Brian Gavin sig ideal versus WF-ACA. Please help

[hunterTai]

(from my prior post). . . thought I would start a new thread. . .
I have a question: Is Brian Gavin''s signature Ideal on his website =to or better than ACA on WF???
I am in the process (hopefully almost finished!) of selecting a diamond for my engagement ring with my fiance. We are looking for RB, 1.5ct, G/H SI1-VS1, AGS ideal, or GIA excellent, H&A. Found several WF-ACA stones, but then found a couple on the brian gavin website that are same specs, but one is a bit higher clarity and slightly ($40) cheaper. Then there is another BRGD that is a bit more expensive but higher clarity.

I am most concerned with brilliance and sparkle, so I am trying to find the best cut stone. Is a WF-ACA better or do the Brian Gavin stones (since he created ACA and all meet the same or higher standards?

Also, what about GOG versus WF-ACA?

In all I am looking at:
2 BGD
2 WF-ACA
2 GOG
2 Union diamond stones

Does the cut quality vary much among them, and if so in what order do they size up?

Last BGD q: I couldn''t find their return policy, upgrade policy, or buy back - does anyone who has purchased from them know the answers?

Btw - hello ( I am new here) but thanks to this forum I have been an informed and educated shopper and feel like we are very close to selecting a "mind clean" diamond and making an informed decision for pricescope!!!!!

Pls help - want to chose here in next cpl days.
If helpful I can list all specs on the stones I am considering.

 

[stone-cold11]

Post all the IS and hearts image. Should be on par.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/1/2010 6:14:16 AM
Author:hunterTai
(from my prior post). . . thought I would start a new thread. . .
I have a question: Is Brian Gavin''s signature Ideal on his website =to or better than ACA on WF???
I am in the process (hopefully almost finished!) of selecting a diamond for my engagement ring with my fiance. We are looking for RB, 1.5ct, G/H SI1-VS1, AGS ideal, or GIA excellent, H&A. Found several WF-ACA stones, but then found a couple on the brian gavin website that are same specs, but one is a bit higher clarity and slightly ($40) cheaper. Then there is another BRGD that is a bit more expensive but higher clarity.

I am most concerned with brilliance and sparkle, so I am trying to find the best cut stone. Is a WF-ACA better or do the Brian Gavin stones (since he created ACA and all meet the same or higher standards?

Also, what about GOG versus WF-ACA?

In all I am looking at:
2 BGD
2 WF-ACA
2 GOG
2 Union diamond stones

Does the cut quality vary much among them, and if so in what order do they size up?

Last BGD q: I couldn''t find their return policy, upgrade policy, or buy back - does anyone who has purchased from them know the answers?

Btw - hello ( I am new here) but thanks to this forum I have been an informed and educated shopper and feel like we are very close to selecting a ''mind clean'' diamond and making an informed decision for pricescope!!!!!

Pls help - want to chose here in next cpl days.
If helpful I can list all specs on the stones I am considering.

Hi hunter

Both should be comparable for cut quality and cut precision as you know Brian has been involved with both. If you have specific diamonds in mind, go ahead and post the images and all the details here then we can help you further.

As for policies, I believe BG will accept ACA''s which were sold within a certain time frame as trade ins, you would need to ask him or Lesley as per the details. Brian will also offer an upgrade on his signature stones and possibly others depending, again you would need to ask.

And thanks for your very kind words, we work hard to be of real assistance to new diamond buyers!

 

[niceice21]

I am also wondering about this question...I was originally going to go with an ACA but I really like BGD''s new website, and everything about their policy seems to match up comparitively with Whiteflash (a little less time for the return policy, but that''s mostly it from what I can tell). Plus, I figure, might as well get one from "the man" himself. Does anyone own or have seen both the ACA and the BGD Signature? I am not as concerned with brilliance as I am with Fire/Sparkle/Scint. I know there used to be a slightly different cut (new line vs. classic) to the ACAs, but it seems like they have all gone back to the Classic cut...do the BGD signatures resemble more of the "new line" ACAs that are no longer offered or am I off base? Opinions would be appreciated!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

ACA and BGD should basically be the same, but since there are slight variations in dimensions, just post the info/stats for two diamonds you''re interested in and people will respond...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/1/2010 6:36:09 AM
Author: Lorelei


Hi hunter

Both should be comparable for cut quality and cut precision as you know Brian has been involved with both. If you have specific diamonds in mind, go ahead and post the images and all the details here then we can help you further.

As for policies, I believe BG will accept ACA's which were sold within a certain time frame as trade ins, you would need to ask him or Lesley as per the details. Brian will also offer an upgrade on his signature stones and possibly others depending, again you would need to ask.

And thanks for your very kind words, we work hard to be of real assistance to new diamond buyers!

Check under policies and special programs. They will accept ACA diamonds AGS graded sept, 1998 - nov 2008, which include 7,000 ACAs. . .the info. . .

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/need-help-faq/

ETA - deleted part of my post. I just checked. My earrings are ACAs but the diamond I'm going to trade in is an ES so it doesn't qualify. (I keep editing my post here. lol. IF my ES qualified, I'd consider both vendors depending upon who had the first diamond that met my requirements.)

 

[hunterTai]

Ok, over the course of the day, we have been able to narrow search down from 8 diamonds to 3. Almost there! Here are the specs Please advise) I will attach H&A, and IS, and close up pics


WF-ACA Brian Gavin - SI Union Diamond-SI
Lab AGS AGS GIA
# 1040390540026 * 10403816800019
Cut grade Ideal Ideal Excellent

Ct 1.538 1.528 1.54
Color G H F
Clarity SI1 VS2 SI1

7.4 * 7.44 7.40 * 7.44 7.41 * 7.45
*4.55 * 4.54 * 4.55

Table % 56.6 56.4 58
Total Depth& 61.4 61.2 61.2
Crown angle 34.8 34.7 34.5
Pavillion angle 40.7 40.7 41
HCA score 1.1 1.0 2.0
Lower Girdle 78 77
Star facet 55 54

My eyes are all gaga at each of these three stones!! help advice somebody

(More pics to follow)

 

[hunterTai]

what a mess!! My message got jumbled here is what I sent:

Brand*************: WF-ACA/ Brian Gavin sig ideal/ Union Diamond-Select ideal
Lab***************: AGS/****AGS****/**GIA
Cut grade*********: Ideal/***Ideal***/**Excellent
Ct****************: 1.538/**1.528**/**1.54
Color*************: G****/** H******/ F
Clarity************: SI1/VS2/ SI1
Table % **********: 56.6/ 56.4 / 58
Total Depth%*****: 61.4/ 61.2/ 61.2
Crown angle******: 34.8 /34.7 /34.5
Pavillion angle****: 40.7/ 40.7/ 41
HCA score********: 1.1 /1.0/ 2.0
Lower Girdle******: 78 /77
Star facet*********: 55/ 54

 

[hunterTai]

Union Diamond Hearts

 

[hunterTai]

So the first three pics are all the Union Diamond. It is a very clean SI1, just some feathers basically off to the side of the table. It is kind of amazing!

 

[hunterTai]

White Flash diamond 1.538 G SI1 Pics

 

[hunterTai]

White flash ACA 1.538 GSI1 Hearts pic

 

[hunterTai]

White Flash 1.538 GSI1 Aset pic

 

[hunterTai]

Brian gavin Signature Ideal 1.528 H VS2 - actual pic

I could not attach the Brian Gavin IS, and hearts pics because they are too large to upload. But the pics are at
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680019

Here is the diamond in actual photo

 

[CharmyPoo]

Here you go ...

ASET

 

[CharmyPoo]

Hearts

 

[CharmyPoo]

Idealscope

 

[hunterTai]

Wow, thanks charmypro Very kind of you.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I personally like a smaller table, and on those grounds would pick the WF or BGD. I like the looks of the BGD IS image better, but it could just be differences in set up, they both look nice. I like G color though, so perhaps leaning to the ACA.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I feel that I like the BGD better BUT I love a white white diamond and might lean towards the G. Any other options?

 

[Lorelei]

Nice work Charmy!!!

For me, I would go with either the WF or BG diamonds.

 

[hunterTai]

Thanks Charmy and Dreamer See your point re color. I was told that BGD are so well cut and shine so well that it would look more like a colorless stone. I don''t know if anyone has had that experience?

Lorelei, hello )) and thanks for your reply.

What things made you steer clear of the Union Diamond? What do you think about color issue? Should I hold out for a G or F, if I can find one?

 

[puravida]

I''d also be interested in hearing others'' opinions on BGD''s H stones. There is an H stone I am considering too. At first I decided to go no lower than a G but I looked at one of the BGD''s H stones and Lesley said that since its so well cut it faces up very white. But I''m still on the fence about picking a G or an H. I figured if I get an H, I can get a stone a tad bigger. And now that I''ve been looking at bigger stones, it''ll be hard to go back to a smaller stone in favour of a G colour

 

[Laila619]

From the images, I prefer the Union diamond. Killer idealscope image!

 

[stone-cold11]

All IS, hearts image look good to me.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/2/2010 6:24:58 AM
Author: hunterTai
Thanks Charmy and Dreamer See your point re color. I was told that BGD are so well cut and shine so well that it would look more like a colorless stone. I don't know if anyone has had that experience?

Lorelei, hello )) and thanks for your reply.

What things made you steer clear of the Union Diamond? What do you think about color issue? Should I hold out for a G or F, if I can find one?

Hi Hunter!

For me with the UD stone, the cut precision isn't quite there on the hearts image - its a good image but personally I prefer the other 2 diamonds for the crispness and overall precision of the hearts images. Having said that, the UD stone is an excellent one and should be beautiful, this is just my reasons for preferring the other two.