GCAL 8X vs Whiteflash Lab precision?

[RM387]

I am in the market for a just under 3 carat round LGD.

Is GCAL 8X better or Whiteflash Precision Cut? Of course Whiteflash is coming up as double the price - is it worth it?

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

[tyty333]

Hi @RM387

This needs to be moved to the lab forum. This is the Earth-mined forum.
I let admin know...in the meantime, the lab-grown forum is below. Lots of
good info there.

Lab-Grown Diamonds/Man-Made Diamonds (MMD)

Learn about and discuss everything on lab-grown diamonds here! No simulants (CZ, Moissanite, YAG, etc), please.

www.pricescope.com

 

[RM387]

Hi @tyty333

Thanks for your message - sorry I'm new here and didn't realise. Thank you for the lab diamond link - I will have a look through the topics there!

 

[tyty333]

No problem @RM387 ! The lab pros are really good at finding well cut stones. If you ask for help I'm sure they'll point you
in the right direction. Happy hunting!

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, RM387!
Yes, there is quite a difference: Whiteflash vets all of their precision lab grown diamonds to nearly the same criteria that they do their ACA lineup, and that includes to the quality of the diamond crystal that usually gets ignored by the grading labs (including GIA!).
Meaning, it's possible to find a very grainy and hazy GCAL 8X at any clarity grade, but Whiteflash will assess the material quality and reject any diamond that will have transparency and/or light scattering issues.

 

[RM387]

Hi @DejaWiz

Thank you for getting back to me! I've seen so many posts with your comments and clearly you are the the king of diamonds.

I've been looking for a while now and in all honesty I think I need some help as half the time I'm not sure what I'm looking at. It's hard to buy a diamond online without actually seeing it and hence why I thought I would look at Whiteflash and just pay the extra knowing the diamond has already been vetted. I just wonder if I can find something almost as good to the naked eye elsewhere for a little less - do you think this is possible?

 

[DejaWiz]

Hi @DejaWiz

Thank you for getting back to me! I've seen so many posts with your comments and clearly you are the the king of diamonds.

I've been looking for a while now and in all honesty I think I need some help as half the time I'm not sure what I'm looking at. It's hard to buy a diamond online without actually seeing it and hence why I thought I would look at Whiteflash and just pay the extra knowing the diamond has already been vetted. I just wonder if I can find something almost as good to the naked eye elsewhere for a little less - do you think this is possible?

Yes, absolutely possible - GIA now offers AGS Light Performance addendum for both earth grown and lab grown diamonds, which includes an AGS ASET image.

 

[RM387]

I have come across that before - do you think those are 'better' performing diamonds as opposed to gcal 8X? Thanks @DejaWiz

 

[RM387]

Yes, absolutely possible - GIA now offers AGS Light Performance addendum for both earth grown and lab grown diamonds, which includes an AGS ASET image.

Are these computer generated aset images? how accurate are they I wonder?

 

[DejaWiz]

Are these computer generated aset images? how accurate are they I wonder?

I believe they are generated based of a live scan of the diamond.

 

[DejaWiz]

I have come across that before - do you think those are 'better' performing diamonds as opposed to gcal 8X? Thanks @DejaWiz

Not necessarily "better" across the board.
Either would need to be scrutinized for things like material quality (especially graining for CVD or blue nuance for HPHT), pavilion twist, painting/digging, etc - depends on how picky you wanna get, and there's nothing wrong with being very picky!

 

[RM387]

Not necessarily "better" across the board.
Either would need to be scrutinized for things like material quality (especially graining for CVD or blue nuance for HPHT), pavilion twist, painting/digging, etc - depends on how picky you wanna get, and there's nothing wrong with being very picky!

I'm learning by the second!

I have a true hearts James Allen natural diamond which is beautiful. If I could get one with the same kind of brightness and fire I'm happy! Im not sure how to look out for painting/digging and I think I prefer a HPHT diamond based on what I have read so far!

if you have a moment can I have your take on this diamond please:

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

if it's not great - can you tell me what to look out for? I really appreciate all your time and effort, thank you!

 

[RM387]

Although that us a CVD LGD

 

[RM387]

Although that us a CVD LGD

There's something about CVD stones I don't like - is it me or do they all look hazy?

 

[DejaWiz]

There's something about CVD stones I don't like - is it me or do they all look hazy?

Not all, but very many to my eyes do, yes.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Not all, but very many to my eyes do, yes.

Hey Deja,
Do you get to see these cloudy stones in person, or basing the assessment on online imaging?

 

[DejaWiz]

Hey Deja,
Do you get to see these cloudy stones in person, or basing the assessment on online imaging?

Hi David!
Online imaging...I can see the graining and haziness in many diamonds, especially CVD method.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi David!
Online imaging...I can see the graining and haziness in many diamonds, especially CVD method.

Got it!
I ask because the online videos are not good enough to accurately judge- this based on so many actual diamonds, compared to the online videos.
I'm sure your advice is always to do an in person assessment, and for sure there's fewer "false negatives" but they do exist as well.
Many are what I'd call "false positives" look great in the video not so much in person.

 

[RM387]

Hi all,

Sorry to bring this ths thread back up -

I was wondering your opinions on if this diamond has significant graining? I think thats what i can see?? Is there anything else on this diamond that you may notice?

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Thank you

 

[DejaWiz]

Hi all,

Sorry to bring this ths thread back up -

I was wondering your opinions on if this diamond has significant graining? I think thats what i can see?? Is there anything else on this diamond that you may notice?

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Thank you

Hello, RM387 - here's the more magnified version of the video and yes, it looks like it has a bit of CVD graining to my eyes.

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Here's the max zoom video:

Loupe360

loupe360.com

 

[RM387]

@DejaWiz

Thanks for getting back to me - is this enough graining to cause a problem? Or something you probably won’t notice with the naked eye?

 

[AdaBeta27]

Hey Deja,
Do you get to see these cloudy stones in person, or basing the assessment on online imaging?

What's the difference, if the vendors persist on using poor online images to sell their wares? You're only as good as your imaging to any online buyer. If it looks bad, buyers will just skip it and look at something else.