Grade for the .8 carat diamond studs.

[bossalover]

Hi everyone,

I have decided to purchase a pair of diamond studs for myself. I have already purchased in fact but I am concerned that it might not sparkle much because of the clarity and the size of the table. I did call the company and asked for their opinion, and they told me it will not be an issue because the cut is ideal - but I would like to have the second opinions. Do you think I should cancel the order and replace the stones with the ones with more clarity? Or, given the relatively smaller size of the stones and the fact that they are for the stud earrings and not the ring, should I be less concerned about it? I am purchasing them from Bluenile, so I do not have the exact photos of the stones. It is the first time for me to purchase the diamonds, so I would appreciate any input. Thanks in advance.

This is the spec of the stone.
Stone 1
Carat weight:0.40
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 61.3%
Table %: 59%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.77 x 4.75 x 2.92 mm

Stone 2
Carat weight: 0.40
Cut: Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 62.0%
Table %: 59%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.73 x 4.71 x 2.93 mm

 

[Amys Bling]

Don't know number combinations off hand to help with the cut quality- but you can use the HCA tool to determine the cut. As for clarity- in something that size, as long as it is eyeclean I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[ame]

I'd return:
59% table is a dealkiller for me, but if not just that, the medium - thick girdles usually turn me off. I really prefer thin to medium, you lose spread with the thickness in the middle.

The clarity isn't the issue, and doesn't affect sparkle unless you're well into the I's or have a VERY bad SI2. Cut is where sparkle comes from.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I actually think they'll be fine. As long as they are excellent/ideal cut and either GIA or AGS graded, you should be fine. The table size alone has nothing to do with how much it sparkles. If anything, it will let more light in and I like bright, white diamonds on the ears! Were there not two close enough in the same color? How much were the diamonds? I do prefer buying from a place that has pictures of the stones whenever possible.

 

[Amys Bling]

Ditto DS. I would like to buy from a vendor that provides images so I know what I'm getting.

 

[bossalover]

I'd return:
59% table is a dealkiller for me, but if not just that, the medium - thick girdles usually turn me off. I really prefer thin to medium, you lose spread with the thickness in the middle.

The clarity isn't the issue, and doesn't affect sparkle unless you're well into the I's or have a VERY bad SI2. Cut is where sparkle comes from.

THanks Ame. Good to know that the clarity is not the most important issue. I wonder why it was marked as ideal if that was the case...

 

[bossalover]

I actually think they'll be fine. As long as they are excellent/ideal cut and either GIA or AGS graded, you should be fine. The table size alone has nothing to do with how much it sparkles. If anything, it will let more light in and I like bright, white diamonds on the ears! Were there not two close enough in the same color? How much were the diamonds? I do prefer buying from a place that has pictures of the stones whenever possible.

Thanks Diamondseeker. They do come with GIA certificate. I bought them from Bluenile, and I did not see a specific photos about those except for the generic diamond photo. (The numbers are: LD02443109 and LD02353056. You can check the stone on http://www.bluenile.com/ if you type these numbers in the item number search box.) I paid $1600 for the two stones (excluding the setting. ) I wish I had known the other sellers at the time when I purchased them so that I could have seen the actual stones...

 

[bossalover]

Ditto DS. I would like to buy from a vendor that provides images so I know what I'm getting.

Bluenile was the only website that I had heard of... but now I see many other vendors. Wish they listed the photos of the stones also - although I am not sure if it is possible for them to do so because it seems that they do not have the actual stock of the listed stones at their store.

 

[slg47]

these are GIA Excellent cuts...so I think you are fine for earrings. And, BN has a good return policy so if you don't love them, you can always return. Usually we recommend using tools like the HCA tool to narrow down GIA Ex but for earrings I think you are totally fine. Make sure to post pictures when you get them!

 

[ame]

I'd return:
59% table is a dealkiller for me, but if not just that, the medium - thick girdles usually turn me off. I really prefer thin to medium, you lose spread with the thickness in the middle.

The clarity isn't the issue, and doesn't affect sparkle unless you're well into the I's or have a VERY bad SI2. Cut is where sparkle comes from.

THanks Ame. Good to know that the clarity is not the most important issue. I wonder why it was marked as ideal if that was the case...

Me also because they don't fall under ideal cut numbers, nor does GIA grade cut as IDEAL. It sounds more like it's being misused as sales jargon than being true.

GIA Excellent has different and sometimes what seems like wider margins on what they consider well cut.

Wait until you get them to make an opinion. You might love them and then thats what matters.

 

[slg47]

I'd return:
59% table is a dealkiller for me, but if not just that, the medium - thick girdles usually turn me off. I really prefer thin to medium, you lose spread with the thickness in the middle.

The clarity isn't the issue, and doesn't affect sparkle unless you're well into the I's or have a VERY bad SI2. Cut is where sparkle comes from.

THanks Ame. Good to know that the clarity is not the most important issue. I wonder why it was marked as ideal if that was the case...

Me also because they don't fall under ideal cut numbers, nor does GIA grade cut as IDEAL. It sounds more like it's being misused as sales jargon than being true.

GIA Excellent has different and sometimes what seems like wider margins on what they consider well cut.

Wait until you get them to make an opinion. You might love them and then thats what matters.

BlueNile has their own cut labels.

 

[ame]

Ugh I hate that. I hate that its used by everyone and means something different and is often used by people that are not selling truly ideal goods.

 

[bossalover]

these are GIA Excellent cuts...so I think you are fine for earrings. And, BN has a good return policy so if you don't love them, you can always return. Usually we recommend using tools like the HCA tool to narrow down GIA Ex but for earrings I think you are totally fine. Make sure to post pictures when you get them!

Thanks! When it comes on Friday, I will post the pictures and ask for your opinion. Thanks!

 

[bossalover]

Ugh I hate that. I hate that its used by everyone and means something different and is often used by people that are not selling truly ideal goods.

Thanks for your input ame. It seems that these stone in fact come with the GIA certificate which states "excellent cut" but using ideal and signature ideal are indeed confusing!

 

[bossalover]

I'd return:
59% table is a dealkiller for me, but if not just that, the medium - thick girdles usually turn me off. I really prefer thin to medium, you lose spread with the thickness in the middle.

The clarity isn't the issue, and doesn't affect sparkle unless you're well into the I's or have a VERY bad SI2. Cut is where sparkle comes from.

THanks Ame. Good to know that the clarity is not the most important issue. I wonder why it was marked as ideal if that was the case...

Me also because they don't fall under ideal cut numbers, nor does GIA grade cut as IDEAL. It sounds more like it's being misused as sales jargon than being true.

GIA Excellent has different and sometimes what seems like wider margins on what they consider well cut.

Wait until you get them to make an opinion. You might love them and then thats what matters.

BlueNile has their own cut labels.

It seems that some stones come with the GIA certificate (or an equivalent certificate from the other trustable organizations) but I understand the reason why the in-house rating could be relatively lenient. I saw a few jewelry companies which listed their grades based on the in-house grading, and I did not feel like purchasing from them - although I do not think they are necessarily lying or anything.

 

[bossalover]

Hello again, first of all, thanks for all of your input. It was very helpful! I ended up calling Bluenile and I changed the order. I have also checked the diamonds using HCA. The new pair of stones are 0.01 carat smaller each, but it had much better results. The original pair was only "5.0 - Good" according to HCA but the each stone of the new pair was "1.6 - Excellent within TIC range." I am really curious how come both stones are rated the same by GIA but I can definitely see that there is some room in the rating (just like in every rating.) I am hoping that the new pairs are good

The new stones are:
Stock number: LD02449205
Price: $739
Price per carat: $1,895
Carat weight: 0.39
Cut: Ideal (GIA Excellent)
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 61.9%
Table %: 55%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.69 x 4.72 x 2.92 mm

Stock number: LD02449205
Price: $739
Price per carat: $1,895
Carat weight: 0.39
Cut: Ideal (GIA Excellent)
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Depth %: 61.9%
Table %: 55%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.69 x 4.72 x 2.92 mm

 

[bossalover]

The earrings have arrived, so I wanted to share the photos with you. They are eye clean, and they sparkle a lot - but I do want to get some experts' opinion here about them. Do you think they are good enough (I know it is subjective - but since this is the first time for me to purchase diamonds with certificates etc, I would like the second opinion.)?

 

[slg47]

do you have the stats on the 2nd stone? i think you posted the first one twice.

 

[Enerchi]

They look very nice- how do you feel about these stones, now that you have them in your possession? Do you have ear shots... ??

We'd love to see them!

 

[bossalover]

do you have the stats on the 2nd stone? i think you posted the first one twice.

Oops! I didn't notice that. Here is the info for the second stone.

Stock number: LD02325200
Price: $824
Bank wire price: $812
Price per carat: $2,113
Carat weight: 0.39
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Depth %: 62.0%
Table %: 55%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.68 x 4.71 x 2.91 mm

 

[slg47]

you have GIA excellent cuts that score well on the HCA and are well-matched in terms of size...and you said they are super sparkly in person...seems good to me. enjoy your earrings!

 

[bossalover]

you have GIA excellent cuts that score well on the HCA and are well-matched in terms of size...and you said they are super sparkly in person...seems good to me. enjoy your earrings!

Thanks slg47! It's a relief to get the input from someone who knows about diamonds. Thanks so much...!

 

[bossalover]

They look very nice- how do you feel about these stones, now that you have them in your possession? Do you have ear shots... ??

We'd love to see them!

Enerchi, thanks!! I do have ear shots
I like how they sparkle, and I literally wish I had eyes to the sides as well so that I can keep looking at them.
This is how they look on me...

 

[Enerchi]

Very nice!!!! Perfect size for your ears - they look amazing on you!

(and perhaps a sneak peak at your little pendant might be appreciated.... any details on THAT you'd like to share??? )

 

[bossalover]

Very nice!!!! Perfect size for your ears - they look amazing on you!

(and perhaps a sneak peak at your little pendant might be appreciated.... any details on THAT you'd like to share??? )

Aw, thanks enerchi! The pendant is DBTY in rose gold with .17 carat diamond. I wear this almost everyday

 

[Dancing Fire]

a beautiful pair...

 

[Amys Bling]

Lovely!! Great job