Thanks for the good information. I've taken a lot of notes from this thread. I will definately be sitting down and doing comparison shopping in contrast to internet purchasing.

I understand the cut, clarity and color...... but I thought I heard a few years back that there was some "NEW" cut that had like hundreds of cuts on one stone (can't remember the specific amount) that made it one of the most scintilating.

For example, other than asking for the round and brilliant diamond, is there a name for a certain cut within the brilliant cut that is the most fiery and scintilating?

The original rock I purchased 10 years ago was VSI, 3/4 carat, H color. At the time I thought it was the shiznit....but over the past years I've seen some rocks on woman's hands that damn near blinded me! Don't know if they were fake, but that is what I'm after.

Thanks again.

Tim

 

I got a 3/4 carat, F color, VS2 for my fiance. It is a princess cut and is 4.85x4.80. Almost a perfect square. I think that is the key. That thing shines in the sunlight, and when we take it in for a cleaning, it is pretty damn impressive. Most people that see it assume it is a D, but then again they probably just don't know what they are looking at.

I got the lower end of the clear color area, and the mid area on the inclusions area, but you can't tell because it is pretty close to a square. And the inclusions that are in it are really small. I know where they are and I can't see them.

It was crazy. The same diamond size that was a D color and the same inclusions rating was twice the price. And I couldn't even tell. And then when I got higher in the inclusions rating (VVS1 or so) the price just kept going up. For something that I couldn't tell the difference, I wasn't going to pay that much more money. I knew she wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Plus I had my budget, so I picked the best one available to me within that budget.

 

BTW, here is the one I bought my wife.

 

do a search on diamond cuts

here is a good primer page for education on cut and the effects it has on refraction

http://www.brilliance.com/education/cut.aspx

and shape
http://www.brilliance.com/education/shape.aspx

as far as the newer fancy stuff this chart should give you a good base of terms to search and look at (warning...some of these are true gimmick cuts and actually stress the stone too much causing a brittle end product...do not sacrifice strength for flash...ever):

http://lgdl.gia.edu/pdfs/cutupdatechart_0405.pdf

 

I've purchased a number of pieces from www.bluenile.com their prices are excellent as is the selection and the website is great for selecting an unmounted stone.

 

221 facets

Brilliant lady 21

via Antwerp





that should get the proverbial heart pounding

same stone with isometric lighting:




intense faceting

 

i got a great diamond at a much better price than i found anywhere else. pick your 4 C's. they'll list quite a few, and then you can just pick the best price that meets all your criteria. i had great luck. my wife's diamond is much more brilliant than any i've yet seen of the same size.

 

/\/\
sorry, the picture does the ring NO justice.

 

Man...I just couldn't get my camera to do the right zoom. I need to practice more with that. But anyway, here is the one that I bought. Don't mind all the scratches on the ring. Platinum tends to scratch super easily.

Like ace's...the picture doesn't do it justice at all.






**EDIT**

I decided to go ahead and use my camera (30d) instead of hers. Here are a couple other pics. I didn't do much post processing on them, but they show the ring a little better.

 

^^^^ nice pics.... beautiful ring. I just don't think I can sell that particular cut to my wife who is a bit old fashioned. Again.... beautiful ring.