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Advice on 1 ct round

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regaphysics

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 19, 2017
Messages
10
Hi all,

Another "help me find a stone" thread. I'll try and be short and sweet. I am looking for a round cut diamond for an engagement ring with the following properties:
  • around ~1 carat
  • budget is ~$6500 (a bit of flexibility)
  • H or I color
  • VS2 or SI-1 clarity (eye clean)
I basically just want the PS community's help in identifying the best stone at the best price that fits that criteria.

I am inclined to go with a WhiteFlash diamond because I like their trade-up policy and they seem very well regarded in these parts. But I am open to other vendors. Here are a few I found that looked good, just to give you an idea of what I've found:

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3824312.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3520058.htm
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3208452

Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
You are already looking at the right vendors. Absolutely go with the 1.141 I SI1. The stone is eye-clean, it is visibly larger than the 0.922 H VS while the color and clarity differences between the two will be negligible. How are you planning to set the diamond?
 
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Setting is still a bit up in the air; my plan is to propose with a cheap setting and include her on the setting decision.
 
SimoneDi said:
You are already looking at the right vendors. Absolutely go with the 1.141 J SI1. The stone is eye-clean, it is visibly larger than the 0.922 H VS while the color and clarity differences between the two will be negligible. How are you planning to set the diamond?
Click to expand...
Totally agree. Another vote for AGS-104091828004. Kudos for the wisdom of choosing a simple presentation soloitaire to include her wishes!

The stone sizes that these settings accomodate are not listed, but worth an inquiry. The yellow gold in the middle is the most simply, although I personally like the whitegold with the cathedral shoulder. I'm not sure if WF will use an outside setting, but if they will...this is a bargain if they fit the stone.
https://loupetroop.com/listings/settings/14k-18k-white-and-yellow-gold-mountings
 
rockysalamander said:
Totally agree. Another vote for AGS-104091828004. Kudos for the wisdom of choosing a simple presentation soloitaire to include her wishes!

The stone sizes that these settings accomodate are not listed, but worth an inquiry. The yellow gold in the middle is the most simply, although I personally like the whitegold with the cathedral shoulder. I'm not sure if WF will use an outside setting, but if they will...this is a bargain if they fit the stone.
https://loupetroop.com/listings/settings/14k-18k-white-and-yellow-gold-mountings
Click to expand...

Thanks. I didn't mean to limit you guys to the few diamond options that I listed - I just wanted to give a sense of some that I had found. Do you see any other options that look better than the one I found? Or do you think that's a good option given my criteria?
 
I checked earlier, but did not see these two:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.078-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104094643003
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.081-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104092458046

Both of these will be whiter than the 1.141 from WF due to the fluorescence. The are slightly smaller with 0.2mm compared to the WF one. I personally have purchased and upgraded with BGD multiple times, it was easy-breeze every single time. I think that the 1.081 I VS2 is a great value.

One of my stones was set in this temp setting: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...e/four-prong-solitaire-14k-white-gold-5342w14 It is simple, but the prong work was still great.
 
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SimoneDi said:
I checked earlier, but did not see these two:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.078-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104094643003
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.081-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104092458046

Both of these will be whiter than the 1.141 from WF due to the fluorescence. The are slightly smaller with 0.2mm compared to the WF one. I personally have purchased and upgraded with BGD multiple times, it was easy-breeze every single time. I think that the 1.081 I VS2 is a great value.

One of my stones was set in this temp setting: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...e/four-prong-solitaire-14k-white-gold-5342w14 It is simple, but the prong work was still great.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That is intriguing... I haven't really considered a strong blue flor. diamond. I don't mind a little blue I suppose, but I am a bit concerned that it will be really blue in direct sunlight, which will look weird... Any wisdom on how evident "strong blue" is in real world conditions?
 
regaphysics said:
Thanks. That is intriguing... I haven't really considered a strong blue flor. diamond. I don't mind a little blue I suppose, but I am a bit concerned that it will be really blue in direct sunlight, which will look weird... Any wisdom on how evident "strong blue" is in real world conditions?
Click to expand...

Sure! I just upgraded a stone with strong blue fluro from BGD. My observations were that it really helped the color, not everyone agrees on this, but I had the chance to play with two diamonds for a while and I noticed a consistently improved color in various lightning environments. The stones were 1.83 J VS2 with strong blue and 2.13 I SI2. The J appeared whiter most of the time when compared to the I. In direct sunlight, the diamond with flouro takes on a cool lavenderish hue that definitely masks any "yellow" tint. I ultimately decided to upgrade to the 2.13 I, because of the size difference, but I think that the fluorescence is definitely a positive. I am including some pics for you:

IMG_5561.JPG
IMG_5589.JPG
 

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The only time a strong (mores a very strong) blue will actually "turn blue" is under a black light (club, party, gel nail light). The other times it will look normal, except in strong sunlight - and only sometimes - where it may take on a slightly lavender tint. I have a VBS and didn't actually know for a couple of years. At the nail salon. I love it.
 
Thank you both. So you ya'll think that BGD is a better option than the WF? Seems like a close call... Does anyone else have any opinions/suggestions?
 
The premium select 1.01 I SI1 is a pretty stone, but it is not a super ideal and a FIC stone may not appeal to all. A safer choice to me would be the 1.141 I SI1 ACA from WF.

However, my choice would be the BGD blue - it is only $300 more expensive (wire pmt) than the 1.01 premium select while being super-ideal, having larger size and a better clarity. It will appear whiter in most environments compared to an "I" without flouro.

I have upgraded with BGD multiple times and never really had to think about the upgrade policy, I simply came across stones that I liked and also happened to be eligible for an upgrade. Without doubt, WFs upgrade policy is the most generous one, but BGDs is still very flexible when compared to other vendors - JA, BN, etc. I find WFs upgrade policy great especially for people who want to upgrade very frequently and don't want to have strings attached to the upgrade, but if someone thinks that they might want to upgrade 5, 10 years down the road, I wouldn't let the upgrade policy be the deciding factor.

OP, know that all choices are good, you are picking the best from the best! You just have to decide what is more important to you at this time. If you go with the BGD stone, you can put the difference toward a fancier setting once your fiancé-to-be decides what she wants.

Edit: Here is a pic of strong blue flouro activated under black/UV light. Some find it cool:cool2: Again, you won't see this in daylight/normal light.

IMG_2600.JPG
 
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flyingpig said:
I will go with WF since you are considering upgrading in the future. BGD's upgrade policy is somewhat inflexible. You need to upgrade at least two of color, clarity, and carat.

I like this one too.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3739934.htm
Very strong light return for FIC (36.0/40.6). Decent spread too. Very rare.
Click to expand...

The BGD upgrade policy doesn't worry me too much; if I am upgrading I can't see going smaller in carat or in clarity, but I suppose if I upgraded 2x it might be an issue. Mostly the strong blue flouro makes me nervous. As to the FIC diamond, the feather on the table just looks a bit conspicuous to me... It says eye clean but it still makes me hesitate. But all three seem like good options - a hard decision!

Edit; nobody weighed in on that JA one I linked. Do we think that isn't up to snuff with the WF/BGD options?
 
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regaphysics said:
The BGD upgrade policy doesn't worry me too much; if I am upgrading I can't see going smaller in carat or in clarity, but I suppose if I upgraded 2x it might be an issue. Mostly the strong blue flouro makes me nervous. As to the FIC diamond, the feather on the table just looks a bit conspicuous to me... It says eye clean but it still makes me hesitate. But all three seem like good options - a hard decision!

Edit; nobody weighed in on that JA one I linked. Do we think that isn't up to snuff with the WF/BGD options?
Click to expand...

Regarding the upgrade policy, not every time you have to upgrade color + size and clarity, it is only 2 out of 3. My last upgrade went like this:
From 1.5 J SI2 to 1.8 J VS2
Then, from 1.8 J VS2 to 2.13 I SI2

You can tell that clarity to me is the least important from the 4Cs.

What exactly related to fluorescence makes you nervous? Again, you won't see blue in daylight or at night, not even under direct sunlight. The last pic showing the flouro was taken in a dark room with a UV flashlight. BGD actually sends you a flashlight to play with the fluorescence.

Here is another pic for you, the one on the left has SB flouro.

IMG_5422.JPG

If WF, I would go with the ACA for the price, size and cut difference.

The JA one is a nice stone, but at that price I would get BGD/WF instead. Also, the stone is marked as sold as of today, not sure if you have reserved it. JA upgrade policy is also 2x original price.
 
No, that's not what BGD stones are. Those would be referred to as over blue and the pics seems a bit edited. But please don't feel pressured to go with flouro! I am simply stating that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to BGD stones with SB or MB.
 

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SimoneDi said:
No, that's not what BGD stones are. Those would be referred to as over blue and the pics seems a bit edited. But please don't feel pressured to go with flouro! I am simply stating that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to BGD stones with SB or MB.
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Thanks. I don't feel pressured - just want to be informed. I may go with the BGD because it does look very nice.
 
regaphysics said:
Thanks. I don't feel pressured - just want to be informed. I may go with the BGD because it does look very nice.
Click to expand...
I agree that it is a beautiful stone and 100% eye-clean. You can always change your mind, if you end up not liking it for any reason, although, I doubt that would happen :)
 
OP why don't you just order them both and keep the one you like better?
 
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