Brian Gavin or James Allen

[rp84]

Hello guys I'm looking at engagement rings and have found this site to be very helpful.

I am torn between these two diamonds.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.06-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-73761

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.008-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-104049675001

Ive read Brian Gavin hearts and arrows are better correct me if I'm wrong. My dilemma is the setting price. James Allens setting prices fit more into my budget. Roughly $500 to 1k is my budget and am leaning towards pave setting. My overall budget is around 6600 mark, budget is tight as i will pay more converting to $AU plus 10% tax when i import it . I guess what I'm asking is there going to be that greater difference between the two diamonds that I should choose Brian Gavin over JA?

Thanks

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, I doubt most people could look at those two stones and say that one was a lot worse than the other, so in that respect, I think you are okay with either one. But I would not like black inclusions right in the center of the James Allen stone, and the BG stone also looks like it may have a black inclusion right under the table. You need to ask BG about that.

Also, I just wouldn't consider buying an inexpensive pave setting because it is probably going to eventually have problems, so I'd either buy a setting locally or just go with a more simple setting.

If I were you, I'd spend $400 more and get this and put it in an inexpensive solitaire. It will be cleaner and whiter than the other two.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.014-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959039

 

[krisjon]

Well, I doubt most people could look at those two stones and say that one was a lot worse than the other, so in that respect, I think you are okay with either one. But I would not like black inclusions right in the center of the James Allen stone, and the BG stone also looks like it may have a black inclusion right under the table. You need to ask BG about that.

Also, I just wouldn't consider buying an inexpensive pave setting because it is probably going to eventually have problems, so I'd either buy a setting locally or just go with a more simple setting.

If I were you, I'd spend $400 more and get this and put it in an inexpensive solitaire. It will be cleaner and whiter than the other two.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.014-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959039

Agreed. The previous stones were pretty much a toss up. It really came down to which was the cleaner SI1. BG's H&A specs are tighter and the images help a lot more, though. In the end, both should perform well at 1.5 HCA for the BG and 1.4 for the JA. With those two, it's really a clarity thing.

DiamondSeeker's option offers a much surer bet clarity-wise and the strong blue fluorescence will help offset the I color.

 

[distracts]

I would go with wherever you'd prefer to buy a setting from.

PS user Christina... had the JA thin french cut pave setting for several years and afaik no issues - if you do a search for "James Allen french cut pave setting" you'll find a lot of threads on it.

 

[rp84]

thanks for the replies.. I have spoken to JA about the inclusions and the rep says it wouldnt be eye clean from the sides so I might have to reconsider that one. In regards to the other diamond that was linked by diamondseeker I would love to stretch the budget more but that would put it at near 8.5k after taxes and conversions. My budget to start off with was meant to be 7k now its looking between 7.5k-8k.

Im looking at another diamond from JA

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.04-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-73718

vs

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.008-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-104049675001#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/3/

Thoughts?

 

[krisjon]

I see some black crystals on the table of the JA VS2. I would talk to JA about it. Not all VS2s are eye clean.

The BG stone, while SI1, appears a little cleaner. But I still see some black crystals around the table.
The images look good, though. And the proportions/HCA are better.

I'd check with both vendors and get more info about how eye clean both stones are.