Help on the final four!

[jwaters]

I''ve narrowed it down to four diamonds, two from JA and two from WF. I''m posting the two WF diamonds now because I''m going to see them in person tomorrow and want some opinions in my head. I''m still waiting on images from JA on their two diamonds, and will update this with those as soon as they come (should be today).

I kind of did this process backwards. I picked out a setting with my girl as that''s what she was picky about. Finally found one she liked, so I went ahead and got it. It''s a custom made ring from a local jeweler in Denver, and I''ll be able to go back and get the diamond reset in it by them. One thing to note is that the spacing on the current setting is ~4mm, and the diamonds I''m looking at are ~6mm. It had a 0.3c diamond in it which I had them take out, but we looked at 0.75c diamonds at their store so I''m confident that they can redo the setting.

That being said, here''s pictures of the ring, followed by the first two diamonds.

 

[jwaters]

Diamond #1

0.816 ct G SI1 Whiteflash ACA

. Report: AGS
. Shape: Whiteflash ACA
. Carat: 0.816
. Depth %: 61.7
. Table %: 56.1
. Crown Angle: 34.4
. Crown %: 15.1
. Star : 52
. Pavilion Angle: 40.7
. Pavilion %: 42.9
. Lower Girdle %: 76
. Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick Faceted
. Measurements: 5.97-6.01X3.69
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[jwaters]

Diamond #2

0.768 ct F SI1 Whiteflash ACA

Item Code: AGS-10408102

. Report: AGS
. Shape: Whiteflash ACA
. Carat: 0.768
. Depth %: 60.5
. Table %: 57.2
. Crown Angle: 34.9
. Crown %: 15
. Star : 51
. Pavilion Angle: 40.7
. Pavilion %: 42.8
. Lower Girdle %: 78
. Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
. Measurements: 5.94-5.98X3.59
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[jet2ks]

They both look great! I will be very surprised if you can tell them apart with the naked eye, unless inclusions are not eye-clean. Since the setting uses a peg head, it should be easy for the jeweler to switch that out for one the correct size once they know the size of the diamond.

 

[jwaters]

Date: 7/27/2009 11:30:29 AM
Author: jet2ks
They both look great! I will be very surprised if you can tell them apart with the naked eye, unless inclusions are not eye-clean. Since the setting uses a peg head, it should be easy for the jeweler to switch that out for one the correct size once they know the size of the diamond.

Thanks for the tip on the setting, makes me feel a bit better.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/27/2009 11:30:29 AM
Author: jet2ks
They both look great! I will be very surprised if you can tell them apart with the naked eye, unless inclusions are not eye-clean. Since the setting uses a peg head, it should be easy for the jeweler to switch that out for one the correct size once they know the size of the diamond.

Ditto, your selections look great!

 

[jwaters]

Thanks Lorelei. I know I already posted about this but I wanted to consolidate the information and make it easier to compare. Now if JA will hurry up and send me their images I can decide. I''m already leaning towards one of the WF diamonds because of the cut. Since size isn''t as much an issue I think I''m better off with a slightly smaller diamonds with slightly more sparkle, but I''m probably just splitting hairs at this point. Being able to see the WF diamonds in person will probably make the difference, especially if I can convince them to ship it to my house in GA so I don''t have to pay a few hundred dollars in sales tax.

Oh, and HSA:
diamond 1: 1.0
diamond 2: 1.1

 

[jwaters]

Still don''t have any pictures of the JA ones. I''m going to see these two from WF in a few hours. Any other comments? What should I be looking for in person? I asked to look at some non-aca cut stones and some different color grades, but that''s just going to make me like these two more.

 

[stone-cold11]

Maybe give BrianGavinDiamonds a call/visit? They are in the same building with WF.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/28/2009 9:59:31 AM
Author: jwaters
Still don't have any pictures of the JA ones. I'm going to see these two from WF in a few hours. Any other comments? What should I be looking for in person? I asked to look at some non-aca cut stones and some different color grades, but that's just going to make me like these two more.

If you wanted to visit any of the other vendors closeby ( such as Brian Gavin) then you would need to call and make an appointment, due to the nature of their business I don't believe you can just show up. But otherwise when you go to WF, have fun and really look and compare, ask questions and see which diamond speaks to you the most! Also WF and JA both have upgrade policies but the terms of each are very different so if you think you might want to upgrade in future you might want to take that into consideration. WF are a good company and you will be in safe hands with them.

 

[jwaters]

I talked to my girl last night about upgrades actually and she was adamant that she had no desire to upgrade. Even if she changes her mind I think the fact they even have upgrade policies (whether is be when purchasing a stone 2x in value or not) makes the differences inconsequential because I''m not getting a very expensive stone. I''m kind of in the mindset now that if I like what I see at WF there''s not really any reason to keep looking. I keep hearing rave reviews about the ACA cut and neither I nor my girl is going to be picky over the details. As long as I get a good cut, eye-clean, good color I''m happy and it seems like all the retailers price competitively, so I''m not paying more at WF then I would at JA or BN.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/28/2009 12:17:12 PM
Author: jwaters
I talked to my girl last night about upgrades actually and she was adamant that she had no desire to upgrade. Even if she changes her mind I think the fact they even have upgrade policies (whether is be when purchasing a stone 2x in value or not) makes the differences inconsequential because I''m not getting a very expensive stone. I''m kind of in the mindset now that if I like what I see at WF there''s not really any reason to keep looking. I keep hearing rave reviews about the ACA cut and neither I nor my girl is going to be picky over the details. As long as I get a good cut, eye-clean, good color I''m happy and it seems like all the retailers price competitively, so I''m not paying more at WF then I would at JA or BN.

Thats fine, just wanted to bring it up in case you might want to upgrade later. If you are happy with what you see at WF then thats fine, no need to keep looking for the sake of it if you find what you want, you love it and the price is right!

 

[jwaters]

Ok, first thing, Whiteflash is awesome! I met with Bryan Boyne who couldn''t have been more helpful. I was extremely nervous when I got there, but I felt very comfortable. Looked at diamonds for 45 mins before I had to go back to work, and he gave me a tour of their facility. They only had the 2nd diamond on site, the 1st one is still at the lab but they reserved it for me and I''m going back on Friday.

Here are my thoughts:

Color: I can notice a yellow tint in G color diamonds under direct light against a white backdrop, but I highly doubt it would be noticeable in a setting. He showed me an H diamond which was significantly more yellow, but again, not really noticeable unless under direct light. I think I''m going to stick with F/G, so no change there. But it was really nice to see.

Clarity: The inclusion in diamond 2 is pretty noticeable from the side at the right angle. You can see it in the hearts picture from the bottom, its kind of a line of small inclusions. Unfortunately its right in the middle of the diamond. It''s only visible from one angle though, and could be covered by a prong. I think I can do better though. Diamond 1 looks cleaner, hopefully it will be eye clean from the sides.

Cut: The ACA diamonds really are pretty. We talked about the non-ACA executive selection diamonds, and he showed me some that were pretty much ACA without the title. We looked one up online that was within the margins for ACA grade in pavilion, crown, depth, table, but the star was 57 instead of under 56. That was the only thing keeping it from being ACA. He even joked that they might send it back to get remeasured. With that in mind he told me to look for similar diamonds online that just missed the ACA-cut grade for something like that.

I forgot to take the ring with me

, but luckily I''m going back. All in all, amazing customer service, and it''s REALLY nice to see them in person.