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Help choosing between a few WF/BGD diamonds

mochi89

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 29, 2017
Messages
8
Hi everyone!

I'm need some help narrowing down a diamond, hoping you experts can give me some unbiased advice. I'm mostly focused on getting the best cut possible, so only considering WF ACA and BGD Signature diamonds. Looking for something over 1.5 carat, H or I in color, and eye clean. Around 13k would be a comfortable budget, but can stretch to 15k if needed.

Here are the 5 options I've been considering, in order of price. The first 2 come out just under $11k / $7k per carat after I apply the 7% BGD discount code, and 3-5 comes out around $13k / $8k per carat. All have HCA scores of 1.1 to 1.4 and score excellent in light return, fire, and scintillation.

1) https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3925307.htm
2) https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.577-g-si2-round-diamond-bfg-785027
3) https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885306.htm
4) https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3935941.htm
5) https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.648-i-vs2-round-diamond-bfg-785028

1 and 2 seems like a good deal but I would be trading off color for 1 and clarity for 2. Which is the better deal?

On 1, can I safely go down to a J if I can't perceive any color in an H? The ASET/idealoscope looks good, the WF sales associate told me there's slightly more fire and contrast in this one, whereas the I had a better balance of brilliance and fire. They took a picture of the J against an I and I could barely see the difference in color, but when I asked my fiancee and family to look they all instantly picked out the I as the brighter/whiter of the 2 (and I didn't tell them which was I/J). Would you consider this J closer to an I or to a K? I would be setting it in a platinum solitaire.

On 2, have anyone had experience with the BGD advanced selection? I'm mostly concerned it won't be eye clean since it's a SI2. The sales associate told me they can't guarantee it will be eye clean, since Brian Gavin had not evaluated it yet, but most of the other SI2 in their signature collection I had looked at said eye clean. I'm concerned however because it seems too good to be true given the price point, the closest comparable eye clean SI2 is about $3k more expensive, at a smaller carat size and lower color grade. I think G is a bit of a waste on me as I can't see anything in H, but this was the cheapest one they had >1.5 carat. I reserved this one figuring I might luck out and it'll be eye clean, is it still worth considering if not? Can non-eye clean diamonds make it into their signature collection? There's also the fact I don't know how the ASET/idealscope images will compare, but I understand BGD offers one of the best cuts if not the best.

Between 3 and 4, which has better brilliance/fire? I'm leaning more toward 4, what do you guys think?

If 2 comes back as not eye clean, should I consider 5? Since it's VS2 I think it should likely be eye clean. But there's no ASET/idealscope images to compare against 3 and 4. It's a larger carat size tho at 1.648 (7.63 X 7.61 X 4.7), only ~$240 more than the 1.608 (7.53-7.56x4.63) from WF.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!
 
I believe that Brian Gavin's advanced selection is different from their Signature stones (which are their own proprietary cut, in-house stones).

As for color, J is a much wider range of color than I. Probably safest to stick to an I color or higher for an engagement ring.

I'll defer to more experienced eyes for in-depth analyses of your picks.
 
The advanced selection are all branded signature stones. If it’s an eye clean SI2 that would be a great deal... could you buy it and return if not to your liking?
 
It is difficult to compare these diamonds directly, as the two BGD are preorders with no specific grading report available. What you are looking at are simply sample pictures. So, I'm only going to compare the three WF options directly. The BGD will come down to price/preference of cut style.

#1 and 4 have slightly smaller tables and higher crown, compared to #3. The proportions are very similar betwen #1 and 4. I also personally prefer the I color over J, unless you are absolutely sure you don't mind the J. There is a bit difference to the color observant between H and J...less between H and I. So, I'd tend to prefer #4 and #3. Having no need for VS1 given the clear VS2, I'd choose $3. But, this is really splitting hairs between 3 and 4.

#1 https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3925307.htm, $10747
upload_2017-12-30_6-34-7.png

#3. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885306.htm, $12975

upload_2017-12-30_6-32-19.png

#4. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3935941.htm, sold.
upload_2017-12-30_6-33-12.png
 
Thanks everyone! It looks like #4 is no longer an option and someone bought it already :(

If #2 comes back eye clean I think it'll be the clear choice due to the combination of color and price. Thankfully I don't have a "mind-clean" issue. My dilemma's what if it's not eye clean.

I'm leaning toward ruling out the Js and just sticking with I or higher. I think #3 / the 1.608 I VS2 from Whiteflash will be my second choice.

I actually haven't heard of HPD before, thank you for bringing it up! Are there no 360 degree pictures/videos for CBI? The ASET/idealoscope images look a bit different, how would you compare these 2 against the whiteflash one? Pretty steep $2.5k price differential:

1.608 I VS2: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885306.htm
1.66 I VS2: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9404
1.59 H SI1: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD8052
 
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