At this point, don’t know what I should be searching for under the microscope. Would love to see some suggestions from you and/or commentary. Also see that by expanding the carat search size to 1.01 opens it up to even more diamonds.

Appreciate your expertise. Thank you.

A: I’m very happy to help! As for these two suggestions, I don’t like the H SI2 since it only has an excellent grade from AGS – which is akin to a VG grade from GIA. I do like the I SI1 very much, though.

As for your budget, does that include the setting as well?

Q: Thanks for the reply.  I would like to spend total of 6k including the platinum setting, so right around 5k for the diamond. Ideally would like to stay under total of 6k, but could spend a little more if you think it makes a big difference from a diamond standpoint.

If you could send some links for me to evaulate that would be great. Also, does using your discount code get you proper sales credit?

Thank you

A: If you’ve clicked on any links from my site to JA, then I’d actually get credit even without you using the coupon. But the coupon does add a level of security just in case the tracking software doesn’t work for whatever reason. Anyway, here’s some suggestions for you:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1332376.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1338554.asp

Let me know what you think of those!

Q: You are the man. I went with the first and put the order in. Let me know where I can leave you feedback because you took the guess work out of this important purchase. Can’t say how much I appreciate your help on this. Thank you!

A: Hey! That’s great news! Congrats! Please stay in touch and let me know what you think when it arrives.

Thanks!

Q: I’ll let you know when I receive the ring. Thanks again for your help!

A:  Please do stay in touch. I would love to hear what you think when the ring arrives.

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!!

lovepromiseandring.com

For example, Jeff Jaffe of Harold Jaffe Jewelers in Toledo, Ohio, told JCK Magazine, “We don’t believe in any certificates – even from the better labs. If I agree with the diamond grading document, I’ll use it. But we usually go downward – not upward – when comparing our diamond evaluations to grading reports from a lab.”

Likewise, Craig Underwood of Underwood’s Fine Jewelers in Fayetteville, Arkansas, now presents customers with his own diamond reports since he felt there were too many inconsistencies in the reports he received from various gemological labs. He explains, “We’ll give the customer a lab-issued diamond grading report if the customer specifically asks for it, but that rarely happens. Most of the time the lab-issued grading report is filed in our archives and never shown to the customer. The only report the customer receives is our Underwood Diamond Report.”

More than just a response to inconsistencies in major lab reports, independent jewelers are also motivated by cutting costs – thus eliminating the third party evaluation. Retailers began their own reporting in the 1990s as a measure to gain quality control, but certainly the savings involved in this move were also an important factor.

Jaffe insists that his store now certifies fewer diamonds, that “it’s not about the paper; it’s about the diamond value for the dollar.”

And finally, local jewelers can create their own language of certification beyond the traditional four C’s of carat, color, cut, and clarity. Mike Fleck of Occasions Fine Jewelry in Midland, Texas, says, “We use terms such as face-up whiter, or a 90-point spread as big as a carat. Each parcel paper will have three to four Value Notes on it.”

But doesn’t all this creativity miss the point of streamlined evaluation that big labs and jewelers all over the world have been practicing for decades? How can we talk about the characteristics of a diamond without the four C’s – the standard shoptalk for any diamond dealer and consumer?

Indeed, Michael Fried, editor of TruthAboutDiamonds.com, is wary of in-house certifications for exactly this reason. He explains that we could understand if retailers wanted to conduct their own grading system in addition to the standard reports they receive from GIA or AGS, but to reject the traditional certification entirely seems like bad news for you, the diamond consumer.

How are you to compare a diamond you find in one store without this certification versus a diamond in another store with independent evaluation notes like “face-up whiter”? And an even more fundamental question: how are you to make an educated, objective decision about a diamond that is not 100% based on the retailer’s opinion and smooth talk?

As always, dear diamond customers, be careful and use us as your resource. We are happy to provide that reassurance or be the source of quality information that you need.

Source:

http://www.jckonline.com/2011/12/21/why-jewelers-are-doing-their-own-diamond-grading?utm_source=JCK+eNewsletters&utm_campaign=a1710510db-2011_01_14_Top_Story_Saturday1_13_2012&utm_medium=email

A: Those two are fantastic choices! The truth is, in a million years, you would never be able to distinguish between the two of them. They’re almost a perfect match. So just go with the cheaper one:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353294.asp

Q: Thank you for your thoughts. A couple more questions: both stones have SI1 clarity, but when I use the Loupe on the James Allen website, I do not see any dark spots in either of the diamonds like I see in your examples on your website of different degrees of clarity. Do you see why either has the SI1 rating for clarity; where are the imperfections? And does it affect how you see them with the naked eye?

Also, as far as color, I read the information on your website about “color” grading. In these 2 stones, will the “I” color be noticeable to the naked eye?

And I think my last question: for the money would you suggest looking for a smaller stone with better grading or quality, or would you still choose the one you suggest below? (item 1353294) Thank you so much for your help!

PS: just a little background on my search. I am having a goldsmith recreate a white gold ring my grandmother wore which is very similar to this:

http://www.gloriasjewelers.com/gjgallery/gjgallery.php?level=picture&id=86 (if the link does not work, copy and paste into the web address box)

My diamond search is for the center stone. I really appreciate your help!

A: I think I mentioned in that chart of clarity examples that the clarity samples in that chart are as bad as each grade can possibly be. The two stones you linked to have very faint SI1s that you can’t see in these pics.

I think that stone is a great choice. No need to change. 0.60 size offers great value, and I SI1 is really in a value sweet spot.

Q: I bought the stone you suggested and it is beautiful! Thank you for giving me your opinion and answering my questions. I do have another question I am pretty sure you can answer. Aside from the fact that the diamond is beautiful, one of my deciding factors in buying a certified diamond was the laser inscribed number on the girth of the diamond. Maybe I have watched too much TV about diamonds being switched and I want to make sure I have the diamond I purchased.

As I mention below, this stone is the center diamond for a re-created family ring. A goldsmith is actually creating the ring for our local jewelry store. When I dropped off the diamond, I asked to see the certification number on my new diamond using their microscope which they showed me. But the girl at the jewelry store told me I would not be able to see the inscribed AGS number on the diamond once it is set in the new ring. Is that true? I find it hard to believe that the diamond can not be set so the number is between the prongs. I don’t want to seem untrusting, I just want to ensure I have the diamond I purchased. I go back in a week to approve the wax cast before the ring is made; if you agree they should be able to set the diamond with the number exposed, I will insist that is the way I want it. Thank you for your help

A: If the stone will be prong set, then there’s no reason, as you say, that they can’t have the inscription showing between the prongs. Tell them that’s what you want. It was probably just a misinformed newish employee who told you that bogus answer.

Enjoy your new ring!

Notionally, my budget for rock and ring is about $2500. The ring would probably be a solitaire 4 or 6 prong, white gold. That said, I can see a budget of $2000 for the diamond. Based on my reading at this site, current thinking is:

round, near colorless, eye clean. I’d like to get the biggest decent diamond for the budget, and I look to you for any advice you could offer with the above in mind. I saw some data about how price between say .69 and .7 can be a big step, so any of my initial specs are open to your guidance, including a small bump in budget.

Thanks so much for this.

A: Thanks for writing and thanks for the kind words about the site! Here’s what I like for your budget:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1354977.asp – eye clean. AGS triple zero ideal cut.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1350242.asp – eye clean. GIA triple excellent.

let me know what you think!

Q: Both nice picks. When I look with virtual loupe, item# 1354977 seems to have some yellowish marks in the center. The item 1350242 doesn’t have this. Would I see those yellowish marks with naked eye?

I can go either way, $100 delta is minimal. Do you have a preference?

Also, going with a solitaire setting. Do you advise 6 prongs or 4? I don’t like basket style as much, as they seem to obscure the diamond.

Thanks, I am ready to buy after our reply.

A: Those yellow marks are probably there because someone in the room was wearing a yellow shirt or there was some yellow on the wall. You wouldn’t see yellow like that in the stone. Either way,I think I would recommend the other stone since GIA is a tiny bit stricter in color in this range, so just for the extra measure of security, I’d say to go with the GIA certified stone. Otherwise, they’re so similar, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between them.

Let me know how it goes!

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?action=remove&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD01959584

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?action=remove&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD01951913

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?action=remove&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD01876101

I’m leaning toward the diamond on the 2nd link but would like to know what you think and what are your suggestions.

I have another question, I heard that the diamond fluorescence, Negligible is the same as None, is it true?

Thanks in advance for your time!

A: Negligible is the same as none. Nothing to worry about.

As for your ring, mind my asking why you’re limiting yourself to VS1+ in clarity? Look what you can get for less money:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353070.asp

The diamond would be just as eye clean as a VS1. Clarity doesn’t affect brilliance, so the stone would be as bring and lively as the stones on Blue Nile – it would just be noticeably larger!

Q: Thanks for your quick answer. I am looking for at least VS1 clarity bec my fiance wants to buy from bluenile and since we don’t get a chance to see the diamond over there, we thaught VS1 would be the minimum clarity as not to have many inclusions in the diamond. We have heard many good reviews about bluenile and decided to go with it..Is there any difference between the diamonds offered in blue nile and james allen regading quality? Also, I would like to know, u said in ur website that AGS is not as strict as GIA, is that mean that an AGS ideal cut might be in GIA only a very good cut.

For the color, I’m looking for at least a G color or above..I have seen recently a ring in a store, it was a GIA ideal, D color, SI1, 0.5 carat but on my hand it looked quite bigger than the other 0.5 carat I have tried with lower color grade. Does the color along with a good cut make the diamond looks bigger?

Finally, I liked the diamond u showed me, I couldn’t see any inclusions except a small scratch on the left side which I was not even sure if it is a scratch or not..but l’m still looking for sthg with a G color or above eventhough a little smaller.

Thanks again for your help and assistance!!

A: The diamond on JA are just as good as BN. The only difference is their prices are slightly better and they have pictures so you can see what you buy before you buy it.

The difference between AGS and GIA is very minimal. It’s the kind of thing where you only start to recognize differences over thousands of stones – not on individual stones.

Color doesn’t make stones look bigger. It must have just been that particular stone that had a spready cut.

What do you tihnk about this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1350097.asp

Q: Could you please let me know what do u think about this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1346512.asp

Comparing this one to the other two below that u have sent me earlier, which one do you think would be more sparkly and lively? I would like to get your opinion before i make my final selection and make my order. You are a great help..Thanks a lot!!

A: The one you linked to might be ever so slightly more brilliant, but the H SI2 I recommended will be noticeably larger. So it’s a toss up between those two factors, I guess.

Q: We made our purchase yesterday and we went with this one..We thaught this one has a good cut and might be noticeable as well..Thanks again for ur time and ur great help..U are the best.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1346508.asp

A: Great news! DId you buy it with a ring? If so, did you apply the TADJ10 coupon code? Congrats!

Please stay in touch and let me know what you think when it arrives!

Q: Sorry to get with you that late..I actually ordered the diamond alone..I didn’t find the setting that I was looking for on the JA website..I wanted a simple tiffany setting but all JA solitaires have a very low prone that makes the diamod sits low which I didn’t like much…I shopped around in the stores and they offer similar pricing for the setting..so not decided yet if I’m going to order the setting here from US or back home.

For the diamond, it arrived early last week and it’s really very nice…It sparkles a lot and under the day light it looks very white and sparkly..you wouldn’t even tell it’s an H color…I love it…The true heart is really the way to go..

I have forwarded your coupon code and your website to my cousin..He is buying an engagement ring from JA within the next few weeks..He was just waiting to hear about mine…so he is definitely would be using your coupon.

Thanks again for the great information u have on ur website and ur quick answers to all my questions…U made my shopping really very easy.

A: So great to hear! Thanks for writing and letting me know! Do you think you might be able to do me a small favor? If you would be able to write me a short ivouch review, I would be very very grateful. Here’s a direct link if you have the time:

xxxxxxx

Thanks again! And congratulations!!

Q: I have wrote my review on ivouch. And I’m recommending all my friends to you website!! You were really a great help and I’m very happy with my purchase.

Thanks!!

A: Thanks so much! It’s wonderful!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1349846.asp

Although I was originally looking for a 0.9 ct. stone, it seems likely that the size difference here will be negligible. I’ve come to be a bit of a stickler for cut, so the great visual symmetry and and good rating (H&A Ideal; AGS) are big selling points for me. After looking at the examples on your site, I’d guess that the inclusions in the stone (left of center) will not be obvious to the naked eye, but I just wanted to get an expert’s opinion on this point. After my searching, it does seem to be very nice stone at the price point.

In short: 1. Do you think that the stone is eye-clean? and 2. Do you think that this particular stone is a good value?

Thanks so much for your advice, and thanks again for putting together such a valuable resource. Happy new year!

A: Thanks for the very kind words about the site!

That’s a very beautiful stone you selected. Good value and definitely eye clean. The only thing I might suggest is perhaps going to a stone like this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1334478.asp

The size difference is negligible and you wouldn’t be able to perceive the difference in color. So the only issue is whether or not it’s worth the extra 10% or so to upgrade to the “true hearts.” Frankly, it’s a very tough call! In the end, it’s really got to be a personal decision since it’s not something that you can easily attach a dollar value to.

Let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks so much for your advice. It’s certainly reassuring to have a second point of view. It was a nice stone you suggested as well; I’m surprised I missed it. I’m still leaning towards my original selection based on (my own) perceived symmetry; it’s great to know that stone should be eye-clean as well.

Also, are AGS Ideal stones any different from the GIA “triple-ex” variety? I ask simply because it seems strange JA.com doesn’t have any H&A GIA stones. I’d think that marketing the top-cut GIA stones as H&A would be beneficial from a sales perspective. Is the H&A cut the “top-tier” of the Ideal cut? I figured it might have to do with the availability of “idealscope” images, but the stone I’m considering is H&A with no such supplemental information…

In any event, thanks again for your help. Again, your site (particularly the side-by-side image comparisons) has been very helpful.

A: AGS and GIA are very very similar. Back when I was knee deep in certified stones working full time in the industry, there was a very slight amount of leniency we perceived at AGS vs. GIA in specific color ranges (generally H-J), but it was an effect that was really only felt on a financial level over hundreds of stones.

See my article on AGS - under “truth about” then “Diamond certificates” then “AGS”

Q: Thanks again for the clarification and advice. I wound up going with the 0.84 ct “True Hearts” stone. It arrived this morning and it looks great. As I’d guessed and you suggested, it does appear to be eye-clean. If I use a little imagination, I might be able to see the inclusions, but I’m certain I’d never find them without a loupe if I didn’t already know their locations.

JA actually sent an ‘idealscope’ along with the stone as well, which is a cute gimmick. Nonetheless, it was good to see first-hand that their claims were true regarding the cut.

In any event, the whole process wound up being an experience more pleasant than I had anticipated, in large part owing to your advice. I’m certain I made the right choice, which is really all I could’ve asked for at this point.

And keep on recommending JA.com; from my ordering experience it’s obvious that they are an extraordinarily user-oriented outfit.

A: Such great news!! Thanks so much for writing and letting me know!

I was wondering if you could do me a small favor? If you could leave me a review on ivouch, I would be most grateful. If you have the time, here’s a direct link set up for you:

Thanks so much! And may you and your fiance-to-be live a long life together filled with health, happiness, and love!!

Best Wishes

Q: I’m happy to leave a positive review of the site. With so much lousy content on the web these days, it’s really a rare service you’re providing.

Thanks again, and best wishes!

A: It’s so nice! Thanks so much!

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!

A: First of all, I just wanted to express my appreciation for your service. It’s especially meaningful and relevant for me, being an American who has moved to Israel.

Now, about sylvia’s – I would not buy a diamond online that was not certified. The fact that a graduate gemologist appraised the stone is completely meaningless. It should be viewed with extreme skepticism since the gemologist works for the company that’s trying to sell you the stone.

Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend buying an antique ring. My wife’s first e-ring was an antique and it constantly broke and had to be fixed. Old gold breaks down. You’d be much better off buying a new ring in an antique style.

Why not take a look at jamesallen.com and have a look at their ring selection and see if anything speaks to you. If you find something, I can recommend a great stone from you from their inventory. I push JA because it’s the only site that offers magnified pics of the stones – which I need to make my recommendations.

Q: Thanks for the quick response, and the words of encouragement. May I just say that it’s so refreshing to find someone as up-front and honest about things as you, especially over the internet. After considering your advice and parousing your website, I think I’ve decided to go with a James Allen ring (with your recommendation, of course). As far as Sylvias, I have to say it definitely raised a flag when she said “not certified.” Thanks for saving me from a possibly huge mistake.

On to the ring. Like I said, a lot of my questions were answered just looking through your site. I saw one guy you helped had asked about which setting to choose, and just the feed between you and him answered more of my questions. However I still have one– I’ve basically narrowed it down to the classic solitaire knife-edge setting, or the rounded French-cut pave setting. My only concern with the pave one is, the stones in it are color G-H. Now from what I read concerning the stone I’ll be buying, I know a color I might be possible. Would having a pave setting with higher color stones than the actual center diamond affect its brilliance or detract from it in any way?

As far as the actual stone goes, I’ll go ahead and give my parameters and budget, but I’d like to ask you to hold off on actually searching until sometime in the first week of September, because I can’t make the purchase until I get paid, and I don’t want to risk you finding a great stone now and it selling before I have a chance to grab it. I’ll keep in touch with you though, and let you know when to start looking.

Basically I have a 4k budget for the stone. Before I got educated via your site, I had lofty ideals when it came to color and clarity. You have already convinced me that a lower color, si1 or si2 stone can be found that will still be beautiful and undetectable to the naked eye. So, basically I want the biggest bang for the buck. It doesn’t have to be a full carat, though I’d like as close to a 1.0 as possible, without sacrificing. I really don’t want to say too much, but rather would just like to let you run free and find me a great deal.

Thanks again for the help. It still feels a little too good to be true, that you would just dispense this knowledge so freely and cheerily. I know you get a commission, but I also know it is highly deserved. Thanks so much in advance.

…….

I know I said to hold off on looking until next week, but I just can’t help myself. Also I think I forgot to mention that I’m looking for a round cut.

I decided against the pave ring, so you can disregard that question. I’m going to go with the classic solitaire setting.

I do have a question regarding the true hearts cut vs. an ideal cut. What’s the main difference? I have to admit, just looking at them myself, they look spectacular. But I’m not sure if I could find an ideal cut that looks just as good. What are your thoughts? Like I said in my previous email, at the outset of my search I had higher standards for color and clarity, because my thinking was that I would rather have a smaller-carat stone that sparkled more brilliantly than a higher-carat stone that looked like garbage. I still feel the same, but once again after extensive reading on your site, I feel like a good balance could be found between a lower color, clarity that is clean to the naked eye, and carat. Also it seems that if the cut is good, then the stone will look better….

I’m sorry if it seems I’m bugging you but like I said I’m just excited about the process! Thanks again

btw heres a couple that I’ve looked at in my price range…..thoughts?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315143.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315252.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A:   I’m sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I hope you received my email from last night with the explanation.

I took a look at the two stones you suggested, and between the two, I like the H VS2 better. There’s really no reason at all to go for a VVS1 on a round diamond. You’re paying a big premium for something you’ll never be able to appreciate.

For that matter, you really don’t need a VS2 either. This stone will look identical to you if they were both sitting in front of you on a table, yet this stone is a lot cheaper:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1321924.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Have a look and let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks for the note. The stone you suggested looks great, however I’m still wondering about the difference between a hearts and arrows cut and an ideal cut? Is it more of just a premium label (like the clarity grades), or something that you would actually be able to appreciate? I found a couple that I was looking at…

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1322364.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I couldn’t really find any SI1 that looked eye clean to me. But then again, I’m not the expert. Also I know you say on the site that J colors are ok for a round, but would there be any noticeable difference between an H or an I? Thanks again!

A: Those two stones you linked to look great!

As far as H&A vs Ideal goes – I think there is a difference that’s noticeable, but it’s fairly slight. The question of whether it’s worth the premium or not is a difficult one because some people are very picky and have a very sharp eye for these things. Most people don’t. Even if you could appreciate the difference, it’s still questionable whether or not that small difference is worth the relatively large increase in price.

You might be able to perceive a difference between an H and a J if they were held next to each other for direct comparison, but you’d have to really look hard and concentrate. Once they’re set and worn for a few weeks, though, there would be no difference in their look.

Q: I think I have decided to go with one of those two, and I’m leaning towards the I color one. I just have one question about it– is that an inclusion in the very center, or just a tiny shadow or something? Thanks again for the help.

A: I think that’s a spec of dirt or something in the center.  There’s nothing in the inclusion plot in that area.

Q: Just thought you’d like to know I decided on the .95 J color stone. I put the order in today, and the ring will be waiting for me when I get home in 3 weeks. I’m thrilled! I used your coupon code too, so you should get your commission. I can’t say thanks enough for the help, it was truly indispensable. I’ll also be sure to refer anyone I know shopping for a stone to you and your site. Take care!

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

My fiancee and I are looking to buy my engagement ring from James Allen, and I’d like further guidance on what would be the better investment. We’re looking at a .95 carat J color vs1 True Hearts diamond or a .96 carat I color vs2 Ideal cut diamond.

What concerns me is that both have their pros and cons, and this decision is being made without seeing the stones in person first. I’m wondering what sacrifice makes more sense: 1. Going down a grade in color from 1 to J for the more quality stone. I read what you and James Allen wrote about color, but it still worries me that we’d get a yellowish diamond even if it’s higher quality in other ways. 2. Or, going from True Hearts (which I realize is just a brand, but it should be prettier and more sparkly, no?) and vs1 to Ideal and vs2 just for a color grade that we may not even notice.

You can see the predicament we’re in, so we would really appreciate any feedback on this! Thank you for your time.

A: I’m very happy to help.  Could you please send me the links to the two stones you’re considering? And likewise for the setting you’re considering?

Q: Thank you so much for the reply! I was so pleasantly surprised to wake up this morning to see your email in my inbox! Yay!! I spent four hours yesterday evening on your site and James Allen. Thank you for your site – I feel soooo much more informed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I’m any less torn on a decision, as I even woke up thinking about which choice to make throughout the night.

Here are the links to the diamonds:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1375

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1314529.asp?a_aid=dmnd1375

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1308195.asp?a_aid=dmnd1375

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1251628.asp?a_aid=dmnd1375

As you can see, I added two more to the list. I found them in my search after I contacted you. Please let me know which you think is best, and if it’s not an inconvenience, please feel free to add your own recommendations outside of these. Basically, our total budget is $5,000 – 5,500, and I’d like an Ideal cut .95-1 carat round diamond.

Also, here are the links to the settings:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/Thin-Channel-Set-Engagement-Ring.html

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/ring/item_58-3691.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thank you again for your prompt reply and help!

A: I took a look at those four stones, and my choice is the G SI2. here’s why: I’m searching for something that will be noticeably better between the different options. They’re all really so similar. The TH vs. Ideal will be noticeable. None of them is any significantly larger than the other, so size isn’t a factor. Price isn’t so much a factor. They’re all eye clean, so clarity isn’t really an issue.

The only thing left is color. So it’s the G color vs. the TH stone and I just felt that G vs J was more noticeable than TH vs. Excellent cut.

BUT – I see that the G is no longer available. Any chance you ordered it already?

Q: No, unfortunately, I wasn’t the one to order it. I noticed that, too.

So would your second choice be the TrueHearts stone then? The J will not be too yellow in your opinion (without seeing the stone in person, of course)?

And, thank you for your expert opinion. I really appreciate it!

A: This are nice options if you still want to try for a higher color:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1302260.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1311156.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315806.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Q: Thank you for your time and effort, Ira! I really appreciate. We’ve actually decided to raise the budget a little ($6,500), and I’m going with a solitaire setting (I can always ‘go up’ on the setting later), so I can have the center stone I really want. Here are my two contenders:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315834.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1317131.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I remember your keen advice the last time we compared color vs. cut, and G Ideal won out over J TrueHearts. I’m wondering if that still applies when it’s G Ideal vs. I TrueHearts. This is my last question, and I’ll be out of your hair, I promise! And, again, thank you for your time.

A: This one’s much harder to call. G to I is much closer than G to J. Also, the picture on the G isn’t in such sharp focus, so it’s hard to see the inclusions clearly.

I’m leaning towards the I VS1, but I dont feel I have enough information on hand to make the call. I think this would be a great time to call JA’s customer support and ask them to make a side to side comparison.

I don’t think I mentioned it to you yet, but you should use the TAD0611 coupon to get 10% off the setting.

Good luck! And please don’t shy away from asking more questions!!

Q: Thank you. We’ll definitely be using the coupon. I’ve sort of become obsessed with browsing for stones, so If it wouldn’t be a bother, I do have one last stone I recently found that I’d love for you to look at:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1311842.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

What’s exciting about this one is the size and that it has medium fluorescence. What I’m wondering is if the inclusions are too bad? If you don’t think so, this is most likely my first choice. I’m also going to drop by a mall jeweler and ask to see something around that size just to make sure it won’t be too big for my finger (I wear a 4.5 ring size). At the moment, 1.17 sounds excitingly bigger than 1 carat, but maybe the difference is not that significant in person? I don’t know. I also read on your site and elsewhere that the medium fluorescence will make an H stone look whiter, which is also exciting.

We’ll be making our decision/purchase this upcoming Friday/weekend – if you don’t think the inclusions are too bad, I think I found the stone. I’m just holding my breath that no one will buy it in the meantime (I’ll ask to put it on hold Thursday if it’s still around)!

Thank you again for your feedback – I really appreciate it!

A: It looks like a great choice! I know JA will hold a stone for you for a certain amount of time, so maybe give them a call and ask!

Q: Thank you so much for all of your help during this process of choosing a ring.  We bought the 1.17 stone, paired it with a solitaire setting, and it arrived in the mail yesterday.  The verdict: I’m in LOVE.  The stone is absolutely gorgeous, plays with light beautifully, and the size is perfect.  Because it was larger than I was originally wanting, mounting it on a solitaire setting was a wise choice.  I like the balance of a larger stone (for me) with the simplicity of a band.  It’s very elegant.  Ultimately, it’s just a relief and joy to have finally found my ring.  Thank you again for your help on that front!

A: That is so wonderful to hear!! I really love getting emails like these

Since everything worked out so well, do you think you could do me a small favor and post a short review on ivouch for my site? I would be most grateful! And you could even copy and paste what you already wrote to me. My site is still fairly new, and I think these ivouch reviews really help me build credibility.

Thanks so much! Here’s a direct link if you have the time:

(YOU CAN VIEW THE REVIEW HERE)

Best Wishes! I’m very happy for you!

Q: Happy to do it, Ira!  I think you can see my review now.

A: Thank you so much! It’s fantastic!