help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring please

[galahad2k1]

Hi all,

I have been scouring the inventory at blue nile, whiteflash, and a few other sites and I narrowed down my choices to a few. I hope you experts out there can help me sort out these.

These are all rounds cuts:

1) blue nile - $9000
7.41 x 7.43 x 4.57
1.54 carat, J, VS2, GIA excellent cut, excellent polish, excellent symmetry
STRONG BLUE fluorescence
A tiny spot of cloud in the center of the table
depth% = 61.6%, table = 56%, crown angle = 33.5, pavilion angle = 41.0, no cutlet

2) blue nile - $10000
7.17 x 7.21 x 4.49
1.43 carat, I, VS1, GIA excellent cut, excellent polish, excellent symmetry
STRONG BLUE florescence
depth% = 62.5%, table = 55%, crown angle = 34.5, pavillion angle = 40.8, no cutlet

3) whiteflash - $9000
6.99 x 7.02 x 4.33
1.306 carat, I, VS2, Ideal cut (Expert selection), ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
No fluorescence
depth% = 61.8%, table = 56.2%, crown angle = 34.7, pavilion angle = 40.8, no culet

4) whiteflash - $9700
7.03 x 7.05 x 4.36, I, SI1 Eye-clean, Cut ABove (Hearts and Arrows), ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
No fluorescence
depth% = 61.8%, table = 55.7, crown angle = 34.9, pavilion angle = 40.9, no culet

5) brian gavin - $10,000
7.08 x 7.15 x 4.32
1.317 carat, J, VS1, Ideal cut, Signature (Hearts and Arrows) ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
depth = 60.8%, table = 56%, crown angle = 34.2, pavilion angle = 43.1, no culet

6) brian gavin - $9400
7.05 x 7.08 x 4.37
1.337 carat, J, VS2, Ideal cut, Signature (Hearts and Arrows) ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
depth = 62%, table = 54.9%, crown angle = 34.3, pav angle = 40.8, no culet


A) I would love your overall impression.

B) I also have a few specific questions:
a) when the HCA is less than 2.0, is there a specific number that's the sweet spot below 2?
b) how much do the various factors light return, fire, scintillation, and spread matter? I've seen excellent for the 1st three factors for all the diamonds that I calculated the HCA but never excellent on the spread.

C) I have some reservations about the strong fluorescence but then I've read so many positive opinions about it. What do you think about it? Also, if I do get a strong fluorscence, is it a bad idea to set it with pave or accent diamonds?

 

[ecf8503]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

Freddy - uh... you don't sound too happy to be in the diamond business. Almost like you are talking them down in a diamond cut quality community.

To the OP: I noticed the BN stones both have strong blue fluor - are you looking for that? I have a D colored H&A stone with SBF, and I absolutely adore it - it is such an amazing effect to see - both in the sun and under a blacklight! You just want to make sure that the fluor doesn't give it a milky quality in the sun, which is a rare phenomenon anyway, but it's best to know ahead of time. I don't know if BN has those stones in hand or if they are virtual stones, but you may want to ask them so they can check the fluor and the inclusions.

As for WF and BG, you really can't go wrong there. I don't know what the images for the Expert Selection at WF look like, but guaranteed the images for the AC and BG stones are picture perfect, and their performance is going to be superb.

Is there a specific setting you are looking for? If there is one you like at any of those vendors, then I'd use that company for the stone as well. WF and BG will insure the stone during the setting process (in the rare case something happens), and there is no setting fee (you would pay one if you bought the stone at one place and had it set by another, plus you'd have to purchase insurance ahead of time before the setter will take on the responsibility).

Just food for thought -

 

[Christina...]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

Hi all,

I have been scouring the inventory at blue nile, whiteflash, and a few other sites and I narrowed down my choices to a few. I hope you experts out there can help me sort out these.

These are all rounds cuts:

1) blue nile - $9000
7.41 x 7.43 x 4.57
1.54 carat, J, VS2, GIA excellent cut, excellent polish, excellent symmetry
STRONG BLUE fluorescence
A tiny spot of cloud in the center of the table
depth% = 61.6%, table = 56%, crown angle = 33.5, pavilion angle = 41.0, no cutlet

2) blue nile - $10000
7.17 x 7.21 x 4.49
1.43 carat, I, VS1, GIA excellent cut, excellent polish, excellent symmetry
STRONG BLUE florescence
depth% = 62.5%, table = 55%, crown angle = 34.5, pavillion angle = 40.8, no cutlet

3) whiteflash - $9000
6.99 x 7.02 x 4.33
1.306 carat, I, VS2, Ideal cut (Expert selection), ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
No fluorescence
depth% = 61.8%, table = 56.2%, crown angle = 34.7, pavilion angle = 40.8, no culet

4) whiteflash - $9700
7.03 x 7.05 x 4.36, I, SI1 Eye-clean, Cut ABove (Hearts and Arrows), ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
No fluorescence
depth% = 61.8%, table = 55.7, crown angle = 34.9, pavilion angle = 40.9, no culet

5) brian gavin - $10,000
7.08 x 7.15 x 4.32
1.317 carat, J, VS1, Ideal cut, Signature (Hearts and Arrows) ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
depth = 60.8%, table = 56%, crown angle = 34.2, pavilion angle = 43.1, no culet

6) brian gavin - $9400
7.05 x 7.08 x 4.37
1.337 carat, J, VS2, Ideal cut, Signature (Hearts and Arrows) ideal light performance, ideal polish, idea symmetry
depth = 62%, table = 54.9%, crown angle = 34.3, pav angle = 40.8, no culet


A) I would love your overall impression.

B) I also have a few specific questions:
a) when the HCA is less than 2.0, is there a specific number that's the sweet spot below 2?
b) how much do the various factors light return, fire, scintillation, and spread matter? I've seen excellent for the 1st three factors for all the diamonds that I calculated the HCA but never excellent on the spread.

C) I have some reservations about the strong fluorescence but then I've read so many positive opinions about it. What do you think about it? Also, if I do get a strong fluorscence, is it a bad idea to set it with pave or accent diamonds?

HCA is pass/fail any stone scoring under a 2 is a pass, less is fail. A .9 isn't going to perform better than a 2, so don't worry about that. Most well cut MRB will only score VG for spread on the HCA so that shouldn't be a concern either. Fluorescence is a very cool characteristic of diamonds. The majority of stones will not be negatively impacted by fluorescence but it's best to have them evaluated by a gemologist. A stone which is negatively impacted by fluoro will appear milky or oily. The good news is that BGD stones have already be evaluated and are not impacted in any negative way, so it's a great way to save a bit since stones with fluorescence tend to be discounted slightly. Many here will only consider fluoro because it's so cool and may make your stone appear whiter to your eye.

BN can't offer you images of the stones and that would be very important to me so I wouldn't consider them further. ACAs are all gorgeous as are BGD signature line, so you really can't go wrong with any of those options. Without links to the actual stones though it's hard to make any further judgement as to which of the stones are 'better' than another. Do you have any of them on hold? If so would you mind sharing the link?

 

[ecf8503]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

Tried running the HCA's - they all look good except the 4th one - it says "the depth percentage suggests the girdle is dangerously thin or the data entered is incorrect". Is that pavillion angle correct?

 

[Christina...]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

Freddy - uh... you don't sound too happy to be in the diamond business. Almost like you are talking them down in a diamond cut quality community.

To the OP: I noticed the BN stones both have strong blue fluor - are you looking for that? I have a D colored H&A stone with SBF, and I absolutely adore it - it is such an amazing effect to see - both in the sun and under a blacklight! You just want to make sure that the fluor doesn't give it a milky quality in the sun, which is a rare phenomenon anyway, but it's best to know ahead of time. I don't know if BN has those stones in hand or if they are virtual stones, but you may want to ask them so they can check the fluor and the inclusions.

As for WF and BG, you really can't go wrong there. I don't know what the images for the Expert Selection at WF look like, but guaranteed the images for the AC and BG stones are picture perfect, and their performance is going to be superb.

Is there a specific setting you are looking for? If there is one you like at any of those vendors, then I'd use that company for the stone as well. WF and BG will insure the stone during the setting process (in the rare case something happens), and there is no setting fee (you would pay one if you bought the stone at one place and had it set by another, plus you'd have to purchase insurance ahead of time before the setter will take on the responsibility).

Just food for thought -

All three of Freddys post read almost exactly the same. A quick look at his website explains why.

 

[galahad2k1]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

Regarding ecf8503's response, I did entered the wrong pav angle for #5) should be 40.9 instead of 43.1. I was interested in a blue fluoro diamond but was afraid of the milky/oily appearance (which I read is rare and have been much discussed in previous posts). Therefore, I am not completely sold to the idea. I don't have one setting picked out from a particular site. There are ones at each site that I can go with.

Here are the links to the WG and BGD

#3) http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2690312.htm#

#4) http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2909280.htm#

#5) http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.317-j-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104063529005#

#6) http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.337-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104063650009#


I've also cut and pasted the clarity maps for #1) 1.54 carat [top] and #2) 1.43 carat [bottom] from BN

Regarding #1) is that feather at the girdle gonna be a problem?

For #2) Are all those crystals gonna be an issue? More importantly, I don't see the cloud represented on the map. I read on another post/thread that someone who bought a strong blue fluoro diamond had lots of problems, possibly due to crystals, in direct bright sunlight.



Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[galahad2k1]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

sorry, the second picture didn't get posted. This is for 1.43 carat, I, VS1, GIA excellent cut, excellent polish, excellent symmetry
STRONG BLUE florescence; depth% = 62.5%, table = 55%, crown angle = 34.5, pavillion angle = 40.8, no cutlet

Are all those crystals gonna be an issue? More importantly, I don't see the cloud represented on the map. I read on another post/thread that someone who bought a strong blue fluoro diamond had lots of problems, possibly due to crystals, in direct bright sunlight.

 

[galahad2k1]

Re: help with choosing round diamonds for engagement ring pl

anyone have any thoughts on my most recent questions about the two blue nile diamonds? thanks much!