Have Idealscopes, but still stumped -- opinions please?

[Garchie]

I posted on here a couple of days ago in regard to JA stones and got some helpful advice ... well, I now have five stones which we are considering, and I''m not sure which is best.

Three are from JA, and two are from BG. The JA stones are much bigger (1.05-1.3) than the BG (0.9), and looking at the Idealscopes, I''m thinking the BG ones are more symmetrical, with more light return? But I thought I would post them here and get some expert opinions. Which would you choose? I''m not sure whether to go with a bigger rock and a simple, inexpensive setting, or the smaller one with one of the BG solitaire settings, which are much nicer.

I will say that I''ve been impressed with the responsiveness from Lesley, who got back to me at 10:30 pm last night when I asked about these stones.

Here are the stats, if they''re helpful:

1) 1.3 J VS2, GIA Triple Excellent (0.9 HCA)
Depth: 61.7%
Table: 56%
Crown angle: 35.0
Pavilion angle: 40.8

2) 1.05 J VS2 "TruHearts," AGS0 (1.1 HCA)
Depth: 61.9%
Table: 54.6%
Crown angle: 35.3
Pavilion angle: 40.6

3) 1.21 J VS2, AGS0, (0.9 HCA)
Depth: 61.1%
Table: 55%
Crown angle: 34.0
Pavilion angle: 40.8

4) BG .902 I VS2, AGS0 (0.9 HCA)
Depth: 62%
Table: 57%
Crown angle: 34.8
Pavilion angle: 40.6

5) BG .905 G SI1, AGS0 (1.0 HCA)
Depth: 61%
Table: 56.3%
Crown angle: 34.7
Pavilion angle: 40.7

 

[Lula]

The IS images for all stones look great to me.

Are the JA stones being sold as H&A? If so, a better comparison would be the hearts images (if you want to compare the cut precision/optical symmetry).

Can you get the hearts images from JA? I believe BG provides hearts images with all of their stones

ETA: I see that only one JA stone is true hearts. I would get the hearts image for that stone and for the BG stones and post those. If cut quality is important to you, choose among those based on the stones' hearts images. If size is more important to you, you may want to consider one of the other, larger JA stones. It's a decision we, unfortunately can't make for you!

And, yes, customer service, trade-up policies, buy-back policies, etc., vary between vendors, and you're wise to consider those, too, and how important they are to you.

 

[JulieN]

There was once a time when people used to think there were meaningful differences in Ideal Scopes this similar.

I think the difference between a 1.3 and a .9 ct stone is very different. Which would your fiancee prefer?

 

[stone-cold11]

Yap, I would go for the 1.3c stone too. Looks good.

 

[Lorelei]

They all look good but hearts images would be useful if you could post those as these diamonds are sold as h&a.

 

[Lula]

Carat size is just one consideration -- has your future fiancee given you a preference for what size diamond she''d like?

Other considerations besides size:

Vendor trade-up policies. Some people like the option of being able to trade in their original diamond for a larger size (e.g., for a future anniversary). Brian Gavin''s trade-up policies are more generous than JA''s.

Cut precision: Stones from Brian Gavin will have superior optical/physical symmetry, if this is important to you. JA stones will also be well-cut, but less precisely cut. Some people can see the differences in cut at these levels; some can''t.

Vendor buy-back policy: Should something unforeseen happen, some vendors will buy back your stone at varying rates (always better than what you could get selling it yourself).

Customer service.

Settings. You''ve already mentioned the differences in quality here. However, many people choose to buy a larger stone, get an inexpensive setting, and then get a new setting for an anniversary or a birthday.

 

[HVVS]

I like smaller tables, like 55% or so. I'd also pick a G over an I, and I over J color. I used to think I wanted VS clarity at lowest but now SI2 or even I1 is okay to get a bigger diamond, just so the inclusion hides well and isn't a structural problem.

"I" is where most people start seeing color in a diamond. J might be too yellow for some people although lots of women here have beautiful Js and are very happy with them. If I were buying an estate diamond, I might consider a J for a real bargain price. But I think a high I is my limit for a non-discounted diamond. I've looked a Good Old Gold's J diamonds next to a G, and J looks yellow to me. Also, the color grades get wider as you go down the scale. The D / E/ F grades are very tight little ranges. (Not much variation from a high to low color stone in any of those grades, as if there are low color stones in those grades, lol.) But the J range color variation is wide, and a J could be almost as white as I or almost as yellow / brown as a K. You need to establish where a J falls in that range, and whether the wearer can accept warmth in order to get size. For me, white or near-white really stops in the I color grade. The more diamonds I look at, the more color sensitive I get. I owned an I and a G at the same time for years. And I never saw tint in the I until I started looking for it. But it's noticible to me now. Slight, not objectionable, but I do see it.

We're not supposed to talk about sims here, so I won't. But if by chance the recipient of this stone has been wearing CZs, the tint of a diamond in the I or J range will probably be noticed right away. Whether or not it's objectionable, you'll have to determine. Lots of people prefer I or J or K to whiter diamonds.

 

[Garchie]

Thanks for all your advice. Sorry for the confusion on the H&A -- only the 1.05 from JA is a TrueHearts -- the others (1.2 and 1.3) aren''t. Although I went back on the site and it didn''t seem like there was a hearts image any more, so maybe I misspoke? Fiancee and I went down a long list of candidates, so confusion is possible.

Rumor has it that the 1.3 faces up "a bit yellow," so I''m thinking our focus will be on the BG stones and the 1.2, but I''m waiting to hear from the JA gemologist.

In an ideal world, Fiancee would get a BG 1.2-1.3 with one of his solitaire settings. She''s not as enthusiastic about the JA settings. But there are some budget considerations preventing the purchase of a larger BG stone. I know she''s torn between the vendors. She knows a fair amount about diamonds, but most likely not to the point of seeing differences between AGS0/Triple Ex stones that are close on the HCA.

I know there''s also a B&M setting that she loves, so another possibility would be to get the larger stone in a simple setting and then save up for a local reset.

 

[ct-appr]

In my opinion the cut on all of them is fine. I would go for the better color.