Q&A: Wants a High Color (D or E) 1 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond. Skeptical about Buying Online. Ends up Extremely Satisfied.

Ira- I feel so lucky to have come across your website, the wealth of information here is almost unbelievable. Thank you so much for providing it all. My question is relatively simple – in your experience and opinion, is it better to purchase online or from a local jeweler? I think there are some price advantages to purchasing online but you get to see the diamond in person when speaking to a jeweler. Additionally, when purchasing online, you don’t need to worry about jewelers pushing sub-par rings on you for higher prices. But, you also lose the expertise and familiarity with the diamond that so often comes with in-person jewelers. What are your thoughts on this? As for what I’m looking for: At least a very good cushion cut, ratio not greater than a 1.1 (more square-ish). High color grade (D or an E) with Clarity in the VS1 to SI1 range. Size of the ring around 1 – 1.1 carats. And, of course, I’m trying to do this for around 5,000 (mission impossible). I also wanted to add I’ve found your discussion on the clarity differences particularly enlightening; specifically that you need to see the stone to determine where and how noticeable a flaw is. This seems to be another advantage for shopping with an in-person jeweler. Thanks for your time.

Thank you for your quick response.

The stones you attached are stunning.

I guess my concerns about buying online is two fold:

1) You don’t get to see, in person, the diamonds. I know with the picture you can see the flaws and the stone itself, up close. But you don’t get to really get a visual sense of it.

2) I was sort of raised to believe the old adage “If it’s too good to be true. . . ” Looking at these stones it’s hard to believe that the quality of these stones are available at these prices. Looking at stones at various jewelers I see significant drop off in color and quality by comparison. I’m just surprised, I suppose.

Finally, for a square cushion cut stone, what do you think (or believe) the best proportions are as to table, depth, etc. Any advice you could provide on this last point would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for the time.

I did indeed read the article and it made a lot of sense logistically and did a good job of explaining why there would be such a price differential.

Thank you also for your advice about the dimensions of the cushion cut stone. You’ve been very helpful.

Thank you very much. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take you up on that offer. I’ve narrowed it down to a few stones that I have some questions or concerns about. If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like your feedback on the stones. I, of course, understand if you do not have the time to do so.

1)https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1280464.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – I can live with the slight blemish on this stone, the only concern I really have is the cut – polish VG, symmetry G. I’m nervous that perhaps it won’t shimmer as much as other diamonds I’m looking at. Otherwise I really like it. (Polish and symmetry don’t determine a stone’s beauty. Have a look at my articles about Polish and Symmetry.  That being said, the blemish will not be visible to the naked eye.  My reservation with this stone, though, is that it has an “extremely thick” girdle.)

2)https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281436.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – This I think is a nice stone, i looked at it first under the loupe and didn’t really see much. Then I looked at the GIA report and it seems like it has a lot of flaws. Given that they seem not that noticeable (even under the loop, though, obviously when I knew where to look I saw them) – should I be that concerned? Would it affect the brilliance or fire? It does have great polish and symmetry (There is one noticeable inclusion at the very top of the table at the 12 o’clock position.  I’m afraid this might actually be black, and look white because the light of the flash from the camera reflected off it.  I’d stay away from this one.  But, in general, clarity doesn’t affect a stone’s brilliance unless you’re talking about a SEVERELY included stone, which this doesn’t even come close to being.)

3) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1271797.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – I really just thought that this was a beautiful stone and didn’t have many reservations about it aside from the fact than it was smaller than the others. (You speak the truth!)

4) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281379.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 –  I thought the cut of this stone was stunning. My concern was that it seemed like a “heavy” stone. The depth percentage is off and a lot of the carats seem like they are in the bottom part of the stone given the dimensions. (Not a heavy stone.  In fact, it’s less deep than the preceding stone.  I really like this one.  In fact, this stone has more square millimeters on its face (LxW) than the precedeing stone.)

Thanks again Ira. I’m going to sleep on it for a day and come back to it.

…….

I’m curious what the concern is with an extremely thick girdle.

Thanks again for the feedback

Thanks so much Ira.

I guess there isn’t much more to do except order one of these and take a look at them!

I will let you know how it goes!

Just to let you know, I went with the first one that I sent you (1.21 D-Si2). At least initially. I know you had reservations about the extremely thick girdle and it made a lot of sense. I called up James Allen and spoke to them online and was twice told it was very beautiful and brilliant (I guess that is not too surprising, given that they are trying to sell it). They said it was spready, but it actually helped the diamond to look a bit bigger. I figured I’d give it a shot because I can always return it (I spoke to them a lot about the return policy as well). It also just seemed like really good bang for my buck.

The next one I was going to look at if I did not like this diamond was going to be the third one I sent you, but evidently someone else had their eye on it  as well and it’s no longer available.

The fourth one I think is just a bit out of my price range.

My plan is to hopefully have another one picked out by the time the diamond comes here tomorrow so that if I don’t want it I can exchange rather than wait the time to get a refund.

My question to you now is this – what should I be looking for when examining it on my own? Obviously I will try and see if the flaw is visible with the naked eye (I seriously doubt it will be). How can I gauge if it is as brilliant as it should be? I’ve been to a couple of local dealers and have been able to see brilliance, but it always seems relative (that is, they put three diamonds next to each other and you can obviously see which one sparkles the most). Do you have any advice? For example, what kind of lighting I should look at it under?

Thanks again for all of your help – I know I say it in all of my emails, but you really have been an objective voice of reason in all of this exciting madness.

I think this is the stone!

It came this morning (by the way James Allen does a beautiful job packaging it). I was a bit nervous as I got it but I opened it up and the diamond is just  gorgeous. I love the cut and the color. It catches the light nicely and the color dispersion is excellent. I actually cannot stop looking at it.

It is by far nicer than any of the stones I’ve seen at the jewelers I’ve been going to. In addition I love the dimensions. I showed it to my friend who could not believe it was only (yeah right – only!) 1.21 carats because it has such a big face. The inclusion is barely visible. I can only see it when I look for it and look for it very hard.

I’m really happy with it. I kept waiting to be inspired by the stones I was looking at with different jewelers. None of them did. This one does. I bought it thinking I would send it back. Now I think I’m pretty much set. I just need to tell the jewelers I’ve visited to call off the hunt – an uncomfortable call to make.

And no I did not get a setting with it. I’m going to have to take it to a jeweler (probably one of the ones I didn’t buy a diamond from) and have them set it. Alternatively I suppose I could send it back and have James Allen do it. I’m not sure though – it seems like with setting it might make sense to explain what I’m looking for in person.

In any event Ira, thank you so much for all of your help. I was relieved to find on your website that you get some kind of commission from my purchase because you’ve more than earned it. My next stop after this email is to go to ivouch to  write up a recommendation for you. You really helped me out this last week. And the information on your website no man who plans on proposing should be without. As soon as my brother finds a girlfriend he plans on proposing to, I’m going to point him to your site first!