First thread. Advise needed on diamond. Thank you.

farrahlyn · May 18, 2018

sledge said:
Agree with @farrahlyn....super ideal all the way. Best cut hands down. Very affordable in the new size you specified.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3880146.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964555.htm

A little smaller but wow. Especially the Black signature series....

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/0.735-g-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104099554047
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/.../0.731-g-vs2-round-diamond-bkags-104094817009

In case you aren't aware what the Black series is....
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/news/black-brian-gavin-vs-brian-gavin-signature/

that BG .735 is stunning!

(i am such a sucker for an itty bitty table!)

Miki Moto · May 18, 2018

Hi! You may want to also check out High Performance Diamonds which has a brand called Crafted By Infinity (CBI). Folks on this forum abbreviate it as CBI, and there are comparisons of CBI diamonds compared to other diamonds. I have been reading and comparing and often times, when the diamonds are compared head-on, in real life, the CBI diamond wins. CBI also sources their own rough diamonds, cuts and polishes them to their precision standards, so you may want to read up on their website about that as well.

Here is a really good thread of photo comparisons:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cbi-vs-aca-another-pic-and-vid-comparison.236493/

Good luck to you!

R4ng3r · May 20, 2018

Update:

So I had a friend of mine (close friend of hers too) brought her to the jewelry store. So she tried various diamond sizes. Feedback from my friend is that 0.5-0.6ct diamond fits her finger/hand size.

I got my friend to get her to try the 0.8 & 1ct ring and it’s humongous (probably overkill) — that was what my partner said too.

Since that’s the case, I might just get between 0.5ct to 0.6ct instead. Sorry to trouble @farrahlyn @sledge again. Still very good with selecting a diamond, so could really appreciate if you can help me the last time. Cheers and thanks so much!

R4ng3r · May 20, 2018

Miki Moto said:
Hi! You may want to also check out High Performance Diamonds which has a brand called Crafted By Infinity (CBI). Folks on this forum abbreviate it as CBI, and there are comparisons of CBI diamonds compared to other diamonds. I have been reading and comparing and often times, when the diamonds are compared head-on, in real life, the CBI diamond wins. CBI also sources their own rough diamonds, cuts and polishes them to their precision standards, so you may want to read up on their website about that as well.

Here is a really good thread of photo comparisons:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cbi-vs-aca-another-pic-and-vid-comparison.236493/

Good luck to you!

Thanks Miki! I will take a look at the link provided too.

rockysalamander · May 20, 2018

Here are a few to consider.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964572.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3988049.htm
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9741
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD8258

sledge · May 20, 2018

Do what you want bud, but if it was my girl I'd go .70+ even with your most recent feedback. The size isn't that much bigger, and it sounds like it will exceed her expectations -- plus, you will be substantially below budget and able to get a super ideal cut.

Just my 2 cents FWIW. Good luck on your search.

sledge · May 20, 2018

Here's a few between .50 and .60 if you are determined to go that way. Not much price difference between them.

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/0.542-d-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104099554025
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.537-d-vs2-round-diamond-bfg-785466
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/0.534-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104091064031
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/.../0.530-f-vs2-round-diamond-bkags-104097998080
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/.../0.527-g-vs2-round-diamond-bkags-104094526013

sledge · May 20, 2018

FYI, I'm not familiar enough with the HP CBI diamonds to comment one way or the other. I've seen some threads recently about how they appear to be cut a little differently and some people prefer that. From what I've seen (to my eyes anyhow), there appears to be more contrast but they seem a smidge darker in the photos and videos. Not having seen one in-person against another super ideal I'd be hesitant to comment much further.

The above said, this doesn't mean they are bad. I am just unfamiliar is all. I have a friend who bought from Wink (owner of HP) before it was HP. I don't recall the name. He had good things to say about him, their pricing and the way he was treated. However, he did not purchase a CBI diamond to my knowledge.

david b · May 20, 2018

R4ng3r said:
Hey guys

Pretty new to diamonds and will be purchasing a proposal ring so would need all your advise. I came across to this 1ct diamond and was wondering if its worth the purchase based on the specs. Likewise spending part of my savings so want to make sure its worth the dollar and cents. Would really love to hear some feedback and recommendation. Thanks in advance guys. I have pencil down the specs are below. (:

DIAMOND INFORMATION
Shape: Round
Cut: Excellent
Color: F
Clarity: VS2

Length/Width Ratio: 1.00
Depth%: 59.6%
Table%: 62.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Cutlet: None
Fluorescence: Strong
Measurements: 6.51 x 6.48 x 3.87mm

MORE DIAMOND INFORMATION
Crown ∠: 33.00
Crown%: 12.50
Pavilion ∠: 41.00
Pavilion %: 43.00

david b · May 20, 2018

If you use your savings why not buy a Very-Good cut? I can tell you that all the very-Good cut diamonds are eventually sold, and also the Good Cut, it is all a matter of budget. All diamonds sparkle and have a lot of brilliance not only the Super Hero’s, if you want to stay with a carat Take Very-Good cut, G or even H

VS2 or SI1, just go to Medium Fluorescence not strong, you will love it and so will your fiancée and for the rest of the budget make yourself a great Honeymoon.

farrahlyn · May 21, 2018

sledge · May 21, 2018

david b said:
If you use your savings why not buy a Very-Good cut? I can tell you that all the very-Good cut diamonds are eventually sold, and also the Good Cut, it is all a matter of budget. All diamonds sparkle and have a lot of brilliance not only the Super Hero’s, if you want to stay with a carat Take Very-Good cut, G or even H

VS2 or SI1, just go to Medium Fluorescence not strong, you will love it and so will your fiancée and for the rest of the budget make yourself a great Honeymoon.

What he says makes sense, but the reality is that based on the budget you described earlier you can get a bad ass stone and be under budget!

Sometimes pictures are worth a million words....they all go bang and get the job done, but others offer different benefits or meets preferences....

Okay, technically the last one is a nail gun but you get my point. Let your inner lion roar. Buy the best you can afford that meets budget goals.

R4ng3r · May 21, 2018

farrahlyn said:
Great job sleuthing!!! i'm curious, what is her finger size?? MANY times we ladies experience DSS (Diamond Shrinkage syndrome after wearing a ring for a few days or weeks. I might err on the side of caution and go up to a .7 stone size.

Definitely go with super ideal. both @sledge and @rockysalamander posted some great stones. I'll add some VC stones in the pool, too.

Thanks @farrahlyn. I didnt know there's such thing - glad to learn something new. The only feedback from my friend who went to the jewelry store is that she prefers the rock size between .5 and .6ct but i am inline to buy something more than .7ct for her. Didnt know picking a diamond can be so stressful

By the way her finger size is EU 50 (US5).

R4ng3r · May 21, 2018

sledge said:
What he says makes sense, but the reality is that based on the budget you described earlier you can get a bad ass stone and be under budget!

Sometimes pictures are worth a million words....they all go bang and get the job done, but others offer different benefits or meets preferences....

Okay, technically the last one is a nail gun but you get my point. Let your inner lion roar. Buy the best you can afford that meets budget goals.

Thanks @sledge. I will narrow them my choices - still incline to get at least .7 and above but afraid she prefers smaller size diamond (she's not a blink person tbh - simple down to earth kind of girl). Maybe i overthink too much eh? P.s. actually those guns look sweet. perfect for a bonnie and clyde wedding theme.

R4ng3r · May 21, 2018

P.S. This was the .5ct she wore on her finger. Friend took a snapshot for my reference.

farrahlyn · May 21, 2018

sledge said:
What he says makes sense, but the reality is that based on the budget you described earlier you can get a bad ass stone and be under budget!

Sometimes pictures are worth a million words....they all go bang and get the job done, but others offer different benefits or meets preferences....

Okay, technically the last one is a nail gun but you get my point. Let your inner lion roar. Buy the best you can afford that meets budget goals.

@sledge awesome post, you're speaking my husbands language there!

So, there is a significant difference between a .5ct stone and .7ct stone. (about 25% larger.)

Bottom line, not every woman is hell bent on a huge stone like some of the PSers here. the .5ct is beautiful on here and if that's what she wants, well give her what she wants! PS- are you sure she wants a solitaire? did your friend suss her out on that as well?

Here are some stone size comparisons on a size 5 finger, 2mm band:

.6ct vs .7ct

.5ct vs .7ct

R4ng3r · May 21, 2018

farrahlyn said:
@sledge awesome post, you're speaking my husbands language there!

So, there is a significant difference between a .5ct stone and .7ct stone. (about 25% larger.)

Bottom line, not every woman is hell bent on a huge stone like some of the PSers here. the .5ct is beautiful on here and if that's what she wants, well give her what she wants! PS- are you sure she wants a solitaire? did your friend suss her out on that as well?

Here are some stone size comparisons on a size 5 finger, 2mm band:

.6ct vs .7ct

.5ct vs .7ct

@farrahlyn cant seem to get the interactive diamond size guide to load so cant really do the comparison. Yes, my friend asked her to follow her to the store so she can buy some accessories. So she took the and chance and got her to try the ring and view the diamonds. Need to be sure what she likes before i buy for her. Its the same analogy especially when you're buying a car - need to be certain you are doubling down on a bmw or a mercs

sledge · May 21, 2018

R4ng3r said:
Thanks @sledge. I will narrow them my choices - still incline to get at least .7 and above but afraid she prefers smaller size diamond (she's not a blink person tbh - simple down to earth kind of girl). Maybe i overthink too much eh? P.s. actually those guns look sweet. perfect for a bonnie and clyde wedding theme.

Glad you liked the eye candy. And I feel your pain. It seems very difficult to make these purchases. I think it's because as men we want to give our ladies the best possible that we can afford and that they want -- all mixed with a little ego from the world telling us our love isn't as grand if the stone isn't X size or X dollars.

In short, it's an emotional purchase.

I was lucky with my diamond search, and finished that rather quickly. The setting has been my challenge, but it's been difficult pinpointing what my girl really wanted.

farrahlyn said:
@sledge awesome post, you're speaking my husbands language there!

So, there is a significant difference between a .5ct stone and .7ct stone. (about 25% larger.)

Bottom line, not every woman is hell bent on a huge stone like some of the PSers here. the .5ct is beautiful on here and if that's what she wants, well give her what she wants! PS- are you sure she wants a solitaire? did your friend suss her out on that as well?

Here are some stone size comparisons on a size 5 finger, 2mm band:

.6ct vs .7ct

.5ct vs .7ct

Glad I could make your husband's day @farrahlyn, lol.

And @R4ng3r, I definitely agree that not everyone wants a huge diamond. Looking at the pics of her actual finger I don't think a .7ct will look out of place by any stretch. It's all personal preference for sure. I had already decided on my .867ct stone and bought it when we found a setting in a local jewelry store she liked and then proceeded to fall in love with a .70ct because the .90ct wasn't proportioned correctly.

For that reason, and several more, I am now in the debacle of using DK to custom build a setting for her diamond that mimicks that setting she loves.

david b · May 21, 2018

farrahlyn said:
Great job sleuthing!!! i'm curious, what is her finger size?? MANY times we ladies experience DSS (Diamond Shrinkage syndrome after wearing a ring for a few days or weeks. I might err on the side of caution and go up to a .7 stone size.

Definitely go with super ideal. both @sledge and @rockysalamander posted some great stones. I'll add some VC stones in the pool, too.

with one of these settings:
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/classic-solitaire-pre-mount
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/classic-solitaire-with-scalloped-basket
or this one, the profile is SO pretty and that's what she will see looking at it:
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/cathedral-band-solitaire-with-scalloped-basket

with one of these: (i would go with high color and clarity since you have so much wiggle room in your budget)
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104092411010-0.717-g-vs1-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104096334001-0.710-e-vs2-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104092411013-0.704-e-vs2-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
smaller:
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/5pkkdl-0.538-f-vs2-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/zvtpu9-0.530-g-vs2-ideal-hearts-arrows-round

david b · May 21, 2018

I can't open any of the VC links!

farrahlyn · May 21, 2018

david b said:
I can't open any of the VC links!

that is so strange. what if you copy and paste in your browser?

david b · May 21, 2018

rockysalamander · May 21, 2018

david b said:
Nada

Try holding control and then click on the link (if you are on an apple, it might be the "apple" button).

TreeScientist · May 21, 2018

sledge said:
Glad you liked the eye candy. And I feel your pain. It seems very difficult to make these purchases. I think it's because as men we want to give our ladies the best possible that we can afford and that they want -- all mixed with a little ego from the world telling us our love isn't as grand if the stone isn't X size or X dollars.

In short, it's an emotional purchase.

Very well said. It's hard as a man making these purchases. When she says she wants a "small diamond" or a "large diamond," we're left to interpret what that actually means to her. And if she recommends a specific carat weight on the small side, that she is only saying she wants a small diamond because she doesn't want to feel like a gold-digger. And then we're left wondering if it will "shrink" since DSS appears to be a very real thing. And then there's trying to determine what her friends group will think. And of course we also can't discount our own pride influencing things a bit.

In the end, you've just got to go with what feels right. But I would agree with @sledge that buying ever so slightly bigger, like .1 carat bigger, than what she requests is a good way to go. Now, if she says she wants a .5 carat and you get her a 2 carat, then I know plenty of women that would get upset over that. But I highly doubt that any woman who wanted a .5 carat would throw a .6 on the ground and refuse to accept it.

And it may delay the onset of DSS... for a bit.

sledge · May 21, 2018

Thank you @TreeScientist, and good follow up.

Isn't it odd how society tells the man that a bigger diamond equals more love in some capacity; however, the same society tells women they are potential gold diggers and/or inconsiderate of cost implications if they choose too big?

In defense of the women, they are in a hard position too. If they ask for too much or too expensive and their man can't get it, then he may feel inferior. Or being too picky may delay getting the ring on her finger. Not to mention the social slurs already mentioned. So I can understand why it's hard to verbalize their desires. They have a lot at risk too.

This all just reinforces why it's good to have open & honest communication with the one you plan to make your forever partner in crime.

R4ng3r · May 24, 2018

Thanks for the help guys @sledge @farrahlyn @rockysalamander After much consideration I shall bite the bullet and go with .7ct rock. Based on your recommendation I have narrow down to this 5 diamonds - sorry I am still quite a newbie to analyse them - are these are very ideal diamonds?

Ps price in the diamonds below should not be the factor in the decision

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964572.htm (HCA1.4)

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...-bkags-104094817009#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/2/ (HCA1.4)

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4369675 (HCA0.4)

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD8258 (HCA1.3)

https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104092411010-0.717-g-vs1-ideal-hearts-arrows-round (HCA1.3)

farrahlyn · May 24, 2018

TBH, they're ALL gorgeous and IMO you absolutely cannot go wrong with any of these stones. I think the things you need to focus on are the upgrade policies (although it sounds like your intended really doesn't care for a larger stone) and the settings available with each vendor. Also, consider that with JA you won't get the quality of attention that you will with any of the other vendors. Plus, you might check out the wedding bands and mens wedding bands available with each vendor. it's always nice to work with one vendor from start to finish.

ac117 · May 24, 2018

All gorgeous options - my personal choice would be between the WF stone and the CBI but I'd rather have any of these WF stones instead of the expert selection you chose...sorry to complicate things further!

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964573.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954417.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3842184.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885288.htm

sledge · May 24, 2018

Congrats @R4ng3r I am glad to see you moving towards a final decision. I will echo @farrahlyn's thoughts and say I think you have some great choices and will likely be happy with any of them.

I will give you a run down of my thoughts on each one:

JA - This one has the best color & clarity specs being F VS1 and I really like that. The downside for me is the IS shows some slight leakage.

HP - You may want to look at some of the recent threads about Created by Infinity (CBI) diamonds. This is a signature cut by HP and many people really prefer them to a traditional super ideal cut. From my own LIGHT reading on the subject and looking at pics/videos shared by others it appears to me the CBI stones have more contrast which I do like; however, (to my eyes) it also makes them look like they are a little darker or have a shadow which I don't like personally. Again, this is all from reading and pics/videos, and this may appear different IRL when the stone is 6" from your face. It's not good or bad necessarily, just an observation that you may get a slightly different visual look & performance than the others you listed.

WF - Beautiful stone. Probably the best upgrade policy (equal or higher value, no upgrades of color, carat or clarity required -- basically, you can trade out as you wish). Massive choice of settings and competitive pricing. Essentially I think you get an entire package here.

https://www.whiteflash.com/confidence/lifetime-trade-up-guarantee/

VC - No experience with them. Stone looks gorgeous. Wish it had some videos besides the 360* view.

BGD - This is a Black series diamond. If you aren't aware, Brian used to be at WF and created the ACA line for them. He still honors WF ACA stones in his upgrade program at BGD. He is well known for providing a superior cut. The Black series is his latest "cream of the crop" in cutting techniques. Look at the sparkle video of this diamond, and get a napkin for the drool that will emit from your mouth. In my opinion, this is THE diamond I'd buy and that I think you need to beat. Their upgrade policy isn't as awesome as WF, and while they do have good setting choices I think WF offers more. The customer service is top notch. BGD is whom I chose so I am probably a little biased, but it doesn't necessarily discount the validity of what I am saying.

Below are links about Brian, upgrade policies and what makes Black so special. I'd encourage you to read.

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/about/
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/news/black-brian-gavin-vs-brian-gavin-signature/
https://black.briangavindiamonds.com/about-us
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/policies#upgr-page-cont

R4ng3r · May 24, 2018

ac117 said:
All gorgeous options - my personal choice would be between the WF stone and the CBI but I'd rather have any of these WF stones instead of the expert selection you chose...sorry to complicate things further!
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964573.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954417.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3842184.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885288.htm

Nah, thanks for playing the devil's advocate. Would you care to explain your rationale between your recommendation vs the expert selection .74ct G VS2 that I shortlisted

First thread. Advise needed on diamond. Thank you.

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