and the 2.21ct so I can’t help but wonder if they are just trying to up sell me? I was originally leaning towards the one you had picked out and thought we might like the smaller table look. I had them look at the 2.21ct simply because I was surprised at the size for the price and it looked like it might be pretty clean. I’ve asked them to keep the first two stones on hold for another 24 hours while I look at others to compare against. It would be great to hear your thoughts on what they’ve reported. Also, if you could recommend another couple of stones I would appreciate it.

As a side note, I like that these are all laser engraved in case the ring needs to be left at a shop or is ever stolen. The stone I have on hold locally does not have that feature.

Thanks.

A: I think the person who reviewed that stone must be a “large table” person. See my article on princess cuts. I still think that first one is the best of the bunch.

……

Sorry, I was exhausted last night when I wrote that. I wanted to tell you that you always have a 30 day return window, so there’s really not much risk. I would still think you should go with the first stone.

Q: Ira – thanks for the follow up. When I spoke to the James Allen rep who relayed the gemologist’s report I really wasn’t convinced that it was a bad cut and similarly thought they may be a large table fan since the face up size was one of two descriptions they gave for any stone. Honestly I think the review was kind of a waste of time but it’s always good to have someone touch the stone beforehand.

I’ve had them take a look at two more for me and I think I may purchase the one you recommended today just so I can have it in hand and see for myself. Yesterday I rush ordered a BeLOMO 10x triplet loupe so I can review the stone at home Even If I burn $50 sending the stone back I still have a good amount of margin to spare over buying the local stone.

If for whatever reason the stone you suggested doesn’t work out I’m not sure which one I’ll have them send me next. I need to have the final stone in hand by the end of next to be on schedule. The 2.21ct stone intrigues me since I haven’t looked at a stone that big since locally it’s well out of my price range.

The other two I’m having them look at are:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1324386.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I feel like this might be my best fall back stone since it is a VVS2 so there should be no surprise inclusions when it arrives.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1303890.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

The size and the price lead me to believe there is something very wrong with it but we’ll see what they say. I’m interest to hear how they compare it to the other 2.21 I had them look at.

Thanks.

A: I’d hold off on buying until you hear about the 2.22ct stone. It’s the largest of the bunch (in terms of actual dimensions).

Q: They told me the review today over the phone and I forget the specifics (I’ve asked for the written summary for my notes). I think the 2.22ct was a bit cloudy if I remember correctly. The VVS2 had a feather in a location that raised concern over the durability of the stone. The gemologist still recommended the 2.21ct as the best choice of the four.

After hearing the review I went ahead and ordered the stone you recommended. It should arrive here tomorrow so I will be able to see for myself if the center is too dark. I’m hopeful that I will be happy with this stone. If not, I may purchase the 2.21ct after having them compare it to a few more but we’ll see.

A: Sounds great! I look forward to hearing your report! So you ordered it loose without a setting?

Q: Correct, loose with no setting. I have already decided on a custom setting locally. My GF picked the setting out a while ago and isn’t expecting it. I figured this is the best of both worlds since I’ll save big on the stone buying online but still have the local jeweler for any issues that come up. I know they aren’t thrilled about it but it’s not their money so I couldn’t care less.

A: :)

Q: Hi Ira – I received the stone today and it is perfect! JA wasn’t able to get it in the mail Thursday so it went out Friday and I had to wait till today to get it. I really like the look of the small table. All of the stones I had looked at had large tables so I wasn’t really sure how it would look in person. I was afraid the small table might make the stone look small but that’s not the case. The stone is very clean, I had a hard time finding the inclusions with my loupe. It is by far the cleanest stone I have looked at. The stone looks great with lots of fire and I know my girlfriend will love it!

I took the stone in to my local jeweler today to have it mounted. The sales rep was understandably disappointed I wasn’t buying their stone (but hid it well). After he reviewed the stone and I told him what I paid he nodded and smiled commenting that I got a great price on a very nice stone. I saved $1,500 buying the stone online and feel I got a much better product. This would not have been possible without your personal assistance and the information on your site. The ring should be ready in two weeks. I’ll be sure to send you a photo when it’s done.

Thank you for all of your help! It was very reassuring to have the guidance of someone with your knowledge and experience. I will certainly recommend your site and James Allen to others.

A: Such fantastic news! Thanks for going out on a limb and trusting my choice!

Thanks! And Congratulations!

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.

I’m interested in buying a 2 carat total weight round diamond studs in a white gold 4 prong wire basket setting for my wife.

I wanted to ask if you would consider helping me pick one (either through an online vendor or your buying service)?

Thank you.

A: I’d be happy to help! Are you looking to just make sure that the pair is bright and lively and clean to the naked eye, or are you looking for a higher quality than that?

To put it differently, how much are you expecting to spend?

Q: I would like a pair that is bright, lively and clean to the naked eye as you described and would like to avoid as you put it “waste of money” category. I saw prices online range from $6-$10K. Am I in the ballpark? Would prefer to stay toward the lower end of this range but I am willing to pay more if need be to get a nice pair.

Thanks.

A: Here’s what I like for you:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/matching-pairs/view.asp?item1=1256309&item2=1300755&a_aid=dmnd1357

They’re both eye clean. They both have a cut grade of Excellent so they’ll be very bright and lively. And J color is a great balance of value and looks for studs.

Let me know what you think!

Q: The ones you picked look very nice. Couple of questions: I see a lot of spots on these diamonds and I see that the polish & symmetry are “very good”. Will these distract from the look? Would it make sense to upgrade these characteristics for ~$1K more to one like on the link below? From what I read on you site, no reason to upgrade the color beyond J, right?

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-earrings?first_step=diamond&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOE|pid=LD01712909|pid=LD01867445

Thank you.

A: Re: Polish & Symmetry, see the relevant articles on my site here:

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

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

The small spots you see are inclusions, but they won’t be visible at all to the naked eye.

If you want, I can find you a nice pair on JA that’s VS2, but I really think it’s a big waste of money – especially for studs. Generally, the rule in the diamond business is that clarity requirements are usually more relaxed than normal for studs because they’re usually viewed at a greater distance than engagement rings. SO it’s really a waste to go all the way to VS2.

Q: I’m going to order the ones you selected today. Thank you for all your help. I would like to pay you for your advice. How can I do that?

Warm Regards.

A: Absolutely no need to! See this article here:

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

Congrats!

Q: Ira, I’m very appreciative of your assistance. Earrings arrived today and they look very nice. I wish you and your family well. Thanks again.

A: Fantastic news! Congrats! It was my pleasure.

I have been looking on JamesAllen.com for a roughly 2 carat center diamond to go in a 3 stone platinum ring. I have found a ring I like on bluenile.comand I have sent the image to James Allen to see if they can produce one similar.

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-three-stone-ring?forceStep=STYLE_STEP&offer_id=5921

I am looking to spend roughly $18k on the whole ring. I was only looking at G VS2 or better, but after exploring your site I have started to look at H VS2. I just want to be sure it is completely eye clean and colorless, as well as stunning and beautiful. I am thinking roughly 0.4 carats for each sidestone, but I want to be sure they are only accents and the focus is the center diamond. I figure once I have decided on a ring and center diamond, I will just find side stones that match well. Here is a list of links to the center diamonds I have been considering, just to give you an idea of what I think I am looking for in a diamond. Of course any other diamond suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. JA is working on getting me an image of the 2.2 carat that is currently lacking a photo.

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

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1255896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1295660.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1315768.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243814.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1244221.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Is the 10% commision only on the personal diamond buying service, or just to provide advice? Sorry for the long winded email. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

A:  Hi XXXXX. I would think that JA could match that ring. It seems simple enough. Make sure to tell them after they quote you a price that you want them to apply the TAD0611 coupon (it’ll give you 10% off the setting).

As for the diamonds you linked to, the only two I would recommend against are the G (too deep) and 1244221 (table too big and too deep). The others all look fantastic.

And as for the commission, that’s only relevant if I broker a stone for you. This advice is free of charge. Take a look at my article “truth about truthaboutdiamonds.com” to get a better understanding of what I do.

Q: Great, thanks for the advice and the coupon code!

A: My pleasure.  Let me know how it goes and what you go with in the end!

Q: Hi Ira,

I guess I need some more help narrowing my decision, if you don’t mind. JA is able to manufacture a sufficiently similar ring as you thought they could. I have narrowed the initial list of six center diamonds to three, but I am struggling to make a final decision. The three diamonds are:

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

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1295660.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1255896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I find myself leaning towards the third one because it is larger, has a really nice depth and table, as well as a good girdle. Is it possible the 2.2 carat would be too big? I don’t want the ring to look gaudy. JA is working to get an image of the diamond for me, but based on the GIA report there looks to be some inclusions right in the center of the diamond. They have confirmed to me via email that it is eye clean/white. Should I be concerned? If I get the picture from JA soon I will send it over to you. They said yesterday that they should be able to get it to me in a day or two.

I’m putting the other two head to head against each other in case the 2.2 doesn’t work out for whatever reason. My concern with the first one is the extremely thin to thick girdle and my concern with the second is the inclusions, depth, smaller length and width dimensions, and to some degree the thick in the girdle.

Without seeing the picture for the 2.2 carat and just based on the GIA report, which of the three would you think is best overall? If you think the 2.2 is best, which is best out of the other two in case when the picture comes back there is a problem with the 2.2 carat?

Also, I have narrowed my search for the two side diamonds to three possible choices:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1305588.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1310546.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1310547.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Which two of those three do you think would make the best matching pair to accentuate your favorite center diamond? Do you think in the end this will be a really spectacular ring? It’s hard to envision when I’m piecing it together like this how the final product will look.

Thanks again for your help! I can’t express enough how valuable you and your site have been during this overwhelming experience!

……….

Oh, and one other question.  The girl I have been working with at JA just emailed me her opinions and she said the following with regard to the 2.2 carat diamond:

“I do tend to shy away from diamonds that approach the 1.05 ratio boundary.  I do feel that the rectangular nature of the shape begins to be apparent around 1.04.  Personally, I do not like Princess shape diamonds that are not a perfect square, it detracts from their beauty. “

What are your thoughts on that?

A: It’s a tough call. Some people are just simply more sensitive to these things than others. GIA defines square as 1.00-1.05 L/W ratio. I tend to stick with that as a guide. So I would still think this stone is fine.

I agree the 2.20 is your top choice if the pic is nice.

Out of the other two, I like the 2.02 better since it’s slightly larger.

As for the side stones, reject 1305588 and take the other two. That stone has a strong black inclusion in the center.

Good luck! Let me know what you go with in the end!

Q: I finally received a picture of the 2.20 carat from JA and I have attached it to this email. It looks a little out of square to me, and there is a visible inclusion in the middle, but this image is huge so I wonder how it will look in actual size. What do you think?

Here is the 2.02 we were considering for the backup diamond.

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

A: As for the inclusion – theres no way that would be visible.  As far as the squareness goes, it’s hard to say. Some people are definitely more sensitive than others about these kinds of things.

Final Chosen Three Stones

Q: I have made my decision so I just wanted to let you know what I picked. I decided on the 2.20 carat and the side stones we discussed before.  I had the gemologists put them all together and look at them to verify they will all work.  They sent me back a photo and I think they look great!  I attached the picture if you’d like to see them.  Thank you so much for all of your help!  You made this process so much easier and taught me a great deal!

A: The 3 stones together look amazing!  That’s going to be a very special ring.  Did they allow you to apply the TAD0611 coupon even though they made you a custom setting?

Q: Great, I‘m glad you like it!  I think it is going to be fantastic and I can’t wait to get the ring!  Yes, they did allow me to apply the coupon code with the custom setting.  Thank you again for all of your help!

3-stone Ring from James Allen

A: That’s great news! Please let me know what you think when it arrives!

Q: Hi Ira!

I just wanted to let you know how the ring turned out.  I couldn’t be happier and my fiancée loves it!  I attached a picture, but it in no way does justice to how beautiful it is in person.  Thank you so much for all of your help!

A: Wow!!!  That ring is a SCREAMER!  I’m sure she must have LOVED it!

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Shape: Pear

Carats: 2.01

Diamond Color: H

Diamond Clarity: VS2

Measurements: 11.04*6.85*4.15

Length/Width Ratio: 1.61

Depth: 60.6%

Table: 55%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Good

Diamond Fluorescence: Medium Blue

Diamond Price: $14,530

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 (At this time a scan of the cert was unavailable.  You can see the GIA report check here):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Shape: Marquise

Carats: 2.02

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 6.55*14.96*3.76

Length/Width Ratio: 2.28

Depth: 57.4%

Table: 55%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $16,520

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 Enlarge

Shape: Pear

Carats: 2.05

Diamond Color: E

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 10.60*6.82*4.68

Length/Width Ratio: 1.55

Depth: 68.6%

Table: 59%

Diamond Polish: Good

Diamond Symmetry: Good

Diamond Fluorescence: Medium Blue

Diamond Price: $18,320

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

I have decided for this series to lump together the three shapes commonly referred to as the “soft-sided fancy shapes” – the Oval, Marquise, and Pear shaped diamonds.  Just to explain the terminology – any shape that’s not round is called a “fancy” shape.  So to differentiate Ovals, Marquise, and Pears from Princess cuts, Radiants, and Emeralds, they are further broken down into soft-sided and straight-sided.

From a manufacturing perspective that differentiation is important since straight-sided fancies and soft-sided fancies are manufactured from completely different types of diamond rough.  But more importantly for you, the diamond consumer, the differentiation is absolutely crucial.  You see, if you were searching for a straight sided fancy shape diamond and wanted to limit your diamond search to very clean diamonds with high colors, you generally wouldn’t need to see the diamond ahead of time.  You could read the diamond’s measurements from its certificate, and pretty much be able to conceptualize how the diamond will look.  When you’re dealing with 90 degree angles only, it’s easy to explain a diamond using measurements only.

This is not the case at all with the soft-sided fancies.  Nowhere on a certificate does it explain the slope of the curve around an oval.  You can have an oval that almost comes to two points like a marquise, or you could have an oval that looks a little too rounded.  You can have a boxy looking oval that looks like it’s a long radiant just with its corners smoothed out.  None of that will show on a certificate.  There are simply too many measurements that aren’t offered on a certificate relating to get any real understanding of how a soft-sided fancy will look.

So while I always stress that even with rounds it’s very important that you examine a diamond ahead of time (either in person or with a high quality photograph) in order to evaluate a diamond’s clarity, with soft-sided fancies, it’s likewise crucial to examine a diamond to evaluate its cut.

And unlike straight sided fancies, there’s no one thing I could point to to explain how to evaluate a picture of an Oval, Pear or Marquise. You just have to look at it and ask yourself, “does this look beautiful?”

So without further ado, I present the best Oval, Pear or Marquise for $20,000+:

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Shape: Pear

Carats: 2.27

Diamond Color: F

Diamond Clarity: VS2

Measurements: 11.41*7.27*4.18

Length/Width Ratio: 1.57

Depth: 57.5%

Table: 56%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $23,030

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