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Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!!!

M

murali12

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 18, 2013
Messages
6
Hello Everyone,

I have been looking at F-VVS2 diamond for an engagement ring. My budget is 8-10K.

Have shortlisted 2 of them:

1. Bluenile - 1.00 Ct, Cut - Ideal, Symmetry- Very Good, Polsih - Excellent, Fluorecence - No, Price: $8700. Holloway Score: 1.7

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP&track=tab#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD03520829

2. JamesAllen - 1.07 ct, True Hearts, everything excellent. Fluorescence: Faint, Holloway Score: 1.3, Price: 10,700.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.07-carat-f-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-253462


Questions:

•Is james Allen diamond worth extra 2K? Which diamond is better value? My analysis shows 8.5k/carat is a good price for F-VVS2 diamonds
•Is Faint Fluorescence an issue on JA diamond. I always thought None is preferred for colorless diamonds?
•Both have "Additional Pinpoints not shown" Is that an issue with that comment?
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!



The bluenile diamond has some unusual proportions.
They placed the girdle very high, so the crown is shallow and the crown and pavilion angles are very different than what we usually see in well-cut rounds.
As a rough diamond it probably had an unfortunate shape and cutting a well cut diamond from it would make the weight fall well below that magic 1 carat milestone.

It might be okay but I'd want to see an Idealscope pic.
Unfortunately Bluenile does not provide them.

Remember, the HCA is a rejection tool not an acceptance tool.
Step 1: Reject diamonds scoring over 2.0.
Step 2: Get IS pics on those scoring under 2.0.

I expect the odd proportions are why the Blunile diamond is so much cheaper.
I would not buy that diamond.
Saving money is not good if the diamond looks bad compared to a better-cut diamond.
This may be a rare example of a poorly cut diamond scoring well on the HCA.

screen_shot_2013-09-26_at_11.png
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

Thanks Kenny. How about the James Allen diamond?
It is True Hearts. Only issue seems to be the Fain Fluorescence.
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

murali12|1380216662|3527716 said:
•Is james Allen diamond worth extra 2K?
Which diamond is better value?
My analysis shows 8.5k/carat is a good price for F-VVS2 diamonds
•Is Faint Fluorescence an issue on JA diamond. I always thought None is preferred for colorless diamonds?
•Both have "Additional Pinpoints not shown" Is that an issue with that comment?
Click to expand...

I believe the JA diamond is appropriately priced for a well-cut diamond, and the Bluenile is appropriately price for a poorly cut one.
Diamond sellers are very smart and they don't give money away.
There is a reason the Bluenile diamond is so much cheaper.
Someone ignorant of cut will gobble that one up.
Fortunately, you know better.

IMO, faint fluorescence is not an issue.
IMO, less-knowledable customers would worry about faint fluorescence.
Pinpoints are tiny and hard to find even with a high quality 10x loupe.
They post no mechanical issues like feathers (the industry's pretty word for cracks) sometimes do.
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

The James Allen is probably lovely and larger. At that clarity I doubt you will see any inclusions. Get an ideal scope and ASET?

PUT IT ON HOLD!!!!
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

I love high color and clarity and am happy to pay the high price for it and end up with a small diamond for the budget.

But ... have you seen with your own eyes the color of F diamonds compared to G, H, I, Js etc.?
Some people don't notice the additional color, or even like it, or don't mind it because it allows them to buy a larger diamond for the same price.

Same for clarity.
Lots of people go for VS2 or SI1 as long as it is eye-clean to THEIR eyes without magnification.
Again going down in clarity lets you buy a larger stone ... or one that is less expensive.

Go out and look at diamonds, but only those graded by GIA and AGS.
Other labs have 'generous' color and clarity grading so the seem cheaper.
They are not.
The grades are just lies.

Look at a side view with the diamond up side down against a folded white card away from those sparkly jewelry store lights.
After seeing many diamonds of all colors and clarity if you still want an F VVS2 so be it.
But make an informed decision based on your own eyes and values, not what anyone tells you.

People vary and some simply must have a D IF.
Others are fine with seeing black carbon spots with the naked eye and a very warm/brown/gray/yellow diamond.
FWIW, probably the peak of the bell curve would be near H VS2.

Many people incorrectly assume high color and clarity translate into better light performance.
They don't.
Good cut does that.
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

I get wanting colorless. Although G would be indistinguishable from an F unless it is unset and upside down on white paper or with color grading stones.

But VVS to me is a complete waste of money.

I have a VS1 and I can't find my inclusions with a loupe. This is not unusual.

I would drop my clarity down to VS1.

For the majority of people going above G VS2 (eyeclean) is a waste.

But if you want to be a superstar then I think F VS1 is much more reasonable, and you might be able to eek out some savings or some size. And size, you will notice.
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

Thanks Kenny, AprilBaby and Gypsy.

I know a G-VS1 will just work fine, but my wife thinks that F and staying VVS is best bet, I will try to convince her if I find a true heart with that spec.

I am much more knowledgeful now thanks to you guys!!!
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

I am the same school of thought as Kenny. I also enjoy the higher colors. My ring is GIA H and it is whiter than white. I sometimes wonder if I sent it in again to GIA if they would grade it higher. So again have your wife look at some real GIA F, G & H stones and see if she truly is that color sensitive
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

I'd rather have the spread of the full carat. I wouldn't give up the size.

Can you ask her if she would prefer a 90 point E VVS. Or a full carat G Vs1?
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

Gypsy - She would always prefer 1 ct compared to 0.9. How is the 0.9 ct diamond in terms of proportions? Any inputs?
 
Re: Help needed to pick a Colorless Diamond - F/VVS2 Thanks!

Gypsy|1380223794|3527792 said:
I get wanting colorless. Although G would be indistinguishable from an F unless it is unset and upside down on white paper or with color grading stones. <--- which it never will be
But VVS to me is a complete waste of money.

I have a VS1 and I can't find my inclusions with a loupe. This is not unusual.

I would drop my clarity down to VS1. <--- my thought is VS2 or eye clean SI for that matter, but I'll play. ;))

For the majority of people going above G VS2 (eyeclean) is a waste.

But if you want to be a superstar then I think F VS1 is much more reasonable, and you might be able to eek out some savings or some size. And size, you will notice.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with Gypsy on this... it's a complete waste unless she just wants bragging rights (which is really a waste of money and quite obnoxious, IMO). :rolleyes:

I think this increase in size would be noticeable, and I can about guarantee no one will be able to tell the difference in this and an F/VVS... HCA 1.5 and has medium fluorescence to boot!!! :love:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-244134 $9830 (without PS discount)

Edited for grammar.
 
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