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Diamond Question

Posted on 7/30/12 at 9:02 pm
Posted by PetreauxCat
TX
Member since May 2009
858 posts
Posted on 7/30/12 at 9:02 pm
Has anyone bought an EGL certified diamond rather than a GIA? Is it really that different of a certification? Also, out of the 4Cs, which is the one you would not go cheap on. Obviously I don't want a yellow diamond with inclusions visible by the naked eye. TIA

Edit: Sorry, on my phone
This post was edited on 7/30/12 at 9:12 pm
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45786 posts
Posted on 7/30/12 at 9:26 pm to
quote:

Has anyone bought an EGL certified diamond rather than a GIA?


EGL grades much softer than a GIA. Go to Pricescope.com to get educated on buying the best diamond for the money...
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/30/12 at 9:40 pm to
Go GIA. Call blue nile and ask them any question under the sun. They helped me out bigtime.
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45786 posts
Posted on 7/30/12 at 9:55 pm to
quote:

Call blue nile


Thet don't list individual diamond specs online, other online compaines do. For example a very well cut diamond





A diamond with an ok cut.


You can really see light return on individual diamonds at Whiteflash. There are a number of websites that provide this...

Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/30/12 at 10:42 pm to
They do list the specs.
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45786 posts
Posted on 7/30/12 at 10:59 pm to
I miss spoke, specs yes, photos no. Lots can be learned through photos and different images such as ASET. Here you can see the different light return between the different diamonds...





Posted by saderade
America's City
Member since Jul 2005
25715 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 12:12 am to
Cut and color were most important to me. I didn't care much about clarity unless the imperfections were visible by the naked eye (no one is going to look at it through loops). I then got the size I could afford.

Don't buy it in a jewelry store.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 12:37 am to
quote:

Don't buy it in a jewelry store.



This.

quote:

I didn't care much about clarity unless the imperfections were visible by the naked eye


Same here, it took a while but they (blue nile) finally found me an eye clean diamond. I had probably 5 diamonds inspected to see if they were eye clean, all 5 weren't. I felt they were honest, not something you deal with everyday.



My experience with blue nile was top notch.
Posted by Lookin4Par
Mandeville, LA
Member since Jun 2012
1232 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 7:06 am to
"Obviously I don't want a yellow diamond"

I paid extra for a yellow diamond lol
Posted by Lookin4Par
Mandeville, LA
Member since Jun 2012
1232 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 7:15 am to
www.icestore.com

The name is cheesy but the prices listed are about as low as you can possibly negotiate around here. When shopping for the engagement ring I printed out multiple comps from this web site and advised my broker that if he couldn't match this price I would just buy from icestore. He came very close and I purchased the engagement ring from my jewelry broker for almost half off the listed price.

fwiw the website is also easily navigatable and nicely set up. It was a pleasure dealing with icestore even though I ultimately did not purchase through them.
This post was edited on 7/31/12 at 7:17 am
Posted by HeadyMurphey
Los Santos
Member since Jan 2008
17174 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 7:42 am to
quote:

buying the best diamond for the money...


That would be man made.
Posted by Lookin4Par
Mandeville, LA
Member since Jun 2012
1232 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 7:53 am to
as far as I know man made diamonds are still too small. I believe a .5 carat is the largest they are making right now. Eventually this option will be the best out there.
Posted by PetreauxCat
TX
Member since May 2009
858 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 7:56 am to
quote:

I paid extra for a yellow diamond lol

Sorry, how about I don't want a yellow tinted diamond.
Posted by PetreauxCat
TX
Member since May 2009
858 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 7:58 am to
Thanks for all the help. I'll do some research. I'm looking to spend about 10-12K. What size should I start looking at 1.5ct?
Posted by Lookin4Par
Mandeville, LA
Member since Jun 2012
1232 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 8:06 am to
quote:

"Sorry, how about I don't want a yellow tinted diamond."

For women who love yellow gold as my wife does, yellow diamonds are a great option. Yellow gold bands tend to diminish the beauty of a clear diamond. However, a rare and bright yellow diamond contrasting to the back of white gold or platinum band gives the same effect as having the yellow gold. Basically it still matches her yellow gold jewelry even though there is no yellow gold in the ring. Plus, if you want your SO to have something special that not many people have a colored diamond is a good option.

Colored diamonds are not for everyone but they are rare, unique and more expensive for those with discerning tastes.

Posted by Kingwood Tiger
Katy, TX
Member since Jul 2005
14162 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 10:09 am to
PetreauxCat....where in Texas are you?

The reason I ask is that if you are in the Houston area, I HIGHLY suggest you contact Brian Gavin Diamonds LINK

Brian helped me pick out a diamond when I was looking for engagment ring. He spent over an hour just talking about diamonds and showed me the differences, etc. Was really educational. He has some amazing diamonds, and he was the one that developed the "hearts and arrows" cut.

Everyone that sees the wife's rings always talk about how they sparkle more than any others they have seen.
Posted by GoHoGsGo06
Member since Nov 2006
5739 posts
Posted on 7/31/12 at 11:50 am to
I second and third the option to head over to Pricescope and post your budget. Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, and Brian Gavin Diamonds are all highly regarded diamond vendors.

The folks over at Pricescope will be an invaluable resource in your search and will make sure you get the very best diamond for your budget. All of the posters there are diamond consumers themsevles, and they don't get any kickbacks from promoting a certain company, so you can be assured that they are looking out for your best interest and no one else's.
Posted by Queen
Member since Nov 2009
3020 posts
Posted on 8/1/12 at 2:20 pm to
quote:

I'm looking to spend about 10-12K. What size should I start looking at 1.5ct?


How big you get all depends on what the other C's look like. If color/clarity is not as good, you can get a bigger diamond. It's very easy to spend $10k or more on a diamond that is less than one carat if it's colorless and perfect.

Listen to all these other guys. My fiance' and I tried on several in a jewelry store before going through a family friend.

Advice from the girl side though. We all want to be surprised, but we also want to like our ring. If you can find out what shape she wants that matters too (i.e. emerald cuts are more expensive as they get bigger because they have fewer facets and it's easier to spot imperfections).
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 8/1/12 at 2:31 pm to
quote:

Thanks for all the help. I'll do some research. I'm looking to spend about 10-12K. What size should I start looking at 1.5ct?




Get this in platinum, the setting is $2,220.



Put a fat round diamond in the middle.




Close to what I bought but this is diamond isn't as big. I got a 1.04 carat diamond.

Total with wiring (they take some off for that) was $7,300.

Blue Nile only sells GIA.
This post was edited on 8/1/12 at 2:39 pm
Posted by Catman88
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2004
49125 posts
Posted on 8/1/12 at 2:35 pm to
quote:

I'm looking to spend about 10-12K


On just the diamond???

Thats way too much. I know I picked up a 1.1 ct GIA cert G color princess cut SI1 (GIA doesnt grade cut on these) for 3k mounted it on a custom Tacori ring and the whole thing cost me with custom wedding band 6k. My wife love loves her ring.

From what I was told by my jeweler EGL typically messes up the most on color GIA is very accurate there.

Her ring.

This post was edited on 8/1/12 at 2:39 pm
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