8 days left ''til I propose & STILL LOOKING! HELP!!

[2Bmarried]

Well, I am obviously still looking for a nicer diamond than those I have found in a local B& M store. Back as a frontrunner is this one:

AGS cert. (# 0001782906, dated July 12, 2000)
.733 Ideal Cut (5.84 x 5.87 x 3.54 mm)
F
SI2
Table = 56%
Crown Angle = 34.4
Pavilion Angle = 40.7
Depth = 60.5%
Crown Height = 15.0%
Pavilion Depth = 42.8%
Fluorescence = inert
No inscription (though I would like one)
Price = $2,804
HCA = 0.8 EX/EX/EX/VG
AGA = overall grade 1A

This is the one that has several eye-visible inclusions (which I know some SI''s might), even after they mounted it for me (I was hoping they might disappear with the prongs alongside). I can see them face-up, through the side of the pavilion, etc.

I have looked at several others in local stores with my loupe, idealscope, and their scopes. I have run every single one at the stores as well as all of those I have found online from every e-tailer (bluenile, whiteflash, abazias, GOG, niceice, etc., etc.) through the HCA and AGA calcs, when included information allows. NONE of them score as well as this one I have detailed. I have also used my ideal-scope on every one at the stores and none of them look as symmetrical or are cut as well.

I am going crazy here! Am I relying too much on the HCA and AGA to help me out here? They seem to be on the same page with what I have looked at, so I believe they''re right on target and I''m using them as a baseline. How can it possibly be this hard to find the right one at the right price??

I challenge anybody to find a diamond that scores as well and has the same basic specs (Price, size, AGS cert, D, SI2 or better, etc.). I thought I''d be able to find a better deal online, but when I think I might have found something, the information is too inconclusive to put into BOTH of the advisors!

Help me out here - I''m exhausted, fading fast & running out of time!! Any suggestions???

Thanks!

 

[davisc02]

Yes you defiantely are relying on the HCA to much, your getting too wrapped up in numbers (see my post last week).

She is not going to care if it scores .4,.8,1.5 or 2.5 HCA what she is going to care about is size, sparkle and the fact you bought her it! Just because it scores better on the HCA doesn't mean its going to sparkle more.

I bought a Round .75 EGL IDeal Plus, G, eye clean SI1, which scored 1 on the HCA X X X VG for under $2000 which is nice, but I have seen others that score over 2 and are equally as nice. To be honest I was lucky but I could have saved myself a load of stress simply by asking one of the recommended people from WHiteflash, GOG etc to pick me out the sparkliest, biggest, whitest diamond for that money.


What she is going to notice is visable inclusions, with your time frame I would be making a few phone calls to some of the above mentioned and see what they come up with.

 

[valeria101]

Yeah.. it sounds like this choice needs more of a balancing act: F-SI2 means bidding to much on color, in my view. Also, the last notch of cut (at least on paper) is also bringing size and clarity down too much. I would suspect that a good and fast buy at this point would be a near-H&A with great a Iscope portrait, (this probably means HCA<2 anyway). Symmetry and polish above good is not essential (or visible), si I would not worry about those. This way, all compromises will be hidden to the eye and the result would make a nice deal I suspect.

Besides, AGA and HCA are two different anymals. It does not make all that much sense for me to use both. If light return is what you are after, the AGA does not have to do much with it, and weird-lookig diamonds (i.e. overly deep, or spready, or whatever) would not make it past the HCA anyway.

At this point, it appears to me that you are focused a tad too much on those paper grades instead of the stone itself...

 

[pqcollectibles]

The AGA Cut Charts might change in the not too distant future, anyway, with the moves GIA is making on grading Cut.

Very nice diamond, AL. I didn't got that high in price. When I searched, I looked for comps close to 2B's original price range.

 

[valeria101]

Yeah.. it sounds like this choice needs more of a balancing act: F-SI2 means bidding to much on color, in my view. Also, the last notch of cut (at least on paper) is also bringing size and clarity down too much. I would suspect that a good and fast buy at this point would be a near-H&A with great a Iscope portrait, (this probably means HCA<2 anyway). Symmetry and polish above good is not essential (or visible), si I would not worry about those. This way, all compromises will be hidden to the eye and the result would make a nice deal I suspect.

Besides, AGA and HCA are two different anymals. It does not make all that much sense for me to use both. If light return is what you are after, the AGA does not have to do much with it, and weird-lookig diamonds (i.e. overly deep, or spready, or whatever) would not make it past the HCA anyway.

At this point, it appears to me that you are focused a tad too much on those paper grades instead of the stone itself...

This is what i am talking about:

DCD1

Actually, I feel there is a good collection of choices on this thread, and 8 days means getting thing going asap

 

[pqcollectibles]

Very clean Cert plot on that one, 2B!! Musta been a harsh day on the grading bench!

Folks on the Forum would say I'm prejudiced. I love the ACA's I have! Especially the new ring!! I get tons of compliments, and they sparkle like mad!!

White Flash is an extremely reputable company to work with. They stand behind their policies. I just cashed in on the Lifetime Upgrade and it was extremely easy to use. Lesley is fantastic to work with and Brian is an absolute diamond Guru. Have pen and paper ready to jot notes, and budget some time for your chat. Brian is a talker. You will learn a lot about you diamond, and diamonds in general.

If I might suggest,..... Call and chat with Lesley first. Let her know the diamonds you are interested in, what you are trying to accomplish and your price point. She may have a few suggestions for you. Lesley and Brian got me to think outside the box, to borrow a phrase from Fire and Ice. I got a bigger diamond for less money. They really do know their stuff!

 

[GregUofMN]

Hi--

I just bought this from Whiteflash about 1hr ago. I think with what you want and what you're looking for I think that you'll end up finding it in your price range.

.74 Ideal Round

Keep looking and up your standards to say a VS2 and then maybe you'll get rid of those inclusions you're complaining about. Good luck.

 

[phoenixgirl]

The ACA does look beautiful. If you have the $ to spare, it sounds like a winner.

I would be interested to hear how their 0.73 F SI1 AGS0 performs. Is the other one worth the extra $432?

 

[aljdewey]

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On 2/11/2004 8:28:25 PM phoenixgirl wrote:





The ACA does look beautiful. If you have the $ to spare, it sounds like a winner.

I would be interested to hear how their 0.73 F SI1 AGS0 performs. Is the other one worth the extra $432?
----------------

NICE FIND!!! Practically the same stone for a few hundred less. The table is a bit smaller, but I would think that should accentuate the fire.

Either looks beautiful......I am a VERY satisfied ACA owner. The stones are incredible....you cannot go wrong!