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Rmichie

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 27, 2019
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Hi

I am trying to decide between two diamonds for my partners engagement ring.
I do not have any knowledge about diamonds and i have tried my best to learn what i can online. But still if anyone on here wouldn't mind giving me their 2 cents i would really appreciate it.
I am trying to decide between these two diamonds :

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond...ONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab#

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.
 
Without an ASET or IS to confirm performance, I wouldn't choose either of these. Stone 1 has an overly deep cut and too high/steep of a pavillion (we recommend 40.6-40.9). And stone 2 has a shallow crown (34-35 is recommended).

Have you used the HCA tool (under "tools"/) or the pricescope diamond search tool?
 
Hi thank you for your reply
I have just used the HCA tool for stone 2 and it has a cut advisor score of 0.7 and gets excellent for everything except for return where it gets a very good.
I don't actually know what 0.7 means however.
 
Rmichie said:
Hi thank you for your reply
I have just used the HCA tool for stone 2 and it has a cut advisor score of 0.7 and gets excellent for everything except for return where it gets a very good.
I don't actually know what 0.7 means however.
Click to expand...
Any score under 2 means that the stone has complimentary angles (e.g. the angles work well together). It doesn't guarantee performance, but it's an important check to do. Anything over 2 means angles are not working together so the stone shouldn't be considered further. But note that a score of 1.5 vs 1 isn't "worse", anything under 2 is a "pass". It's like a "pass/fail" system.
 
Thank you
So with a Score of 0.7 does that mean i should not consider that stone?
 
Also just to better help you: is there a cultural reason for such high color and clarity? You'll have more options if you drop to G color (which appears white to almost everyone, unless your GF is particularly color sensitive) and VS2/ eye clean SI1. eye clean is all that matters to most people, bc anything cleaner than that doesn't give you any visual benefit unless you look under a microscope.
 
No not at all, as i said i really have no knowledge of diamonds so all advice is gratefully taken on board.
 
Rmichie said:
No not at all, as i said i really have no knowledge of diamonds so all advice is gratefully taken on board.
Click to expand...
Oh yay, that opens up a lot more choices!!! What's your max budget?
 
£6k is probably my limit
 
@lovedogs and I respectfully disagree with regard to color... if there wasn’t a difference there wouldn’t be the grades nor the price differential. Also, if someone was planning on buying me a colorless diamond and someone on an internet discussion forum advised them in another direction I would be very upset about that, especially for something as important as this.
So now you have 2 perspectives which is why you came here.
Alternatively, @lovedogs and I view clarity in a similar way... why pay for something if it won’t affect the stone adversely and is still eye-clean.
Of course, as in the color scenario described above, some people want a very “pure” stone and don’t care about getting colorless! So lots of ways to view this... you have to decide what your beloved’s preference would be.
One thing I know for sure... if you give @lovedogs what you are looking for, she will find you an awesome diamond!
 
Try to stay within this criteria when shopping:
  • 54-57 table
  • 60-62.4 depth (prefer 62 or less)
  • 34-35 crown, maybe 35.5 if paired with 40.6 pavilion
  • 40.6-40.9 pavilion, maybe 41 if paired with 34 crown
  • 75-80 lower girdle facets (aka LGF)
  • Inverse relationship between the crown & pavilion, meaning steep crown/shallow pavilion or vice verse
  • HCA score of 2 or less, although the criteria above will normally land you here anyhow
No on stone 1. The 35/41.2 combo doesn't work. You are pairing steep crown with a steep pavilion. Also, once you creep to 41+ you can run into issues.

That said, if this stone had a 40.6 pavilion it might be more complimentary and would have a better shot of working, although you'd still want an ASET or Idealscope (IS) image to confirm light performance.

FYI, here is the HCA on stone 1:

Capture99.PNG

On stone 2 I'm not a fan of that shallow 33 crown and would also pass on it. At least it's paired with a steep 40.8 pavilion but really you'd want the crown in the 34+ range to be ideal.

If you look closer at the HCA data, you will see the obvious "score" of 0.7 and we frequently recommend a score of 2 or less to consider. However, please pay attention to the part I circled in blue. It talks about how low HCA scores are good for earrings and pendants. From what I've seen, stones with shallow crowns and depth tend to get lower HCA scores.

That said, continue looking at the second screen shot I took of the HCA results. It plots where this stone may fall in GIA or AGS grading. It's predicting "very good", not excellent for GIA. Also, AGS best grade is 0 for ideal. It's predicting it would fall to an AGS1 or AGS2.

InkedCapture98_LI.jpg

InkedCapture97_LI.jpg
 
That is a lot of information for a novice like me and I would like to thank you for taking the time to educate me.
 
Rmichie said:
That is a lot of information for a novice like me and I would like to thank you for taking the time to educate me.
Click to expand...

Glad to help. I am traveling but will look for some alternates when I get a chance.

In regards to color, people have varying preferences, tolerance and acuity. For me, the big deal is it's an attribute you can appreciate with the naked eye so make sure whatever you decide fits whatever you and your girl find acceptable. That said, once they all look the same, why pay for a better color?

With clarity its graded using a 10x scope so unless you have really awesome vision the chances of you appreciating a higher clarity is pretty rare, unless you need it for cultural or mind clean reasons. Because of this, many tend to lower clarity to "eye clean" status which normally means an SI1 or VS2.

When you find these sweet spots, it allows you to appropriate your money elsewhere to attributes you find most desirable. Or you find value based on your personal preferences.
 
Rmichie said:
Thank you for all the great advice - I've had a look and would appreciate anyones thoughts and opinions on these 4 diamonds.
Thank you again.


https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-details/LD12910567?track=FCOM&slot=2&type=6

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab
Click to expand...
Stone 1 is a 60/60 style diamond. Nothing wrong w that, but just read up on it so you know what you're getting.

I really like stone 2.

Definitely no to stone 3, numbers are way out of recommended ranges and without and aset/IS it's too risky IMHO.

Stone 4 could work. Depth is right at the max we recommend and 35.5 is a tiny bit steeper than we'd recommend. Can you ask for an ASET/IS just in case?

Of all 4, number 2 is the safest bet.
 
Rmichie said:
Thank you
So with a Score of 0.7 does that mean i should not consider that stone?
Click to expand...

Hi @Rmichie - welcome!

0.7 means you SHOULD consider that stone. Anything under 2 is worth considering.

And re the stones you posted - I'm not a fan of the first one - for a number of reasons.

But the second stone you posted in your first post is lovely. Great faceting, nice balance, and VERY white and clean. Very good stats, too - and spready (wide diameter for its given carat weight). This would be a gorgeous engagement ring stone.

While some would argue that E color and VVS2 clarity is unnecessary, I disagree. This is her engagement ring; a little luxury is in order. If your budget was VERY restrictive and you needed to go down significantly in color etc to get an appreciable size increase, I'd agree with that approach. But that second stone will face up like a 1ct diamond, and in England (as I'm guessing from the 6k pound budget?) that's a lovely, elegant, substantial size.

And I love very white stones - what a luxurious indulgence!

ETA Just to clarify - I'm referring to the second stone in your very first post. Of the second group of stones you posted - the 4 diamonds - #2 is your best bet, tho I find the faceting pattern rather uneven. #4 stone, in that bunch of 4, btw, has very needle-y arrows - which I don't think looks as good on the finger. It's to do with GIA rounding their numbers and a thing called lower facet % - which I won't bore you with. Suffice to say, it's not a great look. Your 'first #2' is clearly the nicest stone for my money.
 
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Thank you so much for your replies!
Cannot tell you enough how much i appreciate it - forums are such great places where those with knowledge help the novices like myself and its just amazing.
I feel like i am lost in a world of diamonds and its rather baffling.
I live in Edinburgh, Scotland - and as an example i went to a jeweller on friday and a 1.01 ct, G colour, VS2 was £12000 hence why i am trying to find a loose stone online.
 
When comparing it to the .9 you posted above (the 2nd one when you linked 4), the .9 has "fatter" arrows ,but you lose a lot of size vs. this new one that is 1.22. I think the new one is a nice balance between size/color/clarity/price.
 
what is it you like about it?
As i said before as a complete novice i have no idea.
Thank you
 
Well, good angles,.5mm larger than first #2, nice small table at 56. VS2 (great clarity pick/price balance).
 
would you pick this one over first number 2?
 
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1.5
 
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