A Cut Above Owners

[Kinger]

Looking for any and all opinions from ACA owners. We''ve looked at HOF, which I love but it seems that you can get a stone with better cut and clarity (same carat) for less. I just want to know if these are truly as beautiful as they sound (never having seen one in person).

 

[Stephan]

They have one of the best reputation.
Note:
You can choose between a Classic Line or a New Line ACA.
Read this for more information.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Date: 3/5/2005 6:14:54 PM
Author:Kinger
Looking for any and all opinions from ACA owners. We''ve looked at HOF, which I love but it seems that you can get a stone with better cut and clarity (same carat) for less. I just want to know if these are truly as beautiful as they sound (never having seen one in person).

Kinger: I have over 100 pictures on my computer of rings WF has made and designed particularly with customers on this site. I will not waste space on this forum reposting them, but you will find testomonial after testomonial in reference to their great product and superior service. In the realm of branded Hearts & Arrows stones I believe they are a number #1 contendor with their emphasis being placed on quality control for a superior product in their ideal cut diamonds.

I am a two-time customer and am very pleased at the diamonds I have purchased from their company both times.

I have seen many different superideals. I own ACA''s from Whiteflash, un-branded Hearts and Arrows Diamonds, and an Eightstar diamond. The Whiteflash ACA stones are on the top of my favorite list for branded H&A''s diamonds and compete among the best with diamonds of similiar cut quality on the market..

Good Luck..

 

[ame]

My wedding ring is made little bitty versions of them. Its BEAUTIFUL.

Check out the Eye Candy thread in the Show Me The Ring forum.

 

[Kinger]

Are the ones listed on the website currently new line or original line?

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

We will have to take a look at the ideal-Scope image to tell you that Kinger.

The Whiteflash inventory consist of a mix of both styles of cutting both the "New Line" & the "Classic Line"

One style the "New Line" has more edge to edge light return and one style the "Classic Line" has a little more contrast, both styles being of a little different flavor in visual appearance, but both also balanced within Super Ideal Hearts & Arrows proportions.

 

[Kinger]

okay, thank you for the feedback. i''m not sure i''d know which i''d prefer (new line or old line) so i may be better off not knowing. again, i''ve only seen HOF in person but I''m trying to guide my boyfriend to the best stone with the best value in this category. that''s why i keep thinking of ACA and whiteflash.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Date: 3/5/2005 6:36:12 PM
Author: Kinger
okay, thank you for the feedback. i''m not sure i''d know which i''d prefer (new line or old line) so i may be better off not knowing. again, i''ve only seen HOF in person but I''m trying to guide my boyfriend to the best stone with the best value in this category. that''s why i keep thinking of ACA and whiteflash.

Kinger to be perfectly honest with you I think HOF makes a good product, but I think the premium you are paying for the HOF diamond is rediculous.

Comparative to cut quality and pricing WF is one of your best bets.

 

[Kinger]

thanks josh! do you think that aca is as good a product as HoF?

 

[Stephan]

even better...

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

I think ACA is one of the best products on the market Kinger. Like I stated before in the realm of Super Ideal cut Hearts & Arrows diamonds I think they are in a class of their own without the obscene mark up which some brands have on their pricing. I would rate Whitflash ACA, HOF and Eightstar diamonds as some of the finest cut diamonds in the world. In this realm of superior diamond cutting I believe the Whiteflash product is marketed at the best price point for value. If you were to do a price comparison between the brands you would find a 20-40% or more price mark up for the other 2 brands.

Whiteflash markets competetively, but not obscenely in my opinion when it comes to their pricing.

 

[perry]

I think it is incorrect to claim that the ACA diamonds are better looking diamonds than HOF.

They have a different look. Both the ACA and HOF are super ideal cut diamonds. I looked at over a dozen HOF diamonds in December with my idealscope (professional model) and can not fault them one bit.

It is correct to state that HOF charges a higher markup due to their marketing stratagy.

Both are wonderfull diamonds, Both will bring many positive comments, Both are super ideal cuts.

Some may like the look of the ACA, others may like the look of the HOF.

How important is cost to you, and dealing with a B&M store versus the internet.

For some, HOF is the right choice. For others - especially those with tight budgets - ACA wins out.

I would also like to point out that you should not neglect the wonderfull diamonds that NiceIce and Good Old Gold also stocks. Those are also super ideal cut diamonds at reasonable prices. Both of those vendors are also B&M stores.

I wish you the best on your selection.

Perry

 

[Lord Summerisle]

ummm what can i say - im attracted to this thread like a fly to a light bulb.

I recently got a ACA (new line as it turned out) and yes, in answer to your first question. It is every bit as beautiful as i had built it up to be doing all the research i did, certainly did not disappoint.

The differences between the New Line and the Classic - are, while there, are really not something that will make you go ''oh i want a new line only'' or vice versa... tho i will add a foot note to say in person i have not seen one from the classic line. There is a slightly different look to them - but in justthe same way there is a difference between a 8*, HoF...

I will say that Whiteflash (as well as the appraiser i chose - Gem Appraisers) made the purchase process a joy, and alleyed all my nerves of buying a diamond, not only online, but also on a different continent.

Yep also check out Good old Gold, and some of the other chaps Perry mentions... they do carry some beautiful diamonds as well.

 

[youngster]

My diamond search began many, many months ago with the HOF line. They are beautiful no doubt. However, I ended up with a classic line ACA from Whiteflash. It''s fabulous and I adore it. Look at both kinds yourself and see what speaks to you. Though, for the money, I think it''s hard to go wrong with the ACA line. The same size stone, same color but with a lower clarity grade, was thousands higher than what I paid Whiteflash for my H, VS2.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 3/5/2005 6:58:46 PM
Author: perry

I think it is incorrect to claim that the ACA diamonds are better looking diamonds than HOF.

A person's subjective opinion cannot be "incorrect". If Stephan believes that ACA diamonds are better looking to him than HOF, then they are. It's not a "claim", it's his opinion.....which *was* solicited when Kinger asked the question "do you THINK.........?"

Yours may differ, and that's fine too.

Kinger: Yes, I too am the owner of a Whiteflash ACA stone. It is breathtaking. I have never compared it side-by-side to an HOF stone, but the HOFs I have seen never struck me as being superior to my ACA. As such, I *personally* wouldn't feel good about paying the markup because I perceive it to be a markup for the name only.

It's my opinion that the ACA stones represent a much better value without any sacrifice in quality.

 

[Mara]

We own 3 ACA's and one almost-ACA from WF...we love all of them and they are exceptionally great performing stones...

I saw a Dream HOF once, it was breathttaking as well. In fact the HOF was the first diamond we really looked at seriously and I was stunned at how beautiful it was. In the jeweler lighting and we saw the Hearts...both impressed us.

But then I came to PS and got an education....IMO, they are two different birds...the HOF and the ACA or H&A....but obviously for us it was a huge price diff to go with something like an ACA or an unbranded H&A. I knew the HOF was expensive from the beginning and in the end it was going to be a .80c HOF for the same price as a 1.25 H&A or similar.

The HOF markup was almost 40% more....which was not worth it to me for a marketing brand when PERFORMANCE was just as good IMO.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i have never seen a ACA yet but, i''m working on a ACA pendant for my wife.i have seen a few HOF there is no way i''m paying that kind of premium

as long as the stone is top cut,i don''t care what''s inscribed on the girdle.my stone is inscribed "cut by Stevie Wonders"

but it really has alot of sparkles.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/5/2005 8:1:12 PM
Author: Mara

they are two different birds...the HOF and the ACA or H&A

Is it just the price gap that makes ACA more attractive ?

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Date: 3/5/2005 11

2:27 PM
Author: valeria101

Date: 3/5/2005 8:1:12 PM
Author: Mara

they are two different birds...the HOF and the ACA or H&A

Is it just the price gap that makes ACA more attractive ?

Hi Val:

Well owning a couple brands of Superideals and seeing a couple more I don't own I think it is a disservice to say that the price is what is attractive about the Whiteflash Brand.

Personally I believe that Whiteflash has excellent SuperIdeals at very competetive prices. I think another aspect which makes WF more marketable in my opinion is they are a company which has very strict standards and quality control before when their diamonds come off the wheel. I think that they are a company which is at the forefront of the branding "niche" of the diamond market.

I believe they are a company which has applied many marketing techniques which are not seen in other brands. I think the "New Line" & "Classic Line" ACA's make a good argument for a company which has crossed over into the realm of applying 2 different cutting styles to the Hearts & Arrows branding which hasn't been done in any of the other brands of Ideal Cut Hearts & Arrows I have seen marketed.

SuperBCert, Eightstar, HOF and other companies which brand their diamonds haven't appealed to the 2 different unique styles of diamond cutting. One style which boast more edge-to-edge light return and the other style cut for "contrast". Both styles fall under the strict guidlines WF has set in marketing their diamonds and both lines appeal differently to different consumers. This is one of the many aspects I believe has made WF a success.

I look at a couple things when shopping for Super-Ideals:

(1) The Selection
(2) The Quality Control
(3) Pricing
(4) The Customer Service, Policies, Refunds, Shipping, etc
(5) Having the option of other services available like if they carry certain ring lines, custom setting, Engraving, packaging, and browser friendly site navigation.

With this being said I think another thing to consider is the availability. Between the brands mentioned SuperBCert and WF are the only brands which are marketed on-line.

HOF & 8-Star are great looking diamonds but because they do not have published prices this gives room for high retail mark-ups. I believe they are nice stones, but when shopping people want to compare prices.

I know the marketing behind 8-star and a couple other brands and it is B&M friendly, stones which are marketed at certain pricepoints give the dealer the upper hand in negotiating. Is one Super-ideal better than the other?

Well this is a question only a consumer can answer, but when I am searching I like the fact that there are published prices for a consumer to compare, there is no behind the scenes negotiating or high mark-ups exclusive only to vendors or retailers who market the product.

In short WF has competive pricing with a great product in the realm of a superior cut branded Hearts & Arrows stones in which they have adapted their marketing to the consumer in making profits. What more can you ask for. I look at their site and no matter what your preference whether it is Ideal cut Hearts & Arrows, fancy-shape diamonds, custom rings, engraving, or getting you a setting from a popular line...They have it all, pricing is just one of the ways they have also been a success in marketing their diamonds...

Mt 2 Cents...

 

[strmrdr]

Each brand/cutters of super ideal h&a diamonds cuts their diamonds with a little different personality in the diamonds performance under various lighting conditions.
The crown and pavilion angles play probably the biggest role but the lower pavilion facets, the star facets and girdle facets are very important in determining the personality of the diamond.
Each brand/cutter has a little different way of cutting these facets which creates finished super-ideal diamonds that while all are awesome have slightly different personalities.
It is fun going to goodoldgold''s website and separating out which cutting house cut which diamond based on the ags cert listed angles, heart and arrow images and b-scope pictures.
Each has a unique signature.
He has the broadest spectrum of super-ideals than any of the PS. vendors.
All awesome but with different personalities.

You see this in the new line and classic aca''s from whiteflash also.
Both cuts are awesome super-ideal h&a''s but they have different personalities.
In their case the main difference is in how the girdle facets are cut.
Classic is cut for contrast.
New line is cut for edge to edge light return.
Neither is better than the other they just have different personalities.

 

[jennalyns]

I have an ACA stone from whiteflash. It is stunning and I love it, it is blinding in the sunlight and sparkles more than any other stone I''ve seen. My mother has a HOF diamond, and hers is gorgeous too. It was expensive... I honestly couldn''t see any difference between the sparkle and flash of the two stones, side by side (they''re both H color), neither one was less beautiful, both had crisp arrows under the idealscope. I like mine better because it''s mine...

and I also feel that I got a better deal because mine was a lot cheaper (relatively) and is just as beautiful (hers is bigger, but even if I had gotten one the same size and specs she did the ACA''s were about $500 less). You should look at both in person and see which one you like better, and if you can even see a difference. I am thrilled with my diamond, and my mom is thrilled with hers. I think either way you can''t go wrong!

 

[bar01]

Hi,

I got my gal an E-ring that used ACA diamonds. We had the opportunity to compare an HOF put right next to the ACA's. It was the same size and color, but one grade lower in clarity.

I have not studied lots diamonds up close (ask me about sapphires sometime) but to my untrained eyes the ACA and HOF were both exceptional “sparklers” and there was not a huge difference. However, we did feel the ACA edged out the HOF in appearance. Of course the bigger difference was the price. The HOF was double!

Now that we are looking for a wedding ring for her and going to high and middle grade B&M's for ideas with the e-ring on her finger - I can also add that the ACA's blow away all but the very best we have seen.

 

[Kinger]

Thanks for all of the valuable feedback. There''s a stone now at whiteflash that looks great. Any good ideas about how to hint to the boyfriend that I think I''ve found "the one?" There''s a HoF I really adore at a local B&M store but the whiteflash one looks as good or better -- and is a step up in clarity and color, for thousands less.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Yeah..

Go to the Wf site pull up the stone your interested in and leave the opened page with the spec and picture of the diamond on the screen and call him over and say "Hey would you look at that stone..This would be an awesome diamond if I were a guy in the market for a stone for his sweety.."

He will get the hint

 

[Kinger]

Okay, one last question. When you buy online, where do you go for prong checks, steam cleaning, etc?

 

[Mara]

Date: 3/6/2005 2:15:43 PM
Author: Kinger
Okay, one last question. When you buy online, where do you go for prong checks, steam cleaning, etc?

Any local jeweler...