CONFUSED & Running out of time to decide! Should I return this diamond?

[3shebabes]

For those of you who''ve read my posts and seen my posted pictures, you may be surprised to learn I am questioning whether to keep my new diamond. It''s an anniversary upgrade gift-in-the-making. It''s a 2.86 ct, G SI1 AGS Triple 0 Ideal and it is gorgeous. Here is my dilemma:

It was listed as Ideal cut but also H & A. It isn''t engraved on the stone as such or mentioned on the cert, but it was listed that way on the website listing. I wasn''t sure whether H & A was even important to me, but as incredibly sparkly as this diamond is, the H & A pattern is not at all complete. In some lighting, you can clearly see several arrows and I have found that I like that look -- but the rest of the arrows are either missing or distorted - so it isn''t really an H & A stone. I''m afraid after my approval period for this stone is up (in about a week!) I will regret not waiting for a stone that covers everything on my wishlist! This vendor also has a more stringent trade-up policy than some others. It''s lifetime, but you have to spend twice as much. I can honestly say we will NEVER spend twice this amount on a diamond, so the trade-up policy can''t ever help me if my dream stone were to appear out there.

This stone is beautiful and wonderfully white and a wonderful hard-to-find size I think (2.86 - just under 3 carats) but I am wondering if I should wait and watch for something of a similar size, color and clarity but that is both Triple 0 in Light Performance (that part has truly impressed me) AND has a true H & A pattern. Is that likely to come along? Am I being unrealistic? Or will it likely come along soon but cost a good chunk more than what I paid?

Whiteflash has made me aware of an ACA of theirs, available now, but it is an I color and I feel I may be too color sensitive for that but it is an AGS stone and definitely H & A. It''s also an SI2, though I''ve been told it is a nice SI2. It''s also a tad bigger. Size isn''t my issue, however.BUT do I want to drop to I color SI2 from G color SI1? If it''s beautifully cut (it''s an "A Cut Above" stone) will the I color face up rather white?

So - my dream stone would be :

G or H (prefer G)
SI 1
2.75 - 3.25 carats, RB cut
AGS Triple 0 Ideal
clear H & A pattern

Is this gonna come along anytime in the near future? I discussed this with my husband last night & I don''t think he appreciated it much. I think he thinks I am just on the hunt for something bigger all the time and that isn''t it at all. I''m happy with this size. He made it clear also that a trade-up policy isn''t a big concern for him because he seriously does not see that happening and I can agree with that - considering the fact that we have 3 daughters coming along and lots of other future expenses to think about -- but to me that is all the more reason to be really sure and really, really thrilled with the stone I keep. I''m going to be looking at it for a long, long time.I think my husband thinks my over-analysis of all this stuff is killing the romance of this awesome anniversary gift. I feel bad about that...

I''m wobbling between feeling like I need to look at more stones and surrender this one -- and feeling like this one isn''t perfect but it is beautiful and I love a lot of things about it and I should keep it, set it and have fun wearing it.

I''m confused and I need to make a decision or the calendar is going to make it for me. My approval period is up in about 7 days I think...

Any advice? I feel a touch of panic at this point!

 

[Fly Girl]

3shebabes - I own a well cut diamond, purchased 8 years ago, well before PS. It''s beautiful, I get lots of compliments, I''m not going to trade it in, because to get another 1.5 ct F VS2 that has "ideal" cut would cost way too much. So, I enjoy what I have.

BUT, if I were to do it over, I would hold out for those Hearts and Arrows. You still have the option to get a better stone, and you are already paying the BIG bucks. My vote is to send it back, and wait for the right stone to come along. I would try to be patient, and know that it might take some time. But, it will happen.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[erica k]

I can''t advise on the color difference, but I have two stones, F and G, and am not convinced I would go beyond an H. The difference between an H and an I in a well-cut stone is minimal, but for you to go from an E to an I might be hard. If you went with the WF stone, you might want to have a 6 prong setting instead of something that fully exposes the side view.

As for your current stone, I can see what you mean about it not demonstrating a true hearts and arrows pattern. Nevertheless, it is a truly beautiful stone, the color and clarity are ideal. If you think the lack of a perfect pattern is going to bother you, maybe you should return the stone and wait a while more? If I were faced with a similar decision, though, I wouldn''t trade that stone for the I color, slightly larger WF one.

But then again, maybe this is the best you''ll find for a long while in price, color and clarity? Ugh, I feel your pain! It''s hard being a perfectionist. The cut of your stone, by the way, must be amazing to produce those gorgeous photos!! Sometimes PS can be both a curse and a blessing. You need to decide for yourself if a non H&A is ok. I''ve started looking at OEC stones for fun and have realized that I''d be happy with a non H&A as long as it was really well cut. It sounds like you really like the H&A pattern, though.

 

[3shebabes]

FlyGirl, Thanks for your speedy response. And you kinda cut to the heart-of-the-matter, pun intended! I really do think I would appreciate that H & A optical symmetry and I had no idea until I saw this partial H & A pattern.

The only problem, other than having patience now that I''m all fired up about having a new diamond, is that I know my husband isn''t going to want to put much more $ into it...and all things being equal, if you add perfect H & A patterning, it is going to cost more -- so I''d have to drop down in either color, clarity or size. Waaaah. I really don''t wanna drop down in anything. This is hard!

Anyway -- thanks so much for your input!

Anybody else have any thoughts for me to consider?

 

[Ellen]

shebabes,

I personally think you are having a good case of buyers remorse. It happens. People get their stone, love it, then start "over analysing" it, doubting their stone, their decision....and they end up where you are.

First, I want to point something out. My stone is a definite hearts and arrows cut, but I can never see all the "arrows" at once. It's not like looking at the static H&A photos. And of course I'll never see the "hearts".

Did your stone have an IdealScope picture? The only reason you might want to know if it was a true H&A stone is because of being charged for one. I would want to know for that reason.

But other than that, I think you should keep it. You have a gorgeous, well cut, hard to find size, great color and clarity combo stone. To find everything you (might) want (as we don't know for sure this stone is NOT a H&A) is not impossible, but needle and haystack are coming to mind....

I vote keep it.

 

[Sharon101]

Hmmm, I understand your delemer. And wouldnt it be nice if we could have 10 or so diamonds all with tweeked variences of our ideal and be able to choose. But it doersnt happen that way. The way I see it, if you get that h&a thing going 100% you will definately have to compromise on another aspect of your stone. I personally dont love the h&a per say, I dont love symetary that much....I more love random sparkes and a whole lot of light show madness!!!. eg radiants. You say that your stone exhibits some h&a features which is something. To my mind the main thing is light show and performance, something h&a does not guarantee. But you have this in your stone, so to me you have hit the jackpot!

Another stone might have the h&a but not be as bright, or as firey, or as big, or as white. There will have to be some type of payoff to get something that may be a case of winning at one end and loosing at the other. Unless you are prepared to pay some more for a very abstract concept. And I feel that the more unique your criteria is, the more expensive the given stone is just to have that set of combination of attributes. And a stone can vary an awful lot when you really think about it, there is almost no limit to what you can pay for any size.

My advice is to keep it unless you are wanting to spend more. Good luck, and I hope you prove me wrong and do find something amazing in the next week!

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Have you used a symmetry scope? If so then the following is a waste of my breath, but I will go ahead and say it just incase it is helpful. If not--well then, no harm done

I think it is really surprising that a triple zero doesn't show the arrows pattern.

just to make sure you understand, you should be able to see the arrows pattern in some lighting, but you will never be able to look at a diamond and say, "hey look at that beautiful hearts pattern" or even "hey look at the benefits of hearts, don't hearts do magnificent things" it just isn't happening, they simply don't work like that. The only way to know if it has the hearts pattern is bust it out of that setting whip out a symmetry scope and view it from the back. (which is really funny how so many people argue for hearts patterns and then say not to worry much about color and clarity where it isn't eye visible....kind of a contradiction there it seems to me.... Even funnier is when people say, "you can only tell the difference in a G-I when side by side--its a mind issue." or "you can't see the inclusions from the top--maybe from the side--but who cares if you cant see it easily when the diamond is set--its a mind clean issue" and then that same person says "I would want to get hearts and arrows because it is more beautiful" when it seems like they should be saying "don't worry about hearts because you can only see it out of its setting upside down with a symmetry scope" just doesn't make sense to me to argue for Eye cleanliness and "appears to be white" in natural conditions and then stress out over PERFECT hearts? sure some hearts might be bad enough to have an impact--like a K color is quite visible. But a D-F difference is going to be more visible in a set diamond an Perfect hearts pattern over a decent hearts pattern so I just cant understand at all. That aside:


The arrows pattern should be visible face up, as you have noted. but under most lighting and conditions you will normally see no arrows or a few--some will often be distorted in real world viewing.

I went back and looked at your pictures and it seems that you may well be right on in your description, but I also noticed that your pictures are generally taken at an angle to the camera. It looks to me as if you were trying to take pictures that were showing of the fire and sparkle of your diamond (and you did a magnificent job of that by the way) and in doing so you held the diamond at angles to your camera--and were able to minimize obstruction. Without obstruction you are not going to see your arrows.

It looks to me that in the pictures at least the arrows may have been further cloaked the position of the light sources you were using. If there were numerous light sources, or a bright enough light source like the sun and the diamond is at an angle and being unobstructed then that may well be why in the pictures you can not see the arrows and is often the case why you can't see them in real life. You may not have your head close enough given the sorounding light sources, etc etc. It can be quite difficult to see all of the arrows in person.


With a camera I would suggest making sure that all of your light sources are dispersed and it is moderately dim. Not dark, but not really really bright either and not alot of various light sources putting out light from different angles--I think you need to minimize light sources. then hold your diamond facing the light source, or close to facing it and place your camera directly over and parallel to the table of the diamond in between it and the light source. Hold the camera as close to the diamond as you can get it, giving as much obstruction as possible. Keep moving it around and focusing until you can see clearly defined arrows or places where the arrows are clearly off. This might be even easier in fact if you pointed it away from all light sources--such as in a dimly light hallway with adjacent rooms sending light into the hallway. Then start snapping some micro images. It can sometimes be tricky to even get good pictures of the arrows in certain lighting conditions--often times they are acting up or being hidden by other flashes/sparkle, so have patience and try to get the diamond as inactive as possible with maximum camera obstruction.

even if you are right I would personally love to see some pictures taken like that, as I would love to have a clear example to show people where an AGS0 does not always display an arrows pattern--as I am very surprised that it doesn't, and I don't think it is really possible for there not to at least be some clearly distorted arrows. so in absence of an IS or symmetry scope or something, I really want to see these pictures!

 

[3shebabes]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I am so, so torn! I just cleaned this diamond, put it in the temporary "pinch" setting and went back outside under my covered deck where sunlight filters thru just perfectly for diamond viewing and took another look. Beautiful. This stone is incredibly white (way whiter looking than my old E, because of the superior cut no doubt), incredibly "deep" looking as if you are looking into the stone and seeing endless reflections, and I see something different every time I look at it. It definitely has personality. I love the color, clarity, size, etc -- my ONLY wish is that it had more complete and better defined H & A.

On a totally different note: I mentioned in my first post above that my husband''s attitude wasn''t great about me continuing to look and compare, but I think that is partly being contributed to by the fact that some very, very good friends of ours (our age, with kids our kids play with all the time) have come upon some serious, serious financial difficulty and it is all coming to a head right now. We are helping, financially (in smaller ways that they''ll allow us to) and otherwise, in every way we can -- but it does make the "dilemma" I speak of seem incredibly frivolous and I imagine it makes my hubby want to strangle me. It also makes me wonder, once my new stone is set, how I will ever be able to bear actually wearing it in front of our friends (especially her, the wife - one of my best buddies) when they are facing some hard times and may have to sell their home and squeeze themselves and their kids into something smaller. I try to separate myself from things like that when I am in my diamond-focused mode and chatting on PS, but it does create some serious guilt in my everyday life. We''re very close, they have confided their financial trouble to us and we are helping and brainstorming with them every way we can, and we talk every day several times/day and yet I have not told her that my hubby gave me this amazing gift. She will see it, I suppose, when I start wearing it - but then will she be hurt that I didn''t tell her about it until then? I''m sure some of you out there can relate - if you have friends who don''t have what you have, etc.

Oh well -- as usual I am rambling...!

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Date: 10/13/2007 11:03:23 AM
Author: 3shebabes
Thanks for all the helpful replies. I am so, so torn! I just cleaned this diamond, put it in the temporary 'pinch' setting and went back outside under my covered deck where sunlight filters thru just perfectly for diamond viewing and took another look. Beautiful. This stone is incredibly white (way whiter looking than my old E, because of the superior cut no doubt), incredibly 'deep' looking as if you are looking into the stone and seeing endless reflections, and I see something different every time I look at it. It definitely has personality. I love the color, clarity, size, etc -- my ONLY wish is that it had more complete and better defined H & A.


On a totally different note: I mentioned in my first post above that my husband's attitude wasn't great about me continuing to look and compare, but I think that is partly being contributed to by the fact that some very, very good friends of ours (our age, with kids our kids play with all the time) have come upon some serious, serious financial difficulty and it is all coming to a head right now. We are helping, financially (in smaller ways that they'll allow us to) and otherwise, in every way we can -- but it does make the 'dilemma' I speak of seem incredibly frivolous and I imagine it makes my hubby want to strangle me. It also makes me wonder, once my new stone is set, how I will ever be able to bear actually wearing it in front of our friends (especially her, the wife - one of my best buddies) when they are facing some hard times and may have to sell their home and squeeze themselves and their kids into something smaller. I try to separate myself from things like that when I am in my diamond-focused mode and chatting on PS, but it does create some serious guilt in my everyday life. We're very close, they have confided their financial trouble to us and we are helping and brainstorming with them every way we can, and we talk every day several times/day and yet I have not told her that my hubby gave me this amazing gift. She will see it, I suppose, when I start wearing it - but then will she be hurt that I didn't tell her about it until then? I'm sure some of you out there can relate - if you have friends who don't have what you have, etc.


Oh well -- as usual I am rambling...!

I don't think you should talk to them about it maybe--especially if you switch it out? at least for a while? It is your Ering, and you want it to be what you want. They probably won't be able to tell that anything is different if they are trying, and especially not if they are preoccupied. so just take care of yourself in this situation and don't tell them so they don;t feel you are rubbing it in?

and I really want to ask you to send those pictures like I mentioned above...I really want to see where the arrows are messed up and how. In your previous pictures there was just soooooo much sparkle and fire and so little camera/head obstruction it was impossible to tell.

 

[3shebabes]

Hey there "WHFSR" --

I must have been furiuously typing at the same time that you were. This diamond had an IS image on the vendor website and it does show arrows (I will try to attach it to this post) but they look a little "messy" to me compared to others I have seen. I had the diamond professionally appraised and it received truly rave reviews by the appraiser. He did mention it was not a true H & A and he showed me the hearts pattern upside down in the viewer thingy and pointed out how some hearts weren''t precise, etc -- but he dismissed that and said that was personal preference and that it was an awesome stone.

In some lighting, 3 or 4 arrows look crisp and precise and I like the look -- but the other arrows appear to be there but are missing parts. And you are right, the reason I took angled shots is that I kept getting a black camera reflection on the table facet that ruined everything I thought and looked like a giant black inclusion that covered the entire table facet!Scared me at first, as I was thinking "FISHEYE" when I saw it -- until I realized it only happened when I got up close to it directly in front of it.

I really wish one of you more seasoned diamond lovers could see it and give me your 2 cents. I may try to take the pictures you described to show you the concept I am describing -- maybe later this weekend and if I do I will request your review, WHRSR!

I am going to attach the IS image and the diamond picture posted on the website when I bought it -- though one will have to be attached to a separate post. Take a look and see what you think of those...

 

[3shebabes]

And now -- the diamond picture on the website. Several of the arrowheads look funky, but I did not think much of this when I ordered it....

 

[angeline]

Sorry if you haave asnwered this before_ are you sure it isn't a H&A cut? As someone else mentioned, you can't always determine that by 'eye'. I had a H&A ACA from WF and I couldn't tell the difference between that and my current non-H&A.

Have you had it appraised? a professional opinion on the H&A? again I haven't read all your threads, so sorry if this has been answered.

If it truly isn't H&A and your heart is set on that, I think you will regret it later. I got a G and thought I would be happy with it. I'm sure the color difference was all in my mind, but over time it did bug me and I ended up with an E. Mind clean is a real phenonemon. You can't turn back the clock on the knowledge and PS-induced pickiness unfortunately!! LOL!

That said you might not find all things you want in one stone for a looooong time if ever. 2.86 is a great size and hard to find. Compromises sometimes have to be made, but on things that you *can* let go of.

anyway don't know if this is all of any help.

Good luck, it's a tough one.

a

EDITED TO ADD: We were typing at the same time, you have answered my Q re the H&A!

 

[angeline]

Looking at your pics, I am sure you would not be able to tell the difference by eye between your stone and a true H&A. Garry ''Cut Nut'' has said that many times that H&A is not soemthing that you can see by eye when you get into the level of cut that you are in now with the AGS0.

But if it bugs you, it bugs you! gotta run, looking forward to seeing what you decide!

a

 

[marcy]

With someone so important to you and so expensive I would hate to think you''ll always have buyer''s remorse. I would listen to what your gut is telling you. If you will always look at your diamond thinking I could have had something better, will you really truly treasure it for the rest of you life? If you can be happy with what you have then by all means keep it.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 10/13/2007 11:39:16 AM
Author: marcyc
With someone so important to you and so expensive I would hate to think you''ll always have buyer''s remorse. I would listen to what your gut is telling you. If you will always look at your diamond thinking I could have had something better, will you really truly treasure it for the rest of you life? If you can be happy with what you have then by all means keep it.

I agree. I know this is hard for you. If you''re not thrilled with it now, then best to wait for one that meets your criteria. I''m sure it''s a gorgeous stone, but I''m not the one wearing it. Good luck deciding.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

well, the arrows don't look too shabby to my eye. I don't think you will see any differences visually but, like they said, if you want Japanese standard defined (or WF defined) hearts and arrows you want it, just as someone set on a D color would not be happy with an E (though that might be a more significant difference Still, Understandable.

What were the differences that the appraiser see and point out to you?

but, I think you should send it back to them just to send a message to a few companies that have begun naming all of the AGS0 DQD's as Hearts and Arrows. Maybe they will start being more selective in their titles if diamonds are sent back to them for not being up to cut

Its kind of hard to recommend a vendor when they say a diamond is a hearts and arrows and then I in my recommendation have to say "it may not be a true Hearts and Arrows, they are misleading you, all that really means is AGS0" I still do recommend some of them...but...its getting a bit difficult to write off.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/13/2007 11:34:21 AM
Author: angeline
Looking at your pics, I am sure you would not be able to tell the difference by eye between your stone and a true H&A. Garry 'Cut Nut' has said that many times that H&A is not soemthing that you can see by eye when you get into the level of cut that you are in now with the AGS0.

Absolutely agree.

If it's a mind clean thing, and you'll never be truly happy, then return it. But you will not see any difference visually between this stone and one with picture perfect H&A's....So I'd think long and hard before letting go of it.

 

[whatmeworry]

You have a beautiful diamond on your hands. Here''s a link http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?.find=1&cid=130&item=1024798.

I think the differences in color (G to I) is going to be slightly more noticeable than the visual differences between "near H&A" and H&A. I say this as a purchaser of many vanilla AGS0 and branded H&A (including ACAs). On the other hand I ended up buying an "I" for my wife and I spent lots of time comparing it to a "G" and couldn''t easily tell the difference face up. SI1 to SI2 is a wash to me if they are both eyeclean.

Having said that you should be happy with your purchase, "mind clean" counts too. Can you go to a store and see an I color (AGS or GIA graded), perhaps even a branded H&A (Hearts on Fire, Lazare Kaplan, etc. ) and then make up your mind on which is more important to you? Good luck

 

[johngalt2004]

Well the most important thing about a diamond is if it makes your friends say "wow your husband is awesome". And yours will do that for sure right? It is really nice and huge and white and LP ags0.

I can understand being mind-clean nutty, but you may look long and hard for a better all-around package than the one you have (including the awesome husband).

You''re kind of in a tough dilemma with the return period running out. If your husband isn''t appreciating your position, I''d let marital harmony trump everything and shake off that crooked arrowhead.

Your diamond is incredible!

 

[pyle112]

One thing to consider is that you paid for a (an?) H&A premium but may not have received the H&A according to your appraiser.

Having purchased from JA as well, I was a little concerned for the lack of heart shots, but sorta took it on faith that I would be getting a stone with high symmetry and excellent cut. Will it bug me forever? Maybe. I mean I still see undercarriage scrapes on my car from years ago and dead pixels on laptops I don''t even use anymore

One thing that makes most people feel better is the money saved over a branded stone, but if cost isn''t that big of a factor then you should get what you want and what you paid for!

 

[erica k]

There''s one photo that you included in the ''New Close-ups'' post that shows distinct arrows on at least one-half. On the bottom half, it looks like they fracture and disappear. Maybe this is due to the angle of the shot? Looking at the IS, it seems to make sense.

It actually reminds me of some of WF''s ''expert selection'' stones where the arrows are slightly off. It doesn''t look like it negatively affects the quality of the stone''s brilliance, though. It sounds like an amazing stone!

I have a .52ct Canadian diamond that shows perfect arrows, which we bought without knowing anything about cut. I love looking for the pattern because it''s a bit like those Magic Eye pictures, but what I really love about the stone is how fiery and sparkly it is in everyday situations. It sounds to me like you have a really well-performing stone.

Sometimes I think it''s nice for stones be a little quirky, to have some extra personality. It could be an inclusion, but it could also be a slightly ''off'' H&A pattern that doesn''t detract from its performance, but makes it a bit ''different'' and unexpected. BUT, if you really want to have that pattern (it''s fun to photograph, that''s for sure!), then maybe you should return the stone, bide your time, and see what else shows up? It is, after all, an awful lot of money and shouldn''t be clouded by more than the typical buyer''s remorse!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, gosh! I am the worst about the mental part, so I understand! But your idealscope image looks really good! I would have bought that stone! As others have said, there is no way you could have that stone next to an identical H&A stone and be able to tell the difference!

If you want to pay more and get a stone that looks exactly the same but is a true H&A, that is fine. But I would not sacrifice color and clarity to get it. No way. I predict you would be less happy with an I SI2 than this one.

As far as your friends go, I understand that as well. My stone is only 1.63, and it is larger than all my friends stones. I didn''t tell anyone about mine either, and no one has really asked. Oddly, it is clerk''s in stores and that kind of person who comments on my diamond! It takes some of the excitement out of the gift not being able to share it with friends, but I guess that is what PS is for!

 

[Gothgrrl]

Is there a way you can have WF send you the I color to compare it? This is a hard one. You say you love this diamond except for the H & A pattern. Is it really that important to have it? That is the question. If you could live without the H & A then you should keep the stone you already have. It sound like your stone is near H & A anyway. But I know what they say about the "mind-clean" Good luck.

 

[vivianv]

Those arrows are off by such a tiny bit.I cannot imagine returning that gorgeous stone for that little bitty flaw.Honestly ,your stone is just beautiful. You''d hate to be kicking yourself later on if you could not find one as nice as it is and someone else had bought this one. On the other hand you could kick yourself for a long time if you don''t return it and then find a more perfect,to your mind, stone.Wouldn''t want to be in your shoes....[wait yes I would...I''d love to have a nearly 3 carat stone!! ]

I can totally understand the "mind clean" thing but that stone in your hand is really close to perfection .I''d be keeping it.

 

[angeline]

How are you about color? Do you know if you mind the color of an I? Because as some people have very wisely said, the difference between G and I is much more visible than the difference between what you have and true H&A.

a

 

[Richard Sherwood]

The Hearts & Arrows pattern is only properly seen with the Hearts & Arrows viewer.

From the Idealscope image, this diamond looks like it might have every possibility of being a Hearts & Arrows stone, or if not, being very near Hearts & Arrows optical symmetry.

It''s certainly not a diamond I would consider kicking out of bed because of this issue. By all rights, it should be a spectacular stone. Additionally, it''s not easy to find near 3 carat stones in this color and clarity combination.

If you like the diamond but are disturbed by the "mind perfection" of the optical symmetry (because it''s certainly not going to be visible to the naked eye), I would suggest asking the diamond vendor for a discount you consider appropriate (2-3% maybe?). Certainly don''t toss it away for something you are not going to see with the naked eye no matter how many stones you look at.

That is if you like the stone. If you don''t, it''s another matter.

 

[3shebabes]

Wow, everyone...thanks to so many of you for taking the time to respond with your thoughts on this. Whiteflash has offered to send the other stone to an appraiser near me for me to see - I just pay $280 round trip for postage and insurance. I could even see both stones side by side if the other one was available for viewing before this one is due to go back...

One thing several of you have said that is news to me is that true H & A isn''t often totally visible... and may not make much difference in the stone. I assumed it was a big difference -- just based on some of the gorgeous pictures on PS that people have taken of their H & A stones -- showing perfect arrows. My stone only shows a few arrows -- the others are incomplete, no matter how you tilt or turn the stone.

BUT - I have looked on PS enough to know that this stone is a great size that mimics 3 carats (2.86, actually) but is of course a touch cheaper. And I know there are plenty of 3 carat stones around to compare, but few stones in the 2.75 - 2.99 range. Especially nice ones...so for that reason I do feel compelled to keep this one. And like I said, my only complaint was the lack of complete arrows. It''s almost like one side of the stone shows clear arrows and the other half has a more random pattern to it. Everything else about this stone made me very happy, so I am seriously contemplating the advice many of you gave -- to enjoy it.

And it truly is typical of my personality to panic at the 11th hour and worry that I''ve missed something better, somehow...

Anyway -- thanks so much, everyone, for your replies!

 

[gontama]

Have you ever seen a diamond that is known to be h&a? If not yet, I would suggest you to compare this beautiful diamond against some other branded h&a diamonds at a b&m near your place. If you do not see any difference in the arrow pattern (symmetry and/or crispness), then you might have been trying to see every arrrow in your diamond at the same time which is not easy. If on the other hand you see difference and you prefer the arrow patterns of others, your eye might have actually seen what may be implied by the photo image.

I think this is a nice AGS0 hard-to-find / size / color / clarity diamond, and I have no intention to discourage this diamond. But this is a big monery to celebrate 10 years aniversary. I want you to get something you can be very happy with for the rest of your life.

I understand some prople will disagree and I respect that. But I would not be surprised if you really saw something that you do not expect in h&a, and this may not be a mind-clean thing. It may actually be a matter of eye-clean just like clarity. I also do not think precision of (intended or unintended) h&a pattern in every AGS diamond is identical to the naked eye. In other words, I believe the value of passion, effort, and dedication of vendors here to aim at the very best. I do not think they are just mind-clean things.

Compring this diamond with something with h&a seems to be the best way. It may be just a mind-clean thing which I hope it to be. Good luck.

 

[gontama]

Date: 10/13/2007 9:44:39 PM
Author: 3shebabes
Wow, everyone...thanks to so many of you for taking the time to respond with your thoughts on this. Whiteflash has offered to send the other stone to an appraiser near me for me to see - I just pay $280 round trip for postage and insurance. I could even see both stones side by side if the other one was available for viewing before this one is due to go back...

One thing several of you have said that is news to me is that true H & A isn''t often totally visible... and may not make much difference in the stone. I assumed it was a big difference -- just based on some of the gorgeous pictures on PS that people have taken of their H & A stones -- showing perfect arrows. My stone only shows a few arrows -- the others are incomplete, no matter how you tilt or turn the stone.

BUT - I have looked on PS enough to know that this stone is a great size that mimics 3 carats (2.86, actually) but is of course a touch cheaper. And I know there are plenty of 3 carat stones around to compare, but few stones in the 2.75 - 2.99 range. Especially nice ones...so for that reason I do feel compelled to keep this one. And like I said, my only complaint was the lack of complete arrows. It''s almost like one side of the stone shows clear arrows and the other half has a more random pattern to it. Everything else about this stone made me very happy, so I am seriously contemplating the advice many of you gave -- to enjoy it.

And it truly is typical of my personality to panic at the 11th hour and worry that I''ve missed something better, somehow...

Anyway -- thanks so much, everyone, for your replies!

I missed this one. Comparing this one against another from WF h&a will grealy help. I am actually hoping that you were trying to see what can not really be seen (all crsp arrows at the same time etc). Comparison will make things clear. Hope things go well for you...

 

[erica k]

I see 85% of the arrows if I look really really carefully at my small stone under the right lighting condition. Photographed in digital macro mode, they''re all visible. But really, a diamond is equal to its photograph. It''s about its performance in real life.

Your stone is so close to an H&A and is a great color for its size, I can''t see why it would be a problem to keep it. If it performs well and you''re happy with the color and clarity, then keep it!

I hope you keep the stone, it sounds like a winner to me.