Final Two Diamond Choices / "WF v. James Allen"

[brenn4423]

Hi all, some of you may remember that I was set to buy a Diamond (diamond 1 below); however, I have come across Diamond 2 and I am now once again confused as to which one to get. They both seem very nice. Diamond 2 is a little more in the budget but its dimensions aren't as round and it is vs2 instead of vs1. With this said, all I care about is eye clean and despite the slightly larger variance in dimensions of diamond 2 it is still ideal symetry. Diamond 2 is slightly bigger in weight, but pretty much the same dimensions. They are both ideal cuts AGS0. Diamond 2 did slightly better on the HCA. Please give me your opinion. If you could please tell me which one you would pick if they cost the same, and which one you would pick considering the cost difference it woudl be appreciated. Also is there an advantage to go through WF over James Allen of vice versa? Thanks all.

-Mike

Diamond 1:


1.587 ct
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
HCA: 1.3-EX (ex-ex-ex-vg)
AGS: 0
Depth: 60.7%
Table: 55%
Crown: 34.8°
Pav: 40.8°
Grd: thn f
Pol: ex
Sym: ex
Flr: none
Dimensions: 7.58-7.60x4.61
AGS
$15,569 ($16,050 without pricescope discount)

WhiteFlash link: http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-65326.htm

Diamond 2:

1.62 ct
Color: G
Clarity: VS2
HCA: 0.4-EX (ex-ex-ex-ex)
AGS: 0
Depth: 60.3%
Table: 56.8%
Crown: 34.1°
Pav: 40.5°
Grd: thn-sli thi
Pol: id
Sym: id
Flr: none
Diamensions: 7.58-7.65x4.59
AGS
$14,051 ($14,790 without pricescope discount)

James Allen Link: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&cid=131&item=937926

 

[JulieN]

It may be worthwhile to have them both sent to an appraiser and let him/her pick one.

Or buy them both and test drive for a few days.

 

[brenn4423]

I thought of that, but don't know if I wanna put out 30k to start (even knowing I'll get 15k) back. I was hoping that someone could find something wrong with one of them. I know the odds are the only way to tell which one is better is to see it in person. Just hoping someone knew something that I wasn't seeing.

Is it possible that I can get White Flash and James Allen to both send the diamonds to an appraiser without having to pay for them first. Have the appraiser hold the diamonds and send back the one we decide is "inferior" and keep the better one and wire the payment???

-Mike

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 10/25/2006 5:34:24 PM
Author: brenn4423

Is it possible that I can get White Flash and James Allen to both send the diamonds to an appraiser without having to pay for them first. Have the appraiser hold the diamonds and send back the one we decide is 'inferior' and keep the better one and wire the payment???

-Mike

Not sure if JA is doing that, but they may. I think WF does it, and sounds like it represents an ideal solution...although it may open more choices. Where do you live? Is it obvious which appraiser you'd choose? A local one will let you see it with them. One of the pros on this board might otherwise be preferred.

edited to add...either selection may be the right one to go with, but I'd just correct you in your presumption that the lower HCA is better. The simplest analysis of HCA puts all options at 0 - 2 at a level playing field, but, if speculating, odds might otherwise favor those at between 1 - 2, versus those below 1, but the degree to which you'd have a preference for one number over another that exists between 0 - 2 is not clear, at best.

 

[brenn4423]

Regular Guy,

I live in Michigan. There is an appraiser I found on the pricescope resources about 15 minutes from my house - Jim Krol. I would like to use him if possible just so I can be there and see the diamonds. I have pretty much decided that one of these two diamonds will be it. I was set on the whiteflash diamond until I saw the "possibly" comparable James Allen diamond for a drastically lower price.

I also appreciate the info on the HCA numbers... I''m just a newbie and that info was helpful - thanks for taking the time...

Does anyone know for sure if James Allen and WhiteFlash will send a Diamond to the appraiser without me first paying for it??? The appraiser can hold it and I''ll go view it and make my choice with the expert advice of the appraiser. Send one back and wire the money for the other?

Thanks

Mike

 

[JulieN]

Whiteflash definitely does, I don't know about JA. Doesn't really matter too much. You'd be out the cost of one wire transfer if you choose the WF stone. It's probably worth it when the difference is 1.5K

 

[Regular Guy]

Mike,

Especially since both your options are from AGS, and have trustworthy proportion measures, I believe I too would want to use a local appraiser, to take advantage of my own perceptions.

If the certs were from anyone else, I''d probably be at least less clear.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[brenn4423]

Thanks JulieN and Regular Guy.

Im pretty sure that both of these rocks will be very nice and pleasing. I just would hate to spend this kind of money and be "cheap" about it and go with the 14k stone if the 15.5k stone is that much nicer. Since I believe I have chosen two stones which meet my needs I guess I should be in the decision on whether the whiteflash stone is worth an extra 1.5k. Well, I guess I"ll be spending some time tomorrow calling WhiteFlash, James Allen, and the local appraiser to try to set something up. Thanks for all the help.

Any further comments are still welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Regular Guy]

Just also think through your soup to nuts process....what setting will you use, who has a setting you like, who will set it for you. This may or may not effect your outcome.

 

[brenn4423]

I was interested in putting the stone in a solitaire setting done by Mark Morrell. 90% platinum. (possibly with a few small accent diamonds - not sure on this though). Probably something similiar to his sunkist desing.

-I also just noticed that the Diamond 1 is not Sym: Ideal Polish: Ideal - rather it is excellent/excellent. Diamond number 2 is Ideal/Ideal. How much of a difference is this??

-Mike

Note: The specs on pricescope when you look up diamond one indicates its Ideal/Ideal (this is where I got my info from) on further review whiteflash and the cert indicates its excellent/excellent - would this be a possible reason to lean towards Diamond 2?

 

[JulieN]

Not visible to the naked eye.

 

[Regular Guy]

Cans of worms.

Read this.

You could ask WF to compare this one, with the one you selected. I''ll bet they choose the one you did, but you never know.

Each vendor holds an imprimatur now. WF for it''s big shoulders, and JA for a cert they can stand with.

Why did you say the WF one was AGS0? It might well be, but you should probably be clearer about that.

Oops, looking at JA''s option, though it IS an AGS0, it''s the older one.

I have 2 asperin.

Start at the top, and read again.

Warm wishes,

Off to pick up my son,

P.S. I take it the Mark Morrell thing makes the setting part a non-issue.

 

[brenn4423]

Wow I didn''t realize that there were three different AGS documents out there.... the old and new DQD and then the DQR. Very interesting... Maybe the search shall continue... What do you think about this diamond? I''m gonna call and see if it is "eye clean"

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?find=1&cid=130&item=875855

-Mike