Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hours!

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Hi All,

I'm looking to purchase one of the following diamonds, and wanted your advice. They are both on hold for me:

1.40 carat, I-color, VS-1 clarity, oval brilliant cut diamond from Blue Nile:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06147103

1.64 carat, I-color, VS-2 clarity, oval brilliant cut diamond from Blue Nile:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06164175

For the LD06164175, I was able to obtain a Sarin report but not the ASET image, and for LD06147103 they had an ASET but no Sarin. I also have both clarity photos. Please see the attached.

I'm leaning towards LD06147103 as the better choice in overall brilliance, based on overall proportions and supported by the photo and the ASET image. Like all Oval cut diamonds, it shows more overall brilliance on the top and bottom and less in the direct center (which is what causes the 'bowtie' effect), but both the ASET and the clarity photo show this effect as being very minimal in this diamond. Also, as expected the Medium fluorescence has no negative impact in this case.

The 1.64 looks nice too, and it faces up positively huge for it's weight. The crown height of 12.5% I would think is a good thing, that should help maintain the balance of brilliance and dispersion. but I suspect that the 58.2% depth- responsible for it's superior spread - might make the bowtie effect more intense under certain lighting conditions: something that is very visible in the clarity photo attached.

The size is of importance to me. Do you think I will notice a difference in brilliance between the two? I was really hoping that I would pick the 1.64 but now my gut is telling me to go with the 1.4. Both vault managers say the Bow Tie effect in both diamonds is very minimal. I'm so torn on which to go with and I need to make up my mind within the next 48 hours! Can anybody help me?

I think I'm going to go pair the diamond with this halo setting:
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...l-heriess-halo-platinum-engagement-ring_50576

Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[tyty333]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Sure wish they had videos like JA.

I would go with the 1.4. The black bow-tie in the 1.64 is making me nervous and the facets just dont look as crisp to me as the 1.4.

 

[OoohShiny]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I know that Ovals are not MRBs and the ASETscope images don't always accurately indicate the beauty of a stone in real life, but that seems to be a lot of light leakage on the 1.4...

 

[chrono]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I would choose the 1.4 ct but it's not a great oval either; I only choose it because it looks better than the 1.6 ct, which isn't saying much.

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Thanks. What makes this not a great oval? I'm new to diamond research and all but it seems to be a perfectly cut stone?


Per David Atlas oval brilliant cut proportions, this is a class 1A ideal cut:

The table and depth measurements are in-line with each other but I know there is more than just the numbers... I appreciate all your help, just nervous about buying a diamond I have not seen in person.

Carat weight 1.40
Shape Oval
Cut- Very Good
Color- I
Clarity- VS1
Length/width ratio- 1.33
Depth %- 63.0%
Table %- 58.0%
Polish- Excellent
Symmetry- Excellent
Girdle- Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet- None
Fluorescence- Medium
Measurements 8.51 x 6.41 x 4.04 mm

 

[chrono]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Not saying Dave isn't great at what he does (which he really IS), but the cut proportion chart does not guarantee a top performing fancy cut diamond. There are many more facets that make the diamond sparkle or not sparkle, than just the table and depth. This is why a picture is just the starting point. A video and ASET helps in seeing whether the oval is a good performer, average or dud.

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Based on what you have seen.... This ASET is showing a below average light retention diamond?

 

[drk14]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

There are many more facets that make the diamond sparkle

I see what you did there...

 

[drk14]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

OP -- fancy cuts (e.g., oval) are difficult to select when shopping online, because it is difficult to evaluate stones using available tools. Even an ASET image is static and doesn't tell the full story. Properly shot videos are probably the next best thing to evaluating in person, unless you have access to an accurate 3D scan and ray tracing software. Another complication in fancy cut diamonds is that they come in different "flavors" that can have drastically different appearance -- and different people prefer different "flavors".

Presumably your 48-hour time limit is just how long the vendor will hold the diamonds for you. If you have more time than that before you actually plan to propose, then I would suggest buying one of the diamonds and evaluating it in person before the return period expires. If you have the funds, you can even buy both of them, and return one (or both) after you have had an opportunity to compare side-by-side in person. If you time it right with your credit card billing cycle, you may even be able to do this without laying out any cash.

Disclaimer: I have never shopped with Blue Nile, so I don't know their return policies and whether or not the return process is painless. However, I assume there are no major issues, or we would be seeing PS members steering you away from BN (especially since the lack of videos and consistent access to ASET is already a strike against them).

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

OP -- fancy cuts (e.g., oval) are difficult to select when shopping online, because it is difficult to evaluate stones using available tools. Even an ASET image is static and doesn't tell the full story. Properly shot videos are probably the next best thing to evaluating in person, unless you have access to an accurate 3D scan and ray tracing software. Another complication in fancy cut diamonds is that they come in different "flavors" that can have drastically different appearance -- and different people prefer different "flavors".

Presumably your 48-hour time limit is just how long the vendor will hold the diamonds for you. If you have more time than that before you actually plan to propose, then I would suggest buying one of the diamonds and evaluating it in person before the return period expires. If you have the funds, you can even buy both of them, and return one (or both) after you have had an opportunity to compare side-by-side in person. If you time it right with your credit card billing cycle, you may even be able to do this without laying out any cash.

Disclaimer: I have never shopped with Blue Nile, so I don't know their return policies and whether or not the return process is painless. However, I assume there are no major issues, or we would be seeing PS members steering you away from BN (especially since the lack of videos and consistent access to ASET is already a strike against them).

Great advice. Thank you! Everybody has been very helpful so far!

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I know that Ovals are not MRBs and the ASETscope images don't always accurately indicate the beauty of a stone in real life, but that seems to be a lot of light leakage on the 1.4...

Do you have an example of an ASETscope image for an Oval that would be better. I'm just was looking for an example.

 

[OoohShiny]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I think it's Gypsy that is known for digging out good ovals and cushions - find a post by her and click on her name, and you should be able to search for her content with pictures off her Member Profile page

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Thank you for the advise on Gypsy. ha I hope she actually sees this post after reading her other comments!

 

[two_little_birds]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I would choose the 1.4 ct but it's not a great oval either; I only choose it because it looks better than the 1.6 ct, which isn't saying much.

+1, I honestly don't like either.

 

[two_little_birds]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I know that Ovals are not MRBs and the ASETscope images don't always accurately indicate the beauty of a stone in real life, but that seems to be a lot of light leakage on the 1.4...

Do you have an example of an ASETscope image for an Oval that would be better. I'm just was looking for an example.

Jon has some great examples of ovals... also check out his videos on youtube (re: ovals)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1ct-h-vs1-oval-diamond.html

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Sure wish they had videos like JA.

I would go with the 1.4. The black bow-tie in the 1.64 is making me nervous and the facets just dont look as crisp to me as the 1.4.

I agree I really wish there was a video. Based on the measurements and the ASET, I don't see how this diamond wouldn't perform phenomenally. The depth to table ratio is almost perfectly on point. I'll check out those videos. Thank you

 

[Sphene]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Keep looking

 

[chrono]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Based on the measurements and the ASET, I don't see how this diamond wouldn't perform phenomenally. The depth to table ratio is almost perfectly on point.Thank you

Again, I'd like to stress this: you CANNOT buy ovals by the numbers. It tells you NOTHING about the cut quality.

 

[tyty333]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Sure wish they had videos like JA.

I would go with the 1.4. The black bow-tie in the 1.64 is making me nervous and the facets just dont look as crisp to me as the 1.4.

I agree I really wish there was a video. Based on the measurements and the ASET, I don't see how this diamond wouldn't perform phenomenally. The depth to table ratio is almost perfectly on point. I'll check out those videos. Thank you

Unfortunately, numbers dont tell you anything about fancy cut stones .

I'll post some nice stones from JA. What you should be looking for...these may not be in your specs though.

I would consider these nice...I dont have time right now to do anymore hunting or anymore evaluating...videos really help
to see how a stone reacting when moving (if the facets are actually flashing on/off). Still photos are really hard to evaluate.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/?CaratFrom=1.39&CaratTo=15&Color=I,H,G,F,E,D&PriceFrom=&PriceTo=&ViewsOptions=Images&TabSelected=3&DiamondID=564857,585323,294148,519650,624270,512821

I'll try to help more later...

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Sure wish they had videos like JA.

I would go with the 1.4. The black bow-tie in the 1.64 is making me nervous and the facets just dont look as crisp to me as the 1.4.

I agree I really wish there was a video. Based on the measurements and the ASET, I don't see how this diamond wouldn't perform phenomenally. The depth to table ratio is almost perfectly on point. I'll check out those videos. Thank you

Unfortunately, numbers dont tell you anything about fancy cut stones .

I'll post some nice stones from JA. What you should be looking for...these may not be in your specs though.

I would consider these nice...I dont have time right now to do anymore hunting or anymore evaluating...videos really help
to see how a stone reacting when moving (if the facets are actually flashing on/off). Still photos are really hard to evaluate.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/?CaratFrom=1.39&CaratTo=15&Color=I,H,G,F,E,D&PriceFrom=&PriceTo=&ViewsOptions=Images&TabSelected=3&DiamondID=564857,585323,294148,519650,624270,512821

I'll try to help more later...

Thank you so much for looking. I truly appreciate it. I'm very grateful I posted to this site for help! I thought all my research put me in a great spot, and now I feel like I'm back to square one I'm looking for an oval that is at least 1.3. Hopefully I'm beginning to get closer to a respectable one.

 

[OoohShiny]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Don't worry - you're here and listening to advice, it is only natural to end up starting again now you have more knowledge of what to look for and have this helpful forum assisting you!

I'm sure we can find you something that looks great

 

[tyty333]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Can you tell us what your budget is?

 

[chrono]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Can you tell us what your budget is?

Together with everything you'd like to get: clarity, colour, and ct.

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I want to keep it around 10-11k with the ring. And I'm looking at a halo setting.

 

[telephone89]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I want to keep it around 10-11k with the ring. And I'm looking at a halo setting.

And you're okay going down to I colour, is eye clean okay? SI1?

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Yes. I think I-Color is the lowest I'll go. Eye clean SI1 would be fine as well!

 

[tyty333]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Not finding much at JA right now except this...not sure if it's really any better than the 1.4 you found.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-609815

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

I appreciate you looking!

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

Hi Guys,

Long time no talk. I ended up purchasing the 1.4. Since my setting was a custom, it took 3 weeks for delivery. I have 30 days to return. What are your thoughts on it? I am pretty pleased, but will be taking it to an independent advisor for their thoughts. I'll post pictures below. Let me know if you need to seed a video. Thanks so much on this huge important purchase!!!

 

[FirstDimaondBuyer]

Re: Debating between 2 Ovals. Please help, only have 48 hou

3 more pictures