Asscher experts needed! Please advise on decision.

[JulietRomeoTango]

First off, I want to thank everyone who is a regular contributor for their generosity and willingness to truly educate the rest of us. I discovered pricescope a few months ago and have been reading extensively ever since. This site has expanded my interest in diamonds and the way I now (*can not help but*) see and appreciate them - a great service and what seems to me to be a very supportive and engaged community.

I have finally saved up enough money to take a stab at purchasing a modest but hopefully nice Asscher diamond. Following are the top 6 available diamonds in my price range (roughly 5-6k) and with her preference for clarity (VS2 or higher), color (H or higher) and size (around 1ct) from the usual suspects on this site. The setting is an antique platinum family setting which we hope to be able to modify to fit the current stone at a local jeweler’s.

I know that I really should see a fancy shape in person to properly assess the diamond in different lighting conditions and to see whether the stone lives up to its dimensions, table and depth percentages, etc. I think I will have a chance to see 3-6 sometime next week and I would like to be as prepared as possible before seeing them (to know what to look for in particular). I do not have the means to see 1 and 2 without purchasing them first.

Onto the diamonds:

Diamond #1
Carat weight: 1.04
Cut: Ideal
Color: D
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 66.7%
Table: 59.0%
Crown Depth: 16.9%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.68*5.68*3.79
Ratio: 1.00
Picture & Ideal scope: attached.
Price: $5590
I like this diamond a lot but am worried that I will not get to see it under different lighting conditions, and the idealscope shows it might be a bit dark under the table. Please correct me if I am wrong about this.


Diamond #2
Carat weight: 1.09
Cut: Ideal
Color: E
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 68.4%
Table: 61.0%
Crown Depth: 18.40 %
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle:
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.73*5.70*3.90
Ratio: 1.01
Picture & Ideal scope: attached.
Price: $5700
Another nice diamond, but there seems to be a bit of leakage under the table and I will not get to see it in person.

Diamond #3
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5610/
Carat weight: 0.90
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Lab Report: GIA
Lab Report #:13581199
Measurements: 5.51mm*5.52mm*3.70mm
Table: 60.17%
Depth: 67.20%
Crown angle: 34.50°
Pavilion angle: 40.75°
Photo and ASET image at GOG.
Price: $4344
A bit smaller than she had hoped and might be tricky with the setting we have, but all else looks pretty good to me.

Diamond #4
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3692/
Carat Weight: 1.03ct
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: 4.19%
Lab Report: GIA
Lab Report #:14883352
Dimensions: 5.59mm* 5.63mm*3.79mm
Table: 63.42%
Depth: 67.87%
Crown angle: 34.50°
Crown Depth: 14.35%
Pavilion angle: 40.75°
Pavilion Depth: 48.77%
Photo and ASET image at GOG
Price: $5227
I really like the boldness and the narrow steps of this diamond, but there is something troubling about the darkness under the table in the center of the photo and ASETs attached. Would love to hear that my worries are unfounded.

Diamond #5
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4169/
Carat Weight: 1.04ct
Color: G
Clarity: VS2
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: 3.56%
Lab Report: GIA
Lab Report #:14490828
Dimensions: 5.61mm* 5.66mm*3.82mm
Table: 60.73%
Depth: 68.04%
Crown angle: 34.50°
Crown Depth: 19.20%
Pavilion angle: 40.75°
Pavilion Depth: 44.10%
Photo and ASET image at GOG
Price: $5825
Rhino shows a video of this diamond and it looks impressive (maybe my favorite) but the ASET shows a lot of green and blue.

Diamond #6
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3693/
Carat Weight: 1.06ct
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: 5.59%
Lab Report: GIA
Lab Report #:14733241
Dimensions: 5.56mm* 5.62mm*3.86mm
Table: 63.77%
Depth: 69.51%
Crown angle: 34.50°
Crown Depth: 18.16%
Pavilion angle: 40.75°
Pavilion Depth: 45.01%
Photo and ASET image at GOG.
Price: $6462
Would probably be my favorite if it were not a bit over my budget and what looks like a bit of leakage just off center under the table. I’ll scrimp and save some more however if advised that this is *the* stone to shoot for amongst this group.

Thanks again to everyone for help in the past and with this decision!

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Adding Diamond #1 photo.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Sorry about that. . .Let''s try to attach these compressed images.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

IF this attachment does not work. I''ll have to get some help on uploading. . . as well.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Ok. . .how do people post such large photos?? Here is a photo of Diamond #1.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Diamond #2 IS

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Diamond #2 photo:

 

[stone-cold11]

I would download the gem advisor file on GOG and look at them.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Thank you for the quick reply.

I have gone into the Octonus GemAdvisor for each of the stones listed at GOG and the results are often disappointing - with light returns (mono and stereo) being "poor-good" and Dark Zone mono and Fisheye being "Poor" as well.

I was under the impression that Fancy shapes did not do well in GemAdvisor and that other considerations (Depths of less than 70%, tables in the 50s and lower 60s, crown percentage above 15%) were more indicative? If I am wrong about this, please let me know what specifically I should pay attention to in the GemAdvisor reports. Thanks!

 

[stone-cold11]

Use the play/motion option to see the stone in motion, it is more indicative of stone performance than just the scope image.

Step cut will not have excellent light return from what I understand. Strmrdr is the expert, he should be online soon.

 

[strmrdr]

If you see 3-6 in person that is way kewl.

I keep going back and forth on what to advise.
There isn't a dog in the bunch but some are slightly better than others.

Im going to go with what I would do,,,
I would visit gog and get the one that spoke to me the strongest.
If one didn't speak to me then I could look at 1 and 2.
They arent better than some of the ones at gog but not really worse either than some.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Thanks very much for replying Storm. I have learned so much from reading your posts and it gives me confidence that at least there are no dogs in the bunch. Still, I would love to know which one you feel is "kicken" or at least which of the GOG ones you feel is "slightly better" and why.

It''s the little details that are bothering me at this point. For example, I have a preference for narrow step cuts but the one that is closest to that style (#4) seems to have a darkness under the table. Another top contender (#5) looks great in the video BUT shows a good bit of green and blue in the ASET and I do not know how to interpret this for a step cut.

I am definitely going to GOG (my only chance out East for a while so I booked an appointment) and will be seeing all of the diamonds (3-6). Beyond which one speaks to me, is there anything else to which I should pay specific attention?

Thanks!

 

[strmrdr]

Since you are doing an in person visit with them I don't want to say which I would pick by the pictures.
I will say that the one you love the most will be kicken.
View them in many lighting conditions and pay attention to the patterns and fire.

 

[JulietRomeoTango]

Thanks Storm. Will do. I hope I will anyway. . .just got an email from GOG saying that they can only locate 1 of the 4 I put on hold for my visit there next week. Hoping they''ll be able to round the rest up in time, otherwise I may be having to decide based on the numbers and pictures alone.