Your Educated Thoughts PLEASE!

[zcw517]

Hi, I am about to take the plunge and purchase an ER from James Allen after reading a TON of helpful posts on this forum! I have picked out the setting http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...-twisted-pave-halo-engagement-ring-item-41065 and was talking with the customer service rep to find a suitable round diamond for it, between .70 and 1K (D-G, IF-SI2, Ideal Cut) with a budget max of $3,500 for the diamond.
I had one or two selected but she found one that to me looked much cleaner than the two I had found with the exception of a small inclusion near the edge of the top that she told me that the inclusion was easily prongable (took her word for it). So with that I have placed the diamond on hold until Wednesday 9/24. I have included the diamond I have on hold and the other two I am considering below for your thoughts. I don't know much about the impact of the other specs on the diamonds besides the 4 Cs and how they looked in the photos.

Recommended and currently on hold for 2 days.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...t-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-63355

Other suggestion from CS Rep
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-275707

Other option I considered prior to speaking with CS Rep
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-212128

Please let me know what you think of my choice over the other two options. I am also open to any other recommendations you have for me. I greatly appreciate any help!

 

[Gypsy]

Run through HCA. See explanation below. Any diamonds that pass the HCA test. Put on hold and ask for idealscope image. Post image when you have it. Okay?

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium

 

[zcw517]

Thank you that was extremely helpful. I was able to remove one of my option and found another to submit for idealscope comparison with the two recommended since they do 3 for free. The one I already had on hold had the best HCA rating (1.5) so we shall see how the idealscope comes out. I will share the images when I get them back.

Thank you again, the HCA was a real life saver and recommending the idealscope.

 

[Gypsy]

HCA is pass Pass/Fail. There is no better score 2 and under.

 

[zcw517]

Hello, I just got the Idealscopes back. Here is what they look like along with the recommendations that JA sent. After looking at the article you linked for the IS images it looks to me that the 0.71 might be the best option but I am very eager for your input. Please let me know what you think.

The gemologist favored diamond 369758, the 0.73ct G/VS2 ($3,300) the most due to its light return and brilliance. This diamond faces up the whitest out of the three and has amazing sparkle with great areas of contrast and fire. This diamond is very eye clean as well.


His next favorite is diamond 63355, the 0.71ct G/SI2 ($2,720). This diamond has very good light return and faces up white. It also has amazing fire and brilliance due to its wonderful cut proportions making it a very attractive diamond. The inclusion off to the side is also able to be covered about 85% by a prong, which is wonderful news.



Rounding out the group is diamond 275707, the 0.80ctH/SI1 ($3,390). This diamond faces up at a true H color. Its overall brilliance and light return is very good and it also has nice contrast between the faceting with a few darker areas. This diamond is eye-clean as well.


Best,

Zach