CaseyLouLou
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2019
- Messages
- 1,257
Is there a big performance difference between these brands considering they are both super ideal cuts with hearts and arrows? Any difference in fire?
I was able to view both in person at the same time and there is a little difference. The CBI has more contrast which seemed to offer a little more fire. I ultimately chose the CBI but you can’t go wrong with either IMO
Both brands will offer a gorgeous stone! I have recently done my share of research with ACA vs CBI and decided for ACA only because of one little thing: the CBI upgrade is a little less appealing to me. You are conditioned as to which stone to pick. It MUST be a combination of the two: color/clarity, clarity/size...etc I purchased G/VS1 and I know that if I ever upgrade, it will be in size as I find G/VS1 to be a sweet spot that does not need to be changed. I'd rather spend money on ct weight. While with ACA, you can pick any diamond of equal or greater value (no combination "string' attached.)
I didn't know that. Definitely?
I didn't know that. Definitely?
I've seen both and have a preference but you need to form your own preference.
Here's how I'd do a double-blind test ...
I'd buy one loose ACA and one CBE, of similar carat weight and color, from dealers that have money back guarantees.
Make sure they come with one of those ring clip holders.
Put a tiny dot of colored nail polish or piece of tape on the palm side of one of the rings, not on the diamonds.
Have someone else put one stone in the marked clip ring, and the other in the other.
Have them write on paper which is which, and seal that paper in an envelope that you will not open for a few days.
Enjoy them both for a few days, side by side, in many lighting conditions, not knowing which is which, only knowing which has the tape on the ring.
Of course do be careful the diamond does not pop out of the clip ring, getting damaged or lost.
Write down your impressions and preferences for each - identifying them only by tape or no tape.
See whether you develop a preference for one.
Open the envelope to learn the name of your favorite brand/cut.
If they both look equally good to you, buy they least-costly one.
If price is the same flip a coin.
Clean off the clip ring's nail polish with Acetone, aka nail polish remover, if that is the one you return.
This test will cost you the round-trip shipping and insurance on the returned one, but IMO, is a small price to pay for a real-world test to fairly determine your preference between two fantastic diamonds.
I would agree that you cannot go wrong with either option. I firmly believe any buyer/wearer - if possible - really would need to see both of the specific diamonds that they are considering (not what others see in their diamonds which a buyer isn’t seeing nor considering) to gauge if there are discernible differences and they can see/appreciate them.
For example, on the subject of contrast, I didn’t have my ACA when I viewed a CBI I was considering last summer; rather, I had my WF-ES still (which I later upgraded for my ACA). While the CBI was beautiful, I actually didn’t see as much contrast/fire in it as my ES. And no one was more shocked than me, given how much I’ve read that statement on PS, and was looking forward to that characteristic (more contrast) specifically. That doesn’t mean the CBI was ‘bad’ or the ES was better; rather, I think it really just depends to a large degree on the combination of cut parameters (the two were different while still both in AGS000 ranges), and the buyer’s/viewer’s eyes.
So I’d say: determine your budget, determine your criteria/specs, and see which vendor has what fits your wish list. And if you are between two diamonds - one from each - and can’t decide, see if you can manage an in-person viewing of both at the same time so you won’t ever have doubts or regrets over your decision. Good luck!
Out of curiosity, what is YOUR preference?
I won't say.
I don't feel that's fair.
Some people may think a guy with 27,500 posts has some credibility, so his word outranks their personal experience.
Not true.
As I've already written, I'd rather people to see both side by side for a few days in their homes, cars, workplace, park, beach, moonlight, candlelight, supermarket, jail cell , etc.
Why not???...we are giving diamonds away here in the US...I can respect that.
I only asked as an Australian consumer who will never be able to purchase both a CBI and an ACA, ship to Australia and pay customs fees for both and pay for return shipping for both and pay to have the other set and shipped back. Might be cheaper just to fly to the US
Why not???...we are giving diamonds away here in the US...
I can respect that.
I only asked as an Australian consumer who will never be able to purchase both a CBI and an ACA, ship to Australia and pay customs fees for both and pay for return shipping for both and pay to have the other set and shipped back. Might be cheaper just to fly to the US
Sorry, move to America.
LOL, just kidding.
Very sorry! I mixed up CBI with BGD... my bad!
I've seen both and have a preference but you need to form your own preference.
Here's how I'd do a double-blind test ...
I'd buy one loose ACA and one CBE, of similar carat weight and color, from dealers that have money back guarantees.
Make sure they come with one of those ring clip holders.
Put a tiny dot of colored nail polish or piece of tape on the palm side of one of the rings, not on the diamonds.
Have someone else put one stone in the marked clip ring, and the other in the other.
Have them write on paper which is which, and seal that paper in an envelope that you will not open for a few days.
Enjoy them both for a few days, side by side, in many lighting conditions, not knowing which is which, only knowing which has the tape on the ring.
Of course do be careful the diamond does not pop out of the clip ring, getting damaged or lost.
Write down your impressions and preferences for each - identifying them only by tape or no tape.
See whether you develop a preference for one.
Open the envelope to learn the name of your favorite brand/cut.
If they both look equally good to you, buy they least-costly one.
If price is the same flip a coin.
Clean off the clip ring's nail polish with Acetone, aka nail polish remover, if that is the one you return.
This test will cost you the round-trip shipping and insurance on the returned one, but IMO, is a small price to pay for a real-world test to fairly determine your preference between two fantastic diamonds.
This is NOT a good general test to compare the two brands. It can easily give you false information. The test can only work if you are deciding between two specific diamonds, one from each vendor. Here's why.
I've sat down at Whiteflash twice and looked at many of their ACA diamonds. There was a noticeable (to my eyes) variance between ACAs. Some where superb. Others where not. In the "test" you suggest, you have no way of knowing ahead of time if that one diamond you purchase to use in the comparison is a good, or not so good example of an ACA (numbers and ratios can only go so far). If you happen to buy a lesser ACA example, and compare it to a CBI, then you are left with the impression that ACAs are not as good as CBIs. But if you get a top notch ACA then it will look great and compare beautifully to a CBI.
CBIs are not all exactly the same either. I own three and when I hold them up next to each other I can see some extremely minor variation. However, to my eyes, CBIs are a lot closer from one to another than the ACAs.
Both are excellent vendors. You can purchase mind-blowingly gorgeous diamonds from either place. But there is more variance in the ACAs, I've seen it with my own eyes on a larger sample size. Sure, most people on the street won't be able to see the difference, but that doesn't mean its not there.
Would I buy an ACA? Absolutely! But I would want to see the specific diamond I was buying in person first. I am planning to purchase a tennis bracelet from them in the future (I'm saving for it now!) Both times I've visited Whiteflash I was treated super well and saw gorgeous diamonds.
I own three CBIs (e-ring and stud earrings) all of which I love and believe are top notch. I am comfortable purchasing CBIs without seeing them first, because all the ones I've seen (and I've visited the "Mothership" in Boise!) have all been superb. I haven't seen one yet that I thought was "lesser" so I have more trust CBI consistency.
This all makes sense to me. A quick question, if buying from ACA only and you have no CBI or any other super ideal cut diamond to compare to, how will you know you got "top notch" ACA or a lesser ACA?
I know you aren't asking me, but I'll repeat what I said earlier. It depends on your personal preference as to the proportions and overall specs of the stones. Technically the only way to be sure of your preferences is to go and see a dozen of the stones similar in size and color and see. Short of that, if you can only order one, I feel one is safe with all ACAs. There is no such thing as a "top notch" or "lesser" ACA. They have the light return images that show cut quality, and I have not seen one that was inferior to any CBI as far as cut goes. I've seen a couple of CBIs that would not have made ACA due to the images, and that's why it makes me kind of crazy for people to generalize and say one is better than the other.
I do think CBI leans towards certain measurements that some people prefer, although their stones are pretty much cut within the same range as ACA and absolutely are not cut all the same. Other people prefer other measurements. I've spent time looking at the measurements of stones on both sites as well as customer specs here, and I see some lean toward the brighter stones with lower crown and maybe larger table while others lean toward higher crown and smaller table. There's no right or wrong and you should be able to find stones with either proportions from either vendor. I'll say the same thing for CBI as WF...I'd have to see any stone to decide if it was the one, especially in a larger stone. You can't see the variation as much in smaller stones.
I do believe some ACAs are better than others. I do believe some are lesser in terms of fire and brilliance than others. I'm not the only person who has noticed that. If you prefer to call this phenomenon a "wider range of personalities" then so be it.
CBIs also have a range, though a smaller one.
The companies diamonds in general having different personalities from one vendor to the other is also true, but that is a different issue than what I am talking about.
I'm not advocating for one company over the other. I don't think you can go wrong with either.