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Comparing 2 IdealScope images - back to the drawing board?

M

Mild Orc

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 29, 2017
Messages
5
Hi all,

Happy new year (from Australia)!

First time posting here - have been doing a ton of reading recently on this website and finally received 2 Idealscope images from JA to compare for 2 shortlisted round diamonds for an engagement ring. Budget was c. $14k - $18k USD.

The details of the two stones below are:
Stone A: $17.3k, 1.55 carats E VVS2, 57% table and 34.5% pavilion angle
Stone B: $16k, 1.51 carats F VS1, 57% table and 35.5% pavilion angle

3885409.jpg 3500427.jpg

Light return on stone A looks markedly better - lots of light pink areas in the table and far more white around the edges in Stone B, although the H&A pattern looks better.

I guess my questions are:
1) Which would be more important optically: a well-defined H&A pattern or better light return?
2) Should I go back to the selection board? Frankly it's a far bit of money and neither seem to be perfect...

Thanks for all of your help in advance!
 
Nope, you are interpreting the images incorrectly. The second IS image is better, period.

The numbers you gave above were crown angles. What are the pavilion angles?
 
Is there a reason you cant link us to the stone...
 
Correct information for Stone A should be 34.5 crown angle and 41 pavilion angle. For Stone B, it should be 35.5 crown angle and 40.6 pavilion angle.

Thanks in advance!
 
Both perform well on IS, B performs better. A is painted so has smaller contrast points around the edge. B would be my choice
 
I also prefer B.

They are also often priced accordingly. Stone A is a graded higher in both colour & clarity (the size is marginal) but only 1.3k more ... that may suggest something about Stone B.

You can also post or email various vendors (whiteflash, BlueNile, JA etc...) with your budget and requirements and see what they come up with. It saves you doing the search. Then put the stone(s) you shortlist "on hold" before you post them up here for an opinion.

Random tip: If importing in to Australia, don't forget to price in GST. And also conversion rates (there are options like OFX that are way cheaper than a bank - I actually called my relationship manager and asked for the floor price on the trading desk and not the online transfer rate which was 2-3% worse)
 
Great, thanks guys - appreciate the comments.

It looks like B is the better choice out of the two provided, but if I were to switch tack - would you make a recommendation that I make this purchase? It's a sizeable amount of money and I guess I was wondering whether I could possibly do better? E.g. would a G/H coloured diamond in the WF ACA or HP CBI likely look better in real life and provide more bang-for-buck?

Tanalasta: yes, GST is a real killer! I'm trying to work out arrangements to get this delivered to someone in the USA, but it's looking tough so might have to cop it...
 
I think bang for buck is really relative. With the same budget you would have to go down on something (size, color or clarity) for the ultra precision of an ACA or CBI, so it depends on what bang for buck means, to you.

Having seen super ideals versus ideals in real life, I can say there is a slightly difference in performance. This does not mean the ideal was any less stunning. They were gorgeous stones. The super ideal was a tad more crisp and just a bit more sparkly - and also had around a 25% premium for the same thing.

If you or your partner is color sensitive, or prefers a high color, I would suggest sticking within your current range of EF. G is a safe bet of no tint but it is dependent as some individuals are more color sensitive. Also, popular wisdom says extremely well cut stones show color less - but from owning lower well cut stones before, I would say that only happens when you look at the diamond directly. Most of the time we look at our hands at an angle so you can see the tint from the side.
 
Mild Orc said:
Great, thanks guys - appreciate the comments.

It looks like B is the better choice out of the two provided, but if I were to switch tack - would you make a recommendation that I make this purchase? It's a sizeable amount of money and I guess I was wondering whether I could possibly do better? E.g. would a G/H coloured diamond in the WF ACA or HP CBI likely look better in real life and provide more bang-for-buck?

Tanalasta: yes, GST is a real killer! I'm trying to work out arrangements to get this delivered to someone in the USA, but it's looking tough so might have to cop it...
Click to expand...

Buying a super ideal (WF, HPD, BGD Signature, GOG Signatures cuts) is a good way to guarantee a high-performing diamond. WF and HPD have excellent trade-in policies, and HPD has a guarantee buyback for life (@80% what you paid). These are great plans. BGD and JA require that an upgrade be 2x cost of the 1st.

For kindness on your budget and great performance, I'd suggest JA 3240188. However, if your have room in your budget, I posted some super-ideals for you to have a look at.

If you drop the color to G, the below three are larger and in budget.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-g-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2653916 {The photo is not great, but has a good IS and good size; but, I prefer JA 3240188 below better than this for its visual performance}
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3738887.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936405.htm
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7759
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD8387

F color or above
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-f-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3240188 {this is a lovely stone with a great IS and great angles; AGS grading is the strictest on cut. Its lively and bright, well-within budget}.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936408.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3925327.htm
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9701

Have a look and let us know what you like...
 
Thanks rockysalamander!

I've been going through those listed carefully and I've basically narrowed it down to either the 1.607 carat WF ACA or the 1.50 JA H&A you pointed out.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936405.htm
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-f-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3240188

The JA looks great and works out to be approximately $1.5k USD cheaper all-up compared to the WF ACA, with a slightly lower carat count (1.5 versus 1.6) and a slightly higher colour grade (F versus G).

I'm going to toss up the two options over the next little while but any input welcome! Thanks again all.
 
Great. Put them on hold, diamonds move fast.
 
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