Q&A: Looking for 1 Ct. Princess Cut in the UK

We are currently looking at a 1.02 carat g vs2 princess cut diamond with 82% table, which a jeweller friend has recommended, but as we don’t know if this is good or not, are unsure whether to purchase. Can you advise what we should be asking to determine if this is a good deal for us? We are being quoted £4700 inc vat for the diamond, other info we know is, excellent symmetry, 5.47 square, diamond is from israel, GIA and fluorescence is none. Hope you can help!

Thanks for the swift reply.

Thanks for stopping us from making a ‘bad’ buy from our ‘friend’. Typical eh!

We live in the UK and want to physically visit the people who we’ll buy the diamond from so we are looking at a company called Quality Diamonds in London, and their website shows a great deal of information about clarity, polish, symmetry etc.

We have chosen a few new diamonds based on a smaller table (you noted this was what made our original diamond a poor choice) and wanted to ask you a few questions if that’s ok?

We’d like to know what is most important when choosing a princess cut diamond (to be set as solitaire in platinum)…

Our expectations are G to H, VVS1 to VS2, (Flu none – or faint if you suggest this is also fine?), L/W ratio being around 1.00-1.04, GIA and have around £4,500 budget for the diamond without the setting.

The table/depth bit is confusing as some websites give a definite range which conflicts with others, we also now note that the table should be less than the depth, any advice on the whole table/depth thing?
The cut grade is hard to determine too, does it need to be excellent? What is the difference when comparing with V Good/Good?
What about polish and symmetry? Do these also need to be excellent or can these also be very good?
Does the girdle also matter? I’ve read that it would be better to have medium to slightly thick because of the setting and the claws for this particular diamond style?

I hope you can help to educate us!