1.65 OVAL F I1 thoughts?

[Nube2love]

First of all, hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and have enjoyed using it as a research tool during the buying process.

I'm hunting for a beautiful oval. My game plan is to go as big and colorless as possible and start from the i1 area on the clarity scale to find an eye clean diamond. Budget 10k all in with setting.

JamesAllen 3d videos have been indispensable. Bluenile doesn't even offer i1's as a class for some reason. Anyway, I found the one in the subject line which is clean to my eye and doesn't have much bow tie to boot! But I'm worried about it's cut and brilliance.

My two concerns are with the depth and table.

Depth: 67% (this is slightly higher than ideal but probably the reason for the lack of bow tie)
Table: 50% (this is lower than most places recommend)

I would appreciate the thoughts of the community on this diamond. I am putting the link the Jamesallen site below. Hopefully it works for you all. I don't mind revealing the price paid but would much rather hear some guesses before I give it away.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.65-carat-f-color-i1-clarity-sku-247940


Cheers

 

[UberClaire]

I think it depends on what your priorities are. Personally, I would have chosen a lower color in order to have better clarity. I would not purchase an I1 diamond that was graded I1 because of a feather inclusion. That oval has a huge, noticeable (to me) feather (crack) in the middle of it, which will screw up the facet pattern when you look at the light dispersion and can potentially cause durability issues (if you hit it hard enough, it may crack all the way through). Did you ask James Allen if they thought that particular stone may have problems with durability? Also, that oval seems to have a slight bow-tie which I don't prefer.

 

[ecf8503]

I'd be very concerned with that huge feather on the table. And you WILL see it.

 

[Nube2love]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I spoke to JA and they said that the GIA report indicates that the feather is inside the diamond so marked red on the plot. They said that they don't sell structurally unsound diamonds. I actually don't mind the feather as its very difficult to see even from very close. It's much better than a dark cavity from a visual perspective IMO.

As far as bow tie, i'd have to disagree. This stone has minimal bow tie compared to most ovals again in my opinion.

 

[kb1gra]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I spoke to JA and they said that the GIA report indicates that the feather is inside the diamond so marked red on the plot. They said that they don't sell structurally unsound diamonds. I actually don't mind the feather as its very difficult to see even from very close. It's much better than a dark cavity from a visual perspective IMO.

As far as bow tie, i'd have to disagree. This stone has minimal bow tie compared to most ovals again in my opinion.

Cut is marginal, it's a pretty deep stone with a small table. that 50% table puts it in the "fair" category and the depth is only "good" and with no culet you have some serious leakage going on.

I can take an educated guess at the price of the stone and tell you that you'd be better off with a shallower stone that is smaller and SI1 for the same $$. I've been looking at ovals and bypassed this one.

 

[Niel]

I think this stone would be a bit dull IRL.

What kind of setting are you going for? How much for your 10k has to go toward setting??

 

[kb1gra]

I think this stone would be a bit dull IRL.

What kind of setting are you going for? How much for your 10k has to go toward setting??

I'm with Neil on this one. I do have a suggestion for a better diamond with very similar spread that would leave you ~$1k for a nice setting.

 

[Nube2love]

Yes exactly correct. It is a bit dull. Not terrible but certainly not as brilliant as a moderately well cut round. I have it in my possession and really like the size and it is very white or clear or whatever but it's lacking in flash. The inclusions like I said do not bother me. The only issue that I have is this diamond doesn't sizzle and what's the point of a diamond that doesn't sizzle right?

I guess I'll spill the beans. $6400 for the diamond so well within budget. I don't think I can find a big to me stone like this without much bow tie and a slightly better clarity for less than 8600.

 

[Niel]

Consider these.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.36-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-235273

A little smaller but looks like a good performer. Which honestly in the long run your GF will be sad serving her duller diamond next to sparkly ones, regardless of size.

Or this, mm size is similar sense its much less deep, I'd ask about fluor but it seems like it could have potential. I don't like it as much, but I know size is important to you.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.50-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-257165

 

[Nube2love]

Thanks for the searches Niel. This process is never ending man.

 

[Nube2love]

Thanks for the searches Niel. This process is never ending man.

 

[Niel]

Yes exactly correct. It is a bit dull. Not terrible but certainly not as brilliant as a moderately well cut round. I have it in my possession and really like the size and it is very white or clear or whatever but it's lacking in flash. The inclusions like I said do not bother me. The only issue that I have is this diamond doesn't sizzle and what's the point of a diamond that doesn't sizzle right?

I guess I'll spill the beans. $6400 for the diamond so well within budget. I don't think I can find a big to me stone like this without much bow tie and a slightly better clarity for less than 8600.

Exactly! If all that mattered was size and color you'd buy an 8 ct CZ, and you'd be paying a lot less. Don't settle for a lackluster diamond. Your just throwing money away at that point.

 

[kb1gra]

Yes exactly correct. It is a bit dull. Not terrible but certainly not as brilliant as a moderately well cut round. I have it in my possession and really like the size and it is very white or clear or whatever but it's lacking in flash. The inclusions like I said do not bother me. The only issue that I have is this diamond doesn't sizzle and what's the point of a diamond that doesn't sizzle right?

I guess I'll spill the beans. $6400 for the diamond so well within budget. I don't think I can find a big to me stone like this without much bow tie and a slightly better clarity for less than 8600.

I quite like this diamond, and the spread is only micrometers smaller. I didn't quite hit $8600 but I got real close and the size will be similar:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-249918

It has a small bowtie but it is symmetrical and it is really small with not a lot of extinction.

 

[AlvinC]

Oh NO! The diamond you have picked out is blaaahhh. I'm also hunting for oval and had just put 3 on hold for ASET last night. Anything over 1.5 you will probably want VS2 clarity or a very eye clean SI1. I've gone an looked at an I1 F in person at a store and it looked horrible! Doesn't matter how great the color is, the cloud and feather will make the whole diamond looks like a white piece of stone. You are crossing into a very dangerous zone with I1. You wont find much of a price difference between SI1 VS2 or even VS1. The price varies a lot more with the color. This is what I would recommend you look for in order cut quality, diamond spread, clarity, color. Since oval tend to sparkle a lot less than a round, I think clarity plays a much bigger role.

BTW, someone bought the diamond already =(.... but that's a good thing.

 

[Niel]

Oh NO! The diamond you have picked out is blaaahhh. I'm also hunting for oval and had just put 3 on hold for ASET last night. Anything over 1.5 you will probably want VS2 clarity or a very eye clean SI1. I've gone an looked at an I1 F in person at a store and it looked horrible! Doesn't matter how great the color is, the cloud and feather will make the whole diamond looks like a white piece of stone. You are crossing into a very dangerous zone with I1. You wont find much of a price difference between SI1 VS2 or even VS1. The price varies a lot more with the color. This is what I would recommend you look for in order cut quality, diamond spread, clarity, color. Since oval tend to sparkle a lot less than a round, I think clarity plays a much bigger role.

BTW, someone bought the diamond already =(.... but that's a good thing.

Well I believe he is the one who already bought it.


Also, stones within the same clarity grade do not all look the same. Some I1s can in fact be eye clean. And not effect clarity. So saying avoid them at all cost is silly, though in general they are a risky move.

And si1 could very well be fine at that size.

It all has to be taken stone by stone. But this original one I think isn't the one for you


I know its a lot of work but I do think you'll be much more satisfied when you have a finished product that your are absolutely 100% proud of.

 

[SB621]

I would suggest looking for ovals that are graded I1 due to twinning wisps. They will be hard to see and eye clean if you find a good one.

 

[Nube2love]

Thank you to everyone who replied. I really just needed to take the stone in to a local jewelry store and compare to make the easy decision.

 

[msop04]

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-249918

It has a small bowtie but it is symmetrical and it is really small with not a lot of extinction.

This one looks like it has a lot of "mush" all around the "bow tie" center and spreading out to the girdle. I'm no oval expert, but I think OP needs to look a little more for the sizzle we all love!

 

[UberClaire]

I would be a little concerned because to my knowledge green on a GIA plot means the inclusions are internal and red means that they breach the surface. A red feather on the plot would indicate a surface reaching inclusion, and not an internal one like you were told.

It's the opposite -- red is internal. "Common inclusions and blemishes, as they are represented on the GIA diamond plot, are illustrated below. GIA uses the color green for surface blemishes, and red for internal inclusions. Sometimes the nature of the inclusion (if it reaches the surface, for example) calls for the use of both green and red. The color black is used to convey extra facets."

 

[geisha_gyrl]

Definitely go for one that has excellent cut. I'd look for an oval cut with ideal proportions over size and color. You could go with a G or even H and it still face up very white. I'd also stay around SI1 to be safe but again, each stone is different so you could find an SI2 that is eye clean.The fire/ sparkle is what you will see and make you happy.