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.

courtesy of ronmartin.net

Well, that seems to be only part of the story. While it’s true that this segment of the population is the most Internet-savvy, it does not necessarily imply that such skills influence shopping behavior. We may surf online to compare prices and get an idea of what inventory is out there, but we may still want to step into a brick-and-mortar store to get a personal encounter with a product.

This is what JCK Magazine recently discovered about the 18-25 year-old shoppers: more than 68% prefer to shop for clothing and shoes in stores rather than online, according to a joint survey by LIM College and the National Retail Federation Student Association.

“Retail observers have been significantly overestimating our use of online and digital technology for shopping,” said Nicole Flasch-Mihalko, a member of the LIM College NRFSA team, in a statement. “We like shopping in stores and are not as engaged in shopping on the Internet as many have touted. I guess the demise of the brick and mortar format of retailing—at least for 18-25 year-olds—is grossly exaggerated.”

Interestingly, 66% of this age group shops online to check out prices and browse what’s out there, but only 23% shop from a tablet or smartphone. And only 20% of young shoppers purchase from “flash sale” sites such as Rue La La and Gilt Groupe. Actually, the survey found that most interviewed were not familiar with these sites at all.

Olivia Cornell from Cornell’s Jewelers in Rochester, N.Y., says the young crowd wants to come in and see what the jewelry looks like in person. “I see a lot of young women shopping for special occasions like graduations, a new job, or a promotion,” she says. “Girls nowadays are much more sophisticated. They have a handle on their own style.”

Sharran Selig from Bill Selig Jewelers in Windsor, Conn., says that her customers “typically look online, but generally want to come in and see the jewelry in person.”

And when it comes to buying fashion jewelry in a brick-and-mortar store versus buying online, there may not be huge savings since both types of establishments must stock quite a bit of inventory. But when we start to think about big ticket items like diamond jewelry – specifically engagement rings, stud earrings, and the like – there are clear advantages to buying online.

As you can see from our review of the brick-and-mortar establishment Zales, there are significant advantages to buying diamonds online. First, online stores like James Allen and DiamondWave have “virtual” inventory in that they showcase private stock from all over the world on their websites, but only when the consumer makes the purchase does the website then buy the diamond from the private vendor. This is in stark contrast to a conventional walk-in store that must stock – at its own cost or on commission – a sizable amount of expensive inventory.

This takes us to our second advantage of buying online: it’s just too expensive for traditional stores to carry inventory that can match the sheer selection of products that you can find online. When you go online, your options of what’s out there, from the most classic round brilliant cut one carat diamond to the more daring two carat cushion cut, are just so much more varied.

And finally, let’s look at one more area that will really drive the point home. Brick-and-mortar establishments have astronomical overhead costs for a much smaller clientele. Each month they must pay rent, employee salaries, utilities, insurance, etc. and all these costs are passed on to the consumer in the price of the diamond jewelry. By contrast, online vendors have worldwide exposure and much less overhead to contend with, often hiring a fraction of the employees in one or two locations and spending far less on rent, utilities, and insurance.

Now how do we resolve the advantages of buying diamonds online with the findings of shopping habits of the younger generation? First of all, there is nothing wrong with walking into a jewelry store and seeing what catches your eye. It’s important to know your style, and for some people, that means actually putting the ring on your finger for a trial run. Many Truth About Diamonds readers have done just that in order to get a more accurate idea of what looks good on their hands.

But ultimately, we need to remember that the Internet is still young, and we have some catching up to do in terms of our shopping behavior. The more people educate themselves about purchasing diamonds online, the better it will be for the growing online diamond market. In short, it’s just a matter of time until the rest of the market climbs onboard the savings train. All aboard!

Source:
http://www.jckonline.com/2012/01/23/survey-young-consumers-still-favor-brick-and-mortar-stores

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

I’m contacting you for your expert advice, or at lest nudge in the right direction. I am looking at engagement rings with diamonds in the ~10k range.

The Bride-to-be is interested in size over quality, she thinks 1.5ct would be about right. Setting is a Platinum channel setting.

I noticed in one of your daily diamonds you selected a 1.51 and a 1.60 diamonds, both of which seem to still be available. Have you come across any other stock that would be better then these?

A: Thanks for writing and the kind words about the site. What shape are you looking for?

Q: I think we will stick with the round shape.

A: I just took another look, and i still think that 1.60 is your best bet!
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310703.asp

Q: I know you will find this hard to believe, but she has changed her mind regarding size. I took her to show what some 1.60 looked like and it is just too big for her hands. So, can you recommend something in the 1 – 1.2 range?

Round shape, with price around $5,000.

A: This looks like the closest I could get for about $5000.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1334591.asp
Let me know what you think!

Q: I think it looks fine, but what the heck do I know. I’m a little worried (uneducated about the whole thing) about the SI2, is it worth expanding the value range up to $7,500, or is there no significant increase in “sparkle”.

A: Sorry for the delay! I wasn’t able to respond due to the Jewish Sabbath followed by the holiday of Purim (which is the celebration recounted in the biblical Book of Esther).

I’m pretty confident that stone is clean to the naked eye. As long as that’s the case, then there’s no visual difference. An SI2 and a flawless stone will look exactly alike as long as all else is equal.

Q: I’m sorry to keep bothering you on this, but when I went to place the order today the last diamond you picked out, has now been sold.

A: No problem! Here goes:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1362693.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1235887.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326360.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1338554.asp

Let me know what you like!

Q: Great! I went with this one.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1235887.asp

A: Looks like a great choice! Please stay in touch and let me know what you think when it arrives!

A: I think you made a smart move staying with SI2 and excellent cut. My only concern for you is that you can’t buy SI2s blindly. It’s very possible, even almost likely, that any of these could be visible to the naked eye. With James Allen, however, you can make sure since you can view a magnified pic of the actual stone:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1355356.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353951.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1338554.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353906.asp

Let me know what you think!

Q: Thanks for getting back to me. Of the 4 you recommended, the first 2 have too many inclusions don’t you think? I’m leaning towards the last 2, with the last one being the front runner. Would that be your selection as well?

A: Yes, 100%. The last one is definitely the nicest.

Q: Thanks again for your time. I went ahead and ordered the last one you recommended.

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

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?offer_id=12959&forceStep=STYLE_STEP

Any comments or concerns you have about the ring would be greatly appreciated. We didn’t know if these stones were significant enough in size that we have to worry about color matching to the center stone. Also was wondering how much we should be worried if the side diamonds are eye clean. I had a diamond previously that did have black inclusions (2 fairly small but visible) and it was always disappointing. Even though otherwise it was a beautiful diamond, those black dots always bothered me.

As for the center stone the most important thing to us is that it’s brilliant, white and sparkly. We are looking for a round cut, eye clean and somewhere between 1-1.35 ct. We don’t want to have to pay for something unneccessary, but would like a big wow factor. We realize that there is a lot left open on options for size, but we’re more concerned with the other factors that fit within these size parameters.

Also, I know you often suggest diamonds from james allen just because you can actually see what you are buying before you buy it. If that is the case would we be able to take the setting purchased from Blue Nile and separate center stone to a local jeweler to be set or do you have another suggestion?

Thanks for your site and all your help! It’s much appreciated.

A: That is a beautiful ring indeed! Lets move forward like this – your best bet in this situation would be to have JA match the setting from BN for you. I’ve helped many people in the past accomplish this and they’ve always left very satisfied.

Btw, these side stones aren’t small at all (as far as sidestones go), so you do need to be concerned about color. If JA can make the ring with G/Hs, then it should be perfectly fine to stay in the H/I range for the center stone.

I’m CCing to this email Mr. Jim Schultz from JA who will hopefully respond to us both positively or negatively re: their ability to match this setting for you. Keep in mind also that when JA matches a ring, it is not simply pressed out of a mold, but is rather hand made and considered to be of higher quality.

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Response from James Allen:
Ira/xxxxx,

Thank you for the email. We can reproduce the setting in the link below for $3,000. Production time is approximately two weeks. As a custom design, however, the ring would be subject to a 15% restocking fee if returned.

I want to quickly also point out that we offer a similar setting that is substantially less expensive and also has a matching wedding band. Our item number is 11009p and a link to the design can be found here:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-1935.asp

To give you some sense of how this diamond looks with a 1.00ct center diamond, you can view this photograph from our Recently Sold Collection:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/sold/settings-with-sidestones/1502/Engagement-Rings-Side-Stones.html

The 11009p features slightly smaller side diamonds that the other design, but they are still large enough to make a really “pop” next to the center diamond. By reducing the size of those side diamonds by just a few tenth of a millimeters, you can still get a fantastic look, but free up almost $1,300 that can then be applied towards the center diamond.

Hope this helps!

Q: Thanks for the suggestion of having JA custom match the setting. We looked at the setting Jim suggested from JA and have one concern when compared to the one we had picked out from BN. The setting from BN (to us) looks like the first diamond off the center stone on either side is farther to the side, allowing it to be seen better. It seems to us that the first stone on either side of the center stone on JA setting is 1/2 hidden by the center stone. We had actually seen that one and ruled it out previously because of that. Do you think that is a non issue or valid concern? We have discussed possibly going with the JA setting and if we are not satified with the look of it we could return it and have them custom match the other setting at that point. Do you know, if we went ahead with having them custom make the ring would we be able to pick out the side stones or would they just do that as they do with their settings? Thanks for all of your help with this!

Also, we see the clarity rating of the diamonds in the JA is slightly less… any way we could make sure they would be eyeclean?
…….
After doing a little more talking and window shopping at local jewerly stores this weekend we’ve decided we are going to have James Allen match the setting from BN. We are also looking for a center stone between 1.25-1.5. We did some searching through JA site and picked out a few that we thought might be possibilities but wanted your opinion on which are the best/cleanest and best value. Also, if you have any other suggestions, we’d love to look at them!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1280700.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344860.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1347641.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353926.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360339.asp
We haven’t asked Jim yet if the quote he gave for matching the setting was with diamonds in the G/H range or the F that BN had on their site. We’re going to have it made with G/H diamonds though.

Hope you had a great weekend.

A: I think that’s a great choice! I don’t know if the price of the ring will be any cheaper for G/H color side stones, but I’m sure they can definitely accomodate that request!

Can I assume that 12,000 is your max budget? I think the stones you picked, for the most part, are really nice. My only suggestion would be to allow some lower clarity stones in the mix. I can help you find ones that will be clean to the naked eye. For example:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1192013.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1333866.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360374.asp

Let me know what you think of those!

Q: Wow! There sure is a lot to get excited about when looking at diamonds. The 3 you sent us were beautiful. Yes, max budget for the diamond is 12,000. Of course if we can get a great looking diamond for less that’s even better. After we sent off that email last night we did find one more that was a lower clarity and wanted to have you look to see if it would be eye clean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306843.asp

I guess the question now is where do we go from here. Which of the ones we sent you would you stay away from? Any suggestions as to how to make a decision from the choices we have or should we do more searching for a lower clarity diamond? You have been so extremely helpful in this process!

A: All that’s really left to do is make a decision! You can definitely save a lot of money going with a 1.2ct stone like the one you linked to (which is really nice btw). But going up to a 1.50ct stone will definitely be a noticeable jump in size. It’s about 0.5mm which is very easily noticeable.

Maybe pick your favorite 3 and have JA do a side by side comparison for you?

Q: Wanted to let you know we made a decision. We split the difference on the diamond size. We purchased the 1.36 diamond you had offered as a suggestion.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360374.asp

The customs setting has been ordered and will take a couple of weeks for production. Thanks for all your help, we’ll let you know what we think when we receive the ring!

A: Great! I can’t wait to hear your reaction!!

While prices rose overall by 17% in 2011, they surged and fell dramatically from month to month. The beginning of the year saw prices surge while the last five months were much less volatile.

Photo courtesy of miningweekly.com

The most notable increases were in half-carat diamonds and three-four carat diamonds while those in the more middle class, i.e., one-two carat sized diamonds, showed less market change. It seems that in the post-recession market, the greatest demand has been in these two markets: the lower end, smaller carat sized diamonds, as well as high end, three-plus carat diamonds, leaving demand for the standard one carat diamond engagement ring further behind.

To what can we attribute the overall rise in polished diamond prices? For the most part, there were more positive market factors than negative ones in 2011. Here are just a few:

• Americans were optimistic about the end of the Recession and were finally ready to spend more money. This increased global demand since America is the largest global market for loose diamonds and diamond jewelry.
• China and India, countries with emerging diamond markets, increased their demand.
• Diamond dealers and retailers increased their inventories and restocked their diamonds due to uncertainty about supply of rough diamonds.

 These positive factors overshadowed the negative ones:
• Retailers did not see consistent demand from consumers. They restocked after the 2010 holiday season but reduced their restocking in the middle of the year.
• The geopolitical international situation in 2011 was one of instability and unpredictability. From the US Congress’s malfunctioning to the European debt crisis and the Arab spring, these developments have translated into lack of consumer spending.
• Industry illiquidity damaged the ability of some diamond dealers and retailers to trade and stock diamonds.

The long-term outlook for 2012’s diamond market is good due to the overall positive predictions we are now seeing for the new year’s spending trends. If the US economy continues to improve in 2012, as predicted, then the diamond market will likely grow as well.

Moreover, when we consider the growing demand from China and India, it’s clear that as consumer wealth increases, these Asian nations will want to spend more disposable income on jewelry. Additionally, rough diamond prices are expected to stay flat for the next decade while demand will continue to rise, thus pushing prices up by the simple nature of our supply and demand market.

Though the short term may be a bit rocky with political and economic woes across the ocean – i.e., the impending debt crisis in Europe and the volatility in the Middle East – the bigger picture remains good.

What does this mean for you, the diamond consumer?

Now, more than ever, the consumer needs to be smart when buying a diamond.  Even though prices are increasing, it doesn’t mean one should consider their purchase an investment.  When an investor buys a stock or bond, he can sell it back immediately and only lose the transaction cost.  If one tries to sell back his diamond immediately after purchasing it, he’d be stuck with a 20-30% loss.

The consumer needs to remember that buying a diamond is like buying any other retail product – it has benefits and features.  The features of  a diamond are that they look pretty and sparkle.  It’s crucial that the diamond consumer realize that this can be accomplished with lower clarity grades and medium color grades in order to minimize the expense.

Source:
http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nj/diamonds/a/~27646-IDEX-Online-Polished-prices-rise

I’m looking for a diamond, round cut, that will be set in a platinum solitaire setting. My budget for the stone is up to about $3.5k – $4k, and I’m pretty much looking to get the best stone in that budget. So far, I’ve been looking at stones in the G-I color range, VS2/SI1/SI2 and Ideal cuts.

I was looking at some stones on James Allen, and I found the stones below, and was wondering if you could offer some guidance on how you feel they would look set, or if you could offer any better alternatives.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353916.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344749.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1355089.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1358918.asp

Also, if I did order from James Allen, do you think it’s worthwhile to have them put the stone in a setting, or do you think I’d be better off having it set locally in Chicago?

Thanks in advance

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

I think this one is your best bet out of the bunch:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1355089.asp

Here’s my comments on the others:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353916.asp – probably not eye clean
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1344749.asp -very nice as well, but like the price better on the one above
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1358918.asp – Not sure it’s eye clean.

As for the setting, if you find a setting you like on JA, then definitely buy from them. Otherwise, there’s nothing wrong with buying a setting locally. YOu might receive some resistance from some jewelers, but someone will definitely agree to do it for you.

Q: Thanks for the fast reply. I’ll most likely pick a setting from JA.

Do you think either of the two diamonds below would be a better option? Picking diamonds is definitely a little nerve wracking.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353916.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353862.asp

Thanks for all the help!
…….
Sorry for the back-to-back emails. I also came across this stone: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1211216.asp

The inclusion looks like it’s at about the 6-o’clock position, which I imagine could be covered by a prong (I’m thinking about this setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-White-Gold-Thin-Cross-Prong-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html)

Let me know your thoughts on what you feel the best choice would be.

Thank again

A: The first one below was in your initial list and I already commented on it. The 2nd one has a big bunch of something in the lower left corner of the table that looks like it might be eye visible.

And the I SI1 from your other email has a strong black inclusion dead center that will definitely be visible. So I stick with my original call.

Q: Thank you very much. I’m going to call James Allen and place the first one (1355089) on hold as soon as they open; I’m hoping to order the ring today or tomorrow. I’ll be sure to send you a picture.

One final round of stones – I upped the price range a little bit (up to 4450 or so)… Do you believe any of these stones might look better, or be a better value? All but one are in the J-color category, and all are just over 1 carat. Do you think that will make a large difference in appearance; color vs. size, etc (the other stone is an I)?

I know as you said on your page that you do get a referral commission for these. Is there anything I need to do to make sure that you are credited properly? Additionally, other than writing a glowing review on ivouch, is there anything else I can do to compensate you for your time? Having someone who is uninterested in moving a particular piece of inventory, and simply willing to offer advice is a wonderful assistance, and makes this process far less difficult and stressful.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1339479.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1332362.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1294243.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1330014.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1351117.asp ** This one I think is the least likely…

Once again, thank you for all the help, it is greatly appreciated.

A: You know, for the life of me, I can’t understand why that I SI2 only received a “Very Good” cut grade. I think there might have been some kind of mistake, or it missed the “Excellent” grade because of some kind of technicality. I actually think that this is your best bet. Seems to me like a bargain since it’s priced as a VG, but it’s really an EX.

As for making sure the tracking works, that’s very kind! Just make sure you order from the same computer that you’ve been clicking on my links with and it should all be automatic. Also, don’t forget to apply the TADJ10 coupon code if you order the stone with a ring – it’ll give you 10% off the setting. That will act as a fail-safe measure in the event that the tracking doesn’t work. It would also be helpful for me if you could let me know the order number once you’ve placed the order.

Thanks so much!

Q: Which stone? I’m not seeing the VG in the list. I have two on hold right now, 1355089 and 1339479. Was it one of them?

Thanks!

A: This one:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1351117.asp

I like it the best.

Q: I just ordered that stone with this setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-White-Gold-Thin-Cross-Prong-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html

I’ll send you a picture of the ring once it arrives.

Thanks again for all the help Ira!

A: Great! It all tracked smoothly! Thanks!

Q: Ira,

I got the ring, and everything turned out great. Thanks again for all the help.

A: Great news!

Congrats!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1356790.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1346534.asp

I am thinking of putting it in this setting

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1346534.asp

Do you think that the 1.2 Carat will be too high in that setting? Any other diamonds that you can find on there?
The smaller diamond is also not available to see and I tried to get a picture e-mailed but it never came through.

The last question I have is about the Ideal cut. Is there a difference between an Ideal at James allen and a signature ideal at Blue Nile??

xxxx

P.S. I am from canada and have read about the person who was going to save the duty and get it shipped to the states and pick it up. Did they ever let you know how that went?

A: Thanks for writing. Could you please send the link for the setting again? The link you sent was to the 2nd diamond again.

As for the Canada issue, people do it all the time. What’s the closest US State to you?

Q: Thanks for the response

Here is the link for the setting. I don’t know if they do it with a princess cut.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/engagement-solitaire-rings.html

so here is another one that is on james allen

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-White-Gold-2-2mm-Wire-Basket-Solitaire.html

If you could comment on the two diamonds that would be great as well. For details on a diamond, if you would like to search as well, are as follows.

Princess cut, VS1/VS2, Ideal cut, G or H. around 5000 and over a carat

When I started looking at the diamonds i sent you in a little bit more detail i noticed that the 1.2 carat haw quite a large table, 76% i think, thoughts about that??

The closest state to me would be new york state. I talked to a girl on the live chat at James Allen and said that they would have to charge 8% tax if i got it sent there. I might also be able to drive to Pennsylvania to get it if I save $1000 it might be worth the drive.

One last thing. They are going to load up the picture for the 1.05 diamond in the next couple of days. The customer service rep said that it is eye clean, but i would still like to see it.

Thanks again, your site has been amazing and has been a great help for me. If you would like i will let James Allen know that i found the site through you so you can get the referral money.

…….

One last thing
It would be only 3 hours to drive to Erie Penn for me. So it would be worth the 1000

A: I was able to see the rings this time. They’re great – i was simply concerned if there were going to be side stones or not in terms of matching their colors.

I actually think that the categorization of the 1.20 you found as an Ideal Cut is a mistake. Usually, a princess with a table of 73 or larger automatically falls into the “premium” category. Ironically, though, the picture on that stone is amazing, and I would have never had guessed that its table was 76%! I took another look anyway, and found a nicer alternative:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1333885.asp

Thanks! Let me know how it all goes!

Q: I am a little bit concerned with the inclusions in the center of the diamond that you sent me.
Would that be considered eye clean??
They have put the picture up for the 1.05 carat diamond.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1356790.asp

The largest difference between the length or width of the diamond is only 0.4 mm. Would you consider paying $1000 more for the .15 carats??

And I feel like the 1.05 is the nicest looking diamond out of the bunch.

Let me know your thoughts
Thanks

A: There’s no way those inclusions would be clean to the naked eye. The diamond in real life is less than 6 millimeters on a side! That’s almost half a centimeter! Imagine just how tiny those spots are in real life.

Q: There is one more diamond that I found. It has pretty much the same dimensions as the 1.21 that you showed to me. It is 1.06 carats. I currently have it on hold until they get the picture. I believe that it is $4400. I think this is the one for me.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1361952.asp

They will have the picture up either today or tomorrow. I will let you know when they do. Thank you so much for your help, I think i will end up saving $3500 on the ring, and getting a better diamond. I went to a store here, and put a deposit on a ring and then canceled it after i read your site and James Allen.

I want to ask you another quick question. The guy at the store almost sold me a princess, H, VS1, eye clean but it had the corners chopped off. I am thinking that it might have A) either been a radiant or B) been damaged in the cutting process or when they mined it so they just cut the corners off. I believe that he called it a princess cut corner cut and was selling it as very rare.

Either way it only cost $100 to get my deposit back and am going to get a better diamond for a much better price.

A: A “princess cut corner” is a princess cut that got chipped, and so they decided to polish off the other corners to make it symmetrical. “rare” indeed!

I think you’re making a very smart decision!

Q: Sorry to bother you again.

I might be thinking of changing my setting. If I go with the setting below would I have to get a G colour, I am planning on getting a princess cut diamond.
Would an H be alright??

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/ring/item_58-3779.asp

Thanks Again.
Could you possibly find a diamond for this ring. Ideal cut. Around 1.05 to 1.15 carats Eye clean.

Thanks so much

A: I do believe than an H would still be perfectly fine for that ring.

Q: Just want to say thanks for all of the help.
I purchased this diamond in this setting. Diamond # 1361952

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/ring/item_58-3779.asp

Thanks again for everything

A: Can’t wait to hear your first-hand report! Please stay in touch!