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Engaged Last Night! Ring Problem?

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Kitten_Sparkles

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
25
First off, I am still learning about diamonds.... My fiance and I picked out the diamond and setting from Blue Nile together and he proposed last night.

The diamond is pretty inside, but looks dark outside at every angle. It have 2 weeks to exchange it and I'm really torn. Thoughts, please?

1.50, "Ideal"/ Excellent, J, VS1 in platinum.

Pictures of inside vs. direct sunlight
20171230_113914.jpg 20171230_095228.jpg 20171230_113930.jpg 20171230_113959.jpg
 
Can you post a picture of the diamond grading report or link to the stone on BN?
 
Congratulations on your engagement! Beautiful ring!

It is normal for different lighting environments to impact the way your diamond looks. However, the cut of a diamond can make a HUGE different in how it looks and performs (sparkle, brilliance, etc). Is the diamond graded by GIA, AGS, or another lab? If so, can you post the report #/diamond specs here? That will allow some of the PS experts to better weigh in on the cut quality of your diamond.

The pics of your diamond outside makes it look blue to me. Do you know if your stone has any fluorescence? This info can be found on your diamond grading report.
 
Take a pic of it under a canopy of tree leaves on a sunny day. And also outside in full shade.
 
OECrystal said:
Congratulations on your engagement! Beautiful ring!

It is normal for different lighting environments to impact the way your diamond looks. However, the cut of a diamond can make a HUGE different in how it looks and performs (sparkle, brilliance, etc). Is the diamond graded by GIA, AGS, or another lab? If so, can you post the report #/diamond specs here? That will allow some of the PS experts to better weigh in on the cut quality of your diamond.

The pics of your diamond outside makes it look blue to me. Do you know if your stone has any fluorescence? This info can be found on your diamond grading report.
Click to expand...
Yes. It is GIA verified and has strong blue fluoescence. Posting the report below. Thank you.
 
1514669727418926014985.jpg
 

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So people will tell you to exchange it because it doesn’t meet some strict criteria for very ideal diamonds.

You certainly can exchange it. However- diamonds look like that outside. It won’t suddenly look much different even with a branded ideal. Though getting one without fluorescence will take away that aspect- which is visible in your photos
 
Niel said:
So people will tell you to exchange it because it doesn’t meet some strict criteria for very ideal diamonds.

You certainly can exchange it. However- diamonds look like that outside. It won’t suddenly look much different even with a branded ideal. Though getting one without fluorescence will take away that aspect- which is visible in your photos
Click to expand...
Weird. When I researched fluorescence it said it didn't result affect the appearance of the stone. :|
 
Niel said:
So people will tell you to exchange it because it doesn’t meet some strict criteria for very ideal diamonds.

You certainly can exchange it. However- diamonds look like that outside. It won’t suddenly look much different even with a branded ideal. Though getting one without fluorescence will take away that aspect- which is visible in your photos
Click to expand...
I just reread your post. "Diamonds look like that outside"... I didn't realize that. My vintage ring doesn't, I don't think... but they all look darker?
 
So, since you posted for advice, I'll be totally honest. This is not a well-cut diamond...its what we call a "steep deep". That darkness you see is due to the diamond being cut well-outside ideal parameters to retain weight. The numbers on the cert. confirmed what I suspected from the pics. If it were me, I would return this diamond and let us help you pick something better. Am I correct that your diamond budget is around $10k? Can you get a full refund (so all vendors are available) or only exchange with BN?
 
 
rockysalamander said:
So, since you posted for advice, I'll be totally honest. This is not a well-cut diamond...its what we call a "steep deep". That darkness you see is due to the diamond being cut well-outside ideal parameters to retain weight. The numbers on the cert. confirmed what I suspected from the pics. If it were me, I would return this diamond and let us help you pick something better. Am I correct that your diamond budget is around $10k? Can you get a full refund (so all vendors are available) or only exchange with BN?
Click to expand...
Why would Blue Nile and GIA label it as Ideal and Excellent cut?

I can return the ring, but I'm leaning towards keeping it. We ended up spending only about $9,000 for the stone and setting.
 
Kitten_Sparkles said:
Why would Blue Nile and GIA label it as Ideal and Excellent cut?

I can return the ring, but I'm leaning towards keeping it. We ended up spending only about $9,000 for the stone and setting.
Click to expand...
GIA "Excellent" is a very wide range. It includes great proportions and not so great ones. That is why we start with Excellent and then narrow things down to the best performers using criteria like below and looking at how complimentary the proportions are for performance. Vendors can call a diamond whatever they like. In the case of BN, they are only rating based on a subset of the proportions. How much was the setting? Maybe we can find you something similar in the same budget....but only if you want us to. Its your ring, but it can be hard to "unsee' problems once you know they are there.


table: 52-57.5
depth: 60-62.3
crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle)
pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)
Lower girdle facets between 75 – 80% (I like the lower end of this range aka 'chubby arrows')
Star facets between 40 – 58%
 
Like RS says, if you like your ring and can live with the darkness from the cut when you are outside, then there is really no problem.

Congratulations on your engagement!!
 
Kitten_Sparkles said:
Why would Blue Nile and GIA label it as Ideal and Excellent cut?
Click to expand...

There is worse.


-
First thing that comes to mind about the darkness problem:

You might find some other mentions of round brilliant cut diamonds looking dark in daylight, with photographs much like yours to prove the point. I am not sure what this is (RBC are designed to reflect light whithin a somwhat tight cone - I imagine that one can get out of it; the tight proportions of the finest cut reinforce this ... )


2c
 
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Kitten_Sparkles said:
Why would Blue Nile and GIA label it as Ideal and Excellent cut?

I can return the ring, but I'm leaning towards keeping it. We ended up spending only about $9,000 for the stone and setting.
Click to expand...

They would categorize it as well cut because it in fact meets the criteria of well cut.

It doesn’t meet the more strict criteria that many on this forum follow.

I can see what your boyfriend (now fiancé) did here. He got the best 1.5ct diamond he could for his budget. The fact he just his the 1.5ct mark, went down to a j (my stone is a j too not knocking it) and got one that has strong fluorescence is a strong indicator that he had a “buy a great 1.5 ct for x amount” and he did his best. And it’s not terrible it is a gia excellent.

If you’re sentimental about it and like it by all means it’s fine to keep it. Could you get some better specs, yes. It’s up to you- your fiancé, and what you want out of an engagement ring. Many would not want to get rid of a ring their fiancé picked out for them. Other would want to pick out every detail to make sure it’s perfect. Many here fall in the later but there’s not a wrong choice.
 
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Since I already has a search and just needed to edit the top end of the budget. If you have budget to float a second diamond temporarily, you could have one of these sent to you. Both have solid numbers. Both are larger in spread (diameter in mm) than yours. Compare it side-by-side with yours and make a call then. Keep the one you love.

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09681161?refTab=DIAMONDS {7.46 mm, great numbers}
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09288619?refTab=DIAMONDS {this weighs less, but it has a wider diameter than yours}

All diamond look grey in bright direct sunlight. But, look at them in every other light you can. Look at them in natural daylight. Find a fluorescent light fixture...try that. A well-cut diamond should take your breath away!
 
Kitten_Sparkles said:
I just reread your post. "Diamonds look like that outside"... I didn't realize that. My vintage ring doesn't, I don't think... but they all look darker?
Click to expand...
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-does-a-diamond-go-dark-in-direct-sunlight.132751/

A read about diamonds in direct sunlight.


But to your point about reading about fluorescence- the great majority of diamonds with fluorescence don’t show negative effects in every lighting situation - I think that’s probably what you were reading - but strong blue fluorescence will have a visible effect on the stone in sunlight and other UV light. Many think that’s cool, including myself. Also it is said to give your diamond color a little “boost” by cancelling out the yellow in off white stones. There’s a vendor many are familiar here who had a whole brand of strong fluorescent diamonds.
 
Thank you for all your help RockySalamander, WhiteWave, Valeria101, Neil and OECrystal. I am going to keep the ring, but I loved looking at the other diamonds that RS posted :love:. I appreciate all of your help.

Eta: my fiance is a bit OCD on clarity and I know that is something really important to him. (Eye clean doesnt matter if he doesn't like the plot). I know that waa as a big factor for him.
 
Kitten_Sparkles said:
Thank you for all your help RockySalamander, WhiteWave, Valeria101, Neil and OECrystal. I am going to keep the ring, but I loved looking at the other diamonds that RS posted :love:. I appreciate all of your help.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Well good! It’s nice to be certain about a ring. Now you can be sure that that ring is your ring. :)
 
If you don’t have one, buy a uv flashlight to play with.
Congratulations and enjoy your pretty ring!
 
Congratulations!!!

The important things are:
- Do you like the ring? (I think it's a beautiful design)
- Are you happy with it?

Splitting hairs over diamond specs after an engagement is like doing a post-mortem after a finals exam. Just don't do it! Yes, others have said you 'could' spend more and get an super-ideal diamond. But at the risk and effort of having the diamond returned, sold, choose a new one, upsetting the fiancé etc...

Sod the HCA number crunching. How does the diamond appear to perform to you? It's still considered an 'excellent' GIA cut - which people on PS may pick apart because we're perfectionists but is still well within the higher echelons of diamond quality.

I'm very happy you decided to keep the ring. And yes, diamonds can appear dark in bright direct sunlight.
 
tanalasta said:
Congratulations!!!

The important things are:
- Do you like the ring? (I think it's a beautiful design)
- Are you happy with it?

Splitting hairs over diamond specs after an engagement is like doing a post-mortem after a finals exam. Just don't do it! Yes, others have said you 'could' spend more and get an super-ideal diamond. But at the risk and effort of having the diamond returned, sold, choose a new one, upsetting the fiancé etc...

Sod the HCA number crunching. How does the diamond appear to perform to you? It's still considered an 'excellent' GIA cut - which people on PS may pick apart because we're perfectionists but is still well within the higher echelons of diamond quality.

I'm very happy you decided to keep the ring. And yes, diamonds can appear dark in bright direct sunlight.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I love my diamond and my ring. I am keeping it ❤ Originally I only wanted to find out about the darkening. I've never owned a RB before and none of my Old Mine Cut diamonds darkened so it alarmed me a little ❤

Is it only RBs that darken in direct light?
 
Kitten_Sparkles said:
Is it only RBs that darken in direct light?
Click to expand...

I expect as much, but I wouldn't slander the most admired modern diamond cut without working things out.

[besides, they do so much, so very right ]
 
Kitten_Sparkles said:
I've never owned a RB before and none of my Old Mine Cut diamonds darkened so it alarmed me a little ❤

Is it only RBs that darken in direct light?
Click to expand...
My OEC darkens in direct light too so I don’t think it’s just MRBs. Congratulations on your engagement and I think your ring is really pretty!
 
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