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First time buyer seeking advice

C

Celcoder

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 16, 2018
Messages
12
After doing research for months. I decided to buy a rock from James Allen. I read countless blogs about ideal proportion taking in account for 4C’s table, depth, crown, pavilion, etc. I settled on this rock. https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...olor-vvs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-5055723
I would’ve like to go up one color above from I to H. But due to budget and recommendation from james allen rep i decided to go with this one. Did i make a right choice?
 
We can't see the cost... What is your budget?
 
The stone you select is very nice. Nice cut and well proportioned. If you want H color, you can adjust the clarity down and still be clean to look at.

This is a bit smaller, but really nice numbers and very clean. I find the TrueHearts line is on par price-wise with WF, but WF are generally TOTL cut.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3950134.htm

I'd ask them to also pull these two and compare them for you.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970287.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986335.htm

This is a nice JA option that is also AGS.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4901537
 
rockysalamander said:
The stone you select is very nice. Nice cut and well proportioned. If you want H color, you can adjust the clarity down and still be clean to look at.

This is a bit smaller, but really nice numbers and very clean. I find the TrueHearts line is on par price-wise with WF, but WF are generally TOTL cut.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3950134.htm

I'd ask them to also pull these two and compare them for you.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970287.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986335.htm

This is a nice JA option that is also AGS.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4901537
Click to expand...

Thanks for those links. I am checking them out right now. Question i have how much difference will it be from going to i to h? And second question i have is the first link https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3950134.htm
Is that a better choice? In terms of sparkle?
 
The ability to see color will be very individual. But, most people can start to see color, at least from the side) at an I color. So, H may be safer if you don't know your girl's acuity. What kind of setting do you have in mind?

WF stones are super-ideals. They are cut for maximum light return and have a lot of fire. That does not mean your will not also be very nice, but there is a precision of super-ideals that provide consistent and high light return. So, for the same budget, I would rather a WF In-House stone than JA True Heart. Further, WF has those stone in house and can physically pull them and compare for you. JA only has some of the TH stones in house and often don't provide as good comparison service.

The other big difference will be the upgrade policy, where JA requires an upgrade to be 2x cost while WF requires only $1 more.
 
rockysalamander said:
The ability to see color will be very individual. But, most people can start to see color, at least from the side) at an I color. So, H may be safer if you don't know your girl's acuity. What kind of setting do you have in mind?

WF stones are super-ideals. They are cut for maximum light return and have a lot of fire. That does not mean your will not also be very nice, but there is a precision of super-ideals that provide consistent and high light return. So, for the same budget, I would rather a WF In-House stone than JA True Heart. Further, WF has those stone in house and can physically pull them and compare for you. JA only has some of the TH stones in house and often don't provide as good comparison service.

The other big difference will be the upgrade policy, where JA requires an upgrade to be 2x cost while WF requires only $1 more.
Click to expand...

I really appreciate the information you have provided. The setting will be a pave style white gold. Im starting to look around at WF now. But like you mentioned seeing yellow tone from side is what im concerned about. Although stone from james allen does have medium blue florecense to perhaps cover the yellow tint without seeing it in person i guess i can only guess for the time being. Going through some other selections now at WF.
 
Fluoresce is only activated by strong UV and medium flour will be minimal, at best. Its more a cool party trick. It won't change the fundamental body color. So, I'd remove that from consideration.

You can also use the setting to make it harder to see body color. This setting has a very detailed side view on the basket and that along with the prong structure will make seeing color from the side harder.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ngle-shank-solitaire-engagement-ring-3811.htm

Simpler options.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...n-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-347.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1778.htm

From JA, I often recommend this 6-prong that has a graceful look and is good at covering body color.
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50125
 
I actually like the Premium Select H/VS2 posted by @rockysalamander. It's interesting that the GIA angles (40.8/35.5) are not what we would typically consider to be complementary, but the ASET and IS images look excellent. I imagine this is one of those cases where the GIA rounding makes the diamond appear worse on paper than it actually is, and a great example that you cannot judge a diamond soley by its HCA score.

If you're at all color sensitive, then I do think it is better to stick with H and above, so perhaps this would be a better option.
 
TreeScientist said:
I actually like the Premium Select H/VS2 posted by @rockysalamander. It's interesting that the GIA angles (40.8/35.5) are not what we would typically consider to be complementary, but the ASET and IS images look excellent. I imagine this is one of those cases where the GIA rounding makes the diamond appear worse on paper than it actually is, and a great example that you cannot judge a diamond soley by its HCA score.

If you're at all color sensitive, then I do think it is better to stick with H and above, so perhaps this would be a better option.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the lovely information. So do you think its a better choice than the https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...olor-vvs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-5055723
In terms of aset image? And overall sparkle? @rockysalamander been great in terms of helping me out and Im leaning toward switching the rock. I just want to know what your opinion is on those two pieces.
 
Celcoder said:
Thanks for the lovely information. So do you think its a better choice than the https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...olor-vvs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-5055723
In terms of aset image? And overall sparkle? @rockysalamander been great in terms of helping me out and Im leaning toward switching the rock. I just want to know what your opinion is on those two pieces.
Click to expand...

Yes, I like the WF option. The JA stone is nice, but it looks fairly yellow in the video, like it is closer to a J color. H vs I can be a fairly large difference, so the H for the same price would be my choice.

Plus, as @rockysalamander said, WF has great customer service and a great trade-up policy. :)
 
WF will not charge you sales tax if you live in NY.
 
Celcoder said:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970287.htm
Is this considered eye clean? I see white dots in the video?
Click to expand...

Eye clean is different for everyone depending on their eyes. ;)2

WhiteFlash's definition of eye clean is not visible from 10 inches in the face-up position. However, you can inquire with them about any stone to check and see if it is eye-clean from closer than 10 inches.

I would ask then to pull both the H/VS2 and H/SI1 ACAs and have them take close-up pictures and videos of both for you. Ask them:

1.) Which one is a "higher H" (closer to G on the color scale) and
2.) If either have visible inclusions at 6 inches.

If WF says that both are eye-clean at 6 inches and that both are similar in color, then I would personally save the money and go for the SI1 ;)2
 
Yes that should be eye clean. But you can check with the WF representative...
 
I just checked the videos of both. Actually, IMO, the SI1 looks more "eye-clean" to me. The reason being the black crystal that is in the middle of the table on the VS2 that I saw in the video.

While white crystals are my favorite type of inclusion, as they usually blend in with the diamond itself, black crystals are my absolute least favorite, as they stick out like a sore thumb and look like a speck of dirt.

While that black crystal is small on the VS2, it would be one of those things that, once I saw it, I could not un-see it. If that makes sense.
 
Thank you for all your advice. I finalized the purchased today with WF. Was quite happy with the entire process.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986346.htm
I was on the fence about being I color but after gemologist review the color it was closer to H and it was negligable they commended this stone over the others.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...en-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1539.htm
This is the setting.
I really like to thank everyone on this forum. Will post pics once it arrives. :mrgreen2:
 
Celcoder said:
Thank you for all your advice. I finalized the purchased today with WF. Was quite happy with the entire process.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986346.htm
I was on the fence about being I color but after gemologist review the color it was closer to H and it was negligable they commended this stone over the others.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...en-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1539.htm
This is the setting.
I really like to thank everyone on this forum. Will post pics once it arrives. :mrgreen2:
Click to expand...

Lovely choice. The diamond has great spread for it's weight due to the lower depth. And it's always nice to get one of those diamonds that is a "near miss" for the color bracket just above it.

And a great setting too. The petite shank will be perfectly-proportioned with this diamond. :)
 
Hope you love it, please do share pictures when it is worn....
 
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