Choosing a heart diamond

[girlguineapig]

I'm a diamond newbie and am trying to pick a heart stone. For now, I've limited myself to looking at diamonds with photos, but once I identify a vendor I might get stones shipped to them and hopefully expand my selection that way.

I picked stones based on the criteria on this page, but I'm not sure if that's the right way to go about it:
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/heart-cut-diamond

I also picked based on whether I generally like the shapes of the hearts from the photos, but I don't have a good idea of how to evaluate the photo and reports otherwise and figure if SI1/SI2 stones are "eye-clean". I'd really appreciate any input!

I'm looking for:
Size: .9 - 1.25 carats
Color: H+
Clarity: SI+ (eye-clean)
L/W Ratio: .84 - 1.04

1. http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4719474-0.91-carat-Heart-diamond-H-color-VS1-clarity.aspx
2. http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4719654-0.94-carat-Heart-diamond-G-color-SI1-clarity.aspx
3. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-296651
4. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-198734
5. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-239801
6. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-0-96-Carat-H-Color-SI1-Clarity-366879.html
7. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-1-02-Carat-H-Color-VS2-Clarity-367150.html
8. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-1-07-Carat-G-Color-VS1-Clarity-367154.html

 

[Stive85]

I'm a diamond newbie and am trying to pick a heart stone. For now, I've limited myself to looking at diamonds with photos, but once I identify a vendor I might get stones shipped to them and hopefully expand my selection that way.

I picked stones based on the criteria on this page, but I'm not sure if that's the right way to go about it:
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/heart-cut-diamond

I also picked based on whether I generally like the shapes of the hearts from the photos, but I don't have a good idea of how to evaluate the photo and reports otherwise and figure if SI1/SI2 stones are "eye-clean". I'd really appreciate any input!

I'm looking for:
Size: .9 - 1.25 carats
Color: H+
Clarity: SI+ (eye-clean)
L/W Ratio: .84 - 1.04

1. http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4719474-0.91-carat-Heart-diamond-H-color-VS1-clarity.aspx
2. http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4719654-0.94-carat-Heart-diamond-G-color-SI1-clarity.aspx
3. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-296651
4. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-198734
5. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-239801
6. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-0-96-Carat-H-Color-SI1-Clarity-366879.html
7. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-1-02-Carat-H-Color-VS2-Clarity-367150.html
8. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-1-07-Carat-G-Color-VS1-Clarity-367154.html

Do you know for certain she (you?) wants a heart shaped diamond?

 

[girlguineapig]

It would be for me...and I'm not 100% positive at this point but I am definitely strongly considering it! Otherwise I'll go for a RB, but right now I really want to learn more about hearts here on the forum since there's already tons of information out there on how to pick a round.

 

[little_birdie]

I'm not knowledgable or an expert but with the help of Gypsy and some of the others here we recently picked out a heart shaped stone. I'm sure they'll be able to help you here with an opinion!
I personally think the second JA one looks prettiest.

 

[Gypsy]

Of the ones you picked these are my favorites:

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Heart-Diamond-1-07-Carat-G-Color-VS1-Clarity-367154.html my favorite
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4719654-0.94-carat-Heart-diamond-G-color-SI1-clarity.aspx
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-296651


Get an ASET image from each vendor. I would not buy a heart without one. And not a computer generated one. One of the actual stone.

I will look through JA and see if anything else catches my eye.

 

[Gypsy]

Since you get three ASETs at JA. I recommending putting the one you picked above and these two on hold and getting ASETs:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.03-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-265258
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/1.01-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-257598

They are both nice and bright.

This one is nice as well: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/heart-shaped/0.91-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-298093 but I don't think it is eyeclean and the other two edge it out on brightness a bit.

 

[Gypsy]

Incidentally, I don't follow number guidelines when I pick fancies. They are largely meaningless. I choose based on my impression of brightness/light performance of the stone, and the faceting.

 

[girlguineapig]

Gypsy, that's so helpful! It seems difficult to pick a fancy shape; maybe the ASET images will be easier for me to interpret. I don't think I have a good eye for analyzing the pictures on the JA site.

Incidentally though, I've discovered the August Vintage Round cut and have fallen in love! Maybe it would be the perfect compromise for me - unique, romantic, and the flower-like pattern reminds me of the setting I want. Sorry if I come across as indecisive D:

 

[girlguineapig]

Back in heart land. I requested ASETs from James Allen last week but there was a miscommunication so I still don't have them.

I'm still unsure about OEC vs heart, and now it turns out my boyfriend’s mom (who passed away a few years ago) had two rings, one with a modern round brilliant and one with a heart! If this is a good heart, it seems like it must be fate that his mom happened to have it and I *must* set it in the setting!

I'm so anxious and hope my boyfriend and I can go to his dad's house tonight and take a close look at it in person and find the certifications as well. And of course, learn why they have it in the first place. Is it a reject ring? A ring for fun? Actual engagement ring? I'm so mad that my boyfriend didn't ask these questions and/or bring the ring to our place after taking photos! It looks like the heart's length to width ratio is about 1:1 which is hopefully a good sign.

 

[spicyitalian]

The shape appeal looks good. But it seems to have an large culet which you can see through in the middle of the stone.

 

[girlguineapig]

I have it! Unfortunately, my boyfriend did not get the documentation (if any exists?).

Hmm, there's definitely a dark spot in the top center, but I'm not so sure it's the culet. The shape is definitely appealing! And coincidentally, the ring as is fits my ring finger perfectly! The heart is not as shiny as the round, but I'm not sure if that's to be expected since rounds have better light performance, and the AVR certainly should be an extremely good round. I feel like if I end up choosing a heart though, then it should be this heart, but at the same time it would be nice to compare to other hearts. Could I go into a jewelry store and use one of their ideal scopes or something?

 

[thecat]

Is the heart clean? Dirt can affect light performance too. I like the length width ratio of the heart but find the performance of AVR more appealing. Different flavors. You can't go wrong.

 

[John P]

The heart shape is frequently cut from a macle (twinned crystal) which is somewhat flat and has some limitations. What you’re seeing by the culet could be windowing. With such a window, reflections or shadow from the setting underneath come through, giving the appearance, alternately, of light or dark in that area.

What I like about the images is the absence of a bow tie across the belly of the diamond. This is difficult to avoid in heart, pear, oval & marquise. In fact, the polisher may have elected a pavilion configuration that permitted a small window in order to avoid a bow-tie (I personally would buy him a coffee for that).

An Ideal-Scope would be useless here. An ASET would give some ‘aside’ technical information, but when it comes to diamonds cut for this aesthetic it’s about the overall look, reduction of bow-tie/darkness and shape-appeal. Many hearts wind up with bulged wings or misshapen lobes. This one looks very pleasing from the photos.

Could I go into a jewelry store and use one of their ideal scopes or something?

If you find a jewelry store that will hand you an actual Ideal-Scope instead of a funny look let us know who they are.

Rant on...click: Almost all jewelers have scales (to judge carat weight) cards and lamps (to judge color), microscopes (to judge clarity and finish) but no way whatsoever of analyzing or judging light performance quality. Some jewelers carry H&A viewers because some company supplied them in the past. And I see jewelers frequently confusing H&A viewers with Ideal-Scope, simply because no one has explained the difference; which is significant. Even GIA GGs receive no training in basic reflector assessment such as Ideal-Scope and ASET (or H&A, for that matter). You must become a CG with AGS to gain even the most simple introduction.

Rant off...click: But the above has no bearing in this situation, where it’s all heart (get it?).

 

[girlguineapig]

The heart is probably dirty. I should figure out how to clean it or ask a jewelry store to. Regardless, it sounds like less light performance is to be expected.

Thanks for that analysis John! I might still compare the heart to others at Jared for fun; they have a lot of hearts at my local store. But like I said, it's pretty unlikely I would pick another heart.

This is such a tough decision! My boyfriend isn't helpful at all; he doesn't want me to blame him later if I regret my choice

 

[junebug17]

I really like the shape of the heart, very pleasing to the eye! I think it is a pretty stone - I think you should have it professionally cleaned by a jeweler, I really think it will come to life and sparkle even more. This stone has the added bonus of being very sentimental and meaningful - and what a coincidence that your SO's mom had a heart-shaped diamond!

 

[girlguineapig]

I'm really leaning towards the heart now. My SO's dad does not know where the certificates are (if any?). His mom apparently just bought it for herself. I think we will try to see if there's a laser inscription in the girdle tonight; my SO has a microscope. If we can't find it, it would be nice to get a jeweler to at least eyeball it before sending it off to be set. I have this vague fear that it's actually just a CZ set in sterling silver. ;P