Feathers close to girdle, should I be concerned

[jing]

I'm looking for an cushion cut diamond for an engagement ring. I found a Brian Gavin Cushion Cut that fits the parameters of what i'm looking for. However, reviewing the AGS certification I noticed several feathers by the girdle. 3 to 4 to them are in very close proximity of each other. I did notice that they are close to the girdle and visible from the bottom, but not visible face up. I'm assuming that they are not to large. Is that safe assumption?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.092-e-vs2-cushion-diamond-ags-104067042006

Should I, would you, be concerned about the feathers? Any input or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gypsy]

It's fine.

I love BGD. TRULY.

But I would NOT buy that diamond. The spread on that stone is 5.76 square. It's 11,000 It is a VS2 E. You don't need E color. G is VERY WHITE and will save you a ton. But even if you want to stay in the colorless range, it's a TON of money.

Hearts and Arrows Cushions are the ONE TYPE OF DIAMOND I personally would recommend buying from Blue Nile.

Why? They are lovely. The posters that we have referred to buy these stones have had them ASET and appraise out FANTASTICALLY. ANd they have images on the G-cal report. Finally they are MUCH cheaper per carat than the BGD line. And I REALLY don't believe in paying too much. And I'll be honest: 11k for a 1 carat 5.7mm cushion. EVEN an E VS2 is too much.

Here's what I'd buy: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03839041 1.26 carats F VS2. 6.3 mm. Hearts and Arrows. You can see the stone. It is just lovely. Wonderful cushion outline. Perfectly square. Just ask Blue Nile to have their gemologist pull the stoneto make sure the it is not overblue (HIGHLY unlikely as this is a Signature Line stone with them and those are pretty tightly screened). BELIEVE ME: you will notice the .5mm difference more than you will EVER notice the step down from E to F color (you won't notice that at all, honestly). And Signature Lines stones are guaranteed eyeclean. AND IT SAVES YOU 800 BUCKS!


If you have to have an E VS2 and only want a carat (or want to save a ton of money): http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03808058 This stone is 6mm (.3 is a eye-visible increase in spread over the BGD stone), $8,815 and again, GORGEOUS. Saves you a ton and is bigger than the other one (SPREAD matters with cushions not carat weight).

I know BN doesn't provide ASETs and YES, we always say to buy fancies with ASETs but this line from Blue Nile is the ONE exception to that rule.

Even if you want a BGD setting, I'd get the BN stone. BGD will set outside stones in their settings with a nominal setting fee. And even with the setting fee you will saving a ton of money by going with the BN stones.

And even if you don't like either of the ones I posted for you, there were EIGHTY STONES at Blue Nile of the Signature Hearts and Arrows between 1.0 carat, G SI1 or better (remember the Signature line are all guaranteed eyeclean so you can go down to SI1 safely and without any concern) and under 11k. So there are PLENTY of options. I suggest you explore them.

 

[jing]

Thank you for all your insight. To be honest I purchased a blue nile signature hearts and arrows. But, I had a bit of buyers remorse and thought I bought it to hastily and returned it to give me the option to do more research and searching. I'm probably over thinking it to be honest. I had another question. What are your thoughts on this stone:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.148-g-vs2-cushion-diamond-ags-bl-104067042005

And if you had to choose between the brian gavin blue and the two blue nile signature stones which would you recommend.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03839041
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03808058

Your input, or anyone elses input, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Gypsy]

Between these two:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.148-g-vs2-cushion-diamond-ags-bl-104067042005
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03808058

I'd probably go for the BGD. Why? I don't need anything more than G color. They have the same spread. And BGD's setting quality is LIGHT YEARS better than Blue Niles, I personally wouldn't want one of the Blue Nile settings for my engagement ring as there have been a number of poor reviews of them. So... getting the Blue Nile stone means shipping and a setting fee to BGD... added to the 400 price difference you are talking a savings of 500 bucks, which IMO can go toward a nicer setting. So just in your pocket. Plus I love fluorescence.

So, lack of hassle and cost savings FOR ME the BGD wins.

BUT... between this one: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03839041 and the BGD stone. No contest the BN stone wins. It's an F it also has the medium fluorescence. And it's .3 bigger. That's still a visual difference and with cushions EVERY tiny bit helps.

So for me... I'd go for the larger 1.26 hands down.

BUT if you want to save money and do one stop shopping, that G BGD stone is a great value and a very nice stone with 7mm spread.

 

[jing]

The BGD has a AGS cert which grades light performance and BGD provides the ASET. The Blue Nile Signature provides the GCAL cert with a GIA Cert. Is it fair to say the BGD will perform better in regards to light return based on the information provide or based on the information available can that determination not be made without seeing the stones side by side.

 

[Gypsy]

Nope. Not fair to say.

The AGS stone was sent to AGS and did get a 0.

The BN stone was not sent to AGS so we don't know the grade it would get if sent there. But from the ASETs I've seen of the BN stones I can tell you that they are amazing performers, just top of the line... and I'd be surprised if they performed even slightly worse than the BGD stones.

BN doesn't send their stones to AGS. They are an international company and GIA is better for international.

Here's the best analogy I have.

You have two brothers who are super duper smart they compete head to head and it's a toss up which one wins each time. One gets his IQ tested and we find out that his IQ is 170. Does that make him smarter than his brother, who is untested? No. Because a test isn't what determines if you are smart. IF you are smart, then you are smart. A test just gives you information. The other brother could never get tested... does that make him dumber than the other brother. No.

Same with these diamonds. One was sent to AGS and the other wasn't. That doesn't mean the AGS stone is BETTER. It just has better paper that provides you with the Diamond's IQ, if you will. That doesn't mean the GIA stone is not as good. It just has different paper and that paper doesn't test the diamond's IQ.

And as we way... you buy the diamond not the paper. Paper is just information.

 

[Lorelei]

^ great post Gypsy!