Eye clean I1?

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I'd be concerned not just about leakage, but about the affect the feather has on refraction. At the end of the day whether or not the diamond sparkles will be most important. No one will be glaring at it from the side to look for color or inclusions.

I would like to know who and why anyone thinks that Ideal-scope image shows any leakage?
It's my concept and I have already posted that the stone has a great ideal-scope image.

If there may be people on this board who need some remediable Ideal-scope training.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Garry! What concerned me was it sounded like a rep at JA told him that! But let's hope not! The IS image is not the problem with that stone!

To teobdl, wow, you are looking at two very different diamonds, that is for sure! I am an AVR fan, so you may as well know up front that I'd vote for the AVR! But I would have voted for anything that was well cut and had better clarity than I1, too!

I have no idea what your budget is, but I'd encourage you to consider going up in color a little and down from IF clarity in an AVR.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8246/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9274/

 

[chilcorona]

I'd be concerned not just about leakage, but about the affect the feather has on refraction. At the end of the day whether or not the diamond sparkles will be most important. No one will be glaring at it from the side to look for color or inclusions.

I would like to know who and why anyone thinks that Ideal-scope image shows any leakage?
It's my concept and I have already posted that the stone has a great ideal-scope image.

If there may be people on this board who need some remediable Ideal-scope training.

Let me reiterate that I am no expert, merely a lay observer!

 

[teobdl]

I did not mean to misrepresent what a JA rep told me. This is what was written to me:
"The diamond does have very good light performance, fire and sparkle that is well balanced throughout the stone. The feather in the diamond is not a durability concern, however, it is eye visible and the light performance in that area is dull. The feather does appear as a "white smudge" on the diamond."
I definitely do not want people thinking JA has been giving me bad advice--their customer support has actually been quite impressive.
The issue of leakage was my own failure to read carefully enough about reflectors and then an over interpretation of what seemed to be less intensity under the table. I would certainly call myself a beginning amateur in need of more remedial IdealScope lessons (clearly), and that is exactly why I've asked for your help in navigating this new territory. I very much appreciate your generous corrections and advice.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I did not mean to misrepresent what a JA rep told me. This is what was written to me:
"The diamond does have very good light performance, fire and sparkle that is well balanced throughout the stone. The feather in the diamond is not a durability concern, however, it is eye visible and the light performance in that area is dull. The feather does appear as a "white smudge" on the diamond."
I definitely do not want people thinking JA has been giving me bad advice--their customer support has actually been quite impressive.
The issue of leakage was my own failure to read carefully enough about reflectors and then an over interpretation of what seemed to be less intensity under the table. I would certainly call myself a beginning amateur in need of more remedial IdealScope lessons (clearly), and that is exactly why I've asked for your help in navigating this new territory. I very much appreciate your generous corrections and advice.

Thanks Teobdl.
The reference chart here http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_reference_chart.asp - the two good stones have leakage that would result in some dark zones inside the table.
But even the top right Very Good stone would not show any reduced brilliance.
regards
Garry

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You have come to the right place! We don't expect newcomers to know everything at the outset! We are all still learning after being here for years!

 

[stargurl78]

I'd personally rather have that I1 stone over an M-colored stone for an engagement ring but I am very color sensitive. I wouldn't go with the M unless you're sure she's ok with going that low in color.

If the I1 doesn't check out, I agree with DS - I would go with something more in the middle in terms of color and clarity, maybe an I or J in color and SI1 or SI2 in clarity.

 

[LibbyLA]

I personally would rather have an M color over an I1 clarity. Just got my custom rose-gold ring with an EGL-USA M VS2 old mine brilliant and I can't believe how white the diamond looks!

liz

 

[teobdl]

I just returned from my vacation, and I'll be receiving my MRB 0.86 GIA Ex G I1 tomorrow. I will try to post pictures by the end of the week!
To give background on the *bump*, I have been deciding whether to purchase the I1 stone, despite not being gemologist eye clean. The other half of this saga, of course, will be choosing between the I1 diamond and an M color IF AVR. This morning I had a great opportunity to photograph the AVR in diffuse morning light.

It faces up very white!


And it has beautiful fire. Pictures can't capture movement of the fire (obviously), but this is pretty normal for my diamond.


The profile has definite light champagne color.


And it becomes noticeably whiter. Here it is at approximately 30 degree tilt.


Here it is at approximately 45 degrees.


And real life color.


Finally, it looks like it real life. That finger is probably about a size 6??
(Sorry for the dry hands haha. I'm a guy.)


If I choose this diamond, I'm seriously considering putting it in a white setting with a white halo a la many of the beautiful low color cushions with white halos on this site. I'm loving more and more the personality of this diamond, and the M color for me is becoming another beautiful characteristic of this great performing rock. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

[TC1987]

I like L and M the best of the lower colors. I think the M to white contrast will be lovely. The fantastic cut of the AVR is what makes it face up so white.

But that H might be lovely, too. Clarity is where I can compromise. I don't mind seeing a discrete inclusion.

 

[teobdl]

Okay, here is the final comparison between these two. I think I'm going to go with the I1 diamond, so long as I can get some peace of mind about the feather near the crown.

1. MRB 0.86 GIA Ex H I1



2. AVR 0.80 AGS "Ideal" M IF



Here are some comparison shots (excuse the bike grease):
AVR on top, MRB bottom


AVR on the right, MRB left


AVR on the left, MRB right (the AVR with a much darker center is pretty normal for this diamond, unfortunately)



The light performance of both are really wonderful, but by comparison, I'd say that in all but direct sunlight, I prefer the MRB. The whole diamond seems to light up a little better at all angles, whereas the AVR's performance is quite limited to the top angles. The MRB definitely has more fire in most environments.

Videos. View the videos in high def, if possible. Otherwise, the MRB's small flashes don't show up (the video becomes too pixilated to show the smaller scintillation).
Here is a video I shot of them this morning. In this very bright (but shaded) environment, the MRB held its own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8QQ5S_UETE
Am I correct when saying that the MRB performs as well as (though very differently) than the AVR in this environment?


And here they are in a very dark and then moderate indoor lighting environment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmircXPCPSQ

My impressions:
Cut (light performance): MRB wins. It's noticeably whiter and more balanced throughout, it has a lot more fire, and the smaller sparkles of scintillation make it appear fuller to my eyes. I will say that the faceting pattern of the AVR is so endearing and beautiful. Hopefully the video catches that for you.
Carat (size): the MRB is noticeably bigger to my eyes (0.3 mm bigger, in fact)
Color: MRB's H color beats AVR's M color. I do like the M color, but the convention is to have a white diamond. The M, of course, is noticeably faint yellow, and it just doesn't face up as bright.
Clarity: IF of the AVR is objectively better than I1 of the MRB.

As long as the Inclusion of the I1 is not a durability concern (and the gemologist has told me it will not be a problem), I'm going to go with the MRB.

What do you think?

 

[TC1987]

The I1 is larger diameter, and I concur with you that a brighter white looks larger than a darker white or a light yellow. You have both diamonds in front of you and you like the look of the I1 better. I think as long as there is no visible haze or inclusion in the I1, that's the one you like better so keep it. Just insure it.

 

[04diamond<3]

The I1 is larger diameter, and I concur with you that a brighter white looks larger than a darker white or a light yellow. You have both diamonds in front of you and you like the look of the I1 better. I think as long as there is no visible haze or inclusion in the I1, that's the one you like better so keep it. Just insure it.

+1 I like the bigger size, whiter color and the arrows. Definitely insure it ASAP though!

 

[Lula]

The I1 is larger diameter, and I concur with you that a brighter white looks larger than a darker white or a light yellow. You have both diamonds in front of you and you like the look of the I1 better. I think as long as there is no visible haze or inclusion in the I1, that's the one you like better so keep it. Just insure it.

+1 I like the bigger size, whiter color and the arrows. Definitely insure it ASAP though!

Ditto. It looks like a great diamond. Your girlfriend will know it's there (I'm assuming that will be okay with her) but I'd wager that no one, outside of the person who sets the stone, will notice that feather from normal viewing distance. People will notice a visibly tinted diamond, though. That's not a bad thing, but you and your girlfriend would have to be okay with a "non-traditional" diamond.

 

[MrsBettyBoop]

I very much prefer the MRB!