shape
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clarity

Help choosing a virtual diamond!

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
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Feb 6, 2018
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66
Hello! Fiance and I just started looking at diamonds and have been completely overwhelmed by the amount of information out there! We've been reading countless threads/sites/blogs and everyone seems to have their own opinions on what an "ideal" diamond should be. Based on what we've read so far, we have been able to narrow down a few selections but wanted to get opinions to help move our search along. We're hoping to get some feedback on whether we're "on the right track" or if we need to completely refocus our search. Please help!


Retailer CW Color Clarity Cut Fluorescence Depth Table Crown Pavillion HCA Price
1. Blue Nile 1.01 I VVS2 EX STRONG 62.1 57.0 36.0 40.6 1.9 $5,241.00
2. Blue Nile 1.0 I IFL VG FAINT 60.3 62.0 34.5 40.8 2.7 $4,886.00
3. Adiamor 1.03 I VVS2 EX STRONG 62.1 58.0 35.5 40.8 2.8 $4,789.00
4. James Allen 1.01 I VVS2 EX NONE 62.4 58.0 35.0 41.4 5.0 $4,860.00
5. Blue Nile 1.0 I VVS2 EX STRONG 62.9 58.0 34.5 41.6 5.6 $5,259.00

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 

ringo865

Ideal_Rock
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Is forgers a reason for the extra high clarity in the near colorless range? If you drop your clarity floor to VS2 (even SI1), you'll eek out more diameter. Drop any with HCA over 2.

What's your budget fir just the stone?

And are you in USA or elsewhere (exchange and import fees, etc)?
 

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
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I'm in the states, budget for the stone is $5800 for around 1ct.
 

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
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Is forgers a reason for the extra high clarity in the near colorless range? If you drop your clarity floor to VS2 (even SI1), you'll eek out more diameter.

Apologies in advance for our naivety! What do you mean by "forgers"? Also, could you explain the relation between clarity and diameter? Appreciate your help!
 

canuk-gal

Super_Ideal_Rock
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25,646
HI:

Welcome. As you are spending, what criteria are you looking for in a diamond? What is your ideal?

cheers--Sharon
 

EllieTO

Shiny_Rock
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156
There should be lots and lots of options for you in the range of specs you're looking for, so that's great. A few notes:

Adiamor isn't the best retailer from what I've heard. At your price range and specs, you'll be able to find something at any online retailer, so I would stick to the ones with the better reputations. Blue Nile and James Allen are fine. Whiteflash is very highly recommended, and their top of the line cut (A Cut Above brand) is much better than Blue Nile and James Allen's top cuts. But with the help here, you don't need to pay for the brand name, people can help you find a well cut unbranded diamond. You may also want to consider their trade-up policy (best at Whiteflash compared to JA).

Are you buying only the diamond, or the setting as well? JA and BN settings are ok, but you can do better going with one of the highly recommended vendors. Definitely don't get a setting at Adiamor, from what I've read. Feel free to browse for inspiration (I like the look of some of their settings myself), but you may want to go the custom route with a Pricescope-recommended vendor for a similar setting rather than buy from Adiamor.

Is there a reason you're leaning towards VVS and FL clarity? You shouldn't be able to see anything with the naked eye in a VS1/2, and you'll save a LOT of money (or, increase carat size :P2). I colour is ok if you know you're not colour sensitive, and this way you'll save money too. If you're not experienced and want to be safe that you won't notice any tint, then stick to G or H.

As for fluorescence, if you're not sure whether you have a preference, and you can't really go and look at some in person (including outdoors in sunlight, very important), then I would suggest to limit your search to faint or no fluorescence.

When you're looking at long lists of similar spec diamonds, be wary of picking the cheapest one out of a bunch with similar spec. There is probably a reason it's priced lower (visible inclusion, ugly tint - not all tints are yellow, or an inclusion that may affect the integrity of the diamond, such as prone to chipping near the girdle).

I'm not quite an expert and I don't participate much beyond lurking, so you may not hear from me much, but you'll be in great hands with the people on this forum!
 

rockysalamander

Ideal_Rock
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5,105
While you answer the other questions, here's how I would respond to your choices. Please don't be discouraged by my responses. I'm leaving some narrative so you can see why I said what I did. I also don't suggest EGL or IGI for the diamond novice. If you look at those, assume the clarity is 1-2 lower and color 1-2 color than if graded by GIA. ;)2

1. Blue Nile 1.01 I VVS2 EX STRONG 62.1 57.0 36.0 40.6 1.9 $5,241.00. No. Crown angle (CA) too high. Strong flour needs to be screened for impact on stone.
2. Blue Nile 1.0 I IFL VG FAINT 60.3 62.0 34.5 40.8 2.7 $4,886.00. No. angles not complimentary.
3. Adiamor 1.03 I VVS2 EX STRONG 62.1 58.0 35.5 40.8 2.8 $4,789.00 Ok. but it seems overkill to pay for this clarity. Plus, Adiamore won't give and ASET or Idealscope image on rounds. These numbers CA/PA are not 'safe' enough without images.
4. James Allen 1.01 I VVS2 EX NONE 62.4 58.0 35.0 41.4 5.0 $4,860.00. N0. PA too high to pair with CA. Drop anything with HCA 2.0 or over.
5. Blue Nile 1.0 I VVS2 EX STRONG 62.9 58.0 34.5 41.6 5.6 $5,259.00 No. Angles off.

Suggested Stones
(to keep within a $5500 usd budget and near 1 carat, I dropped clarity to SI1 and color to J just to show you a range of options. Clarity drives cost as much as color, so if 1 carat is the goal -- you need to play with color and clarity. From JA, you can request up to 3 IS images. Short-list which you like most and then ask for the IS for those. WF has all the images you need online. Ask questions if this is too confusing}

J color
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4389234 {largest I can find, but it has a pretty visible inclusion on the table and a cloud. If you pursue this, you'll need to get the JA gemologist to review to see if the cloud impacts light return}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-j-color-if-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3006532 {biggest and best option if high clarity is a priority. Good numbers.}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3560283 {high clarity, good numbers. Strong flour needs to be screened, but might tick most boxes}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3661267 {good clarity. Good numbers}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3155938 {good clarity. Good numbers}

I color
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4389084 {crystal under the table may be too visible for some, but at VS1 it should really not be visible, but good IS images. great angles and light return}
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936450.htm {.916 I VS1 super-ideal. Nice small table}

H color
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3520058.htm {.922 H VS2, super-ideal. Great light return}
 

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
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Feb 6, 2018
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66
Oh my goodness! I'm floored by all the help I've gotten here in just under an hour. You guys are amazing!

In terms of what we're looking for, we were basing our choices based on the 4 C's since we really didn't know where to start. But as we're diving deeper into the world of diamonds, we're realizing that there is waaaay more to it than that! Below are some of my ideals:

Setting: Cushion platinum halo, round center stone. We are looking to purchase both the diamond and the setting together, but will consider looking for a local jeweler to set our stone if we find a good one. We're in LA.
Carat: Anything over 0.96
Color: I've read that if choosing platinum, I should pick a more colorless stone as the whiteness of the platinum would make a stone appear more yellow. Would I need to pick something better than I or H?
Clarity: Doesn't need to be VVS or FL, would just prefer "eye clean".
Cut: I would prefer a more "ideal" cut to maximize brilliance.

Overall, we know it's an investment piece so would like to maximize our budget and willing to budge on certain areas if it is a better value. Hope that makes sense!
 

rockysalamander

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 20, 2016
Messages
5,105
Oh my goodness! I'm floored by all the help I've gotten here in just under an hour. You guys are amazing!

In terms of what we're looking for, we were basing our choices based on the 4 C's since we really didn't know where to start. But as we're diving deeper into the world of diamonds, we're realizing that there is waaaay more to it than that! Below are some of my ideals:

Setting: Cushion platinum halo, round center stone. We are looking to purchase both the diamond and the setting together, but will consider looking for a local jeweler to set our stone if we find a good one. We're in LA.
Carat: Anything over 0.96
Color: I've read that if choosing platinum, I should pick a more colorless stone as the whiteness of the platinum would make a stone appear more yellow. Would I need to pick something better than I or H?
Clarity: Doesn't need to be VVS or FL, would just prefer "eye clean".
Cut: I would prefer a more "ideal" cut to maximize brilliance.

Overall, we know it's an investment piece so would like to maximize our budget and willing to budge on certain areas if it is a better value. Hope that makes sense!

Can you post and example of the halo you have in mind? What is the total budget in US dollars (minus any takes and such)?
 

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
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Feb 6, 2018
Messages
66
Can you post and example of the halo you have in mind? What is the total budget in US dollars (minus any takes and such)?

These are the two settings I'm partial to. I don't like too high of a "profile" -- not sure if I'm using the right terminology. And no split shanks.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-and-pave-gallery-engagement-ring-item-53040

https://www.brilliantearth.com/Circa-Diamond-Ring-(1/2-ct.-tw.)-White-Gold-BE188D-2104320/

Would like to stay under $7500 overall.
 

rockysalamander

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 20, 2016
Messages
5,105
These are the two settings I'm partial to. I don't like too high of a "profile" -- not sure if I'm using the right terminology. And no split shanks.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-and-pave-gallery-engagement-ring-item-53040

https://www.brilliantearth.com/Circa-Diamond-Ring-(1/2-ct.-tw.)-White-Gold-BE188D-2104320/

Would like to stay under $7500 overall.
Cool. That's a doable setting on your budget. What do you do professionally (or aiming to do if still a student)? Have you seen GIA graded diamonds in person and determined your color sensitivity?
 

canuk-gal

Super_Ideal_Rock
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25,646
HI:

While diamonds are not investments-I suspect you meant that you want a great diamond that is worthy what you invested in it. You are looking for an "ideal" cut? If that is the case, focus on best cut, first.

You've already said you'll decrease the clarity--that is good to know since an I IF/VVS > 1 ctw diamond would be difficult with your original budget.

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD8602

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9812

Lots at WF

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/search.aspx

cheers--Sharon
 

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
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Feb 6, 2018
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66
HI:

While diamonds are not investments-I suspect you meant that you want a great diamond that is worthy what you invested in it.

Yes! By all means NOT an investment, but the best stone we can purchase based on our budget and priorities. We purchased a home that we have been renovating so a ring is a merely a "want" and not a necessity in the grand scheme of things :saint:
 

justdeb__

Rough_Rock
Premium
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Feb 6, 2018
Messages
66
Cool. That's a doable setting on your budget. What do you do professionally (or aiming to do if still a student)? Have you seen GIA graded diamonds in person and determined your color sensitivity?

I'm in the fashion industry.

No, we have not even started looking at actual stones. Still just researching and figuring out the ins and outs, as well as terminology.
 
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