Advice on choosing ~1.5ct Round

[kero]

I''ve been researching and looking for a few months now, and finally I am at a stage where I''m ready to really purchase a stone in the next 2 weeks.

I''ve been around to see some diamonds, so I know what i''m looking for on cut/color. While I understand Hearts on Fire is by no means the only best, I am looking for something of that same quality, short story I want the absolute best light return I can get. AGS000 or equivalent.

I do not mind purchasing online, I''ve been looking at whiteflash and a couple of others, really like the whiteflash site, however if the right diamond is elsewhere I have no problems going there.

For color, I am getting a white gold setting, I would really like to stay D-G, unless H would be ok in white gold.

For clarity I only care about eye clean, so SI1 eye clean is fine by me.

I am looking to keep it under $18,000 for the stone, and want 1.5ct or larger.

Here are some stones i''ve been looking at

https://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=1251&prc=15070

https://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=1239&prc=13580

https://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=1288&prc=17950

but I''m open to suggestions.

One question I had is, when using the Holloway Cut Advisor (HCA) I understand the lower the number the better, but was wondering what the Younger People''s stones and Older People''s stones values really mean.

I am looking for bright light return and sparkle, is this close to 1.5 than 1.0 on the HCA scale?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Kero

 

[angeline]

I think the HCA says that people can prefer scores around 1 -1.5. I don''t think that lower equates to better. It is generally used as a rejection tool rather than a selection tool. i.e. anything under 2 is worth further consideration.

 

[Jenn5504]

I think H in white gold would be perfectly fine, especially seeing as how you''re doing your research and will be purchasing a very well cut stone I assume.

Check this baby out:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3348/

 

[Jenn5504]

I went back and looked at the 3 you listed. All look awesome! Personally, E is overkill but I''m sure that stone would be amazing, no question. I like those to ACA''s better of those 3.

 

[Kay]

All of the stones posted look great. My personal choice (as long as it''s eyeclean) would be the 1.552 ct F SI1 ACA. It gives you a great combo of color and diameter for the price.

 

[Ellen]

I can''t copy and paste links, so I don''t know what those stones are, but the one Jen posted is yummy. It''s everything you want.

I would just like to add, the HCA is really for eliminating stones, and for just getting an idea of what to persue. When you get a stone with a good score, then you move on to more info.

With places like WF and GOG, you already have all the info you need, the HCA is not needed.

 

[kero]

https://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=1251&prc=15070

https://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=1239&prc=13580

https://www.pricescope.com/origin.asp?sh=88&id=1288&prc=17950

sorry guys didn''t know you had to create links manually, there are links to the stones.

I really like to GOG and the 2 ACA''s

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3348/

Can anyone explain pro/con of those 4 because the light return on the GOG looks very good - will the other 3 have similar light return, based on the ideal scope images: here is comparison

GOG:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/items/3348/idealscope.jpg

1.531 WF ACA:
http://www.whiteflash.com/pimg/IdealScope/IS_AGS-8452404.jpg

1.552 WF ACA:
http://www.whiteflash.com/pimg/IdealScope/IS_AGS-8338708.jpg

Are all three of these stones going to be the same as the Hearts on Fire stones, also am I just nitpicking and really any of these three are very good and i basically can''t go wrong with either of them?

Thanks so much for the replys so far, and if there are any other stones someone happens upon that would be better let me know

Kero

 

[diamondseeker2006]

All of the stones are excellent hearts and arrows diamonds. No worries on any of them. (And the HCA score you want is anything under 2.) You just need to decide based on the size and color you want. If you want to go for size, then that 1.7 H VS2 from GOG is great. But if you want a higher color but smaller stone, I''d probably go with the WF 1.5 G VS2. The E stone would be a luxury if you''re willing to pay for it. H is fine in white gold. There are plenty of people here with I and J color stones in white gold and platinum.

 

[kero]

Couple more questions if anyone doesn''t mind answering again.

The GOG 1.7ct has a medium blue florescence will this make the H color appear whiter?

I guess my question is - lets assume all 3 diamonds were the same price, which diamond would you choose. I am most concerned with sparkle/light return, color I have seen D,E,F,G,H color compared with eachother, and I do notice a difference from D to F and F to H, however its only when placed on a white sheet of paper and laid on the side, face up I couldn''t tell a difference. So if H will be very white and to the naked eye face up there be no difference then i''m ok with that.

I guess i''m most worried about the H, but the light report on that diamond looks very very good.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/show.php?image=3348/bscope.jpg#script

someone tell me the H with medium Blue will have a non noticable difference between F or G faceup

Im getting excited about purchasing

Thanks again for all the reply.
Kero

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

You wont see a difference with the G and if the F is on the lower end, as in, just slightly whiter than the G masterstone then you wouldnt see a difference in it. It also depends on how color sensitive you are. I have an E, and when I went to compare it loose to some other loose diamonds I could immediatly differentiate between my E and their H colors from any angle and any distance. from the face up if they asked me for their diamond back I could immediately hand it to them, and then they would look at them and get flustered and bring out their scale to measure them, because most often the jewelers there couldnt see any obvious difference (or at least claimed not to, perhaps to convince me to decide to by the H color they were offering). At anyrate when you get enough seperation iti s possible, so if the F were a really nice F, I would say yes you might see a difference side by side and these were only .6ct diamonds.

That being said, in my opinion she is not going to think that the H is yellow

. If its between a larger H and a smaller G, I say def get the H. F-H, well, if there is a noticable size difference I am almost positive she will appreciate the size increase more than the color difference. She will probably never notice the H color unless she is a very critical and anal person, and there are some people like that, or unless she knows a little bit about diamonds already and strongly feels that colorless is the way to go (only you know that information about her though).

But for a normal person who hasnt decided that colorless diamonds are required for a beautiful diamond then without CAREFUL scrutitny and critical analysis on her part I just dont see her noticing at all. I do recomend that you give yourself ample time to order this one, get it, look at it yourself and decide if you are content with giving it to her in an Ering or not.

 

[SpeedracerII]

Date: 8/24/2007 4:21:21 PM
Author: Jenn5504
I think H in white gold would be perfectly fine, especially seeing as how you''re doing your research and will be purchasing a very well cut stone I assume.

Check this baby out:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3348/

This stone rocks! No pun intended, and it is bigger to boot. I definitely would not be concerned about the color in this extremely well cut stone. It will face up very nicely.

 

[Ellen]

Out of all the stones you''ve posted, my vote goes to the GOG H VS2. You can have GOG test it on their machine to see if it''s a high or low H if you want, and also ask if the flo is helping it at all. They will be very honest with you.

 

[kero]

Just a quick update and thanks for all the help.

I asked GOG to run it through the colorimeter and it came out a mid-low to low G (they ran it twice). So not even an H color.

Upon hearing that, I put a deposit on the stone.

So how do you think I did?

Getting excited to receive the stone

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/28/2007 4:59:47 PM
Author: kero
Just a quick update and thanks for all the help.

I asked GOG to run it through the colorimeter and it came out a mid-low to low G (they ran it twice). So not even an H color.

Upon hearing that, I put a deposit on the stone.

So how do you think I did?

Getting excited to receive the stone

I "think" you got a real deal.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, you are very lucky! I looked at several stones there and also got lucky with an H that scored G on the colorimeter! I promise they don''t normally do that (none of the other stones I looked at did), but it is a wonderful bonus when it happens!

 

[Independent Gal]

Sounds great! And in addition to that fluoro helping the colour, it''s extremely neat in itself. I have a stone with a little fluoresence and it is just the most amazing thing to see it glow blue under bright bright sunlight. Gives the stone extra character. I LOVE FLUORO! Hope your girl will too.