Can't tell the difference...HELP!

[CSR]

Hi All,

Like probably most of you on this forum, I am obsessed with researching everything I do to the point of being OCD...In a few short weeks I have learned most of the theory behind the 4 c's and what to look for in size and ideal scopes etc.

I felt so confident I decided that it was about time I walked into a few jewelery stores and compare some diamonds, simply to decide what color I could be satisfied with before making my online purchase.

Sad to say.....I COULDN'T TELL ANYTHING APART !!

I looked at a bunch of brilliant round stones and felt like an idiot - The color I expected to be hard to tell apart but I was shown stones from E to J and I couldn't tell the difference in color face up.
There was a very slight perception of color when looking at it from the side, and only when the J was moved and placed next to the E, otherwise I couldn't tell the difference.

The type of setting I have chosen is a platinum halo setting - http://www.heartsonfire.com/shop-jewelry/rings/engagement-rings/belovedengagementring.aspx

The diamond can't be seen from bottom-up or from the side so my only focus is really on face up, and all of these faced up white to me .

After this little test, I was shown two final stones for comparison.
1. http://www.mayjewelers.com/Diamond.aspx?id=50754345
2. http://www.mayjewelers.com/Diamond.aspx?id=47739927


The price difference between #1 and #2 is $6,000..
Looking at them inside the store, I couldn't tell ANY difference when side by side on brilliance, fire, scintillation or ANYTHING . Color looked the same as well!
Both actually looked faintly yellow but she said it was because the diamond was picking up colour from the surroundings. She dropped both of the diamonds in a similar setting that I have chosen and boom, they both turned icy white !
I thought I was color sensitive but that changed when even the E diamond looked yellow in certain lighting.
I want the best stone for my particular situation and budget and I am happy to compromise on size, but for a budget of $8,000 on a diamond, the best stone I could find was about 1 carat !
It's hard to justify losing half a carat in very perceptible size for a difference in performance that I can't see, or maybe I just can't appreciate?

One thing I thought about is...Maybe something to do with the lighting in the store??
I didn't take them outside or near a window but I did put them near difference backgrounds and moved them like crazy to try and find some difference.

A note on the sales person - she seemed very knowledgeable and patient and was not pushy at all.
In fact, she was recommending the cheaper stone to me since I said I couldn't really see the difference.

I guess my question is, should I still aim for the best cut possible even if I can't see a difference? Are the differences more noticeable in different lighting conditions? Do I just have horrible eyesight ?
My fiance-to-be isn't going to be walking around with the certificate under her diamond so if it's just for that...I can't afford to pay the premium!!

 

[RockyRacoon]

Let me put together a couple of options for you.

The setting below is close to the one you had listed. There are others available, if you don't like this one, and the design can also be customized, if you prefer.

If you go for this setting:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/the-allie-platinum-5852p

You could pair it with this stone and be out the door at a little over $10k:
1.083ct, H, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.083-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639008

OR

You could pair it with this stone and be out the door at under $13k:
1.183ct, G, VS1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.183-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104067973050


This completed ring will be at least as impressive as the Hearts on Fire (if not better), without the 'Wallets on Fire' price!

 

[Tourmaline]

The two stones you (OP) showed are the same color. The difference in price is due to clarity.

 

[CSR]

Let me put together a couple of options for you.

The setting below is close to the one you had listed. There are others available, if you don't like this one, and the design can also be customized, if you prefer.

If you go for this setting:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/the-allie-platinum-5852p

You could pair it with this stone and be out the door at a little over $10k:
1.083ct, H, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.083-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639008

OR

You could pair it with this stone and be out the door at under $13k:
1.183ct, G, VS1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.183-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104067973050


This completed ring will be at least as impressive as the Hearts on Fire (if not better), without the 'Wallets on Fire' price!

Hi! First of all thanks for taking the time to look at a few options for me.
Actually I have been in contact with BGD and have been speaking to Jamie on creating a custom setting to look similar to the HOF.
I guess the point of my post wasn't clear.
I know the HOF stones you pay for the brand / marketing and i'm not interested in that.
The jeweler didn't show me the HOF setting or HOF stones, I just went in looking at loose diamonds and I couldn't tell the difference between one and the other even though the cut was way different.

I was just trying to understand why it is that I can't tell them apart - in store lighting at the jewellery store or does one need a certain level of experience to distinguish between them?
The first stone I posted is vg cut 1.5 ct and costs $8300 wire - eye clean and sparkles as much as the comparable size excellent cut (to me!) so I was confused on that point...

 

[tweeter8177]

You are right, most lighting in jewelry stores will make any diamond sparkle. You need to look at diamonds under different lighting conditions to see the differences in diamonds. Look at them by the window on a cloudy day and in different rooms, maybe a bathroom that has normal lights and even outside if they will let you. Try a different jewelry store that may have normal lighting. I can tell you my first diamond was "very good" cut and it was lifeless outside of the jewelry store. I didn't know a thing about cut when we bought it. When one of my friends got engaged, I noticed her diamond right away because it sparkled like crazy. That led to my upgrade because I wanted my diamond to do that!! Please do not sacrifice cut!!!!

As far as color, some people aren't color sensitive. An H or even an I will still face up white in any lighting condition, in my opinion. Although there are some that start noticing color at I or want a super icy white D. I personally love I color, because it is still white and it is budget friendly. I would go down in color way before cut!!

 

[tweeter8177]

Oh one more thing, the first diamond you selected is very deep. It will look smaller in diameter than a well cut 1.5ct. It is essentially wasted carat weight that you can't see... most likely so the cutter could get to the magic 1.5ct mark.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Don't feel bad .. like others have said, almost everything looks good in the store lights (although sometimes well cut stones don't). Honestly, most stones look good until you see a "really nice stone" then you start to be able to tell the difference.

 

[CSR]

You are right, most lighting in jewelry stores will make any diamond sparkle. You need to look at diamonds under different lighting conditions to see the differences in diamonds. Look at them by the window on a cloudy day and in different rooms, maybe a bathroom that has normal lights and even outside if they will let you. Try a different jewelry store that may have normal lighting. I can tell you my first diamond was "very good" cut and it was lifeless outside of the jewelry store. I didn't know a thing about cut when we bought it. When one of my friends got engaged, I noticed her diamond right away because it sparkled like crazy. That led to my upgrade because I wanted my diamond to do that!! Please do not sacrifice cut!!!!

As far as color, some people aren't color sensitive. An H or even an I will still face up white in any lighting condition, in my opinion. Although there are some that start noticing color at I or want a super icy white D. I personally love I color, because it is still white and it is budget friendly. I would go down in color way before cut!!

Thanks, i'm starting to think that's the case....In all my research I forgot the most basic part about diamonds reflecting light and what looks good in a jewelery store is probably completely different online..!

I will try and see if they let me take them outside...!!

 

[WinkHPD]

That should not be a problem. Ask the jeweler to put them in a good stone holder and walk outside with them to see them out of the jewelry store lighting. You might be surprised at how huge a difference it can make. I love walking outside with my clients and showing them the diamonds under many different lighting conditions. The better the cut, the better it stands up in bad lighting!

Wink

 

[recordaras]

Don't feel bad .. like others have said, almost everything looks good in the store lights (although sometimes well cut stones don't).

Sorry to threadjack, but is there some explanation to this? We have one windowless jewelry store nearby (I assume there's no natural light so that the store lighting can work its magic), and I've noticed that my BGD Signature actually doesn't look good in there! It has been driving me absolutely crazy, and I kept wondering if I was imagining things.