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Q&A: “Truth About Diamonds ROCKS!!! (pun intended)”

By Mike Fried,

Hi! Am looking to buy a diamond ring to replace my original. Saw this at Blue Nile and printed it for an example when I head out in the morning. Celebrating our 28th Anniversary, and DON’T have a clue…Going to Gold n Diamonds, in Memphis, TN. Just wondered what you think of this? Here’s a copy of what I’m looking at. I’m just afraid that when I get to the jewelry store, they will “See me coming, lol. ” I don’t have to have the best, just would like something over a carat, and pave. Here’s the info from Blue Nile

Stock number:

LD02804153

Price:

$4,907

Price per carat:

$3,957

Carat weight:

1.24

Cut:

Ideal

Color:

J

Clarity:

SI1

Depth %:

59.6%

Table %:

60%

Polish:

Excellent

Symmetry:

Excellent

Girdle:

Medium

Culet:

None

Fluorescence:

Strong

Measurements:

6.98 x 6.97 x 4.16 mm

Cut: Ideal S

SUBTOTAL: $6,782

I thought I’d take this with me so I can compare? Any thoughts? Or help? Can you come with us? Budget around 6500. Just the engagement band (will get the other later). I have read so much stuff that all I really understand is that 1) something between A-J? And something better than S12? And the depth around 60? I would love a call if you have time to advise me, or a link to a better website? If you were buying a 1-1.25 pave ring…where would you recommend? Thanks…You’ll help make my Anniversary present great!

There are a couple of problems with that diamond.

1) In general, we don’t recommend Blue Nile (here is our BN review for an explanation).

2) The strong fluorescence concerns me.

That said, I’m willing to bet that ‘Gold and Diamond’ will be a rip-off. Looking at their store, they seem to push several terrible diamond brands (like the Princess of Hearts). Just make sure you stick with GIA or AGS certified diamonds (I don’t know if they sell other certificates there).

Thanks so much! I’m sorry for the first email. Obviously, I pressed the wrong button. I went through your site and had read your review on BN. Thanks! Decided right away NOT to use them. Then I found a GIA certified at Sams Club. 1.02 I, VS2 for 6200 including setting, but not being able to look at it through a microscope bothered me. Then my husband and I went to Gold and Diamonds. Apparently, they’re a small family, been in Memphis for 30 years, not much upkeep (small shop, no advertising, word of mouth) and tout that they only charge 10-14% and that they could save me $$$. Very professional (albeit dated) place when we walked in.

If it’s ok, can I show you the GIA diamond that we liked and see what you think? My concern now is that after I got home I noticed the cut is fair. We looked at 6-8 loose diamonds and this one was my favorite. Several SI 2’s were really flawed when I saw them. This was a round, 1.01 ct, E clarity, SI 2, but no visible under the scope. There pricing is as follows: 4295.45, plus their 10% 429.55, shipping/handling 150., and gia Cert 200. making the total for the diamond 5075.

Here is the GIA I looked up for this diamond.

GIA Report Check

GIA Report Number: 14640795

Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report

Date of Issue: August 19, 2005

Round Brilliant

Measurements: 6.50 – 6.53 x 3.78 mm

Carat Weight: 1.01 carat

Color Grade: E

Clarity Grade: SI2

Cut Grade: Fair

Proportions

Depth: 58.0%

Table: 60%

Crown Angle: 30.0°

Crown Height: 11.5%

Pavilion Angle: 39.4°

Pavilion Depth: 41.0%

Star Length: 50%

Lower Half: 80%

Girdle: Thick, Faceted (5.0%)

Culet: None

Finish

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Good

Fluorescence: None

Comments

Clouds are not shown.

What do you think? Is this an ok diamond? It looked white/brilliant, I didn’t notice any markings even under the microscope though it was SI 2. But the ‘fair’ bothers me. Should it? And what do you think of the price?

We’ve NOT bought it, though have put down a very small deposit that we CAN cancel.

Thanks again.

…….

Hate to bother you again, but is there a diamond broker in Memphis that you’d recommend? JamesAllen does not have a setting like the one I like. Thanks again and have a great day !

A fair cut? Stay away. Feel free to send me the certificate and I’ll explain why.

What type of setting did you like?

A little confused? I attached the GIA report for the diamond I was considering. I don’t have the certificate in hand, because we’ve not officially bought it. I looked up the report with my invoice and number, and the GIA report I sent with my last email stated all the facts. Were you looking for the diagram? If so, I don’t have that.

As for the setting? I liked a pave’ halo ring. It had approximately .48 diamonds around the halo and 1/2 way around the band. 18kw, with a ‘risen’ head/crown so that the solitaire would stand out a little bit. They quoted me $1662 from a brand called “sparkle” . I will admit my hesitation there also, as I have been on here trying to find out who manufactures that or what company. I have the numbers for that as well, albeit the carbon copy is hard to read. We’ve only put down 100 and I think that is refundable. I searched JamesAllen but he has nothing like that except a few pave but not like the one I liked. Any suggestions?

We really would like to stay under 6500 or pretty close to that.

Thank you so much for all your help already! Given I knew NOTHING about diamonds until I found your site, I do now feel like I want the best for my money. I have looked at some of James Allens 1.01 ct diamonds but with the magnification, sometimes I see more than what I saw at Gold and Diamonds when looking through theirs. I loved that the ring was E, and that the SI 2 showed very little inclusions, but the fair REALLY bothered me. And of course, they didn’t show me the GIA whole certificate, just showed me the 2 C’s…clarity and color.

Any help you can give me really would be a blessing! This is my 28th Anniversary gift (to replace my original), and my husband really wants it to be what I want, so it’s pretty special to me (or going to be).

Found something similiar to the setting I liked. Here’s a couple of pics…

ring setting 1ring setting 2

The one I liked had more of a ‘tear drop’ shape due to the lifting of the head/crown. But this is similiar. And had .48 ctw around the band and halo.

Thanks!

…….

I am so sorry to bother you, but we are still looking. What do you think about Brilliance.com diamonds?

……

Here I am again! Oh my goodness, I do hope you have alot of patience, lol. Could you take a look see at this one at James Allen and let me know what you think? I have it on hold so I have to give them an answer soon.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1524775.asp

I would love to see what you think about it.

Thanks again..

That’s a nice one.

Hi Ira and Mike! Thank you, thank you for your helps in finding my diamond! I just have one more question. What do I look for in a reputable jeweler to ‘set’ my diamond? Unfortunately JamesAllen didn’t have the setting I wanted, so now I need help in knowing how to know that jeweler is going to set my ring right. Any directions?

…….

I’m sorry, I meant how do I find a jeweler to put the setting and the diamond together? The jeweler where I bought the setting is going to put the diamond in, but I wasn’t sure at first. Thanks anyway.

And on another note? A big shout-out for your helps!!! I received my Excellent Cut, 1.01, H, SI 1, diamond this morning. Absolutely AMAZING!!! We had to get out the microscope to see the inclusions (just some small cloudy dots) and the GIA inscription (which looks like a piece of paper on the diamond…again, AMAZING). No one would ever be able to see either unless they had strong magnification (18X or better).

And you’re right also on the packaging!!! I felt like a princess all over again, when I saw the black box, opened it up and found the white box with the laminated GIA certificate. Again, AMAZING! lol, I even took pictures with my phone, it was so knock-down gorgeous!

TruthAboutDiamonds ROCKS!!! (pun intended)

Thanks again!

Thanks!

Here is a link for ivouch.

xxxx

Best of luck.

[LINK TO IVOUCH REVIEW]

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
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
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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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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