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Choosing between these 2 diamonds

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tempestofnight

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 9, 2019
Messages
19
Hi everyone,

I'm new here but I'm hoping you can give me some advice about two diamonds that I'm choosing between for an engagement ring. The setting for each of those will be a 14k white gold halo ring with a split shank that has no side gems. The halo gems are 10 round stones that are G-H in color and VS1-VS2 in clarity, totaling 0.55 carats.

First I'll tell you what the 2 diamonds have in common, then the differences + GIA. Both are princess shape and both have excellent polish, very good symmetry, and 1.00 L/W ratios. Now the differences:
  • Diamond "A" (2195752134): 0.8 c, F color, SI1, no fluor., 74.3% depth, 70% table, thick girdle. PRICE: $1,798
  • Diamond "B" (5313746668 ): 0.85 c, I color, VVS1, faint fluor., 72.2% depth, 71% table, slightly thick to thick girdle. PRICE: $2,005
    • Rarecarat "cut" rating: "Excellent"
    • Rarecarat valuation: $2,550
    • No photo/video available
Thanks in advance for the advice!
 
tempestofnight said:
Hi everyone,

I'm new here but I'm hoping you can give me some advice about two diamonds that I'm choosing between for an engagement ring. The setting for each of those will be a 14k white gold halo ring with a split shank that has no side gems. The halo gems are 10 round stones that are G-H in color and VS1-VS2 in clarity, totaling 0.55 carats.

First I'll tell you what the 2 diamonds have in common, then the differences + GIA. Both are princess shape and both have excellent polish, very good symmetry, and 1.00 L/W ratios. Now the differences:
  • Diamond "A" (2195752134): 0.8 c, F color, SI1, no fluor., 74.3% depth, 70% table, thick girdle. PRICE: $1,798
  • Diamond "B" (5313746668 ): 0.85 c, I color, VVS1, faint fluor., 72.2% depth, 71% table, slightly thick to thick girdle. PRICE: $2,005
    • Rarecarat "cut" rating: "Excellent"
    • Rarecarat valuation: $2,550
    • No photo/video available
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Click to expand...
Not a fancy cut expert, but I would never buy a fancy shape without pics/videos to see performance. Hopefully princess experts will come and give more advice!
 
lovedogs said:
Not a fancy cut expert, but I would never buy a fancy shape without pics/videos to see performance. Hopefully princess experts will come and give more advice!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply! The "F" color diamond has picture/video in the link I posted. But for the "I" color diamond, I got in touch with customer service and asked them to contact the manufacturer to see if they have photo/video, but unfortunately they said no :/

I guess the only defense is that it's VVS1 clarity rating from GIA, so there's unlikely to be anything too severe right?
 
tempestofnight said:
Thanks for your reply! The "F" color diamond has picture/video in the link I posted. But for the "I" color diamond, I got in touch with customer service and asked them to contact the manufacturer to see if they have photo/video, but unfortunately they said no :/

I guess the only defense is that it's VVS1 clarity rating from GIA, so there's unlikely to be anything too severe right?
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I'm not worried about inclusions, but about performance and how good it will look in person. That requires a video, and preferable an ASST/IS image.
 
Bump, still looking for advice please!
 
I could not get the video to work on the .8 stone. It does look like it has 2 nice size pieces of carbon under the table which would be a no-go for
me.

No pictures/videos of the other one means we can not evaluate the cut/performance of the stone, so again, another no go.

Edit...here is your first stone at b2c...a little cheaper. It may be eye-clean but I dont think I'd take the
chance.
https://www.b2cjewels.com/diamond-search/dd/12051369/Princess-Diamond-F-Color-SI1-Clarity

Edit...I'll throw a few more out there for you...I didnt look at the details. Ask for asets if interested.
https://www.b2cjewels.com/diamond-search/dd/12312323/Princess-Diamond-I-Color-VVS2-Clarity
https://www.b2cjewels.com/diamond-search/dd/12353724/Princess-Diamond-I-Color-VVS2-Clarity not square
 
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Thank you!! Are you able to view the video on the b2cjewels page that you sent me for the first option, since the video in the link I sent wasn't working for you?

tyty333 said:
I could not get the video to work on the .8 stone. It does look like it has 2 nice size pieces of carbon under the table which would be a no-go for
me.

No pictures/videos of the other one means we can not evaluate the cut/performance of the stone, so again, another no go.

Edit...here is your first stone at b2c...a little cheaper. It may be eye-clean but I dont think I'd take the
chance.
https://www.b2cjewels.com/diamond-search/dd/12051369/Princess-Diamond-F-Color-SI1-Clarity

Edit...I'll throw a few more out there for you...I didnt look at the details. Ask for asets if interested.
https://www.b2cjewels.com/diamond-search/dd/12312323/Princess-Diamond-I-Color-VVS2-Clarity
https://www.b2cjewels.com/diamond-search/dd/12353724/Princess-Diamond-I-Color-VVS2-Clarity not square
Click to expand...
 
Since cut seems to be the most important factor in a diamond's appearance, I'd pass on the "Very Good" cut (which apparently isn't really very good) and only consider an "Excellent" cut or better.

Also, I wouldn't want to pay the extra for "VVS" clarity ratings. A good general rating mix to for a nice stone and a nice price, in my opinion, would be (GIA) Excellent Cut, H color, SI1 clarity. Beyond that, you'd have to see the stone. I'm not as experienced as some of the members on here, though.
 
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tempestofnight said:
Thank you!! Are you able to view the video on the b2cjewels page that you sent me for the first option, since the video in the link I sent wasn't working for you?
Click to expand...

Yes, I was. I think the faceting on the stone looks pretty decent. Distinct facets that look clear. An Aset would be needed to tell how well its really
reflecting light but I dont think it looks too bad. However, there are 2 big pieces of carbon under the table that I dont like.
 
I see four on Adiamor in your price range. (I don't work for them, I promise. Just on their site a lot lately because I am expecting a diamond ring from them!):

1) Princess, .80, Excellent cut, H, SI1, Polish/Symmetry EX/VG, Depth 73.2%/Table 69%, no fluorescence, $1,861

2) Princess, .81, Excellent cut, H, SI1, EX/VG, 74.7/71, no fluorescence, $1,927

3) Princess, .80, Affinity cut, H, SI1, EX/VG, 71.4/71, no fluoro, $1,944

4) Princess, .83, Excellent cut, H, SI1, VG/G, 70.5/70, no fluoro, $2,071

Someone else would have to help you evaluate them beyond that though, because I don't know. :)

You might also want to note which companies allow you to trade in your diamond for an upgrade at a later date and what their policy is on that. Whiteflash and another one whose name I can't think of right now (anyone else recall it?) allow this on a diamond only $1 higher in cost, though there are a couple of other stipulations, and some others allow it if the new diamond costs at least twice what the old one did. I don't think the setting cost is included but not sure.

ETA: Of course, there's nothing carved in stone about the specs I listed. I just think it's a reasonable middle-of-the-road starting point. Hope it helps!
 
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Thanks for your reply! GIA doesn't rank cut for non-circle diamonds, but Rarecarat gives their own rating. Excellent is the best rating they give, there isn't much better. That said, Adiamor itself gives "Affinity" as a cut better than "Excellent." However, those correspond to Rarecarat's ratings for these tow gems. That is- the one I wrote as "Excellent" on rarecarat is "Affinity" on Adiamor. The one I wrote as "Very good" is "excellent" on Adiamor.

I definitely did not seek out the VVS range. I was looking within a price range, carat range, and color range, and then allowing anything between SI1 or better. But to find 0.85 carats at VVS1 for what is actually now $1965, not $2005, is quite a steal I think.

As for your 2nd post, don't worry, I spend a lot of time on Adiamor too :) The 3 you listed I have seen, but they're all smaller than the one I posted about, and they aren't any cheaper except for the 1st one, which is about $100 cheaper but it's 0.05 carats less and SI1. Still, I'll check it out

You did help, so thank you!

seaurchin said:
Since cut seems to be the most important factor in a diamond's appearance, I'd pass on the "Very Good" cut (which apparently isn't really very good) and only consider an "Excellent" cut or better.

Also, I wouldn't want to pay the extra for "VVS" clarity ratings. A good general rating mix to for a nice stone and a nice price, in my opinion, would be (GIA) Excellent Cut, H color, SI1 clarity. Beyond that, you'd have to see the stone. I'm not as experienced as some of the members on here, though.
Click to expand...
 
tempestofnight said:
Thanks for your reply! GIA doesn't rank cut for non-circle diamonds, but Rarecarat gives their own rating. Excellent is the best rating they give, there isn't much better. That said, Adiamor itself gives "Affinity" as a cut better than "Excellent." However, those correspond to Rarecarat's ratings for these tow gems. That is- the one I wrote as "Excellent" on rarecarat is "Affinity" on Adiamor. The one I wrote as "Very good" is "excellent" on Adiamor....
You did help, so thank you!
Click to expand...

Ah, okay. I thought GIA must have changed that since the last time I bought a diamond, which was a decade ago. But I just checked a GIA certificate that posted on Adiamor and the certificate itself did not list a cut grade so you are right. Thanks. :)

Please let us know what you get!
 
Right now these are my finalists. All are at least 0.8 carats, I color or better, SI1 clarity or better, and all are under $2100. All have 64-75% depth, and all except for one have 67%-72% table (one is 73%). All have "Very good" or "excellent" symmetry + polish.

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Be cautious with the rare carat "cut rating". You really can't choose fancy cuts with numbers alone, so that rating isn't accurate for a lot of stones. And the adiamor rating isn't better. It's just their opinion of their own stones with no data to back it up.
 
lovedogs said:
Be cautious with the rare carat "cut rating". You really can't choose fancy cuts with numbers alone, so that rating isn't accurate for a lot of stones. And the adiamor rating isn't better. It's just their opinion of their own stones with no data to back it up.
Click to expand...

That makes sense to me, thank you. But is there anything else I can do to try to assess cut? I would submit videos for you guys to look since you actually know what you're talking about, but only 4 of my top 9 (and 1 of the 2 I posted about in my original post) actually have photo/video available...
 
tempestofnight said:
That makes sense to me, thank you. But is there anything else I can do to try to assess cut? I would submit videos for you guys to look since you actually know what you're talking about, but only 4 of my top 9 (and 1 of the 2 I posted about in my original post) actually have photo/video available...
Click to expand...
I wouldn't consider buying a fancy cut without video/image. It's just too risky IMHO.
 
lovedogs said:
I wouldn't consider buying a fancy cut without video/image. It's just too risky IMHO.
Click to expand...

I understand, and the thought of it makes me nervous too. Is it reasonable that the customer service rep at Adiamor I've been emailing with says that the manufacturer "doesn't have any" photos or videos? Is that really the end of the line, you think, or is there another way I can get them (i.e being more insisting, or perhaps going a different route/contacting someone else?)
 
tempestofnight said:
I understand, and the thought of it makes me nervous too. Is it reasonable that the customer service rep at Adiamor I've been emailing with says that the manufacturer "doesn't have any" photos or videos? Is that really the end of the line, you think, or is there another way I can get them (i.e being more insisting, or perhaps going a different route/contacting someone else?)
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That usually means the stone is overseas, and the manufacturer won't send pics. For me, that would be the end of the line. Bc you're just buying blind at that point!
 
If you haven't already, you might try checking some of the other big sites for that same diamond and see if they have pics/video of it.
 
seaurchin said:
If you haven't already, you might try checking some of the other big sites for that same diamond and see if they have pics/video of it.
Click to expand...

I have, and every time I find the same trend, that if one doesn't have it then none do. I check Adiamor, FourMine, Yadav, Enchanted Diamonds, and now B2C Jewels, which I'm finding tends to beat everyone else's price and I should've checked there sooner.

I could be more thorough and check James Allen and Blue Nile, but their prices are always higher so I've avoided them. I doubt they have pics/vid that no one else does, but it might be worth checking just in case. Thank you!
 
lovedogs said:
That usually means the stone is overseas, and the manufacturer won't send pics. For me, that would be the end of the line. Bc you're just buying blind at that point!
Click to expand...

That makes sense. I think you've convinced me to avoid those. It will eliminate a few that look really good in terms of specs + price, but I think you're right it's probably just not worth the risk
 
tempestofnight said:
I have, and every time I find the same trend, that if one doesn't have it then none do. I check Adiamor, FourMine, Yadav, Enchanted Diamonds, and now B2C Jewels, which I'm finding tends to beat everyone else's price and I should've checked there sooner.

I could be more thorough and check James Allen and Blue Nile, but their prices are always higher so I've avoided them. I doubt they have pics/vid that no one else does, but it might be worth checking just in case. Thank you!
Click to expand...
JA and BN are more likely to have images, and taking those pics costs $. So I'd pay more to make sure I was getting a good performing stone.
 
lovedogs said:
JA and BN are more likely to have images, and taking those pics costs $. So I'd pay more to make sure I was getting a good performing stone.
Click to expand...

Good point, they do have pictures more reliably. Plus, I would not actually end up paying more, I think. Because if the GIA numbers match I'd just buy it on Adiamor knowing that the video on JA or BN is the same stone. I'll start looking them up and if I find them I'll post them here. Otherwise, I'm down to 4 finalists that I actually have video for....

...unless I un-eliminate some of the ones that I eliminated based on girdle because on recommendations I found online. What is your opinion about girdles that are either all, or part, very thin or very thick? Should that be a deal-breaker like I thought, or no?
 
As others have mentioned, fancy cuts are tricky. I would not buy one without an ASET. I am by no means an expert in fancy cuts, but from what I know about assessing princess cuts, you want to look for a lot of red and green throughout the ASET image with minimal leakage (white areas).

This looks like a pretty good example of a decently cut princess diamond:
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...8-Carat-G-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-01497619Z

Lots of red and green in the ASET. Distinct "X" pattern under the table. Not too deep for a princess with a table less than 70%. And medium to thick girdle (good for a princess cut). Not necessarily the diamond for you, but gives you an idea of what you should be searching for. :)
 
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