Getting down to decision time... some last advice/opinions on 3 stones?

[quietforce]

I really don't know what I would do without PS. You guys are fantastic. If you have seen any of my earlier threads, you know I am aiming for a holiday proposal to my lovely girlfriend, and I have been looking at stones with a local diamond merchant in NYC and also with a shop that is going to build my ring in Massachusetts. Through you guys, I discovered that I can probably get a much more beautiful diamond for less money through someone like whiteflash or james allen.

I've decided I don't want to go lower than G color or VS2 clarity - I have a sort of mental block there even though I know there are deals to be had.

With that in mind, I'm down to three stones :

1.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193781.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

2.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193774.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

3.
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219635.htm#

I might be able to see the james allen ones in person here in NYC, which is nice, and I like the slightly larger stones and slightly lower price, but man, that one from WF looks nice! I'm a little worried looking at the certs for james allen ones, it looks like the inclusions might be visible since they are in the center of the table whereas on the WF one they are off to the side. Also, WF offers more data, including the ASET image.

Does anyone have any unbiased opinions about WF ACA vs. james allen TrueHearts?

More importantly, which stone do you prefer?

And lastly, the jeweler in Mass is going to show me this stone tomorrow, which they are offering for $6900:
1.04c/G/VS1/GIA Exc Exc Exc/no Fl/no culet
6.44x6.50x4.03
Table 55% Depth 62.3% Crown 34.5 Pavilion 41.0
Thin-Slightly Thick girdle
HCA 1.9, AGS cut estimator 1A

Final thoughts? Advice? Words of wisdom?

Thanks guys, you are awesome!

 

[jet2ks]

1.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193781.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

2.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193774.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

3.
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219635.htm#


And lastly, the jeweler in Mass is going to show me this stone tomorrow, which they are offering for $6900:
1.04c/G/VS1/GIA Exc Exc Exc/no Fl/no culet
6.44x6.50x4.03
Table 55% Depth 63.3% Crown 34.5 Pavilion 41.0
Thin-Slightly Thick girdle
HCA 1.9, AGS cut estimator 1A

The WF stone is a beauty, all right. G VS2 is a good color/clarity combo, no worries on the mental block. My preference is still the 1.07 from James Allen.
I really don''t think you would notice any difference in performance and the savings are significant. Having not seen the ACA vs TrueHearts in person, I can''t give you a live evaluation, all I can say is with the information we have on these specific diamonds, I don''t think there would be a noticeable difference in look and performance.

Are you sure on the numbers on the stone from the jeweler in Mass? If the depth is a typo, here is the same diamond offered on Blue Nile (might give you a bargaining chip, if interested) http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-vs1-clarity_LD01608844

It could be a good diamond, but without images, I wouldn''t want to say more. The angles and overall depth are such that I would want an IS image to evaluate it further.

One more thing for you to consider. Is upgrading going to be a consideration any time in the future? I just ask because the vendors have different upgrade and buyback policies. This needs to be taken into consideration when making a decision.

 

[stone-cold11]

ASET is not necessary for Round brilliant.

#1 stone is no longer available, you have it on hold?
#2 stone''s hearts image is slightly off, maybe ask JA to retake it?

WF''s ACA looks good.

DC''s stone looks promising from the numbers.

 

[quietforce]

Date: 12/7/2009 11:24:49 AM
Author: jet2ks

1.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193781.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131


2.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193774.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131


3.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219635.htm#



And lastly, the jeweler in Mass is going to show me this stone tomorrow, which they are offering for $6900:

1.04c/G/VS1/GIA Exc Exc Exc/no Fl/no culet

6.44x6.50x4.03

Table 55% Depth 63.3% Crown 34.5 Pavilion 41.0

Thin-Slightly Thick girdle

HCA 1.9, AGS cut estimator 1A

The WF stone is a beauty, all right. G VS2 is a good color/clarity combo, no worries on the mental block. My preference is still the 1.07 from James Allen.

I really don''t think you would notice any difference in performance and the savings are significant. Having not seen the ACA vs TrueHearts in person, I can''t give you a live evaluation, all I can say is with the information we have on these specific diamonds, I don''t think there would be a noticeable difference in look and performance.


Are you sure on the numbers on the stone from the jeweler in Mass? If the depth is a typo, here is the same diamond offered on Blue Nile (might give you a bargaining chip, if interested) http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-ideal-cut-g-color-vs1-clarity_LD01608844


It could be a good diamond, but without images, I wouldn''t want to say more. The angles and overall depth are such that I would want an IS image to evaluate it further.


One more thing for you to consider. Is upgrading going to be a consideration any time in the future? I just ask because the vendors have different upgrade and buyback policies. This needs to be taken into consideration when making a decision.

Yes, I should have mentioned that, that is the same stone, clearly whoever the jeweler got the stone from was also listing it on BN. I learned that little research trick from you guys I figured I would mention it and see if they would split the difference, but my experience thus far is that B&M stores aren''t really that willing or able to take online prices into consideration.

I think you are right that the 1.07 is a great deal - for argument''s sake if the $500 wasn''t an issue would you pick the WF or the 1.07 JA?

 

[quietforce]

Sorry, and yes the depth was a typo, it''s actually 62.3 I went back and fixed it

 

[quietforce]

Date: 12/7/2009 11:29:11 AM
Author: Stone-cold11
ASET is not necessary for Round brilliant.


#1 stone is no longer available, you have it on hold?

#2 stone''s hearts image is slightly off, maybe ask JA to retake it?


WF''s ACA looks good.


DC''s stone looks promising from the numbers.

Nope, not on hold, I guess my decision just got easier!

Any opinions on #2 vs. #3, purely in terms of cut - dimensions, image evaluation etc.?

I''ll check to see if JA can relook at the hearts image.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 12/7/2009 11:36:37 AM
Author: quietforce

Yes, I should have mentioned that, that is the same stone, clearly whoever the jeweler got the stone from was also listing it on BN. I learned that little research trick from you guys I figured I would mention it and see if they would split the difference, but my experience thus far is that B&M stores aren't really that willing or able to take online prices into consideration.

I think you are right that the 1.07 is a great deal - for argument's sake if the $500 wasn't an issue would you pick the WF or the 1.07 JA?

They have to take online prices into consideration on the identical stone. It is one thing to say, "Well, you can't buy this one anywhere else" and quite another to charge more if the customer can buy the same item for less elsewhere.

If they were the same price, I would pick the WF ACA. That has more to do with vendor policies than the quality of the diamond. JA has a very good trade-in/upgrade/buyback policy, WF has a great policy regarding ACA's, one of the best anywhere. Moot point--they are not the same price. What is more important to YOU and will make you feel most confident about your purchase?

Unmounted, side by side, I would have an extremely difficult time telling the two diamonds apart with the naked eye--in actuality, I probably couldn't. Mounted in a ring--no chance whatsoever! I guess I'm not seeing what Stone-cold saw in the Hearts image, it looks good to me.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/7/2009 11:40:46 AM
Author: quietforce

Date: 12/7/2009 11:29:11 AM
Author: Stone-cold11
ASET is not necessary for Round brilliant.


#1 stone is no longer available, you have it on hold?

#2 stone''s hearts image is slightly off, maybe ask JA to retake it?


WF''s ACA looks good.


DC''s stone looks promising from the numbers.

Nope, not on hold, I guess my decision just got easier!

Any opinions on #2 vs. #3, purely in terms of cut - dimensions, image evaluation etc.?

I''ll check to see if JA can relook at the hearts image.

It appears as if a heart is off on the JA hearts image, it is possible it isn''t the image and that the optical symmetry is slightly uneven. It is a beautiful diamond all the same, it just depends on whether you want a crisp and even h&a pattern or if that doesn''t bother you, it should be a lovely stone nevertheless.

The ACA looks great.

 

[quietforce]

Okay... I think I am going with WF. It turns out I am not going to have time to go to JA and I really like the depth of information WF offers and the guarantees on their ACA stones. Now I''m down to two stones, the difference being $400 and a color grade. Also, the inclusions on the F seem like they are off to one side but potentially more noticeable (I think I can see it in the 40x image) and the inclusions on the G are more dispersed but in the center of the table (I also think I can see one of these on the 40x image).

Lastly, the G seems to show a slightly cleaner AGSL light performance image on its certificate than the F, although the ASETs appear almost identical.

Thoughts? Votes? Let''s get this thing done!

Stone 1
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219635.htm#

Stone 2
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219636.htm#

Thanks again for all of your amazing help.

 

[jet2ks]

Stone 1
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219635.htm#

Stone 2
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219636.htm#

Flip a coin? You are not going to go wrong with either. It sounds silly, but what some others have done is have their WF sales rep take two stones around the office and get votes from other WF employees who can see the diamonds live. You could try that, or maybe buy both and give her 2cttw studs

 

[quietforce]

Date: 12/7/2009 4:07:23 PM
Author: jet2ks

Stone 1

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219635.htm#


Stone 2

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2219636.htm#

Flip a coin? You are not going to go wrong with either. It sounds silly, but what some others have done is have their WF sales rep take two stones around the office and get votes from other WF employees who can see the diamonds live. You could try that, or maybe buy both and give her 2cttw studs

Ha! Well, I called WF and spoke to a very helpful sales person who is putting the F/VS2 on hold for me. Mainly it was because the inclusions are off to the side on the F. I''ll think about it and make a final decision tomorrow.

Thanks everyone again for your help!