I first wrote you aabout 6 weeks ago regarding my search for a ~3 carat diamond for an engagement ring I’d like to present this November. Through Q&A’s you posted with other readers, I found Lesley at Brian Gavin. I’ve chatted back and forth with Lesley, letting her know I was looking for something in their Signature line around 3 carats. She told me that Brian was in Atwerp and would be shipping a couple in the 3 carat range, albeit with less-than-ideal color. Below I have posted the 3 stones I am considering and would greatly appreciate your opinion on each. Obviously, I am looking for that all-too-elusive combination of perfectness, size and value. I am in Houston and plan to stop by their store to view each stone in person. I look forward to your reply.
Nice to hear from you again. All three of those are great. But honestly, the question of size vs. color when you’re talking about a K vs. a G (where there’s a real noticeable trade-off) is a totally personal and asthetic one. Meaning, I might think that it’s worth the sacrifice in size to get a totally white looking stone, where there will be tons of people who prefer the obviously larger looking stone even though it has a slightly warmer shade.
I’m very happy that you’re going to see them in person – that’s the most important thing in this case. The best advice I can give you is to simply pick which one looks best to you.
The only thing I would add is that I see two other possibilities for you that I think might be better buys than both the G and the K you linked to (although one says it’s been reserved):
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/3.054-J-SI1-Round-Diamond-AGS-104060998002 – says it’s reserved, but worth asking about. This is a better color than the K, yet it’s a LOT cheaper because of the clarity which anyway BGD guarantees to be eye clean if it’s part of the Signature series. This J I would recommend blindly over the G you linked to because the difference in color isn’t so noticeable anyway, but the price and size definitely is.
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/4.126-I-SI1-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104059065034 – this is obviously significantly more expensive, but WOW. What a stone for the price. Over 4 carats. I with non-milky/cloudy fluorescence which will make it look noticeably whiter (H, maybe Gish). Eye clean.
If you’re going there anyway, it pays to ask them to see all the options on the table together. Please send them my best and please please do let me know what you think about these different options. I’d love to hear what you end up with!
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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