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Help me decide between these 0.8 ct diamonds

A

aadiamond

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 6, 2012
Messages
18
After much consideration have decided to go with a 0.8 ct diamond. I am down to the final three which are very close in performance and any input as to which one I should go with finally would be really helpful

0.81, HCA 1.1, H SI1, Ex/Ex/Ex, H&A
http://www.eternitybyyoni.com/diamond_detail.php?id=639519

0.82, HCA 1.5, I VS2, AGS 0 Ideal, H&A
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1454991.asp

0.81, HCA 1.6, I VS2, Ex/Ex/VG
ERD diamond

I have the idealscope images for all three but am not sure how to upload them but will put them on as soon as I know how to. All three are priced very similar so which one seems like the best one ?

Thanks in advance.
 
Anyone help please ?

I have attached images for the 0.81 from Eternity and the images for the JA diamond are available on the link.

Any help would be appreciated since I need to make the decision by tomorrow. Also if you have any better recommendations that would be nice as well.

2012-08-09_1.jpg

2012-08-09_2.jpg

2012-08-09_3.jpg

2012-08-09_4.jpg
 
Where will you be purchasing your setting? Have you compared the policies between the two vendors? They both look like beautiful diamonds.

Edit: are they both eye clean?
 
I have asked for a quote for a custom setting from JA and Eternity both. The same as the one at http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12018368 with 18K metal and better quality than Zales :)

Also the representative at JA said the diamond is eye clean which is believable since it is a VS1. I am not too sure about the eternity diamond. Other than asking Yoni for his opinion is there anything else I can do to make sure ?
 
The JA stone looks very clean, we have seen stones with eye visible inclusions at VS2, but it's unlikely. Yes, you should ask for Yoni's opinion of the SI1. Everyone has their own definition of eye clean, so you should be as specific as possible. Do you want to be sure that the stone is clean from 12 in? 6? from the side? Eye clean is determined from face up with normal eye sight, so if you have hawk eyes, then you should mention that too. Most vendors also determine eye cleanliness from a distance of 12 in, or half an arms length. Where the inclusion is located is also going to be important. Is it under the table, can it be covered by the prongs? I noticed that the GIA has clouds as it's grade making inclusion, be sure that they will have no impact on the brilliance of the stone.

Also ask JA about the color of the stone. There has been a lot of talk lately about the color grade differences between GIA and AGS. Ask the GG what his thoughts are on the color and if he feels it's a true I.
 
Personally when I dd go to a B&M store for research I could not easily find inclusions for SI1/2 under a loupe unless they were specifically pointed out to me by the sales person. Also for an I1 which should not have been eye clean i could not see the inclusions easily so I don't think I have hawk eyes :)

This is what I got from Yoni on clarity for the Eternity diamond.

"It is a very clean diamond. 100% eye clean. (Its tough to see the
inclusions with a loupe. One pinpoint buried deep in the table towards
the pavilion and the other is right on the border of the star facets.)
We think you'll be very happy with it."

Also JA has a 60 return while Eternity has a 30 day return. For the custom setting itself JA offers no returns while Eternity has a 30% restocking fee.

Do you think both diamonds are good enough and pretty close in performance that I should decide based on where I would get a better custom setting
 
I would pick the JA if it were me. I like the AGS specs and table % on that one better.

But if both are equal in your mind, maybe going w the company with the best return or upgrade policy is the deciding factor. No deep reason, but for me, I'd still be going JA! good luck!
 
As a noobie both seem pretty close to me and I need the expert advice from the people on this forum to decide :)

I lose the hold on both these diamonds tomorrow so any advice to help me decide would be great. A couple more replies would help me be certain on which one to go with.
 
Personally I agree with Enerchi, I like the JA stone better. I was a wee bit concerned about the color, but if you've seen other I colored stones than you are probably fine. I personally am not particularly color sensitive and I prefer a slightly warmer diamond to an icy white one. Most people can start to see slight variances when they get to around G. But an I is going to face up very white when it's set and unless it's compared side by side with a G or better you will never know the difference. I think the AGS has slightly better optical symmetry. However, if Yoni comes back with a substantially lower price for the setting, then the GIA stone still appears to be a great performer so you really can't go wrong. But, me? I think I'd go with the JA stone..
 
I spoke to the JA guy and this is what he came back with on the color

"Our gemologist determined that both of the diamonds have a true "I" color. If it had a "lower I" color, that would have been shared up front so that you had no false expectations about the diamond's appearance. With "I" color diamonds, they traditionally face a beautiful white color in the eye of the beholder and only show some warmth when they are directly beside a diamond with a significantly higher color."

Also both got back to me on the setting as well and I have started a new thread on that.

JA - (No refund)
$1,225 for a 0.33 ctw on 14k gold

Eternity - (30% restocking)
$1,300 for 0.25 ctw on 18k gold
$1,400 for 0.33 ctw on 14k gold

So there is a ~$200 (JA is cheaper) difference between the settings and a ~$100 (Eternity is cheaper) on the diamond. The overall price difference is not enough to tilt me either way :(

If one more person confirms that JA is a better diamond I'll be decided :)

Thanks for the help.
 
ok -- new iron in the pot--- does one have a better UPGRADE policy than the other???

That might help, because so far, the diamonds and the settings are neck and neck!! Its like the Olympics of diamonds!! We need someone to pull ahead here.... :lol:
 
Hehe.... Yes one needs to pull ahead.

Policy comparison

JA:
Return on diamond - 60 days (Win), Return on setting - none (Loss), Upgrade - full value if spending twice the price (Draw)

Eternity:
Return on diamond - 30 days (Loss), Return on setting - 30% restocking (Win), Upgrade - full value if diamond is twice as big in ct (Draw)

One question on the diamond though is negligible florescence on an AGS cert the same as none ?
 
I'm thinking "none" is none/nyada/nyet/zip, "negligible" is a little hint of something... does that make it pull ahead with a win?? LOL!
 
Possibly.... Someone I know who is a diamond retailer (not around here) told me to stay away from diamonds with fluorescence. Well I know there is more to it and it is not black an white but I guess anything to push me towards one :)
 
When the time comes i'm going to be actively searching for a diamond WITH med/strong fluorescence...unless it's med/strong you don't have to worry I don't think in terms of whether it will impact a stone. Sometimes strong fluorescence can make a stone look "oily" but most times it will make a lower colour stone appear a little whiter in some lights. But I like the effect and I don't think you'd be able to see anything even with a black light, I have an E with faint blue and I can't see it at all, (wish I could!), and it doesn't diminish anything. It also makes diamonds cheaper as it's considered a negative but if you can see it doesn't impact on the diamond I think it's a cool addition + a cool way to get a discount.
 
Since the diamonds are both good I feel i should decide based on the vendor since my setting is a custom one. Both JA and Eternity have good reviews on this forum.

My final question is that for a custom setting as mine which vendor would you chose JA or Eternity ?
 
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