Advice on 2ct, ideal cut, G-H, SI1 diamonds

[GoldenGateGirl]

Hi everyone! I asked the folks at Blue Nile to do an eye-clean inspection and also asked if there was a test that they could do to differentiate the brilliance of the diamonds below (all around 2ct, ideal cut, G-H, SI1). It would be great to have more opinions from others experienced with diamonds though. Are there any that I should more highly consider or eliminate from the running based on the information available?

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD04112699
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD04053478
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD03988858
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-si1-clarity_LD04063093

Thanks in advance

 

[ecf8503]

BN doesn't do light performance evaluations. If they can look at them and tell you if they are eye clean that's always nice.

They are all (or darn close to) 60/60 stones - https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/60-60-proportioned-diamond

60/60 isn't a bad thing - they just have a different "flavor" than a more traditionally cut ideal stone. Often they have shallower crowns, which in combination with the larger table can result in less dispersion (colored light return, or fire). But many 60/60's have nice white light return and good scintillation (sparkle).

First step is to enter the numbers from the GIA cert into the HCA calculator https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca
Reject anything over 2 - that will weed out any poor performers. HCA is an elimination tool - not a selection tool - and once you are under 2, lower isn't better.

Are you dead set on Blue Nile? There are a lot of other online vendors we can recommend that have ideal cut stones in house with all the light performance documentation you'd ever want to make the best choice you possibly can.

 

[treasurehunter]

Stone 3 is the only one thats ''Ideal'' cut actually the table is 59 and not 58 but that shouldn't be a problem, it has twinning wisps so its potentially eye clean.
Price wise it will be hard to beat.

 

[ecf8503]

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD04112699
Reject - HCA =3.7, "worth buying only if the price is right"

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD04053478
Reject - HCA = 3.4, also "worth buying only if the price is right"

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD03988858
Great! HCA = 1.8

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-si1-clarity_LD04063093
borderline reject - HCA = 2.8, also only "worth buying if the price is right"

The third one is your best bet, sight unseen. But if you can I'd suggest checking out Brian Gavin, Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, High Performance Diamonds, and James Allen (to start with).

 

[ecf8503]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...ls/1.842-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-104068650003

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962087.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3033760.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11938/

http://highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=957

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

Hi ecf and treasurehunter. Thanks! That's so helpful, I never even heard of the HCA calculator before. I'll only leave the third one in the running. I'm not dead-set on blue nile, but they did seem to have the lowest prices when I compared them to whiteflash. ecf, thanks for the links to the other diamonds! I'll check them out as well.

 

[Roqsteady]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...ls/1.842-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-104068650003

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962087.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3033760.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11938/

http://highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=957

This diamond is the same price as your best blue nile choice, bigger, guaranteed eye clean, and ags ideal light performance. No brainer for me!

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

I would definitely get that one in a heartbeat if it weren't for the thin to slightly thick girdle. I'm clumsy and could picture myself damaging the thin portion of the girdle.

 

[ecf8503]

what kind of setting are you looking at? I wouldn't be put off by the girdle necessarily -

 

[treasurehunter]

Which one are you talking about? Stone 3 is the best option I have seen there is nothing wrong with it, you could pay extra for hearts and arrows from the others but is it really necessary ….

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

Hi ecf, I'm planning on a pave solitaire setting. I haven't decided on 4 or 6 prongs yet. Since there would be no bezel or halo to protect it, I imagine that I could potentially chip the thin portions (especially if I go for 4 prongs)? I read this post on girdles...
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-girdle-thickness.. I might call whiteflash and ask them if the thin portions are in positions at risk of chipping.

Treasurehunter, the third stone is definitely still in the running!

Anyway, thank you both for all of your help! I really appreciate it

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

Hi everyone. Thank you again for the input! I followed advice to go for whiteflash since they give more information about their diamonds and I used the HCA calculator. I purchased a round 1.86, AGS ideal, G, eye clean SI1 diamond. HCA score = 1.1. I think it might have been one of the ones in ecf's links I took a couple of pictures and quickly put it away before I could drop it! I can't wait to take it to the local jeweler that I have in mind to get it set. Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[Gypsy]

Looks beautiful. Congratulations!

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

Thanks

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

Hi everyone, thank you all for the advice on upgrading my wedding set. Here it is! The diamond is from Whiteflash (a cut above) 1.63 ct, G, VS2. I actually ended exchanging the 1.86 ct diamond that I purchased for this 1.63 ct since I thought that the 1.86 looked a bit too gaudy on me (not necessary a bad problem to have!). I'm wondering if I should have even gone down to 1.3-1.4 ct, but it's too late now!

The setting was done at RP Diamond and Gold Imports in San Francisco. I love the way it turned out, especially the way that the prongs look from the side!

Thank you everyone at Whiteflash and RP Diamonds!

 

[SirGuy]

Thanks for stopping back in! The new stone looks very pretty. I know what you mean about some bigger stones looking too gaudy. It's all personal preference and I think the slightly smaller spread you ended up with looks great.

The two bands look great together on the finger! Lots of sparkle. Thanks for sharing!

 

[luvdajules]

Hi! Looks fabulous on you, just the right proportions. The setting and bands are gorgeous. thanks for the final pics and handshots.

 

[Gypsy]

It looks just perfect on you. I think it's exactly the right size actually.

 

[Daisyoz]

I really like your set! Looking gorgeous. Can I ask what is your ring size? Thanks!

 

[GoldenGateGirl]

Hi everyone, thanks for the compliments on my new set

My ring size is 4.5

 

[Tekate]