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

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

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

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

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

Sorry for the ramble.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks a lot!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which one is your pick?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks a million!
A stressed xxxxxx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A very grateful xxxxx

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks! And congrats!

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

[LINK TO IVOUCH REVIEW]

A: It’s fantastic!! Thanks so much!!

Ideal Cut (I realize GIA doesn’t rate this for princess cuts)
D-F Colour
VVS1-VS2
65-70% Table
65-73% Depth
Excellent-Very Good Symmetry/Polish
Budget $6000-$8000

I have been reading the information on your site and have taken your advice on searching for diamonds on the James Allen website. I think I have found one I like but would appreciate your opinion on this specific diamond and any others you might recommend. I know you have said before that the images are already magnified without the use of the loupe but I do see a black spot on this particular diamond and just wonder if by chance you might be able to see it with the naked eye?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1353414.asp

Thanks very much for your help.

A: That’s a beautiful stone indeed that you linked to! I couldn’t see anything – and I wouldn’t expect to since it’s a VS1. So I’m fairly certain that whatever your seeing is a dark spot due to an artifact of the photography caused by the faceting.

I think your specs are all great except for one thing – you can be a bit more flexible on clarity – as long as the diamond is confirmed to be clean to the naked eye. Clarity doesn’t affect brilliance. So an SI1 and flawless stone will look identical to one another (if the SI1 is eye clean) and all else is equal.

So having said that, here’s what I Like for you and your budget:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1352631.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1335400.asp

let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks for such a quick reply Ira! In regards to the 1.22 smaller table diamond you picked out (I actually had my eye on that one too) -It’s a very impressive diamond, however the girdle is quoted as “very thin to thick” and I have read that this can be a problem as “very thin” can result in a weaker diamond and may be damaged in setting or just daily wear?? What are your thoughts on that?

Thanks again for your advice…the diamond world is definitely overwhelming!

A: Very thin is still fine. Just stay away from extremely thin.

Q: Hi Ira. I just wanted to let you know that I just purchased the 1.07 diamond through James Allen. All the specs looked great and I just felt like it was the right one. Thanks for your advice. With a big purchase like this, it’s nice to get a second opinion.

Thanks again

A: Sounds great! Please stay in touch and let me know what you think when it arrives!

Here are the details:

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

- Shape
Princess shape.

- Desired Color Range
I, H, G

- Desired Clarity
VS2 – VVS2

- Desired Cut
Very Good – Ideal

- Desired Size
1.70 – 1.90

- Budget
8,000 – 12,000

Thank you.

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

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

…….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you!

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

Let me know what you decide in the end!

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

…….

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

…….

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

Thanks.

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

…….

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

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

A: nope. Complete nonsense!

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

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

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

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

I’m currently in Bahrain with the Navy and am planning on proposing to my girlfriend a few months after I get home (need to have the ring made). She likes a modern-looking ring and is particularly enamored with a platinum half-bezel solitaire setting (I don’t have the link to the site; will get it to you later).

I’ve heard stories of guys who have had diamonds they bought here appraised for significantly more than they paid for them. However, I only have a few more days here and don’t want to pull the trigger too fast just to have a diamond – I just want a beautiful stone that I’ll be glad I bought and that she will love.

I’d like to keep my budget around $6-8k for the stone and ring; more if I have to. My girlfriend hasn’t set any requirements for size or anything, which is nice, but I’m starting my search around 0.90ct and going up to 1.5ct or so. Based on the setting, a round brilliant makes the most sense to me, though a princess cut would be fine (though I’m nervous about there not being an organization that will classify princess cuts).

I’m torn right now because I did find an absolutely beautiful stone last night – a 0.9ct round brilliant, SI1 D GIA certified stone that was absolutely radiant compared to the other stones I saw. The dealer quoted me $3,600 or so for the stone alone, and I feel like I’m paying a lot for the perfect color (which will be relatively unnoticeable once the stone is set) that I could get back in a little more size for the same money.

Any guidance you could provide would be wonderful – thanks in advance.

A: Thanks for writing! I hope I’m able to help. If that dealer was showing you a 0.90ct round diamond for $3600, then that’s an unbeatable deal. It’s so good, in fact, that it makes me wonder if you’re being cheated. If it’s GIA certified with a dossier (small cert), then the girdle of the diamond should be inscribed with the cert number. You should check that to make sure it’s the same diamond on the cert.

Also make sure the cut is at least VG and it doesn’t have strong blue fluorescence.

Let me know what you discover!

Q: I’ll check the diamond tonight – is the laser engraving relatively easy to see on the girdle with 10x magnification? I looked at your loose diamond pricing tool last night as well and from everything I could see, it looked like I was getting the diamond about $700-1000 below comparable stones, which is hard to believe.

I had been planning on going back to buy it yesterday evening, but became engrossed in the rest of your articles. Assuming that the diamond is the one on the cert, I’m thinking that I’m paying a lot for the D color, which will end up being far less important, and could even get a larger stone for roughly the same money.

Again, I’m not part of the “bigger is always better” crowd, but my girlfriend is tall (6′) and wears a size 7 ring, so I don’t want to get her a diamond that’s going to look underwhelming on her. Thoughts?

Last – some of the stones I looked at seemed to positively explode with fire, and others seemed completely lackluster. Obviously the latter I’m staying away from, but what’s the difference with the others? Is it simply the cut is that much better?

Thanks again!

…….

So I returned to the store tonight and confirmed that indeed it is the diamond in question – the ID number on the stone matched the paperwork. However, I also determined that while the stone exhibits no fluorescence, it’s rated a fair cut, not VG like you recommended.

I just looked up the pricing for a similar stone on your website and included the additional fluorescence, polish (rated excellent) and symmetry (rated good), and only two stones were left in the category, one at $4,219 and one at $4,470. Obviously I’m not exactly comparing apples to apples since you don’t have a “Fair” cut option, but equally obvious is the fact that I’m not looking at as great a deal as I initially thought.

I’m probably talking well past my experience level, but the diamond in question is exceptionally brilliant, more so than any of the other stones I’ve looked at in the last few days. There are two conclusions I can draw from this. One possibility is that most of the other diamonds are pretty inferior stones as a whole, so this one simply shines in comparison (there are very few stores here that carry GIA certified diamonds – most are IGI and I’ve been less than impressed with most of them). The other option is that the cut was rated a little low due to it being borderline in some way, which I find hard to believe.

I only have a day left in town, so any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated. I also haven’t bargained with the proprietor much, and that’s pretty common here–what would be a truly fair price for the stone as it is right now? Of course, if you believe I’m barking up the entirely wrong tree, point me to the right one.

A: Now everything makes more sense. If it’s a “Fair” cut, then the price you were shown is really nothing special. THe reason is simply that a 0.90 with a fair cut is most likely a stone that is cut too deep, so even though it weighs 0.90cts, it’s going to look like a 0.70ct stone. You’d do much much better with your money just buying an ideal cut 0.70ct stone which will be the same size (in terms of diameter) and be much more brilliant. You should most definitely pass on this stone.

For example:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1308045.asp

This stone has an “excellent” cut from GIA, and I’m willing to bet that it’s got larger dimensions than the 0.90ct stone you’ve been shown.

Q: Glad I decided to pass before I got your email! You were pretty adamant on the cut quality being there in your email and articles, so I decided to take your word. I don’t have the dimensions of the stone I was looking at in front of me, but I think you’re right – the “excellent” stone from JA has larger dimensions…

Thanks for steering me the right way; I’ll be sure to touch base with you again when I get back to the States and have a chance to look at some more GIA diamonds in person. I’m continuing to read your articles and get smarter about this process for later on.

Thanks again!

A: My pleasure! Stay safe. And if you stop by israel on your way home, you’ve got a cold beer waiting for you!

Q: I’m back – have finally had a chance to look at what my girlfriend likes and have an idea of where to start at least. The ring she’s interested in is linked below:

http://www.turgeonraine.com/detail.asp?pid=1032

I hadn’t been looking at anything except round diamonds before so I’m trying to get a handle on this area. I’m also finding out the proportions of the CZ that’s in the linked picture; will advise when I have that info. She seemed to be picking things with approximately a 1.5 ratio. Right now I’m thinking 0.95-1.49 carats, VS2-SI2 clarity, F-H color. My budget is still $6-8k for the diamond. Any ideas you could give me would be excellent – I appreciate your help.

A: Looks like you got out of Bahrain just in time! What shape is she looking for? In the past we were discussing rounds, but now you said you’re looking for something with a 1.5 ratio.

Q: Ira, thanks for the quick reply! You’re right; I was just talking to my friends about how lucky we were to get out of Manama when we did…

My apologies on not mentioning the actual cut – she’s liking the look of an oval now. Any ideas? Thanks again!

A: Here are some I like:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Premium-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1353366.asp – have JA inspect this one. If they say it’s eye clean, then this is a real winner. It’s borderline to me based on its picture.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1342819.asp – not quite as elongated, but still very nice.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Premium-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1337284.asp – another beauty

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

Q: Thanks for getting back to me so quickly as usual. I’ve got an email in to JA to inspect the first diamond for eye cleanliness; I agree, the quality of the picture isn’t as good and I wonder how much it will really “pop” and scintillate based on that picture.

I had seen the second one but wondered a little about the lower color grade (we’re debating 18k white gold or platinum; my girlfriend is leaning more towards the white gold now) and the inclusions on the right side of the picture. The facet pattern seemed a little odd to me on this one as well, somehow; the clouds of reflections on the sides of the diamond seemed a little off-putting, but what do I know?

We both really like the last one you picked; I think that’s a winner. We’ll talk about it some more and I will definitely let you know how it all turns out. Thanks again for all your expertise and help – you’re truly one of a kind.

A: My pleasure! I look forward to hearing from you!

First, I have a 30 day ”no questions asked” return policy on the engagement ring I just purchased about four days ago. My future fiancee really wants an Asscher Cut diamond. I have the IGL report and here is what I purchased:

Weight: 1.00 carat
Color: E
Clarity: VVS2
Polish/Symmetry: Excellent/Excellent
Measurement: 5.53 x 5.31 x 3.80 MM
Cost: $7915.69 + 8.25% sales tax

I also purchased a setting, 18KW 1.07TX .91RAD Gemesis RG for $2479.00 + 8.25% sales tax (originally it was priced at $4795.00 but I ”got lucky” and hit the semi-annual sale. It is a single band with diamonds with a slightly raised halo with diamonds cut on all four sides. The asscher diamond then sits right in the middle of it.

After reading your site I’m beginning to think I paid about 2000-3000 dollars or more too much for diamond features that the human eye will never be able to perceive or appreciate.

Please get in touch with me when you have a chance; normally I would never buy a diamond because frankly I think they are a horrible ”investment” but my fiancee means the world to me and I want to get her what she wants- however, I don’t want to pay more than I have to!!

A: Are you sure the stone is certified by IGL and not IGI or EGL?

Q:The attached file is a scan of the plastic card that I received a couple of days ago. I purchased the diamond from Samuels Diamonds here in Austin, TX.

gemstone certification

A: I’ve never heard of that lab. Sounds like a made up in-house lab that puts down whatever they want to put down to help sell stones. You’re much better off returning it and buying a proper GIA certified stone.

Q: Well, that’s not encouraging. What she really liked about the stone is the cut and the way it set in the halo setting. She liked the setting because of the way it complimented the cut of the diamond.

She and I are prudent in our investing and with our money; however, I want to have something she is proud of and will enjoy wearing.

Originally in my mind I wanted to spend between $4000-$8000. Being at $11,000 is higher than what I planned but based on your website and your connections it sounds like you may be able to find me an asscher cut diamond around the same size (more or less) for a better price. What do you think?

A: Have a look at this:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1254225.asp

It’s got a great cut. It’ll look totally white and clean to your eye.

What about a setting like this:
http://www.jamesallen.com/designer-jewelry/meno-collection-by-danhov/ring/item_294-1143.asp

It’s a bit expensive because it’s a designer setting, but the whole package is still a lot cheaper than what you got. And I’m sure the diamonds are probably the same quality.

Also, you can apply the TADJ10 coupon code to that ring to knock off 10%.

Q: Thank you for your quick response and for your time. The diamond looks perfect. It meets all of your criteria but one (the depth is 1% over) but for the price it’s amazing. Looks like a very reputable company as well, plus I get a GIA certification which is very helpful. I can’t think of any reason why not to buy it; I know she will love it and it saves me almost $4000.00 over what I’ve currently have on 30 day review.

You must be a bit of a mind reader; the split band setting is almost identical to one we were looking at over at Helzberg Diamond except that the stone was one of their trademark princess cut diamonds with the corners cut off to make it have “the maximum brilliance”. She likes the split band but we decided against it because we could not figure out how to fuse a wedding band to it and get it up under the halo. The band is an absolute “must have” for her, and even by creating a custom band and fusing it on she felt it detracted from the ring and that it looked “lopsided”. Also, my soon to be fiancé has small hands and fingers and she thought that the split band with the wedding band fused on the side looked too wide on her finger.

The setting at Samuels is a single band with diamonds on both sides of the ring (similar to the one in the picture but they didn’t go down quite as far). It has a halo very similar to the picture of the one you sent me except it may be a little wider (maybe it has another square track of diamonds?). However, the one in the picture you sent me is nice and I don’t think would be a deal killer for her. The main reason she went with the single band is so a notch could be cut along the back side of the halo and the thin wire on top of the wedding band could be slid up inside of it to hold it in place thereby making the wedding band sit perfectly flush against the single band of the ring. Do you know if they have one that is closer to the one I have described?

I am already getting very excited about the possibility of getting my fiancée exactly what she wants and having money left over from the savings to put towards the wedding and/or a great honeymoon. Already many, many thanks for your help thus far.

A: My pleasure to help! What I might recommend, then is contacting JA and asking if they could do a custom job for you and make this ring:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/ring/item_412-2227.asp

with an asscher head instead of a round. It’s basically a simple halo setting with two wedding bands that go on either side.

Q: Hmm… That may be a possibility. I’m going to discuss some options with my future fiancée later tonight and see what she thinks. I’ll let you know what we come up with tomorrow. Thanks again.

A: Sounds good. I look forward to hearing from you.

Q: I spoke with her yesterday. She agrees that getting the other diamond and saving $4000+ is a no brainer. We looked at all the settings at James Allen and she didn’t really like any of them; she said they all looked too “modern” for what she is looking for. The one we have on hold at Samuels has a bit of a “Victorian” feel to it, more “vintage”. The halo sits on top of what I can only describe as a small looking pill box or even a tiara. The sides of the band connect into it and it has three very small diamonds on either side. The halo then sits on top of it.

Do any of your sources have vintage wedding bands?

I think I’m going to buy that diamond today. The set I ordered from Samuels is ready. Unless we find another band I’m thinking about asking them to remove the diamond they put in there and setting the one I’ll get from James Allen. Of course the set the original diamond for free; is there anything I need to watch out for when negotiating with them? For instance, if they say “OK we will remove the diamond we put in there but we are going to charge you to set the other diamond for you” what would be a reasonable price for this service? They may try to jack up their price to reset it because they are losing the sale on the diamond (but still getting the band so they should be happy with that). Would there be any other games you can think of that they would try to play?

PS I spent about two hours on your site and read the part about “the truth about the truth about diamonds”. It is important to me to make sure you get credit for the sale of the James Allen Diamond.

A: That’s very kind of you regarding the credit. I really appreciate it.

I have a feeling Samuels is going to give you a very hard time about this. Also, in a way they will be justified. Halo settings need to be made specifically for each diamond since they need to fit perfectly all around. I would actually suggest you send a link to the ring to JA’s customer support to see how much they’ll quote you for a custom job. YOu can be sure that whatever they put together will be of a significantly higher quality than what Samuels will do. So that might be an important consideration in terms of long term wear and tear.

If you want, try Samuels first to see their reaction, but I’m sure it’s going to be very aggressively negative.

Q: Lisa and I went shopping yesterday to several more local jewelry stores and we found one called Benold’s that had the “mother load” of vintage style settings. She narrowed it down to four that she loved and would be very happy with. Therefore at this point I’m thinking of returning the other ring and moving forward with one of these four settings and having them set one of the stones from James Allen.

We have looked at the other Asscher cuts and I want to ask your opinion about the following: Do you think the increase in price is worth it to go with one of the two 1.20+ carat diamonds over the one you already suggested? Is the increase in carat size be noticeably different?

Here is the one you suggested before:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1254225.asp

Here are the other two we are considering:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1336830.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1279737.asp

Also, here are three of the four settings she likes:

http://www.simongjewelry.com/shop.php?search=mr1840&submit.x=19&submit.y=14&submit=submit (one difference – the wedding band will not be curved – it is straight and will go up under the halo)

http://www.verragio.com/gallery_search.php?field_set=&field_shape=&field_price=&search=yes&keywords=&style=afn5022&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

http://www.verragio.com/S/Verragio-Engagement-Rings/Insignia-Engagement-Rings/INSIGNIA-7005#section1

The fourth one is a Chad Allison Halo; I’ll send you a link if I can get it; we searched their website and can’t locate it. Benold’s said the style number is ME219.

We are ready to move; please let me know what you think as soon as you can. Thanks again.

A: Glad to hear you found the setting she loves! As for the diamonds, here’s what I think: The difference between the stone I suggested and this one:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1336830.asp

is not significant. Its JUST BARELY noticeable, and that’s only on one dimension. The other stone, though (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1279737.asp) will be slightly more noticeable as a larger stone, but I don’t feel the difference is really worth the major jump in price. It’s not like the extra size will be overwhelmingly noticeable. Especially once it’s set.

Q: Hey! Just wanted to let you know we received the loose diamond today from James Allen; it came in a nice box with the GIA document. I showed it to Lisa and she loves it! After looking at it she decided to go with the Simon G setting because she really wants the setting to draw attention to the stone.

I’m very thankful that I found your site and for all your assistance. I feel like I got her what she wanted at a very good value.

When I ordered the diamond online I typed in the “special shipping instructions” box your name and that you assisted me. Please let me know if you need anything else from me; I want to make sure you get credit.

If I don’t talk with you again best of luck and God bless. Who knows, if we ever get a chance to travel to Israel maybe you and your wife could join us for dinner (my treat of course)!

A: Thanks for this very kind email! I appreciate you doing what you could to make the sale go through! Mind if I ask you for a couple of favors?

If you have the time, do you think you might be able to leave me a review on ivouch? If you can, I would be very grateful. Here’s a direct link if you have the time:
xxxxxxx

And if you do ever come to Israel, DEFINITELY be in touch. My wife is a licensed tour guide – she can be a big help!

May God bless you and your wife to be with a long life together filled with health, happiness, and love!
Ira

Q: I’ll certainly go to ivouch and write a very positive review.

That’s most auspicious about your wife being a tour guide; I’ll certainly be in touch if we ever have the opportunity to visit.

Your site and guidance have been a tremendous help; I feel good about the diamond that I purchased. You saved me almost $4000.00 over the other stone I had purchased plus the one I have now has GIA certification, etc. etc. Thanks again!

…….

How are you? I hope things are going well. Thanks again for all your help – the entire setting turned out to be gorgeous.

I forgot to fill out a review on ivouch. When I clicked on the link below it said that the link had expired.

If you can please send me a new one and I’ll go online and fill it out.

Take care and all the best to you and your family.

A: Sure! Thanks so much! That’s very very kind of you!

[LINK TO REVIEW ON IVOUCH]

I am looking at a fixed budget purchase for the highest quality diamond i can get. that budget is 8000 and down…with 8000 being the most i really want to pay but doesnt mean a nice well balanced 6k diamond is out of the question at all.

I am looking for exclusively Cushion or Radiant diamonds, my real preference being the square cushions and am thinking i can possibly get something around 1.1-1.2 carats, G color (though you recommend slightly higher for these cuts), VS2/SI1…it is going to be set on a white gold ring with two .15 carat pears on the side, and the band tapers into the point on the pears which face away from the center stone.

I look forward to your insight, thank you! I realize the cut makes it more difficult but that is her desire.

A: Thanks for writing. I really think you can go down to an H color, and you’d be very happy. An H will look totally white to your eye. Also, if I can find an eye clean Si2, it would also be a smart thing to go for. Look at what you can get following this advice:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1341346.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1351002.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1324842.asp

Let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks Ira, these are great. I especially like the 1.51C diamond.

What do you think about this one as a comp? i like it all except that the girdle is very thick…any thoughts on that as a trait?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281552.asp

Also, am i correct in that most jewelers will put the ring together for me if i bring the diamond in (the few ive spoken to have said yes with minimal enthusiasm)…but i am too smart to buy the diamond from them…too much juice on the price.

Thanks

…….

and one more…this diamond caught me real hard in a way none other did. is that center flaw of concern to you? The specs match your reccomendations.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1289511.asp

A: that is a very nice looking stone. And I think that the inclusion will not be visible to your eye, so I think you’re in the clear!

Q: Thank you! Thats great to know. My finals are between these two; the 1.22 carat is a G but doesnt look as brilliant as the 1.53 H, though i imagine photography has something to do with it. Can i get one final opinion, and then i am going to buy. I assume if i go to the james allen link on your site and put in the chosen diamond’s code, then you will get proper credit for your help?

Thank you Ira

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1277232.asp

A: Definitely go for this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Radiant-Diamond-1289511.asp

Just click on that link before you buy, and it should get tracked automatically. Just remember to also apply (for your benefit) the TADJ10 coupon code if you buy it with a setting. It’ll give you 10% off the setting only.

Q: Yeah im quite partial to that one. Thanks Ira! You are a truly great resource and educator for this Right of Passage.

A: Sounds great! Let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear your impressions once you see it face to face.

Q: Ira-

just got back home and had diamond waiting for me. It looks great! choosing what looked like the flatest, broaded table on the cushion was a good decision, it has the effect that i had hoped for. i would like to see what E clarity would look like next to it, but all in all i dont think it will be a big deal….great diamond, cut is phenomenal, and that somewhat significant feather inclusion is not noticeable whatsoever.

Thanks!

A: Great news! Do you think you might be able to do me a small favor? If you have the time, do you think you could leave me a short review on ivouch? If you could, I would be very grateful. Here’s a direct link if you can do it:

xxxxxx

Thanks! And congrats!

Q: Done.

[LINK TO REVIEW]

the jeweler was impressed at the deal i got on my diamond…

A: Wow! Thanks so much!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1317097.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344952.asp

My budget is $8,200 max and I would like a diamond that shines and sparkles the most (hence why I am only looking at TH diamonds). I am open to Ideal cut diamonds but I have seen the TH G-VS2 diamond in person and love the way it sparkles.

I recently saw the TH G-SI1 diamond on their website and am now thinking that I could be saving an extra $1K if I just went with the SI1 vs. the VS2. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks so much!

A: I definitely think this one’s the better choice:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344952.asp

Just a much better value. Both are eye clean, so why pay more for something that’s more invisible? Invisible is invisible!

Q: Thank you so much for the super prompt response Ira!

I think I will go with the diamond you suggested. Just curious, but are there any other James Allen diamonds I should consider? I know you don’t necessarily recommend purchasing a TH diamond over an Ideal diamond because the brilliance and fire isn’t that much more noticeable. So based on my requirements (round, $8200 max, super sparkle & 100% eye clean), are there other diamonds that are perhaps bigger (Ideal cut, lower color or clarity) that you would recommend? Please let me know. Thanks so much!

A: I actually looked myself even without your asking and couldn’t find anything. There was a 1.17 TH stone, I believe (an H color, maybe), but it wasn’t noticeably larger in diameter, so I didn’t recommend it.

Q: Good to know. Thank you so much again for all of your help. I feel so much better about purchasing the diamond you recommended. Thank you for being such a wonderful resource! I will definitely use your discount code when purchasing the diamond with a setting.

A: Thanks! Please let me know how it goes!

Q: I just wanted to give you an update that I decided to go with the SI1 stone: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344952.asp and absolutely love it! I can’t see any flaws or clouds with my unaided eye at all.

I just have one more quick question though. I recently found this other stone on their website: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1348201.asp currently listed for $7,510. The one that I chose above was $7,210. Do you think the H-SI1 is the better value since it’s bigger? Or do you still think the G-SI1 that I currently have is the better value since it’s a HOF and color G? Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks so much again for all of your help and input!

A: I think you’re better off sticking with what you already have. It’s cheaper, first of all. The difference in size is only about 0.25mm which is only JUST BARELY noticeable. I mean, you have to really study them to see that one’s larger than the other. And in a setting, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference at all.

Have a great weekend!

Do you think you might be able to do me a favor, actually? If you have a spare few minutes, do you think you could leave me a review on ivouch? if you could, I would be most grateful! Her’es a direct link if you can do it:

xxxxx

Thanks again! Congrats!

Q: Thanks so much again for your expertise and superb help! I did a review for you via the link. Thanks again!

LINK TO REVIEW

A: Thanks so much!

I was wondering if you have any suggestions for a princess cut diamond not including the price of the ring in the $8,000 to $9,000 range (preferably on the lower end of this range unless something outstanding is available.)

In terms of priorities I would prefer that the diamond is at least relatively eye clean and above 1.5 carats if both of these conditions can be met.

Additionally, could you please give me at least one Blue Nile diamond to choose from because I currently have a 5% off coupon with my credit card company if I use them. I’ll make sure you get your affiliate link income from whatever diamond I choose.

A: I wish I could send you a link to a stone on BN, but I just don’t feel right recommending diamonds I can’t inspect. But I’m sure I can get you a better deal than the 5% coupon will save you. Here’s what I mean:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1325998.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

You could never successfully blindly buy an SI2 princess cut from blue nile. But from JA, since I was able to inspect that stone, I can verify that it’ll be eye clean. The price difference between an H VS2 and an H SI2 1.70-1.80ct princess cut is about $2000 – well over the 5% that the coupon will get you.

Let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks for the quick response Ira. That diamond looks beautiful and has an awesome price! I understand your reasoning behind not recommending Blue Nile. It makes perfect sense once you explain it.

I really like the diamond you recommended but can you give me two or three other choices for comparison’s sake? Also, how do I ensure you get your affiliate payment from JA? Do I just purchase the diamond via the link you sent me in your email or through some other process?

A: Thanks for the concern about the affiliate stuff! The link should be enough, but even if it doesn’t work for one reason or another, the TAD0611 coupon code acts like a fail-safe measure. That’ll give you 10% off the setting.

Here are a couple more options:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1277224.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1103116.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Q: Thanks for all the help! After much indecisiveness, I think I want to go with a round diamond. I’ve determined which ring I want to buy and I think a round stone will look better in the ring. Can you recommend two round diamonds with the same parameters as the my previous request (i.e. in the $8,000-9,000 range, eye clean). I’m very excited to make the purchase today if possible.

A: Here’s my picks:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1339604.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 - looks eye clean. Beautiful cut. Great value at 1.46cts.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1308049.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Let me know which one you decide to go with!

Q: I went with the 1.46cts diamond but it was definitely a tough decision! In the end I didn’t think I could justify an extra $800 or so for the 1.51cts diamond or $1,300 for a 1.61cts diamond that just went up on the James Allen website. Thank you so much for helping me with the diamond selection process.

I was sure to use the coupon code provided on your website and even saved a few bucks on the ring. If it wasn’t for your website I would have never known about James Allen. If there is anything I can do to help promote your website (like write a review somewhere) please feel free to ask.

A: I think it’s a fantastic choice. And I really appreciate your offer for a review. I’ll definitely hit you up for that BUT only after you receive the ring and you let me know how much you love it!

Q: Sounds good Ira! The ring is scheduled to arrive no later than Wednesday next week. I’ll contact you after it arrives.

I’ve got a budget of about $8K for the entire ring. I’m aiming for a round brilliant centre stone of around 1.2ct, set in a white gold band with smaller diamonds either side of the main diamond. Similar to a 4-claw version of:

www.diamondexchange.com.au/tray/index.php?main_page=ring_builder&cat=23&s=rb&sku=3977

I assume that the ring and side stones will cost about $1700 to buy and put together, leaving about $6.5K for the centre stone.

So, regarding the centre stone, what should I be looking for (GIA of course)? Your guidelines recommend the lowest eye-clean clarity possible, ie SI1/VS2, Ideal/Excellent cut, Good or better symmetry & polish which I am happy with.

Initially I was hoping for F or better colour with No fluorescence but that might push the price up a bit too far. You suggest H-J colour with Medium Blue fluorescence as a better ”bang for your buck” buy (particularly in a silver coloured ring), is this still a good idea given that there will be other diamonds beside it in the setting? Can you suggest any particular diamonds that would be suitable?

Also, can you offer any guidance for the smaller stones, or is it better to purchase locally from the jeweller who ”assembles” the ring?

Something else that I need to bear in mind is that anything that I import from overseas will incur about 15% in customs duty and taxes, plus insurance. Am I way off the mark with my budget?

I appreciate your help and thanks again for such an informative website.

A: Thanks for writing!

One thing you should keep in mind is that even if you buy locally, the original importer had to pay the same duties you’ll have to pay if you buy overseas (assuming he imported the diamond legally). So local prices already have the taxes built in. So just make sure you do a complete comparison when comparing prices.

If I were you, I wouldn’t try to find a supplier of the sidestones and try to have it built custom. It’s a very basic and common design – any place you buy the loose diamond from should without any issue be able to supply you that ring complete.

Here’s a nice alternative from James Allen, for example:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Common-Prong-Engagement-Ring.html

If you like that setting, let me know and I’ll suggest some diamonds for you so you’ll end up at about $8K (USD or AUD?) total including your taxes, then you can compare this total package to what you can get locally.

Q: Thanks for the quick response!

Yes that option that you suggested from James Allen is an interesting alternative, I like the way that the centre stone is set nice and high – I’m guessing that it would allow more light underneath? I also like the way that the band rises to meet the centre setting. My only concern with that design is that you can see too much of the white gold band between the side stones, as she seems to prefer the pavé style. I think that I might be safer with something like:

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

Yes I am aiming at about $8K AUD – at the moment I am pretty lucky in that we are nearing parity with the USD.

A: Lets see what we can do here!

According to JA’s currency converter, about $6850 USD will cost you about $8000 AUD taking into account taxes and what-not. So taking that ring you selected, it costs 1125. After applying the TAD0611 coupon, the ring will cost $1012.50. So that’s going to leave you with about $6750 USD for the diamond.

Here are some diamonds that I think would look amazing with that diamond ring:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326401.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – eye clean. Triple excellent.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1320385.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – ditto

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1308155.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – Eye clean. Excellent Cut.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1314483.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – Eye clean. AGS triple zero.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks again and have a good weekend.

Q: I didn’t think that I’d be in the ballpark for something quite as large as 1.35, so that’s a pleasant surprise. When I was doing my initial research, I figured that I would be forced to sacrifice some size to allow for an acceptable colour and clarity. So, taking your first suggestion (1326401) as an example, my question is would there be much visible difference between that I/SI2 with twinning wisps and surface graining (noted on the certificate) as opposed to an F/SI1?

What do you think of these examples? I find it quite difficult to get a good idea from the Virtual Loupe.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315494.asp 1.13/F/SI1/Ideal Cut/GIA?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1324256.asp 1.18/G/SI1/Ideal Cut/GIA?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1303393.asp 1.29/F/SI2/Ideal Cut/GIA?a_aid=dmnd1357

I’m also not real sure about going with anything apart from GIA certified (based on your information on your certificates web page).

All that said, I’d definitely go with the larger stone if there is no noticeable difference between the two! *so confused*

A: In terms of clarity there would be no difference at all between the SI2 and SI1, assuming both are eye clean. As far as the color goes, if both were directly next to each other and you were viewing them face-up mounted in a ring, you would just be able to perceive a difference in shading. But if you viewed them separately, the difference would be much harder to see. When seeing the I, you would most definitely say that it looks white.

The biggest issue between the stones I suggested and the F SI1 is size. There’s about a half millimeter difference between the two which is obviously noticeable.

In theory, the 1.29 F SI2 would be great (aside from the higher price), but that particular stone you linked to would not be clean to the naked eye.

Q: Ira, that’s good news. The 1.35/I/SI2 seems like very good value!

Now, as you suggest all I might see what similar options there are locally over the next week or two – to be honest, I don’t think I’ll get close. Then it’s just a case of deciding between white gold and platinum (there’s only $300 difference between the two), figuring out the ring size (that could be a challenge…), and then I’ll be ready to go!

Thank you once again for your help. I’ll certainly be recommending you to any of my mates might be looking to make a purchase.

A: My pleasure. I would like to make a suggestion to you, though. I think you should order the ring now, so you have it locked up. Otherwise, you’re very likely going to have it sold out from underneath you. You have a full 30 days to return it for a full refund, so you have nothing to worry about. And anyway, this will allow you a better sense of comparison when you shop around.

If/when you do place the order, make sure to use the TAD0611 coupon code to get 10% off the setting.

Q: I hope you are well.

This is just a short email to let you know that I did follow your recommendation and I went ahead and ordered the ring from JA. It has since arrived and it is simply stunning. I am very impressed and I am sure that she will be too!

So I thank you once again for all your help. Should you receive any enquiries from Australia in the future, it might be worth mentioning that I was charged 5% import duty, plus 10% Goods and Services Tax – so I did end up going quite a bit over my budget, but I believe I still received far better value for money than had I purchased from here.

Best regards!

A: That’s wonderful news! I’m very happy for you! Did they let you use the coupon, btw?

If you wouldn’t mind, do you think you could do me a small favor and leave me some feedback on ivouch? If you could, I would be VERY grateful!

Thanks again! And Congratulations!!!

Q: G’day Ira,

Yes they did accept the coupon code, thanks for the tip!

I left some comments on iVouch. Please let me know if you want me to add/remove/change anything – I’m grateful for your help!

Cheers

A: It’s fantastic! Thank you VERY much!

I am looking for the largest round diamond without sacrificing cut for a budget of 7-8000. I have found this stone on James Allen and thought it was a great deal. What do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1284518.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I found this stone to be slightly lower then the average price of similar sized stones. Is it because of the I color? Based off of my limited knowledge from your website and looking at a ton of stones on JA I think this is a good bang vs buck stone and should be eye clean? Does the road rash (lack of a better term) near the center concern you? Do you have any alternate suggestions?

Once again I cant complement you enough on putting together such a comprehensive website and I appreciate any feedback you can give me.

Thanks.

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

I took a look, and I think this might be a better value for you:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326401.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s an SI2, but from the pic, it definitely looks like it will be eye clean. So with the savings in the clarity, you pocket a little bit of money and you get a larger stone. Sounds good to me!

Q: Thanks for the quick reply. The diamond you suggested does look nice and looks like I get more bang for my buck. Back to the diamond I originally looked up. The certificate was from almost a year ago. Any reason why it hasn’t sold in a while? Any added benefit for the HA to be inscribed on it? I assume it means Hearts & Arrows.

If I am looking towards the top end of my budget, what do you think of this diamond?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310939.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks.

A: Why is the cert old? There are a lot of possible reasons to explain it that aren’t “it’s an ugly stone that nobody wants to buy.” So I always tell people concerned about old certs that if there’s nothing else that looks askew, then you shouldn’t let an old cert dissuade you.

As for the inscription — ignore it. Anybody who orders the inscription service from GIA can request ANYTHING to be inscribed. H&A is not something GIA grades. It’s just something the stone’s owner requested GIA to inscribe on the stone. They could have requested GIA inscribe “Superman” on the stone as well. The stone might actually be Hearts & arrows, but JA isn’t selling it as such, so I’m skeptical that it really is.

Q: Thanks again, what do you think of the 1.5ct diamond I linked in my last email?

A: Sorry I missed that! That stone looks fantastic. The only issue is that it’s only about 0.20mm larger than the 1.35 I suggested, so I’m not sure it’s worth the big jump in price.

Q: Yeah I see what you’re saying its over a grand more for .2mm which is relatively small. Do you have any other suggestions in addition to what you originally recommended? Id like to look at some stones to compare with (in ranges around your suggestion and higher), not that I don’t like the one you suggested. Theres something I like about that stone I selected but without the experience that someone like you has I don’t want to be too quick in pulling the trigger without doing some comparisons.

Thanks again.

……….

Hate to keep emailing you but it looks like someone pulled the trigger on the diamond I originally linked because I just looked and its unavailable! I did see this newer one listed and looks good to me. Whats your opinion?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326654.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks.

A: That’s also a very very nice looking stone. The J color will be slightly “warmer” than the I color, but it will still look white.

Q: Ira, thanks for the advice. I went and put that diamond on hold so I can continue looking over night and not lose out on any good stones. I just searched again and it looks like my original 1.29-I-SI1 is available again. In your opinion, which stone looks better?

I really liked this tension setting and was leaning towards it. Does this setting influence your opinion in any way?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/contemporary-rings/ring/item_500-7619.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Hopefully you are not busy tonight or tomorrow morning so that I can make a purchase before the stones reserve goes off.

Thanks again!

A: I would go with the I SI1. Eye clean is eye clean, but there is a real difference between colors even if they’re extremely hard to perceive.

Q: Thanks for all of the help and opinions. I went with the I-SI1 and cant wait to get it! It will be a while before I receive it since the tension setting takes longer to make but Ill keep you updated.

A: Great news! Please let me know what you think when it arrives!

Congrats!

Q: Thanks again Ira, throughout all my research on the topic of diamonds I came across the Holloway Cut Advisor. I was wondering what your take on it and its output is.

A: I actually just answered someone else about this, so I’ll just copy what I wrote him:

“Hi Dhiraj. I personally don’t think the HCA is particularly accurate. Even the creator of the HCA says himself that it’s only a rejection tool. Meaning, it should only be used to reject stones that receive a high number. It should not be used to select from a group of stones that receive a low number by choosing the lowest number.”

But I would really go one step farther. The GIA invested 10 years of research examining real-world performance of every possible combination of measurements. Their cut grade reflects this research. I tend to side with them over Mr. Holloway when they disagree.

Q: I just received the ring today and its absolutely stunning. Better than what I had expected! Its clear, white, bright, and sparkly! i am so glad that I ran across your website to educate myself with and I am so grateful for the advice you provided for me.

I did have one last question for you though. James Allen included an appraisal with the order (which was just icing on the cake when I saw the number!) how much credence do you put to this appraisal? Do you usually recommend getting it independently appraised for insurance purposes?

Thanks again.

A: Great news! Thanks so much for writing to let me know!

As far as the appraisal goes, I don’t give credence to ANY appraisal. They’re only good for what they’re used for – getting insurance. For insurance purposes, you need the replacement value – what you could expect to pay walking into any retail store. So naturally, that’s going to be more than what you paid.

……….

Oh! one more thing! Do you think you might be able to write me a short ivouch review? If you could, I would be very grateful! here’s a direct link if you have the time:

[LINK REMOVED]

Thanks!

Q: i just left you a positive review on ivouch. Once again I must thank you for all the information and advice you have shared with me. I popped the question on Sunday and it was amazing! Thanks to you my fiancée has everyone jealous of the gorgeous rock and I dont have a black hole for a bank account!!! I will make sure to steer anyone in the market to your site so they to can get an education!