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Does size matter....haha?

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joker382

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I am torn between diamonds. I have been asking around (friends and family) and I am not sure which route to take. Assuming price was the same (8000-9000 range) would you get a quality stone such as "A Cut Above" from whiteflash at about 1.25 or a "regular" round stone such as a 1.5 that was not terrible, but obviously was not comparable in cut quality as "a cut above" diamond? Any thoughts, opinions, preferences?
 
I''d go with the smaller, better quality myself. That''s really not much of a difference in size, but it might be in sparkle.
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I second Ellen - go for the better quality. There will be minimal size difference, but you''ll see that ACA flash from across the room!
 
Define "not terrible". If the HCA score is between 0 and 2, has a really nice red Idealscope picture with well defined H&A pattern (but not perfect), with top scores for symmetry & polish, I''d take it in a heartbeat.

Otherwise, WF''s ACA anyday!.
 
The problem is, I cannot get an HCA score on many other diamonds because they do not list the crown or pavilion angles. I have found many vendors/diamonds do not come with those angles listed, therefore I cannot plug them into the cut adviser.
 
A larger, less sparkly stone will occasionally warrant a, "Oh, how nice! And how BIG!", while the smaller one (not really small enough to notice from what I''ve seen) with more "WOW" factor will get her stopped all the time. Girls tend to be vain about their jewelry, and looooooooove compliments! I revisit threads with ACAs all the time because even in pictures where you can''t see the flash of the diamond as it moves they''re fantastic!
 
Date: 7/2/2007 3:20:09 PM
Author: joker382
The problem is, I cannot get an HCA score on many other diamonds because they do not list the crown or pavilion angles. I have found many vendors/diamonds do not come with those angles listed, therefore I cannot plug them into the cut adviser.
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Are these "vendors" online, or are you shopping in retail stores?
 
If the stones have a lab cert (which many have nowadays), you should be able to find these numbers easily, be it GIA, AGS (or even EGL USA). If I am spending $8k to 9K, I would insist on a cert and all the numbers.
 
I would choose the better quality diamond any day over size. To me, and depending on your finger/ring/hand size, you can definitely go too big. Depending on your hand size, IMO, there is a point where the size starts to look silly and almost cartoon-ish. I am always amazed at how large some stones look on people''s fingers here, compared to mine, so again it depends on your finger/hand size. Some ladies with a size 5 and under ring size wear 1 carats that look like they have the same coverage as a 2 ct on a larger hand. That said, I''d also consider what you do for a living, and if you''re equally comfortable with a larger stone, compared to the smaller size. All things being equal, of course! Enjoy shopping!
 
mostly online, but I have seen some at local stores without the angles also
 
Any reputable online vendor (or other) should be able to give you the angles, as they should have the grading report, as Chrono mentioned.
 
Date: 7/2/2007 3:48:21 PM
Author: Ellen
Any reputable online vendor (or other) should be able to give you the angles, as they should have the grading report, as Chrono mentioned.
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ETA, unless these are virtual stones. Try and stick to in house.
 
I am assuming whiteflash is a reputable vendor as well as the others on pricescope......is that a safe assumption?
 
Date: 7/2/2007 3:58:00 PM
Author: joker382
I am assuming whiteflash is a reputable vendor as well as the others on pricescope......is that a safe assumption?
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Absolutely.

I can only speak personally to WF and GOG, of which I''ve purchased from both. But I''ve heard many good things about several other as well.
 
Yes, I would trust WF 100%, as well as GOG, ERD, JA, Wink and Pearlman''s. There are others but I''ve not dealt with them before.
 
I''d get a well cut stone period...but that doesn''t mean it would have to be "A cut above" or a "signature series stone", just reallly well cut with great ideal scope images and specs. Beyond that, I would go down to an I/SI or maybe even J to max out the size.

Don''t skimp on cut no matter what you do, but this doesn''t mean you need a branded ACA series, many of the Expert selection stones are cut very very well.
 
Date: 7/2/2007 3:04:00 PM
Author:joker382
I am torn between diamonds. I have been asking around (friends and family) and I am not sure which route to take. Assuming price was the same (8000-9000 range) would you get a quality stone such as ''A Cut Above'' from whiteflash at about 1.25 or a ''regular'' round stone such as a 1.5 that was not terrible, but obviously was not comparable in cut quality as ''a cut above'' diamond? Any thoughts, opinions, preferences?
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Size matters, as does cut. So, I''d go with the ACA. My $0.02.
 
Date: 7/2/2007 4:30:46 PM
Author: kcoursolle
I''d get a well cut stone period...but that doesn''t mean it would have to be ''A cut above'' or a ''signature series stone'', just reallly well cut with great ideal scope images and specs. Beyond that, I would go down to an I/SI or maybe even J to max out the size.

Don''t skimp on cut no matter what you do, but this doesn''t mean you need a branded ACA series, many of the Expert selection stones are cut very very well.
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Ditto!
 
You aren''t going to get an equivalent 1.5 ct. stone for the same price as a 1.25 ACA. An equivalent ideal cut stone could be compared by looking at WhiteFlash''s Expert Selection ideal cut stones. You''ll save a little by going with a regular ideal cut, but definitely not enough to go up over the 1.5 mark! It would be more like a 1.25 ACA versus a 1.30 ideal cut. Don''t look at anything buy AGS0 or GIA Excellent cut.
 
i''m the loner but would take a bigger non-branded ideal cut stone over an ACA branded stone. My eyes really can''t see the difference. my stone is still an AGS 000, so I didn''t sacrifice cut at all, just doesn''t have any branding attached and therefore better price. Whiteflash''s expert selection stones are still wonderful and many just missed the ACA mark. Mara has one and still gets clear arrows...
 
Date: 7/2/2007 5:14:13 PM
Author: mrssalvo
i''m the loner but would take a bigger non-branded ideal cut stone over an ACA branded stone. My eyes really can''t see the difference. my stone is still an AGS 000, so I didn''t sacrifice cut at all, just doesn''t have any branding attached and therefore better price. Whiteflash''s expert selection stones are still wonderful and many just missed the ACA mark. Mara has one and still gets clear arrows...
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You''re not a loner because my ring diamond is also not a branded stone. It is ideal cut, though. I just think he''s been looking at stones that are not GIA Ex. or AGS ideal if the price of a 1.5 is the same as a 1.25 ACA. That sounds more like EGL pricing to me, and most of us would not want that.
 
Date: 7/2/2007 5:14:13 PM
Author: mrssalvo
i''m the loner but would take a bigger non-branded ideal cut stone over an ACA branded stone. My eyes really can''t see the difference. my stone is still an AGS 000, so I didn''t sacrifice cut at all, just doesn''t have any branding attached and therefore better price. Whiteflash''s expert selection stones are still wonderful and many just missed the ACA mark. Mara has one and still gets clear arrows...
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Well, I would agree with you here mrss.

But he made it sound like there was/would be a visual difference.

"but obviously was not comparable in cut quality as "a cut above"
 
Date: 7/2/2007 5:20:51 PM
Author: Ellen


But he made it sound like there was/would be a visual difference.


''but obviously was not comparable in cut quality as ''a cut above''
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well in that case, then obviously it would be the smaller ACA all the way.

joker, cut is the one thing you just should really compromise on...
 
jstarfireb......thanks for the video, it was perfect. I think I have made my decision. I will let everyone know how everything turns out and of course show pictures of whatever I get.
 
Date: 7/2/2007 5:47:47 PM
Author: joker382
jstarfireb......thanks for the video, it was perfect. I think I have made my decision. I will let everyone know how everything turns out and of course show pictures of whatever I get.
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No problem! Looking forward to seeing how it turned out...
 
I''d go for quality over size.
 
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