Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement ring

[Caramel]

Hi all,

After a lot of investigation online I saw that B2C jelewery has the lowest prices. But if you want to have an real heart&arrow whiteflash or goodoldgold can be an option.

So I am not sure if I want to have a bigger stone with very good cut -colour and clarity or a smaller carat but real hearts&arrows. I know at the end I have to decide but I need some advice. I will list diamonds below please share your comments to choose best one. I don't know if I should pay more for hearts&arrows cut or for bigger carat.

0.7 E-Vs2 -Very good Cut

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4258765-0.70-carat-Round-diamond-E-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=4258765&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

HCA:1.1 ex

0.66 G-vs2-Hearts and Arrows

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11518/

0.63 G-vs2-Hearts and Arrows

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2890078.htm

0.60 F-vs1-Hearts and Arrows

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4289429-0.60-carat-Round-diamond-F-color-VS1-clarity.aspx

0.51 G-Vs1-Hearts and Arrows

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2890066.htm

 

[Caramel]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Heyyy, Is there anyone to help me???

 

[c-k]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Heyyy, Is there anyone to help me???

I personally would buy the best cut I could afford...My preference is Cut, Clarity, Color....then I look for what I can afford. You will never regret that you purchased an Ideal cut diamond. My pick would be the GOG or Whiteflash for a AGSL Ideal.

 

[ecf8503]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

The B2C H&A isn't the best example of H&A - and by many standards should not be labeled as such. Yes it has "hearts" and "arrows" but the chevrons aren't even, the arrow heads don't line up perfectly, etc.

Never compromise on cut quality - the cut is what makes it sparkle, which is the whole point, right? An ideal cut stone will face up whiter and larger than a less well cut one. Try to stick with stones with HCA under 2, which it looks like you've tried to do, then get an idealscope image to assess light performance. The WF and GOG stones already have that done for you, and I'm not sure B2C performs that service.

What is your budget? The stones you listed seem to vary a lot in price. And who has a setting you like?

 

[bfleming]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Go with the best cut. Get a true hearts and arrows cut. GoodOldGold (Rhino on here) has dozens of great youtube videos and what he shows is how a better cut stone looks way better than a larger stone that is a dud and doesn't reflect light ideally. Also, with an ideal cut you can get a G or H and it will look totally white due to the ideal cut.

 

[RockyRacoon]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

These stones are the same price as the stones you had linked, and are guaranteed to be top-notch cut and assessed for any issues in-house:

.625ct, H, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.625-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959024

.73ct, K, VS1
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-default&id=16

.626ct, G, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.626-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959032

 

[bfleming]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

I like those. Here is another.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3034533.htm#


One odd thing, I dunno, maybe I'm being superficial, but one factor in buying a ring was the name of the company. If I present a box with a name like "Brian Gavin", or "White Flash", it just seems a little more classy than "High Performance Diamonds". I'm not knocking them at all, but just blabbing my opinion.

 

[RockyRacoon]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

it just seems a little more classy than "High Performance Diamonds". I'm not knocking them at all, but just blabbing my opinion.

...until they saw what was inside the High Performance Diamonds box!

These are truly some of the best cut stones, provided by a well-respected vendor. In addition, the 'See It To Believe It' policy is really something unique in this segment of the industry.

I have not purchased from this vendor, myself, but I know many others that have ended up with VERY nice pieces.

In the years to come, it will be the diamonds that are remembered, not the box they came in.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

The B2C H&A isn't the best example of H&A - and by many standards should not be labeled as such. Yes it has "hearts" and "arrows" but the chevrons aren't even, the arrow heads don't line up perfectly, etc.

+1

 

[heididdl]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Go with the best cut. Get a true hearts and arrows cut. GoodOldGold (Rhino on here) has dozens of great youtube videos and what he shows is how a better cut stone looks way better than a larger stone that is a dud and doesn't reflect light ideally. Also, with an ideal cut you can get a G or H and it will look totally white due to the ideal cut.

DITTO

 

[bfleming]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

it just seems a little more classy than "High Performance Diamonds". I'm not knocking them at all, but just blabbing my opinion.

...until they saw what was inside the High Performance Diamonds box!

These are truly some of the best cut stones, provided by a well-respected vendor. In addition, the 'See It To Believe It' policy is really something unique in this segment of the industry.

I have not purchased from this vendor, myself, but I know many others that have ended up with VERY nice pieces.

In the years to come, it will be the diamonds that are remembered, not the box they came in.

I totally agree. I checked out heir web site and they look good! My bad.

 

[Caramel]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Thanks for all of your helps.

Buying from internet is a bit more diffucult for me because I am out of USA. Ring will be delivered to my friend in USA and then he will bring. So, see and buy won't work for me.

When I compare prices with Turkey, diamond itself is cheaper than here. But sets are realy expensive than Turkey. The main problem here is finding GIA certified diamonds. Even if jewelery shops give you GIA sertification some of them said id of certification is not written with laser on diamond.

So I have to choose a shop which has reasonable prices for sets too. Because of that I choosed diamonds from B2C.

I am wondering that if I choose a diamond GIA3x and HCA is less than 2, will this diamond have a perfect cut? I am a bit confused about differences between hearts&arrows cut and excellent cut. I mean it is realy worth to pay much more for hearts and arrow or only X cut will satify me. Infact I have no chance to compare them, here sellers even does not know hearts&arrows cut

By the way my budget is 2500 dolar with set. Maybe I can push it a bit more up if I realy like something. I was planning to buy 0.60 carat at least G-VS2. But as far as I understood my budget is not enough for this quality with hearts&arrow.

I like the stone G-I1. İt is still in my budget. But I can not understand if inslusions are eye visiable. Would you please help me to understand that?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.604-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-c-104068465052#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/1/

 

[teobdl]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

By most standards, it is not eye clean.

The inclusion is small, but given its location near the middle of the table and close to the table, it will be eye visible
a) if you are looking for an inclusion.
b) if you are looking at the diamond in the right light and it's not moving.

You will probably not see that inclusion
a) if you look at the diamond for just 2 seconds
b) if you are more than, say, 24 inches away (about an arms length)

Frankly, I think it's a great diamond. Just need to decide what eye-clean means to you. it did not receive an eye-clean label from Brian Gavin's staff.

 

[c-k]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Thanks for all of your helps...........

So I have to choose a shop which has reasonable prices for sets too. Because of that I choosed diamonds from B2C.

I am wondering that if I choose a diamond GIA3x and HCA is less than 2, will this diamond have a perfect cut? I am a bit confused about differences between hearts&arrows cut and excellent cut. I mean it is realy worth to pay much more for hearts and arrow or only X cut will satify me. Infact I have no chance to compare them, here sellers even does not know hearts&arrows cut

You asked, perfect cut, likely no diamond is a perfect cut, maybe close, don't know what a perfect cut diamond should/would be. If you look at an AGS Ideal cut diamond, they grade cut on a much more narrow guide, so likely you will get what may be as close to perfect or what many consider the best cut. Will you see a difference from a diamond graded AGSL Ideal cut to one graded GIA XXX, depends how close that GIA stone is cut to that AGS stone....if I were buying a diamond sight unseen it would only be if it were a AGSL Ideal graded or at least from a vendor with a great return policy.

 

[Caramel]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Hi again,

I was trying to understand if every GIA excellent cut graded diamond has hearts&arrows. As far as I understood it is not working like that. I like below diamond. But it is not AGSL certified it is GIA certified excellent cut.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11471/

As you told without seeing it, taking a decision is realy hurt. Infact I found one shop here they sell GIA certificated diamonds with laser inscription number. They gave me a good price for GIA 3X - 0.6 carat G- Vs2, 1850 USD +200USD setting. Only I need to decide if I want realy hearts&arrows. In GIA certification I couldn't see any light spectrum diagram. How can I understand that diamond is cutted perfectly(close to Heart&arrow)? For sure shop itself won't provide a diagram photo

I think I need to calculate HCA. If it is less than 2, it should be a good diamond.

If I can get certficate number of diamond from shop I will share it to have more clear opinion.

 

[teobdl]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

The Good Old Gold diamond you linked is nearly perfect by every measure. However, many will say that you're paying for what you cannot see by going to D color and VVS2 (almost would be comfortable going down to at least G VS1 and getting a bigger diamond).


You may have seen this diamond at GOG for just $130 more http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11520/ 0.57 ct (5.3 mm vs the 5.0 mm of the D VVS2) G SI1. I don't know for sure but it looks eye clean from the photos.

If you're still open to more possibilities, this is a great deal:
Brian Gavin Blue 0.626 ct G SI1 (5.5mm diameter) for $1779 bank wire (minus 2% PS discount)-- make sure it's eye clean http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.626-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959032
Note that BG Blue is not guaranteed to be H&A, but that doesn't mean it's not absolutely gorgeous.


Summary of diamonds mentioned in this post:
GOG .48 D VVS2 ($1873)
GOG .57 G SI1 ($1810)
BGB .626 G SI1 ($1779)

 

[WinkHPD]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

I like those. Here is another.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3034533.htm#


One odd thing, I dunno, maybe I'm being superficial, but one factor in buying a ring was the name of the company. If I present a box with a name like "Brian Gavin", or "White Flash", it just seems a little more classy than "High Performance Diamonds". I'm not knocking them at all, but just blabbing my opinion.

That's okay, my hand polished wooden presentation boxes all have the name Winfield's hot stamped in them.

I use wooden boxes because I believe that when you buy a quality product you should NOT receive it in a fake velvet covered card board box.

I actually appreciate your opinion, I had no idea that my website name might seem offensive or lacking class, it was just meant to be an opinion of the quality of my diamonds. Both my Crafted by Infinity branded stones and my Value Select line of unbranded diamonds.

Have you any ideas about how I should approach this on my site? I have invested way too much time and money to drop the concept, but I would be interested in constructive comments on how to improve the concept when being seen by people who do not yet know me.

Wink

 

[AprilBaby]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Make it "Winfield's high performance diamonds"?

 

[WinkHPD]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

Thanks for all of your helps.

Buying from internet is a bit more diffucult for me because I am out of USA. Ring will be delivered to my friend in USA and then he will bring. So, see and buy won't work for me.

Some of the vendors here, ones that have been mentioned in this and in other posts, will be happy to consult with you about your specific questions. Because they are not drop shippers they will inspect the diamonds and share with you their opinions on the diamonds. Thus, although you can not see and then buy, you can have the benefit of a trusted vendor seeing and being your eyes. Perhaps they can even do a video for you.

When I compare prices with Turkey, diamond itself is cheaper than here. But sets are realy expensive than Turkey. The main problem here is finding GIA certified diamonds. Even if jewelery shops give you GIA sertification some of them said id of certification is not written with laser on diamond.

So I have to choose a shop which has reasonable prices for sets too. Because of that I choosed diamonds from B2C.

Will they look at and consult with you about a given diamond, or are they drop shippers?

I am wondering that if I choose a diamond GIA3x and HCA is less than 2, will this diamond have a perfect cut? I am a bit confused about differences between hearts&arrows cut and excellent cut. I mean it is realy worth to pay much more for hearts and arrow or only X cut will satify me. Infact I have no chance to compare them, here sellers even does not know hearts&arrows cut

GIA 3X is an incredibly wide grade and in fact tells you nothing about the cut quality of the diamond other than it fits into GIA's incredibly wide cut grade. If you want to really know about the quality of cut, you are going to need to 1. Study long and hard to be able to have a great idea as to what you are really getting, OR 2. Pick one of the trusted vendors here and consult with them via email and ask them to help you. Several have been mentioned either by you or others in this thread. Brian Gavin Diamonds, Good Old Gold, White Flash are all good vendors and will work with you no matter where in the world you are from to make sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision. And yes, in my opinion, Quality cutting does make an eye visible difference in the appearance of your diamond.

By the way my budget is 2500 dolar with set. Maybe I can push it a bit more up if I realy like something. I was planning to buy 0.60 carat at least G-VS2. But as far as I understood my budget is not enough for this quality with hearts&arrow.

I like the stone G-I1. İt is still in my budget. But I can not understand if inslusions are eye visiable. Would you please help me to understand that?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.604-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-c-104068465052#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/1/

I did not get a chance to read through the thread earlier today when I responded to the question about my boxes as I had to get to an appointment. I hope you do not mind me coming back to answer questions you may already have had answered. I am making some of my responses in red within the body of your quote so as to be sure they are in context.

The HCA is a rejection tool and an HCA under 2 is usually an indication that a given stone is a good one to consider, but says nothing about the true quality of the cutting which is revealed with other tools.

I understand and appreciate how hard it is to purchase such an expensive item sight unseen, which is why I heartily recommend that you consult with someone that you feel you can trust to give you good guidance.

Wink

 

[TC1987]

Re: Help to choose the best loose diamond for my engagement

.73ct, K, VS1
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-default&id=16

Wow, I like that one. Faces up very bright. Yes, K has a tint, but there are women on here who say that the warmer J or K tones look more complimentary to their skin tone than the whiter diamonds do. 5.8 mm is a nice size. Depending on how it's set, like in a bezel or in a halo that sets it low, you might not even see much of the stone from the side.

There is a thread in the stickies / Helpful Threads of J color in platinum. There are some K color diamonds in there, too.

Wink has been in the business since, what, 1970s? Winfield's was the name of his actual retail store.