ACA or Expert Selection?

[majupa611]

Trying to spend under 13,000. I would love a round diamond around 1.6. Am I making a horrible decision if I went w/ Expert Selection instead of the ACA thru Whiteflash? I feel like the Hearts and Arrows/ACA has been planted in my mind now Im scared to look at the other. Are they still beautiful diamonds?

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 7/18/2007 12:12:29 AM
Author:majupa611
Trying to spend under 13,000. I would love a round diamond around 1.6. Am I making a horrible decision if I went w/ Expert Selection instead of the ACA thru Whiteflash? I feel like the Hearts and Arrows/ACA has been planted in my mind now Im scared to look at the other. Are they still beautiful diamonds?

No, usually the ES misses the ACA mark for a small difference. You will be fine. ES and ACA''s are beautiful.

This thread will help you. https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/aca-stone-rejects.57151/

 

[Regular Guy]

I agree with Skippy. Then again, time and circumstance may dictate. For example, you might want to determine that this one at $12,888 wire priced is eye clean, and take one in the morning.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

also, correct me if I am wrong, but since Brian has to personally inspect diamonds and select them to be ACA it might be very possible to find some ES that other customers have called in or that are in their virtual database that would in fact make the cut if they were inspected. That is my understanding anyway, though there certainly is a lot of romanticism to the idea of having him select them himself

I would think a safe way to find non-ACA ACA quality is to focus on Ideal/Excellent polish and symmetry within the % and angle boundries of the ACA but in the virtual/ES database (note that some of the Virtual might be given only 1 star but still meet this standards but whiteflash is uninformed of it at the moment). Then have them check hearts or whatever else you need to be checked and it would probably be very comparable to the ACA diamonds--but again, that is simply my understanding of the process.

 

[majupa611]

that is actually the diamond i''ve been looking at. I keep going back and forth. I mean blue nile has an ideal cut diamond 1.71 w/ Excellent symmetry/polish for less than that. I''m wondering if I should just go w/ that b''c its bigger or if the Hearts and Arrows would be more worth it in the end. If that makes any sense. I feel like i''m having buyers remorse and I havent bought anything yet. Also, whiteflash doesn''t have any ES in my price range and carat range, which I thought was interesting.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 7/18/2007 12:21:08 AM
Author: Regular Guy
I agree with Skippy. Then again, time and circumstance may dictate. For example, you might want to determine that this one at $12,888 wire priced is eye clean, and take one in the morning.

I love that one too! I saw it and thought that is a nice one.

 

[snlee]

No, you aren''t making a horrible decision if you buy a ES diamond over an ACA. There are some beautiful ES diamonds! I would check to see if the ACA diamond RG posted is eye clean. If it is, I think it''s a winner!

 

[majupa611]

I think it may be too! Its making me so nervous.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 7/18/2007 12:23:18 AM
Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards

also, correct me if I am wrong, but since Brian has to personally inspect diamonds and select them to be ACA it might be very possible to find some ES that other customers have called in or that are in their virtual database that would in fact make the cut if they were inspected. That is my understanding anyway, though there certainly is a lot of romanticism to the idea of having him select them himself

I would think a safe way to find non-ACA ACA quality is to focus on Ideal/Excellent polish and symmetry within the % and angle boundries of the ACA but in the virtual/ES database (note that some of the Virtual might be given only 1 star but still meet this standards but whiteflash is uninformed of it at the moment). Then have them check hearts or whatever else you need to be checked and it would probably be very comparable to the ACA diamonds--but again, that is simply my understanding of the process.

I have no idea what your day job is WHFSR, but if you have any regrets about it you should hit the eject button and get a job in the trade. It's been done before...

On the heels of that your theory is a good one but the reality is that when the virtual database turns up a candidate which has a pedigree similar to our in-house goods it's sold as soon as it comes in. While extensive, the virtual list is pretty hit-and-miss (emphasis on miss) compared to the controlled inventory of cut-focused sellers here. You can ask any number of consumers who have had a lengthy virtual select/reject process about that.

You'll be glad to know that we have been beating the drum with our suppliers; trying to get them to provide c/p angles and further info and I suspect that day will come.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 7/18/2007 12:25:24 AM
Author: majupa611
that is actually the diamond i''ve been looking at. I keep going back and forth. I mean blue nile has an ideal cut diamond 1.71 w/ Excellent symmetry/polish for less than that. I''m wondering if I should just go w/ that b''c its bigger or if the Hearts and Arrows would be more worth it in the end. If that makes any sense. I feel like i''m having buyers remorse and I havent bought anything yet. Also, whiteflash doesn''t have any ES in my price range and carat range, which I thought was interesting.

Is being able to upgrade your diamond at a later date important to you? Blue Nile doesn''t allow you to upgrade but Whiteflash does. I would always have this as a consideration when you are purchasing a diamond.

I am sure Whiteflash will work with you to find your perfect diamond if you contact them.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 7/18/2007 12:25:24 AM
Author: majupa611
I mean blue nile has an ideal cut diamond 1.71 w/ Excellent symmetry/polish for less than that. I''m wondering if I should just go w/ that b''c its bigger or if the Hearts and Arrows would be more worth it in the end.

Maybe you have it on hold? I''m not seeing anything now at 1.7 or above I think you''d be considering except ones above $13,6, and even these are GIA and not AGS certed...another quality difference.