8 star 1.5 carat or Brian Gavin''s 1.734 carat??

[caesarsalad]

Hi
Can you give my your frank opinion?

I have been on a spree hunting for my ideal diamond..

And my 2 final choices for about the same price are:-

1) Brian Gavin''s 1.734 carat E, VS2
OR
2) 8STAR 1.5 carat E, VS2?

Which one will you choose??

I am getting very lost and dont know which to choose from....

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/19/2009 1:28:25 PM
Author:caesarsalad
Hi
Can you give my your frank opinion?

I have been on a spree hunting for my ideal diamond..

And my 2 final choices for about the same price are:-

1) Brian Gavin's 1.734 carat E, VS2
OR
2) 8STAR 1.5 carat E, VS2?

Which one will you choose??

I am getting very lost and dont know which to choose from....

These might look a bit different to each other but my choice would be Brian Gavin all the way! Eightstar are also beautiful stones but it is a matter of preference, have you seen an Eightstar in person? If so maybe you could also view some Hearts on Fire h&a to get a comparison to Eightstar - I don't know how HoF compare to Brian's Signature lines but it might give you more of an idea.

This thread might be useful, it compares Eightstar to Whiteflash A Cut Above from when Brian was overseeing the ACA brand.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/eightstar-vs-whiteflash-aca.34712/

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/19/2009 1:30:04 PM
Author: Lorelei


These might look a bit different to each other but my choice would be Brian Gavin all the way! Eightstar are also beautiful stones but it is a matter of preference, have you seen an Eightstar in person? If so maybe you could also view some Hearts on Fire h&a to get a comparison to Eightstar - I don''t know how HoF compare to Brian''s Signature lines but it might give you more of an idea.

This thread might be useful, it compares Eightstar to Whiteflash A Cut Above from when Brian was overseeing the ACA brand.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/eightstar-vs-whiteflash-aca.34712/

Ditto.

Personally, I''d for for the BGD diamond.

 

[Stephan]

I''m an ex 8* and ACA owner.
Go with Brian Gavin, you''ll have a better balance!

 

[D&T]

umm, I''m biased, so I''ll say BGD since I have his diamonds

 

[Stephan]

BUT I would buy EightStar again if it is a fancy color.
I saw Wink''s green EightStar, it''s incredible!

 

[kenny]

Besides all the work of shopping for my asscher, I've also bought an ACA and a Solasfera.
When I was shopping for the rounds I also considered the Eightstar.
In person I have seen an ACA and a Solasfera next to some Eightstars and while they are ALL absolutely stunning I felt the Eightstar was not worth the hefty premium to me.

You may disagree and prefer the Eightstar enough to justify the extra cost, but I do encourage you to find a way to do your own side by side comparison.
Online pics are not apples to apple comparisons because every vendor uses different lighting.

You can buy a stone or two to carry around with you into an Eightstar dealer.
Then return the stones you don't want to keep.
Yes you are out 50 or 75 bucks for shipping but that's nothing compared to the price of a diamond that you are going to be more sure of.

 

[Fly Girl]

Easy decision. Go with the Brian Gavin. I saw an 8* when I was shopping for my Crafted by Infinity, and the 8* has a darker look to it. The jeweler said they will not be carrying that line any longer for that reason.

 

[AGBF]

I have been out of the loop for a while, I guess. Back at the start of my diamond forum career I spent my life questioning Eightstar when it was new and a lot of people were selling it hard. I want to know how it suddenly became a pariah brand. Care to fill me in? I''ve been spending my time discussing high karat gold jewelry instead of diamonds and obviously have missed a few years of drama. Not that I missed it .

AGBF

 

[caesarsalad]

Dear Kenny
Thanks for advice. The country I am in has no 8star dealer or ACA dealer . Only HOF dealer. The HOF are sold at a high premium here...and thus I am not considering HOF. I am an internet buyer.

So it is hard to compare the stones side by side...

 

[caesarsalad]

Hi Fly Girl
I think your choice of the infinity is great too. The dealers like Todd Gray (from Niceice) , Wink (from High Performance) are really helpful people.

Todd even helped me to see if other diamonds (other than those sold by him) are pretty or not.. He concurred that Brian Gavin''s diamond is beautiful and told me it is a fantastic find... without pushing for his own infinity. I sent him all the reports and asked him to evaluate. I trusted his impartialness and have customers'' interest at heart.. unlike some vendors who insisted that only their own diamonds are more beautiful.

I salute them for their spirit as people who have customer point of view (CPOV)... thanks Todd and Wink!

 

[caesarsalad]

Hi everyone..

Okie.. your good points noted.. I shall go for Brian , afterall his ACA is such as success! I should have 100% confidence in his signature diamond!!! Thanks so much for your opinion....

If I buy a fancy stone next time, I shall consider 8star... Good luck everyone.. God bless!

 

[Lorelei]

Congrats!!!

 

[D&T]

Date: 8/20/2009 4:35:14 AM
Author: caesarsalad
Hi everyone..

Okie.. your good points noted.. I shall go for Brian , afterall his ACA is such as success! I should have 100% confidence in his signature diamond!!! Thanks so much for your opinion....

If I buy a fancy stone next time, I shall consider 8star... Good luck everyone.. God bless!

Congratulations! you will not be disappointed

 

[Ellen]

Don''t forget to come back with pics!

 

[caesarsalad]

Yes! I will post the pictures when I have the ring...... i have chosen the tiffany knife edge band to set the ring///.. wish I have the extra money to do a pave setting .... but I have a tight budget .. so I think a simple band will look nice too.. since it is Brian''s signature diamond...

 

[caesarsalad]

Hi all, I lost the stone yesterday.. A walk in customer in States bought it before I could do the bank wire.

.... I called Brian... (I am from Singapore) this morning but he promised to have one cut specially for me... hear from me again ya....

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 8/22/2009 1:01:05 AM
Author: caesarsalad
Hi all, I lost the stone yesterday.. A walk in customer in States bought it before I could do the bank wire.

.... I called Brian... (I am from Singapore) this morning but he promised to have one cut specially for me... hear from me again ya....

I am sorry you lost out on that stone, but love that Brian will cut one for you. It will be specal for sure.... Keep us posted...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/22/2009 1:20:34 AM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 8/22/2009 1:01:05 AM
Author: caesarsalad
Hi all, I lost the stone yesterday.. A walk in customer in States bought it before I could do the bank wire.

.... I called Brian... (I am from Singapore) this morning but he promised to have one cut specially for me... hear from me again ya....

I am sorry you lost out on that stone, but love that Brian will cut one for you. It will be specal for sure.... Keep us posted...

Ditto!

 

[AGBF]

My question about Eightstar remains. Why has its reputation suffered in recent years? But I want to say that I own an ACA which is gorgeous and do not own an Eightstar and I am trying to get at what happened, not advocate for Eightstar! I know Brian will make you happy, caesarsalad.

PS-Can someone tell me (this came up in another thread) what it means to have "heavy painting". In another thread one poster said that Eightstars had, "heavy painting". I had never heard that term.

AGBF

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/22/2009 5:00:55 PM
Author: AGBF




My question about Eightstar remains. Why has its reputation suffered in recent years? But I want to say that I own an ACA which is gorgeous and do not own an Eightstar and I am trying to get at what happened, not advocate for Eightstar! I know Brian will make you happy, caesarsalad.


PS-Can someone tell me (this came up in another thread) what it means to have ''heavy painting''. In another thread one poster said that Eightstars had, ''heavy painting''. I had never heard that term.


AGBF

The hype died down and it had to compete on its merits with many super-ideal cut diamonds that are much better balanced and better priced.

Painting is modification of the usually upper girdle facets but can be lowers that eliminates the white leakage patterns in the IS and FireScope images.
It has been found to have a negative impact on scintillation if it was to heavy.
Both AGS and GIA grading system penalize for it now.
The cutting for obstruction style and short lgf% also makes them look dark under the table to many people including me.
The do rock in low lighting and candlelight but not as well as an oec or step cut and the more modern super-ideals offer more well rounded performance.

When the hype died down and hard look was taken at them from a scientific standpoint they lost a lot of their appeal.

 

[tulips]

I am so sorry to hear you lose this diamond. But it is great news that BG will cut one specially for you!!!
He is a man of reputation and I think he will keep his words for sure .. and probably get a brighter and even better one for you soon.
remember to show us the picture and keep us posted!

 

[tulips]

wow.. karl you do know a lot! really learnt a lot from you ...

what about a solasfera? is it better than superideal cut? do you like solasfera?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/23/2009 12:16:10 AM
Author: tulips
wow.. karl you do know a lot! really learnt a lot from you ...

what about a solasfera? is it better than superideal cut? do you like solasfera?

In larger sizes say 2ct up they can have an advantage over a RB 57 facet cuts.
In smaller sizes I find the extra facet cuts a little busy, like a princess cut as far as virtual facet and sparkle size goes.
Some people love them.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 8/22/2009 5:39:21 PM
Author: strmrdr

Painting is modification of the usually upper girdle facets but can be lowers that eliminates the white leakage patterns in the IS and FireScope images.
It has been found to have a negative impact on scintillation if it was to heavy.
Both AGS and GIA grading system penalize for it now.

OK, Karl, let's take this slowly since I am not an engineer type, OK? The Firescope was created to accompany the Eightstar, wasn't it? I do not know when the first Eightstar was actualy cut. (I could go look it up.) But the Firescope was created in the late 1970's with at least the intent of measuring a diamond cut like an Eightstar, right? It was created by Richard von Sternberg, the Eightstar's creator. Are you saying that the cut that went with this machine didn't leak light, but did so at the expense of scintillation? What kind of "modification" of upper girdle facets was done by the cutters of Eightstar? I assume that the cutter (Mr. von Sternberg) was after elimination of light leakage at all costs. Is that the case?

ETA I just looked at the Eightstar website and it said Richard created the SymmetriScope based on the Firescope. Please explain!

AGBF

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Date: 8/23/2009 4:47:04 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 8/22/2009 5:39:21 PM

Author: strmrdr


Painting is modification of the usually upper girdle facets but can be lowers that eliminates the white leakage patterns in the IS and FireScope images.

It has been found to have a negative impact on scintillation if it was to heavy.

Both AGS and GIA grading system penalize for it now.

OK, Karl, let''s take this slowly since I am not an engineer type, OK? The FireScope was created to accompany the Eightstar, wasn''t it? I do not know when the first Eightstar was actualy cut. (I could go look it up.) But the FireScope was created in the late 1970''s with at least the intent of measuring a diamond cut like an Eightstar, right? It was created by Richard von Sternberg, the Eightstar''s creator. Are you saying that the cut that went with this machine didn''t leak light, but did so at the expense of scintillation? What kind of ''modification'' of upper girdle facets was done by the cutters of Eightstar? I assume that the cutter (Mr. von Sternberg) was after elimination of light leakage at all costs. Is that the case?


AGBF

I am an engineer type and I want to hear the details too - especially since DH [even more of an engineer type than me] intends to have a large [7 carats +] cut for me [some time in this lifetime, presumably].

 

[Stephan]

If you read Brian Gavin''s article about painting and digging and look at the ASET pictures, you''ll learn interesting things.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 8/23/2009 5:09:22 PM
Author: QueenMum

If you read Brian Gavin's article about painting and digging and look at the ASET pictures, you'll learn interesting things.

Thanks for the tip, Stephan. Here is a link to the article. I have to say that when I read the comments readers of the article had made about it, I was almost too shaken to look it up. As I said, I am not an engineer-type. The comments (which praised the article to the skies) put me off more than I can tell you because they implied that experts (like Wink) were having trouble digesting everything in the article. Yes, I am scared by angles and discussions of them .

Deb

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Date: 8/23/2009 5:09:22 PM
Author: QueenMum
If you read Brian Gavin''s article about painting and digging and look at the ASET pictures, you''ll learn interesting things.

Where should I look for it? Thanks!

 

[AGBF]

Date: 8/23/2009 5:32:48 PM
Author: DiamanteBlu

Date: 8/23/2009 5:09:22 PM
Author: QueenMum

If you read Brian Gavin''s article about painting and digging and look at the ASET pictures, you''ll learn interesting things.

Where should I look for it? Thanks!

There''s a link in the posting above you now, "Blu!

Deb