Help me choose a diamond!

[MohTheory]

Hi

I've been lurking this forum for awhile but I am now ready to pull the trigger on a ring! I was hoping I could get some help choosing the diamond. I live in Sydney Australia so I need somewhere that can provide the paperwork for the GST etc. Ring size is a 6 (52 Pandora) and the setting will be platinum.

Budget: about 10k USD for the diamond
Carat: 1.1ct+
Colour: G-J
Cut: Ideal/Excellent (looking at BGD atm)
Clarity: VS2 at least but will consider SI1 if it's eye clean

Any recommendations would be great! Thanks in advance

 

[bmfang]

Hi

I've been lurking this forum for awhile but I am now ready to pull the trigger on a ring! I was hoping I could get some help choosing the diamond. I live in Sydney Australia so I need somewhere that can provide the paperwork for the GST etc. Ring size is a 6 (52 Pandora) and the setting will be platinum.

Budget: about 10k USD for the diamond
Carat: 1.1ct+
Colour: G-J
Cut: Ideal/Excellent (looking at BGD atm)
Clarity: VS2 at least but will consider SI1 if it's eye clean

Any recommendations would be great! Thanks in advance

Hi,
Another Aussie here. Is your budget inclusive or exclusive of GST and other import charges?

 

[MohTheory]

Hi,
Another Aussie here. Is your budget inclusive or exclusive of GST and other import charges?

Thanks for replying , exclusive of GST and any other additional charges.

 

[tyty333]

How big do you want to go?

Big in J
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4022605.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970293.htm

G/H stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4066993.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4089364.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4060821.htm hits 7mm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3765688.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4027973.htm

I stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4061061.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4107652.htm hits 7mm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4123868.htm over 7mm

Actually, these are just a few. Since you are in Australia, I would be more tempted to stay in the G/H/I color
range unless you are absolutely sure you are not color sensitive. You can ask WF for pictures of stones
side-by-side to see color/size differences (once you narrow it down some).

Edit...what's your plan for a setting?

 

[MohTheory]

How big do you want to go?

Big in J
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4022605.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970293.htm

G/H stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4066993.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4089364.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4060821.htm hits 7mm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3765688.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4027973.htm

I stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4061061.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4107652.htm hits 7mm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4123868.htm over 7mm

Actually, these are just a few. Since you are in Australia, I would be more tempted to stay in the G/H/I color
range unless you are absolutely sure you are not color sensitive. You can ask WF for pictures of stones
side-by-side to see color/size differences (once you narrow it down some).

Edit...what's your plan for a setting?

Wow thank you so much for the selection. The bigger the better of course but without compromising the cut.
Yea I've been contemplating whether or not to go up to a J. My setting will be platinum and hopefully similar to the "Truth La Vera" that BGD have. Thinking the platinum background will help with faint hues of a J?

 

[headlight]

How big do you want to go?

Big in J
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4022605.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970293.htm

G/H stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4066993.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4089364.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4060821.htm hits 7mm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3765688.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4027973.htm

I stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4061061.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4107652.htm hits 7mm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4123868.htm over 7mm

Actually, these are just a few. Since you are in Australia, I would be more tempted to stay in the G/H/I color
range unless you are absolutely sure you are not color sensitive. You can ask WF for pictures of stones
side-by-side to see color/size differences (once you narrow it down some).

Edit...what's your plan for a setting?

What does living in Australia have to do with the color grade of the diamond??

 

[headlight]

Wow thank you so much for the selection. The bigger the better of course but without compromising the cut.
Yea I've been contemplating whether or not to go up to a J. My setting will be platinum and hopefully similar to the "Truth La Vera" that BGD have. Thinking the platinum background will help with faint hues of a J?

Actually, putting a J into yellow gold will make it appear more colorless, however, you should get the metal you want. It has been said not to put a colorless stone in yellow gold but people like what they like and what looks good on their skin tone, etc., so if you like plat you should go with it.

 

[lovedogs]

What does living in Australia have to do with the color grade of the diamond??

Because in AUS colorless diamonds are what most people have (colorless meaning H/I and up). I believe that's what she meant.

 

[MohTheory]

Actually, putting a J into yellow gold will make it appear more colorless, however, you should get the metal you want. It has been said not to put a colorless stone in yellow gold but people like what they like and what looks good on their skin tone, etc., so if you like plat you should go with it.

Will it face up will be mainly white? I looked at some videos and face up I couldn't really tell the difference. I will consider getting a side by side comparison (between an I and J) once I've narrowed down the selections. How is WF ACA vs BGD Signature? I know BGD is more pricey but I like the upgrade policy of WF. Decisions decisions...

 

[lovedogs]

Will it face up will be mainly white? I looked at some videos and face up I couldn't really tell the difference. I will consider getting a side by side comparison (between an I and J) once I've narrowed down the selections. How is WF ACA vs BGD Signature? I know BGD is more pricey but I like the upgrade policy of WF. Decisions decisions...

J ACA will face up quite white, and yes I totally agree you need to do a side by side comparison. BGD and WF are on par with one another in quality. So for me, it's WF all day (unless they don't have what you want) due to their outstanding upgrade policy. But one is no better than the other. Most people have favorites, but it's due to the customer service or other details vs quality of stones (when you are comparing super ideal vendors).

 

[bmfang]

There is also the issue of if OP doesn’t like the tint on a J+ coloured stone, it’s a right pain to have to ship back, etc. Much easier if you live in CONUSA to do returns with WF, BGD, etc.

 

[MohTheory]

There is also the issue of if OP doesn’t like the tint on a J+ coloured stone, it’s a right pain to have to ship back, etc. Much easier if you live in CONUSA to do returns with WF, BGD, etc.

Okay, thought long and hard about this all day... at the end of the day the diamond will be influenced by the colours around it due to it's translucence. It will still face up white and I will never be evaluating it unmounted, upside down, and from a side profile on a white tray. But then again, never say never I guess?

I think I will still consider a J. It will be too difficult to ascertain the colour of the diamond while she's wearing it? I'd love some side profile photos of a J in a platinum setting in real-life conditions (being worn, not in lab conditions) that may persuade me to stick to an I, if anyone has links to any?

 

[adele_h]

Hey MohTheory,

Fellow Aussie here.. a few years ago I came across a poster called ADN, who wound up being Wade from the Australian Diamond Network - a Melbourne based company (although I believe he personally is based in Brisbane). I don’t think he posts anymore (although if you search for ADN, a number of posts he commented on still pop up). I’ll post my SMTB thread at the end - but TL;DR - we took inspiration from a Brian Gavin setting, and he found me a beautiful stone that whilst was GIA XXX, also met AGS 0 standards. He might be worth liasing with during this time - you may still choose to go with a super-ideal vendor, or someone who has a trade-in policy, but chatting to someone local might be helpful? Don’t be put off by the website - I remember not being overly impressed by it - but perhaps slip into the contact section and ask for Wade (maybe mention something about PS?).

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/0-4ct-solitaire-pendant-by-adn.222383/

 

[MohTheory]

Hey MohTheory,

Fellow Aussie here.. a few years ago I came across a poster called ADN, who wound up being Wade from the Australian Diamond Network - a Melbourne based company (although I believe he personally is based in Brisbane). I don’t think he posts anymore (although if you search for ADN, a number of posts he commented on still pop up). I’ll post my SMTB thread at the end - but TL;DR - we took inspiration from a Brian Gavin setting, and he found me a beautiful stone that whilst was GIA XXX, also met AGS 0 standards. He might be worth liasing with during this time - you may still choose to go with a super-ideal vendor, or someone who has a trade-in policy, but chatting to someone local might be helpful? Don’t be put off by the website - I remember not being overly impressed by it - but perhaps slip into the contact section and ask for Wade (maybe mention something about PS?).

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/0-4ct-solitaire-pendant-by-adn.222383/

Thanks for that. I tried to chat to a few local jewelers but I wasn't able to get anything better than a 2.5 on the HCA tool.

Here are some of my selections:

1. I SI1 1.59ct https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4089360.htm?source=pricescope
2. H SI1 1.34ct https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4117819.htm?source=pricescope
3. J VS2 1.35ct https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4091538.htm?source=pricescope
4. J VS2 1.44ct https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970293.htm?source=pricescope

There's no real rush, I just need it probably prior to September... what are all your thoughts on these?

 

[ringo865]

Whiteflash has in-house GIA stones that are not ACA (because their ACA line is only AGS) that are also eligible for their generous upgrade policy.

https://www.whiteflash.com/premium-select-diamonds/

 

[Dancing Fire]

1. H SI1 1.34ct https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4117819.htm?source=pricescope

1. If eye clean. This SI1 looks good to me.

 

[MohTheory]

Whiteflash has in-house GIA stones that are not ACA (because their ACA line is only AGS) that are also eligible for their generous upgrade policy.

https://www.whiteflash.com/premium-select-diamonds/

If I did a side by side comparison will there be a major difference in light performance? between ACA and their in-house GIA?

1. If eye clean. This SI1 looks good to me.

Thanks for that!

Contemplating whether to spend an extra 1-2k USD to get a better look at the 1.5ct range. A 1.3ct vs 1.5ct seems to be about a 10% difference, do you think that is a considerable size difference to justify the extra $? I think the limit would be the 1.5ct range as she doesn't want it to look too big (her ring size is 6)

 

[Dancing Fire]

Thanks for that!

Contemplating whether to spend an extra 1-2k USD to get a better look at the 1.5ct range. A 1.3ct vs 1.5ct seems to be about a 10% difference, do you think that is a considerable size difference to justify the extra $? I think the limit would be the 1.5ct range as she doesn't want it to look too big (her ring size is 6)

I would..

 

[lovedogs]

If I did a side by side comparison will there be a major difference in light performance? between ACA and their in-house GIA?



Thanks for that!

Contemplating whether to spend an extra 1-2k USD to get a better look at the 1.5ct range. A 1.3ct vs 1.5ct seems to be about a 10% difference, do you think that is a considerable size difference to justify the extra $? I think the limit would be the 1.5ct range as she doesn't want it to look too big (her ring size is 6)

If they have a GIA ypu are considering, I would make sure to compare the ASET/IS and videos. And also maybe ask for IRL pics of whatever ACA vs their PS line. It all depends on the stone. Some of their PS (premium select) I really dislike, and others look extremely similar to ACAs.