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Hi. I’m looking for a very good princess cut. I know your specs and like the idea of that table size and percentage depth, but I haven’t been able to find anything really good on James Allen. Perhaps I’m being a bit too picky, but I saw a post from you that you wrote about 2 years ago while i was recently perusing the site. It featured a fairly rare princess cut (dec 22nd 2009) for a 20k stone with 2.31 cts and 66% table size and 69%depth.. That’s about my budget and I’d like to get something similar, though obviously prices have likely gone up a bit in 2.5yrs.
Finally, a question about timing. I saw on the headline page of rapnet saying that there might be some liquidity issues with diamonds from India due to some new government rules. In your opinion, should I expedite my purchase as a result or will that likely put pressure on prices? Or will it have no effect? I’m in no real rush…planning on proposing this november, but happy to pull the purchase forward if it helps meaningfully or if there is a seasonality to prices.
Prices have increased significantly recently. My suggestion is to find the right diamond and go for it. The price won’t change that dramatically the next 6 months and only a crystal ball can tell you if it will go up or down. Take a look at this diamond:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1466337.asp
What do you think?
As for the james Allen diamond you sent, I’m not sure….there is another 2.04 ct on there with (i think) better table and depth specs and an extra 2k on the price tag and a worse symmetry. I wouldn’t mind paying more for a bigger stone, say up to 23 or 24k if the size was bigger, but I have to feel the specs are as good as I could get vis-a-vis the table and depth. That’s the only thing that held me back from buying this one was that it’s 2.04 cts. I’ve seen Ira’s opinion on symmetry….is good really good enough for princess cuts as well (given your background in fancy shapes) or should I look for a very good at least? Also, is surface graining an issue for other princess cuts? This is the 2.03 ct:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1487447.asp
How does this one look to you?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243812.asp
I guess the article I was pointing out highlighted the importance and rarity of table sizes under 68 and depths of 70 or under. What would a similar diamond with 2.3ct weight cost today (your rough, educated, non-binding guess)? I suppose the 2.13 cts is good given the price, but I think that extra weight gets eaten up readily with a depth of 73 no? I think my (half) education has made me obsessive, but I blame you and Ira for that! 🙂
https://www.diamonds.pro/2009/12/22/best-princess-cut-diamond-for-20000-2-31-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-gia-certified-princess-cut-diamond/
Also, as far as free is concerned, I don’t mind engaging Ira as a broker if he can get me a really good deal on something that isn’t readily available on James Allen or similar websites….closer to the ideal/rare specs he highlighted in his dec 22 2009 post for a very good price. What are his fees? Otherwise, I can wait for a bit and scour the web to see if I get something good.
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One more question…..what do you think of this stone (assuming eye clean)?
1) While its great to find a 69% depth, its very rare to. Only a bad diamond cutter would make a mistake like that (they can make more money with a heavier diamond and a 70-74% is still beautiful).
2) I love the H VS1 you have there. Its a better cut (more square) and looks great.
3) There is no way that diamond is eye-clean (just by looking at the cert you can see for that one).
4) I am the one who generally finds broker deals for readers. I reached out to my colleagues and it didn’t seem like we’d save you much money on a deal like that. Unless you are saving significant money, you are better off purchasing from a company like JA (that offers full service).
Thanks for the feedback mike. Makes sense on all your points. As far as the third point about not being eye clean, I assume you’re talking about the 2.54 H VS2? How do you know it’s not eye-clean? (I haven’t seen I yet but I’m sure you’re right). More just for my information.
I’m leaning towards the H VS1 as well btw but have another question. Is the cert date an issue on the H Vs1 as well? How old a very date is old enough or too old? That one seems like its from 2004.
Thx for your help.
If you look at the certificate, there is a plot of inclusions. It shows the inclusions are right on the table. Clarity grades are based on the size of the inclusion in relation to the size of the diamond. So while a 1ct with a VS2 in that location may not be eye-visible, its highly doubtful that a 2.54’s inclusion of that nature is eye-clean.
There is no such thing as a ‘too old’ certificate. Diamonds don’t depreciate in value or decline in quality based on age. So there is no such thing as a used or new diamond. That diamond was likely bought back from a consumer.
Mike, thanks for all your help. I’m heavily leaning towards the 2.2 ct vs1 as of now. I guess the certificate age was relevant since, if it has been worn already, I was wondering if there could be other damage to the stone from the setting or otherwise or maybe a chip? Will James Allen get it recertified if I request? Should I even bother?
Ps: what do you think of this one? Should I shoot for size or these supposedly more ideal proportions?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1487447.asp
JA would inspect the diamond and ensure that the diamond isn’t chipped. You can also have it appraised when it arrives to make sure everything is on the up and up. It makes no sense to get a new certificate.
Even ignoring the price difference, I like the 2.13 more than the 2.04. It is not more ideal, it just fits JA’s computer model of ideal more. The L:W ratio on it is more rectangular. 1.01 is much better than 1.04. This also skews the dimensions. The reason a more shallow diamond is more desirable is because it gives you more size. If you look at the dimensions of the diamond, it doesn’t. The 2.13’s dimensions are 7.04*6.96 while the 2.04 is the same size on one side and only 0.30mm bigger on the other. That gives you a noticeable size difference (the average difference in size of the length and width) of around 2%.
I wouldn’t spend 10% more for a diamond that isn’t better in cut and only shows a 2% increase in size.
…….
Sorry, had a type there. The 2.04 is has the same width with a 0.30mm difference in length.
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typo….. Wow, I shouldn’t be working on a Sunday.
Hahaha. Np. Thanks for the very quick response btw. Btw, do you still like the diamond listed below?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243812.asp
I really like that diamond.
As I suspected, James Allen cancelled the order on the h vs1 after taking it because they found a chip in the diamond. They offered this one as a replacement, but I’m not enamored with the dimensions on this one and the color is worse than the one I selected. What do you think?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-IF-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1491851.asp
…….
How about this one mike? Is an I color too yellow for a princess cut?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1493301.asp
I like this diamond a lot. I color should be fine on a PC and its a nice cut (and great price).
Is I color ok even on a white gold or platinum setting?
I color is fine. It will look great.
Thanks for all the help Mike. I’m having James Allen look at these three to give me the best one from their perspective. Can you opine on which one you’d pick? I’m leaning towards the first one, but would love your thoughts….not sure if it’s eye clean or not…even though it’s VS1.
Also, I searched Brian Gavin’s collection too but there are only 3 princess cut diamonds over 2ct there in their “select” line…almost nothing princess cut is part of their “signature” line. What diamonds they do have over 2 cts in their “select” line seem to have significant inclusions in their tables. Are these model generated results? I guess what I’m trying to achieve here is as brilliant an eye clean stone as possible. Aside from the table and depth specs we spoke about earlier, is there any other indication of light performance other than viewing it? Do you put a lot of stock in technologies like the brilliance scope? Also, should I look at ags stones more as these appear to be rated in terms of light performance?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1493301.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1487447.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1244071.asp
I like the I and the H colors the best. No need to spend extra on the G.
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And no, I don’t put much stock in the brilliant scope.
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