2 sets of 4cttw diamonds to pick from for studs - help!

[erical77]

I am down to two different pairs of diamonds for ~4cttw studs. I've run the StoneAlgo and all are above 9.0 and all but one of the GIA's are 1.0 on the HCA tool (one GIA is .5). All should have ideal depth/table/crown/pavillion specs. Pricewise the GIA ones are about $200 cheaper/pair than the IGI studs. I want brilliant sparkling diamonds on my ears! Help!

2.11crt Round E VS1 - Certi : https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2468628106 Video : https://mediassests.s3.amazonaws.com/V360/Vision360.html?d=LHQ22G-5 2.12crt F VS1 - Certi : https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6461636338 Video : https://mediassests.s3.amazonaws.com/V360/Vision360.html?d=LKB07G-14

2.09 F VS2: https://www.medialink.email/webapp/...Ylm5wUXBAeiCy_apDvdRlNDzP7qk4MGKalIcwG_prqE54
2.09 F VS2: https://www.medialink.email/webapp/sharedcollection/d68a2b6bd8?locale=en&fbclid=IwAR2Mq9sB8B8vauGPkS8h-NjuVdDZmtiBikO_mhSK4GrM9x8tDfoJ7IrcxLk

Note these are from different sellers so I can't mix/match them!

 

[DiamDude]

What are the prices that you have seen for them as that matters too. As all the websites can get you both the diamonds as they share virtual inventory however my suggestion is check with all the websites that are listed on pricescope and see where you get it cheaper.

 

[0515vision]

Hi @erical77. Sorry you haven't gotten more responses on here. Some of them are going through life things at the moment, so please understand.

I'm *not* an expert at all, so take my opinion with a huge tablespoon of salt. I prefer the IGI pair, but mainly bc the videos are en face, and I can clearly see the high quality of cut. The hearts & arrows look great. The GIA stones are tilted, and it's hard to tell if there's pavilion twist or just video artifact.

Otherwise, both sets seem to be clear of major issues - but I know you're here to have someone point out minor prosumer issues. Would you be able to ask for ASET images? Will you seem them loose in person before having them set? If so, you could get an Idealscope.

They look great overall, and I'm so excited for you!

 

[erical77]

Hi @erical77. Sorry you haven't gotten more responses on here. Some of them are going through life things at the moment, so please understand.

I'm *not* an expert at all, so take my opinion with a huge tablespoon of salt. I prefer the IGI pair, but mainly bc the videos are en face, and I can clearly see the high quality of cut. The hearts & arrows look great. The GIA stones are tilted, and it's hard to tell if there's pavilion twist or just video artifact.

Otherwise, both sets seem to be clear of major issues - but I know you're here to have someone point out minor prosumer issues. Would you be able to ask for ASET images? Will you seem them loose in person before having them set? If so, you could get an Idealscope.

They look great overall, and I'm so excited for you!

Thank you! The GIA ones seemed to have some weird areas when I pulled the video and one seemed a little dark, but I of course am not an expert! I have asked for ASET images but they do not have them for the IGI ones (haven't asked about the GIA ones yet). Part of me thinks that for the price ~$2200 for the pair after setting in 3 prong martini white gold and shipping, do I just figure they'll still be great for earrings and call it a day? This has been exhausting trying to find pairs!

 

[erical77]

I am down to two different pairs of diamonds for ~4cttw studs. I've run the StoneAlgo and all are above 9.0 and all but one of the GIA's are 1.0 on the HCA tool (one GIA is .5). All should have ideal depth/table/crown/pavillion specs. Pricewise the GIA ones are about $200 cheaper/pair than the IGI studs. I want brilliant sparkling diamonds on my ears! Help!

2.11crt Round E VS1 - Certi : https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2468628106 Video : https://mediassests.s3.amazonaws.com/V360/Vision360.html?d=LHQ22G-5 2.12crt F VS1 - Certi : https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6461636338 Video : https://mediassests.s3.amazonaws.com/V360/Vision360.html?d=LKB07G-14

2.09 F VS2: https://www.medialink.email/webapp/...Ylm5wUXBAeiCy_apDvdRlNDzP7qk4MGKalIcwG_prqE54
2.09 F VS2: https://www.medialink.email/webapp/sharedcollection/d68a2b6bd8?locale=en&fbclid=IwAR2Mq9sB8B8vauGPkS8h-NjuVdDZmtiBikO_mhSK4GrM9x8tDfoJ7IrcxLk

Note these are from different sellers so I can't mix/match them!

GIA was about $1650/pair and IGI was $1900/pair.

 

[0515vision]

Yes, a stud search can be EXHAUSTING. But don’t let that fatigue interfere with finding a pair you’ll love forever.

Who are your vendors? Do you trust them? You could potentially order both pairs loose and compare them. Or you could just pay the extra $350 for the IGIs and call it a day.

If your vendors are b&m, maybe they’ll let you see a pair before they are set. I know someone here just had a bad experience with her Ritani stud setting.

Depending on the vendor, sometimes Jonathan at Distinctive Gem will give a free opinion on stones. I can’t remember the parameters, but I know he does this. You can check out his website or just use the chat function and ask.

Finding a pair is the hardest part. You’re on the home stretch!

 

[erical77]

Definitely soooo hard to find a pair!

I am not 100% trusting of the vendors for the above diamonds... however, I do trust this vendor (Alex Park) and I have actual IRL video of the stones:

https://imgur.com/a/Sw9yomH

And certs: https://www.igi.org/reports/verify-your-report?r=577389467 and https://www.igi.org/reports/verify-your-report?r=577389509

These are pricier - $550 after the earring settings compared to the IGI's above. (These are $2750 and the other are $2200). I'm thinking I just spend the extra money and go with these? They are 9+ on StoneAlgo but 1.4 and .9 on HCA (which I know isn't the end all be all). How do you think they look?

Funny, I thought my current studs I would wear forever, but they are 1.5cttw natural diamonds, one of which was my engagement diamond from 2000. I ordered a pair of 1cttw studs from With Clarity to see what I thought about them for my 2nd hole and holy moly, they made my current studs look horrible! My current ones definitely do not have brilliance and fire.

 

[0515vision]

It’s tough comparing videos since they’re all so different. But the certain look good. At the end of the day, you need to feel mind clean when it comes to the balance of budget and brilliance.

If the extra money isn’t an issue, then Alex Park would be convenient.

You say you don’t trust your other vendors. Do you mean in terms of craftsmanship bc that’s what I was referring to. You could save yourself a few hundred dollars if you get stones from them and have set them elsewhere.

I think the only I’m providing is as a sounding board so you don’t have all these potential paths of action tangling themselves up in your brain!

 

[0515vision]

@erical77 Did you make a decision? Your earlobes are waiting

 

[erical77]

@erical77 Did you make a decision? Your earlobes are waiting

I did! I'm actually going to go with a pair from Alex Park that I saw a video of! I gave them a deposit today.

 

[Mreader]

I looked up this thread after you posted in mine! Let’s see some ear shots! So glad you’re happy with your stones.