Your opinion please on that princess cut - thank you

[jess251]

Hi!

This is my first port here but I have been a long time lurker. My fiance and I are about to buy my engagement ring (first diamond purchase ever!) and I would love to have your expert opinion on this diamond

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.090-f-vs1-princess-diamond-ags-104072736002&a_aid=y&chan=x

It was recommended to me by the website Diamond Pro but I still have a few questions and I would love to have your opinion on this diamond in general:

1/ Have you guys have had experience with the Brian Gavin Signature Princess cut?

2/The "Aset" and "Ideal scope" picture show a a black dot ( for Aset) and white dot (for ideal scope) in the center of the diamond. Is that an issue? What is the effect of that look-wise on the diamond?

3/ I do not see much of a pattern on the ideal scope picture, mostly just red. I read a bit about diamond cut precision here
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-precision
does that mean the cut precision here is "common"?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[RockyRacoon]

First things first - that appears to be a very nice stone!

Compare it to these other options, to determine if it is the right stone for you. All of these have been vetted by well-regarded vendors and exhibit Ideal light performance:

2.087ct, G, VS2 - about $9k less than the stone you had linked
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3035388.htm

2.1ct, F, VS2 - about $4k less than the stone you had linked
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10123/

2.021ct, F, VS2 - about $5k less than the stone you had linked (this is the stone I would pick)
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2988899.htm


Personally, I would go with one of the options listed above, and put the extra money into the setting / wedding band.

Best of luck!

 

[JulieN]

It is an AGS Ideal, it is not a "common" cut at all.

I like these H&A radiants better.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/2.01-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-368828
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/2.03-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-368829

 

[jess251]

Hi Rockyracoon,

Thank you for your links. I am looking for a simple solitaire setting, so nothing too complicated.

Can you please tell me why you prefer the 2.021ct, F, VS1 from whiteflash over the one from Brian Gavin (price aside)? Are there particular criteria you are looking at?

Thank you, I really appreciate your help.

 

[jess251]

Hi JulieN

Thank you for your links, but I think am set on a princess cut.

My question as to whether the Brian Gavin diamond was "common" was referring to the precision of the cut. I read somewhere that the AGS "ideal" grading refers only to the performance of the diamond (light return) but not to the cut precision (optical symmetry of the cut).
Being no expert at all, I would love to have you guys opinion on the cut precision of that diamond and find a diamond that maximizes both precision and performance. However I am not really sure how to determine the cut precision.

Thanks!

 

[RockyRacoon]

Hi Rockyracoon,

Thank you for your links. I am looking for a simple solitaire setting, so nothing too complicated.

Can you please tell me why you prefer the 2.021ct, F, VS1 from whiteflash over the one from Brian Gavin (price aside)? Are there particular criteria you are looking at?

Thank you, I really appreciate your help.

Absolutely.

The F from Whiteflash faces-up slightly larger (surface area) than the BGD stone.

I also like that the Whiteflash stone is a perfect square - 6.90 x 6.90. Might just be the symmetry nut in me, but something I prefer.

Both are AGS 0 Ideal, so light performance has been confirmed.

Finally, the Whiteflash stone is about $5k less expensive. Regardless of whether you're trying to find the least expensive stone, having an additional $5k is nothing to sneeze at!

 

[jess251]

Thanks for your advice.

I would like your opinion on the ASET picture of both diamonds, it seems like one has more red (the brian gavin one) and the other one has more green (the whiteflash one). What difference does that make look-wise? Is it better to have more red or green?

Also the whiteflash one has more surface but less carat, is that because of the depth? Should I always try to maximize the surface area rather than the carat?

 

[jess251]

One of the differences I see is the number of chevrons between the whitefish diamond (2) and the brian gavin one (3).

Can someone please comment as to whether it is better to have 2 or 3 chevrons with a 2 carats princess cut ?

Thanks!