Another, “I ordered this, and I’m second guessing.” Post. Help. Please.

[anangel]

Okay, 15th anniversary is coming up, and I decided to dip my toe in lab diamonds after u/mrsgreeneyes post.
I ordered this a few nights ago, and in typical PS fashion, I’m now second guessing everything.
I’m not color sensitive so the J should be a non-issue, I selected a VS2 that had very small inclusions, and not many towards the center of the diamond, went with ideal cut, and it scored a 1.6 HCA. I’m only second guessing myself because the pictures of the arrows doesn’t seem as high contrast as some others.
Am I being paranoid? Rationally, I know that cut and clarity will be better than any chain jeweler diamond, but I was trying to get the best possible for my loose stone budget (approximately $1600).
Anyone have feedback, or maybe some affirmation

 

[anangel]

Tagging a few people that have helped in the past since Lab Diamonds doesn’t get as much traffic:
@mrsgreeneyes
@lovedogs
@swaye2010
Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer feedback (good or bad!)

 

[MelloYello8]

I’m not an expert at looking at photos but the specs are great for the budget.

 

[lovedogs]

I somehow dont love the image. Maybe bc of the 41 crown, or maybe I'm just imagining things. The specs are pretty darn good, but the face up pic just doesnt quite look the way I like.

 

[anangel]

I somehow dont love the image. Maybe bc of the 41 crown, or maybe I'm just imagining things. The specs are pretty darn good, but the face up pic just doesnt quite look the way I like.

I was worried about that. The video looked pretty promising, but I thought maybe the lighting or angle was just off. I have a link to the video.
Would you cancel if it was your order? I feel so silly have all these second guesses because I’ve been on the boards for a while, but my diamond knowledge isn’t as impressive as others frankly.

 

[swaye2010]

I have to defer to @lovedogs for her superior diamond knowledge. I picked up two .50 J’s that were VS2. Very white still face up. They showed some warmth in yellow gold. I ran them through the HCA and they came out about the same. Did you order this from Tianyu? The price is good and I actually think it will be okay. I don’t think it will be impossible to resell either if you don’t love it. It looks like a good deal. I am considering one myself and am trying not to buy any more colored stones so I can pick up a lab diamond next. I would love another version of my deco halo but with a lab diamond

 

[anangel]

I have to defer to @lovedogs for her superior diamond knowledge. I picked up two .50 J’s that were VS2. Very white still face up. They showed some warmth in yellow gold. I ran them through the HCA and they came out about the same. Did you order this from Tianyu? The price is good and I actually think it will be okay. I don’t think it will be impossible to resell either if you don’t love it. It looks like a good deal. I am considering one myself and am trying not to buy any more colored stones so I can pick up a lab diamond next. I would love another version of my deco halo but with a lab diamond

It’s actually from WithClarity - they have a 30 day return/exchange policy and are in the states, so if I don’t love it when it comes, I could send it back. I’m hoping the angle for the face up picture is just a little off because I can clearly see high contrast in the bottom half, and I really did follow all the guides on cut angles.
Isn’t it funny how we get so obsessed over a literal percentage of an angle?

 

[anangel]

@lovedogs I canceled the diamond.
Found one with better contrast, a higher clarity grade, a little bigger, and a 0.8 HCA score. Had to pay a little extra but better to get it right the first, er second, time. Did I do better?

Here it is in action.

 

[lovedogs]

@lovedogs I canceled the diamond.
Found one with better contrast, a higher clarity grade, a little bigger, and a 0.8 HCA score. Had to pay a little extra but better to get it right the first, er second, time. Did I do better?

Here it is in action.

I like the looks of this one better. Again, I don't think there was anything "wrong" with the first one. But the image didn't look amazing to me. This one is much more appealing to my eye.

 

[anangel]

I like the looks of this one better. Again, I don't think there was anything "wrong" with the first one. But the image didn't look amazing to me. This one is much more appealing to my eye.

Thanks- you’ve always had such a good eye for detail. Now, it’s the waiting game... somewhere between three weeks and a month before it comes.

 

[lovedogs]

Thanks- you’ve always had such a good eye for detail. Now, it’s the waiting game... somewhere between three weeks and a month before it comes.

eeeeeek, so excited for you!

 

[anangel]

eeeeeek, so excited for you!

Me too! Waiting is the hardest part!!!

 

[swaye2010]

Me too! Waiting is the hardest part!!!

Ugh! That is a long wait! I assume you are going to switch out your solitaire so your whole set is lab diamonds?

 

[anangel]

Ugh! That is a long wait! I assume you are going to switch out your solitaire so your whole set is lab diamonds?

Playing with the idea. Honestly, I’ve never had chance to do an apples to apples type comparison of moissanite vs diamonds. More than anything, I want to see, with my own eyes, what the difference is. Between you and me, my biggest fear is that I don’t see the difference, and it was a waste of money. As you’ve observed, the hearts and arrows moissanites are getting pretty darn good, and if I had an under $1k budget to get a nice solitaire, without hesitation, I can said I’d go moissanite. Since lab diamonds are getting more affordable, this is almost like a little science experiment, “What will $3k get in platinum and diamonds?” Let’s find out
I’d love to hear your thoughts as well- you have some exceptions pieces, but you’ve done such a good job researching and can really speak to both I think.

 

[swaye2010]

Playing with the idea. Honestly, I’ve never had chance to do an apples to apples type comparison of moissanite vs diamonds. More than anything, I want to see, with my own eyes, what the difference is. Between you and me, my biggest fear is that I don’t see the difference, and it was a waste of money. As you’ve observed, the hearts and arrows moissanites are getting pretty darn good, and if I had an under $1k budget to get a nice solitaire, without hesitation, I can said I’d go moissanite. Since lab diamonds are getting more affordable, this is almost like a little science experiment, “What will $3k get in platinum and diamonds?” Let’s find out
I’d love to hear your thoughts as well- you have some exceptions pieces, but you’ve done such a good job researching and can really speak to both I think.

I think this is returnable, right? I also agree it is a much easier choice if you are spending $1K but it does take more consideration as it starts creeping up to $2K and above. Sometimes I think about how much I spent on moissanites and if I hadn’t bought so many rings, I would have had a 2 carat preloved OEC or something like that by now. I do love the fact that moissanites are affordable and they are fun to play around with when they are cheap. I am not even bothered by the double refraction. I actually enjoy it when I see it in the mirror from my earrings or on my finger. What I miss is the depth though that you only get in a diamond. You see it less in the modern round and the antique cushion (which you have both) but they do not always impress is daytime light. There isn’t a lot of movement in the stone. It might be because all mine are so big and you have both in more reasonable sizes. It is the only thing I would change about moissanites. You have made some beautiful rings lately too. I love the CVB and I still love that ring you picked up from LAD. I actually have it saved as a possible future project. I am not sure if you kept it. I think it is nice to have at least one great diamond setting.

When the diamond comes, you should put it in a temporary ring holder and wear them both around the house for a week in different lights. Find out if you see a real difference to justify the price. If you decide to keep it, I would sell the other ring and order a setting through the Chinese companies or get a Stuller setting. I think that is a better idea so you don’t drive yourself crazy by comparing the two all the time and second guessing yourself. If you truly don’t see any noticeable difference, then just send it back because you will have your answer. My husband surprised me with my diamond bought at an antique store when we lived in Europe so I didn’t get to pick it out. It is a round brilliant without well defined H&A. The lab diamonds I picked up for my gemstone ring sparkle like mad. The arrows are very visible and for a lower color, they still face up so white. I love well cut diamonds that sparkle like crazy. I think if you have run it through the HCA then the only thing left to do is evaluate it with your eyes to see if it is worth it.

 

[anangel]

@swaye2010 I ordered the second one with the .8 HCA score. It is totally returnable within 30 days according to their site. I found a setting very comparable to my current solitaire so I can look at it “apples to apples”.
I don’t know what to expect- I have a few diamonds but none this size, and I was surprised how picky with clarity I was. I think the moissanites have spoiled me because you can generally expect them to be pretty flawless clarity wise, warm never got past a G unless requested, and given the price, I was happy enough to just judge the cut with my eyes.
I still have my CvB rose cut, my LAD (which is so pretty but not what I’d call an everyday piece- at least not with a 5 year old to care for), I have nice petite Ritani three stone... not to brag, but I do have a lovely little collection of nice, shiny things.
I have been concerned that I went too low in color for this new stone, however, I found a picture of one of my favorite rings- my A Jaffe with a Tianyu hearts and arrows cut- and my favorite picture of captures all these lovely pastels. I really hope that’s what I get with a J!

 

[swaye2010]

@swaye2010 I ordered the second one with the .8 HCA score. It is totally returnable within 30 days according to their site. I found a setting very comparable to my current solitaire so I can look at it “apples to apples”.
I don’t know what to expect- I have a few diamonds but none this size, and I was surprised how picky with clarity I was. I think the moissanites have spoiled me because you can generally expect them to be pretty flawless clarity wise, warm never got past a G unless requested, and given the price, I was happy enough to just judge the cut with my eyes.
I still have my CvB rose cut, my LAD (which is so pretty but not what I’d call an everyday piece- at least not with a 5 year old to care for), I have nice petite Ritani three stone... not to brag, but I do have a lovely little collection of nice, shiny things.
I have been concerned that I went too low in color for this new stone, however, I found a picture of one of my favorite rings- my A Jaffe with a Tianyu hearts and arrows cut- and my favorite picture of captures all these lovely pastels. I really hope that’s what I get with a J!

I don’t think you are going to have a problem with a VS1 clarity wise. I do think that a ‘J‘ might show too much color for you though based on what you said. It really depends on how you set it. I think an ‘I’ is the last color for me where I still see white. It will look white in certain lights and In other’s you are going to see that warmth. The metal will make a difference on how you see the color too though.

 

[anangel]

@swaye2010 I’m half tempted to order an H from another vendor as a backup, but not sure if that’s a good idea. Clean Origins has a 100 day return policy and an eye clean H at a decent price.
I guess I thought J would be okay since I’ve seen so many on PS with a really nice cut that don’t look very warm to me... there are some seriously white Js here.

 

[swaye2010]

@swaye2010 I’m half tempted to order an H from another vendor as a backup, but not sure if that’s a good idea. Clean Origins has a 100 day return policy and an eye clean H at a decent price.
I guess I thought J would be okay since I’ve seen so many on PS with a really nice cut that don’t look very warm to me... there are some seriously white Js here.

I think a J has a broad range and also the metal color can influence it. I am quite happy in the HIJ color range. I find that the J’s I got still faced up very white so it might be fine for you. Mine has a warm glow but they are not yellow by any means. I really think you will love it.