help choose engagement ring

[Ellen]

Date: 8/19/2009 4:21:28 PM
Author: def51
I am visiting Paul at Infinity headquarters tommorow at 15h. The AGS graded diamond had been posted online, along with a slightly larger I1 diamond. They are both on hold.

=652:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=652
=655:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=655

Both diamonds have all images posted. What do you gals and guys think?? Any help is appreciated!!! The .39 stone that isn''t AGS graded but that has better stats is not online.

Thanks!!

I think the IS on both look great, no surprise there. However, I will be honest. While we here know great cut, and not so much color/clarity make for a beautiful diamond, I am really hesitant to recommend the I1 for her Ering. I just think at this point, I''d stick to the SI1. Call it a woman''s intuition...

 

[def51]

Thanks Ellen and Stephan. In the process of choosing the diamond, I am also learning quite a lot about them. Very very interesting and a bit addictive! Off course, learning more and more, one starts to notice things.

Regarding the Hearts and Arrows pattern of the .39 SI1

=655&src=hearts:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=655&src=hearts

Is it a problem that the hearts are not separated by the V-marks, as is indicated here:

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/65/1/Hearts-and-Arrows-Diamonds-and-The-Basics-of-Diamond-Cutting.aspx

(it could very well be the case that I am completely off, and that a perfect H&A is super rare and I shouldn''t expect to find perfect H&A images at these relatively low prices)

The other properties seem to be very good, don''t they? I put the numbers in the HCA and got a 0.8, which also seems very very good no?

Thanks!!

Off to Infinity in 5 hours.

 

[Stephan]

I don''t think it''s a problem.
The optical symmetry is perfect, IdealScope picture is perfect too.
You have an AGS Ideal 0 certificate and a great HCA score.
This diamond will be very bright!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/20/2009 4:21:18 AM
Author: def51
Thanks Ellen and Stephan. In the process of choosing the diamond, I am also learning quite a lot about them. Very very interesting and a bit addictive! Off course, learning more and more, one starts to notice things.

Regarding the Hearts and Arrows pattern of the .39 SI1

=655&src=hearts:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=655&src=hearts

Is it a problem that the hearts are not separated by the V-marks, as is indicated here:

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/65/1/Hearts-and-Arrows-Diamonds-and-The-Basics-of-Diamond-Cutting.aspx

(it could very well be the case that I am completely off, and that a perfect H&A is super rare and I shouldn't expect to find perfect H&A images at these relatively low prices)

The other properties seem to be very good, don't they? I put the numbers in the HCA and got a 0.8, which also seems very very good no?

Thanks!!

Off to Infinity in 5 hours.

The lgf (arrows) are shorter, and technically, I don't know if this would qualify by some as a true H&A, it's hard to say. Obviously Paul thinks so! Since you are going to see them in person, you can compare the looks/personalities/sparkle. Other than that it looks fine.

 

[def51]

So I visited Paul at his Antwerp office this afternoon. It turned out to be a very enjoyable visit. Paul is really a very kind, patient and passionate person. We talked about the diamonds he had lying around, but also about the diamond and cutting business in general, where it is going, what technologies are emerging. I really learned a lot today - all very very exciting!!! I must have spent almost two hours there!

As for the diamonds themselves, I got to examine them in the custom built and AGS certified loupe/H&A/ASET viewer, and they were both of very high quality, very very bright and sparkling in all sorts of light conditions! These are the differences:

- the cut on the non-certified stone looked just a tad better, with the hearts and V shapes a little more separated. They were also separated on the SI1 stone however,depending on how exactly you positioned your eyes above the scope. Very close match between the two.
- I could not spot the inclusion in the SI1 with the naked eye, but it was very easy to spot with the loupe (actually it is also easy to see on the ID page loupe image, one inclusion top right in the table, one bottom left). It would normally never bother me, but having learned so much here, I don't know where I stand on this yet. It is rather large compared to the size of the diamond. The inclusion is white by the way, not black.
- The color distinction between the SI1 (E) and the VVS2 was very clear when presented next to each other and from the sides and on a white background. The H faced up very white too however, and I really don't think that I would notice a yellow tint in real life situations, or even against the white paper, if the E wasn't lying right next to it. The E was the brightest of whites in all situations.
- I did not spot any inclusions with the loupe on the VVS2 but the tiniest of specs - very very clean.
- The SI1 is marked "crafted by infinity" while the VVS2 is not. The SI1 comes with a report.

Here is the correct page for the SI1:

=655&src=loupe:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=655&src=loupe

In the end it was a very very close call, and I told Paul to go ahead with the SI1, a beautiful pure white stone that is perfect to the naked eye that comes with a certificate for peace of mind (and a bit less expensive in the end too). If the inclusion would come to haunt me in my dreams tonight, I might call in to change my choice... In reality either stone would have been perfect by my standards....... And I might ask a price on a .51 that he also had laying around but that will most likely exceed my budget.

=650&src=loupe:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=650&src=loupe

Thoughts always appreciated!

 

[Lula]

Date: 8/19/2009 4:46:36 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 8/19/2009 4:21:28 PM

Author: def51

I am visiting Paul at Infinity headquarters tommorow at 15h. The AGS graded diamond had been posted online, along with a slightly larger I1 diamond. They are both on hold.


=652:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=652

=655:2o8h065d]http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?pid=63&lang=eng&sid[]=655


Both diamonds have all images posted. What do you gals and guys think?? Any help is appreciated!!! The .39 stone that isn't AGS graded but that has better stats is not online.


Thanks!!

I think the IS on both look great, no surprise there. However, I will be honest. While we here know great cut, and not so much color/clarity make for a beautiful diamond, I am really hesitant to recommend the I1 for her Ering. I just think at this point, I'd stick to the SI1. Call it a woman's intuition...

I agree with Ellen. While I would buy one of Paul's I1's in a heartbeat (I own an eyeclean Infinity SI2), I think in your situation, it's best to go with the better clarity. It would be different if she was picking it out herself and chose the I1, but this is a gift. By the way, the stones should look very similar in terms of performance, size, and sparkle, so you'll have a great stone either way.

 

[Lula]

I just read your post about your visit to Paul.

I think you made a great choice with the E SI1. It's got a certificate and the girdle is inscribed. You got a great stone for a great price. Congratulations!

 

[Ellen]

Yay! I''m so glad you had so much fun with Paul, and got to see several stones. I think since you got to see them in person, the one you picked is the right one. The second one you linked looks very nice also, and admittedly is a lot bigger. Up to you and your wallet on that one!