Q&A: Cut Vs. Color & Clarity

I love your site! I read “Diamond Helpers”, “Diamond Review”, Blue Nile, and James Allen. I found your website informational and I appreciated your Q&A section. Your dedication to the average consumer is impressive. On to my questions:

GIA or AGS? (I know GIA is the Platinum Standard…but if we aren’t buying platinum standard diamonds G-I color VS-SI…why pay the extra for a platinum certificate?)

As I increase size 1.09 to 1.34 won’t the imperfections/color be more pronounced? I’ve watched your videos and you say CUT is imperative but you can lower the COLOR and CLARITY to increase CARAT. I am concerned that when the girls hold their rings next to each others hers will look cheap/yellow just bigger. What good is size if it’s schmutz?

I could use some guidance. I am on James Allen and the rocks have large black lines and globs of black center mass. Would you be nice enough to forward some possible options that would satisfy my angst?

Like I said I appreciate your site and guidance.

Oh my budget is 10k for center stone.

I was looking only at RB.

I am really torn here. If I am sacrificing clarity for larger size and if I am sacrificing color for cut…why am I bothering purchasing a real diamond?

It’s not that I am strapped for cash or anything I think I started with a healthy budget of 10.5 for a center stone. But as I do my research I am conflicted. I am going to spend 10k plus to impress who? I would rather put the money toward our travels, an education fund (no kids anytime soon), our retirement (I am 27 and she is 22) rather than an item that looses 30% value when i walk off “the lot”.

If I am not purchasing the best of the best what’s the point? As a sign of my “love”, “I love you this many dollars worth”…That’s Don Drapper (Mad Men) and a consumer driven/obsessed cultural stigma we were raised in.

I want to be with this woman for the rest of my life I just can’t justify, rationalize, or create a good argument, yet….

Guidance would be appreciated.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Literally Laughing out Loud in my office. Thank you….hahaha!!

Well I will continue to ponder this dilemma. Thank you for that! =)

I trust the family and you are doing well. As per our last conversation I ordered a Amora Moissanite from Moissanite Company. 2

CT RB (enhanced, hence the Amora). In office, home and outside lighting the stone looks H but when I brought it into the jeweler and

side tested the color I felt more along an I-J color showed through. This does bother me. Who could argue with a $1k price tag for 2CT

stone but I am concerned once placed in a halo setting with G stones the yellow will be enhanced.

Two things:

1. Would you be nice enough to run through James Allen (I’ve read you earn commission) for a 1.19-1.28 to 1.43-1.57 RB, Excellent,

Excellent, G-H, Eye Clean and shoot me back some “affordable” options?

2. Should I order a setting with “I” colored stones and see how the “yellow” shows? She didn’t see the yellow and thought it was “unbelievable” but maybe “too big”.

Thank you for the continued guidance.

With 1477510; What is with the blue color? Bad picture/lighting or funky facet?

That’s what I thought too seeing there weren’t fluorescence in the report.

Certainly doable…I am going to order it and see how it measures up.

How do I notify them you assisted me?

Unfortunately, (perhaps not) I brought my GF with me to the jewelers yesterday. She thought all the 1 CT > were “too big” got to love Moroccan women! She has decided upon a .65 diamond center stone with scalloped or U prong for the Halo Earring (see attached) band and Wedding band.

My guy is currently working some stuff in AutoCAD. I am on JA now and am having trouble meeting her.65 range. Are you tracking any inventory that would meet her requirements? Do you know anyone who could also work up a quote?