Comparing stones

[firebird]

Ok, I narrowed it down using the cut adviser, but wondering why it is that Brian Gavin's stones score 1.8's whereas the whiteflash diamond scored a 1.1? So all other things being equal (except the clarity) it looks like whiteflash might be a better deal?

1. http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2275576.htm

Item Code AGS-1040399530001
Carat 2.008
Color G
Clarity VS2
Cut Whiteflash ACA
Certificate AGS

Light Performance 0
Polish Ideal
Symmetry Ideal
Brilliance
Fire
Scintillation
Diamond Specifications
Depth % 61.1
Table % 57
Crown Angle 34.7
Star 55
Pavilion Angle 40.7
Crown % 14.8
Lower Girdle % 76
Measurements 8.11x8.14x4.96
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible
Girdle Thin to Medium Faceted

2. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040399230002

Product ID: AGS-1040399230002
Shape: Round
Report: AGS
Carat: 2.016
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Measurements: 8.10x8.14x5.00
Lab Cut Grade: Ideal
Light Performance: Ideal
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Table %: 56.3
Depth %: 61.6
Crown %: 15.0
Crown Angle: 34.7
Star %: 53.0
Pav Angle: 40.9
Pavillion %: 43.3
Lower Girdle %: 77.0
Girdle Min-Max %: 1.2-3.6
Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[slg47]

let''s make them clickable

G VS2

G VS1

I''m not an expert but I don''t think you can go wrong with WF ACA or BGD Signature, it''s going to be beautiful!

Also the HCA is a rejection tool not a selection tool, so just reject diamonds that score above 2 (but since you are looking at AGS0 I think they all score under 2? correct me if I am wrong...) nothing can be read into the fact that one scores a 1.1 and one scores a 1.8.

BGD has a D SI1 in your budget if you really want the higher color and are willing to drop to SI1, not sure if it is eye clean but you could ask them! WF also has a G SI1 that could save you some $$

also may I ask what type of setting you are going to use? or are you reusing your current setting?

 

[stone-cold11]

yap, rejection tool not a selection tool.

Both stones'' images looks good.

the difference in VS grade is the main cause of the price difference. Both should be eye-clean, so you should not be able to see the difference without a loupe.

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Firebird,

No need to go by the HCA with stones of this calibre, once you have such well cut stones with supporting images the HCA isn't needed, plus as slg rightly says, it is actually a rejection tool. The clarity grades will be responsible for the price difference, do you prefer one or the other?

 

[firebird]

Thanks for the replies everyone! And thanks for making those into links for me slg. I'll use links to make it easier for everyone hehe. It's a relief to know I was just over analyzing. I really, really liked the idea of getting a Brian Gavin Hearts & Arrows diamond after reading more on this forum about them and watching some videos (drool). My husband is still really set on the idea of getting an F VS1 minimum, but still wants it to be a 2 ct. I have emailed Brian asking him to put the G VS1 on hold for me, but I'm also looking at a few of the James Allen TrueHeart pieces, and these are beauties (and a little more affordable)!!

Any opinions on this one? It's an F VS1, and JUST shy of a 2 ct, but my husband is a little concerned about the natural inclusions and the number of them. If it's a VS1, that should mean that even though there are natural inclusions, it should be harder to see them than the few crystals/needles in the brian gavin and ACA diamond, am I right?

There is also this one (2.2!! ct G VS2 that has a small carbon spot on the table, I think? I've asked James Allen to call me back regarding that one).

Thanks in advance, and I apologize for throwing more into the bag! There are just so many choices out there now that I'm considering G color stones...!

 

[firebird]

And Lorelei I do prefer a VS1, mostly because my husband is so particular and I know it will drive him nuts if he can see anything on my diamond, even if only through a loupe. But he's agreed to consider a VS2 if the inclusions aren't too numerous or too centered on the table.

That's why I'm considering G VS1's and F VS1's but I really am not sure how to compare something like a G VS2 with few inclusions on the diagram, vs. an F VS1 that has tons of stuff, naturals, natural inclusions, needles, crystals, going on. I wish I could go see the diamonds in person and eliminate them that way...

[edit added]
And slg we're going to go with a four prong tiffany setting, I'm thinking with knife edge...but we haven't looked at many settings yet because we've been so focused on the diamond itself. Platinum head and yellow gold for the band. And yes, I know that's even more reason to go down to a G or H on color, but I'm not the on that needs convincing.. it's hubby. Ha ha I still haven't decided if I would ask Brian Gavin or James Allen or Whiteflash, whoever I go with, to set it before sending it over, or if we'd want the loose stone sent over first to go and get it appraised like we did with our previous diamond.

 

[stone-cold11]

Yap, they will be harder to see even if more numerous. The inclusions are listed in order of significance to the grade, the fist named inclusion is the grade setter, meaning it is why the stone gets whatever clarity grade it is given. Others are at least the same grade if not better.

Both the JA stone looks good.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 9:57:35 AM
Author: firebird
And Lorelei I do prefer a VS1, mostly because my husband is so particular and I know it will drive him nuts if he can see anything on my diamond, even if only through a loupe. But he''s agreed to consider a VS2 if the inclusions aren''t too numerous or too centered on the table.

That''s why I''m considering G VS1''s and F VS1''s but I really am not sure how to compare something like a G VS2 with few inclusions on the diagram, vs. an F VS1 that has tons of stuff, naturals, natural inclusions, needles, crystals, going on. I wish I could go see the diamonds in person and eliminate them that way...

[edit added]
And slg we''re going to go with a four prong tiffany setting, I''m thinking with knife edge...but we haven''t looked at many settings yet because we''ve been so focused on the diamond itself. Platinum head and yellow gold for the band. And yes, I know that''s even more reason to go down to a G or H on color, but I''m not the on that needs convincing.. it''s hubby. Ha ha I still haven''t decided if I would ask Brian Gavin or James Allen or Whiteflash, whoever I go with, to set it before sending it over, or if we''d want the loose stone sent over first to go and get it appraised like we did with our previous diamond.

Best thing to do is ask WF or Brian if the stone/s you are interested in are '' loupe clean'' as well as eyeclean, can''t know going by the clarity plots unfortunately.

 

[firebird]

Thank you as always Stone Cold. I want an opinion of what would be the best value of the four stones. Any opinion? Or is this, again, a matter of taste? I'm leaning towards the James Allens at this point due to the price...2.2 ct G VS1 stone or 2.01 F VS2. The 2.01 G VS1 Brian Gavin is still a contender, but why is it priced higher than the 2.20 ct James Allan? Is it just the branding or will one be able to notice a difference in how the stones look?

Thanks Lorelei, I'll make sure to ask Brian and James Allan when they call me back on Monday. I haven't talked to White Flash yet because I was thinking I'd probably better go with the Brian Gavin G VS1 diamond over a White Flash G VS2 after taking a look at the plots...hmm....

By the way, how do you quote previous posts? I can't for the life of me figure it out. Excuse my stupidity as this is the first forum I've posted on -- ever--.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 5/7/2010 10:29:16 AM
Author: firebird
Thank you as always Stone Cold. I want an opinion of what would be the best value of the four stones. Any opinion? Or is this, again, a matter of taste? I''m leaning towards the James Allens at this point due to the price...2.2 ct G VS1 stone or 2.01 F VS2. The 2.01 G VS1 Brian Gavin is still a contender, but why is it priced higher than the 2.20 ct James Allan? Is it just the branding or will one be able to notice a difference in how the stones look?

Thanks Lorelei, I''ll make sure to ask Brian and James Allan when they call me back on Monday. I haven''t talked to White Flash yet because I was thinking I''d probably better go with the Brian Gavin G VS1 diamond over a White Flash G VS2 after taking a look at the plots...hmm....

By the way, how do you quote previous posts? I can''t for the life of me figure it out. Excuse my stupidity as this is the first forum I''ve posted on -- ever--.

To quote use this button.

Yap, value is a matter of preference. Some like higher color, higher clarity, larger carat, better cut or cheaper stone, so to each his/her own. You will have to decide which order of preference you want and that will be what is more valuable to you.

The difference in price is also from the vendor policies. For example, JA will need you to spend twice the amount you paid for this stone if you ever decide you want to upgrade again, BGD has a more relax policy but that means more cost/less profit for them in the future so they charge more.

 

[firebird]

Date: 5/7/2010 11:28:31 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 5/7/2010 10:29:16 AM

Author: firebird

Thank you as always Stone Cold. I want an opinion of what would be the best value of the four stones. Any opinion? Or is this, again, a matter of taste? I''m leaning towards the James Allens at this point due to the price...2.2 ct G VS1 stone or 2.01 F VS2. The 2.01 G VS1 Brian Gavin is still a contender, but why is it priced higher than the 2.20 ct James Allan? Is it just the branding or will one be able to notice a difference in how the stones look?


Thanks Lorelei, I''ll make sure to ask Brian and James Allan when they call me back on Monday. I haven''t talked to White Flash yet because I was thinking I''d probably better go with the Brian Gavin G VS1 diamond over a White Flash G VS2 after taking a look at the plots...hmm....


By the way, how do you quote previous posts? I can''t for the life of me figure it out. Excuse my stupidity as this is the first forum I''ve posted on -- ever--.

To quote use this button.

Yap, value is a matter of preference. Some like higher color, higher clarity, larger carat, better cut or cheaper stone, so to each his/her own. You will have to decide which order of preference you want and that will be what is more valuable to you.


The difference in price is also from the vendor policies. For example, JA will need you to spend twice the amount you paid for this stone if you ever decide you want to upgrade again, BGD has a more relax policy but that means more cost/less profit for them in the future so they charge more.

Ah, I see, cool, thank you! So here''s my next question..What''s the most important thing to ask for/look at if I want to ensure that the stone I get is the most brilliant, sparkly one within my husband''s parameters? Is that where the pictures showing the light leakage come into play? I mean how do I distinguish between diamonds there?

I noticed that other posters in the past have gone so far as to get "brilliantscope" measurements (?) Is this something I can ask for from the vendor? Does anyone know if James Allan and BG have this capability?



And if the upgrade policy is the only reason why the James Allen pieces are less expensive than the BG and WF, I think I may end up going with James Allan because I want to keep this ring forever, so it may present a better value for me...

 

[stone-cold11]

Best to look at them physically and compare which you like best.

None of the tools we are using now are actually selection tools, all are just rejection tools, separating the lesser performing stone out but you cannot pick which ones will be the best.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 11:28:31 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 5/7/2010 10:29:16 AM
Author: firebird
Thank you as always Stone Cold. I want an opinion of what would be the best value of the four stones. Any opinion? Or is this, again, a matter of taste? I''m leaning towards the James Allens at this point due to the price...2.2 ct G VS1 stone or 2.01 F VS2. The 2.01 G VS1 Brian Gavin is still a contender, but why is it priced higher than the 2.20 ct James Allan? Is it just the branding or will one be able to notice a difference in how the stones look?

Thanks Lorelei, I''ll make sure to ask Brian and James Allan when they call me back on Monday. I haven''t talked to White Flash yet because I was thinking I''d probably better go with the Brian Gavin G VS1 diamond over a White Flash G VS2 after taking a look at the plots...hmm....

By the way, how do you quote previous posts? I can''t for the life of me figure it out. Excuse my stupidity as this is the first forum I''ve posted on -- ever--.

To quote use this button.

Yap, value is a matter of preference. Some like higher color, higher clarity, larger carat, better cut or cheaper stone, so to each his/her own. You will have to decide which order of preference you want and that will be what is more valuable to you.

The difference in price is also from the vendor policies. For example, JA will need you to spend twice the amount you paid for this stone if you ever decide you want to upgrade again, BGD has a more relax policy but that means more cost/less profit for them in the future so they charge more.

Stone, how do you do the screen capture please?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 12:08:34 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
Best to look at them physically and compare which you like best.

None of the tools we are using now are actually selection tools, all are just rejection tools, separating the lesser performing stone out but you cannot pick which ones will be the best.

Absolutely. And with images, all they give us is one static view of the stone, they really tell us nothing about the actual performance or personality of a diamond or whether you will like it. An expert vendor that can see the diamonds is the best person to help you make final selection then it comes down to your own eyes.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 5/8/2010 5:17:35 AM
Author: Lorelei

Stone, how do you do the screen capture please?

Use the same thing as how you post an image already uploaded in PS.

Right click on any image you want to post, there should be a copy image location option, choose that, then use this button

and paste the link.

That should work.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/8/2010 5:49:10 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 5/8/2010 5:17:35 AM
Author: Lorelei

Stone, how do you do the screen capture please?

Use the same thing as how you post an image already uploaded in PS.

Right click on any image you want to post, there should be a copy image location option, choose that, then use this button

and paste the link.

That should work.

Thanks, I will try it!