Hello everyone. This is my first post on this site but I've been lurking a little over the past couple of weeks while I've been searching for a diamond. Let me just say that you guys do a fantastic job teaching people about diamonds and providing resources for people! You've got me think about details that I didn't even know about a couple months ago!
Anyway, over the last year, I've occasionally taken time to learn about the specifics of quality diamonds. I was really curious about the different things that go into finding a quality diamond and I wanted to make sure I did my research for when I eventually decided to pick out an engagement ring for my girlfriend. Anyway, I've decided that I want to propose to my girlfriend of 4 years in the next couple of months but first I need to pick out a ring. I think I've found the perfect setting (a vine style ring - she really wants something intricate instead of a plain solitare). Unfortately, this setting is only available on Bluenile making picking out the perfect diamond more difficult since I can't actually see them (not that I trust myself to judge them in person either). I've looked at WF and BG for settings too since they seem to be recommended by users here but, unfortunately, I didn't see anything that caught my eye.
I narrowed my search by looking for only stones that had AGS certifications because I've read here that they have stricter standards than GIA in several categories. This also significantly reduced the number of stones to look at (from about 4000 to 15). I also used HCA to eliminate stones that were close to or great than 2. So from 15 stones near my price range, I narrowed down to 4 and that's where I need your help.
I know the best way to judge these diamonds would be to look at them in person but, beacuse this is Bluenile, that's not an option. I went with higher clarity stones since I won't be able to check to see if they are eye clean without buying them. The AGS reports provide simulated ASETs which aren't as ideal as actual ASET images but will they be realtively close? I'm not enitrely sure what I should be looking for either. I could really use your help in figuring out which of these to go for. My girlfriend may not know everything about diamonds but I want to find one that she'll really enjoy for years!
Sorry for the long introduction - on to the diamonds!
1 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamo...ture-ideal-cut-e-color-vs1-clarity_LD02403545
HCA - 1
AGS 000
Carat - 0.53
Color - E
Clarity - VS1
Depth - 61.4
Table - 55.4
Pavilion - 40.8
Crown - 34.0
This is the diamond that I'm leaning toward most. It is the only one of the four that inlcudes the GCAL report which comes with pictures. The price is probably a little higher because it's an E color (I wouldn't mind a G or H at all) but it seems to look great in the picture. There also doens't seem to be alot of light leakage.
2 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-g-color-vs1-clarity_LD02374906
HCA - 1.4
AGS 000
Carat - 0.54
Color - G
Clarity - VS1
Depth - 62.1
Table - 55.5
Pavilion - 40.7
Crown - 35.1
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. The ASET seems to be really good but I'm a little worried about the inclusions. Those shouldn't be visible without magnification because it's a VS1 right?
3 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-g-color-vvs1-clarity_LD02485263
HCA - 1.2
AGS 000
Carat - 0.56
Color - G
Clarity - VVS1
Depth - 62.2
Table - 54.2
Pavilion - 40.7
Crown - 34.7
As with 2 I'm not sure how to judge this one either. I'd guess that the price is higher because of the higher clarity but I don't want to risk visible inclusions. To my eyes, the ASET doesn't look as good as the first two but I don't really have any experience.
4 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-h-color-vvs2-clarity_LD02384842
HCA - 1.1
AGS 000
Carat - 0.7
Color - H
Clarity - VVS2
Depth - 61.4
Table - 55.4
Pavilion - 40.9
Crown - 33.9
This one is quite a bit bigger than the others but the price isn't all that much more. The ASET seems a little messy but everything else seems good. Would this be a good stone? If this one is as good as the other 3 wouldn't it usually be better to go with a larger stone?
Any tips or suggestions? If you need any more information, just ask, but I don't think there's anything else beyond what is at the links. Thank you so much for your help!
Anyway, over the last year, I've occasionally taken time to learn about the specifics of quality diamonds. I was really curious about the different things that go into finding a quality diamond and I wanted to make sure I did my research for when I eventually decided to pick out an engagement ring for my girlfriend. Anyway, I've decided that I want to propose to my girlfriend of 4 years in the next couple of months but first I need to pick out a ring. I think I've found the perfect setting (a vine style ring - she really wants something intricate instead of a plain solitare). Unfortately, this setting is only available on Bluenile making picking out the perfect diamond more difficult since I can't actually see them (not that I trust myself to judge them in person either). I've looked at WF and BG for settings too since they seem to be recommended by users here but, unfortunately, I didn't see anything that caught my eye.
I narrowed my search by looking for only stones that had AGS certifications because I've read here that they have stricter standards than GIA in several categories. This also significantly reduced the number of stones to look at (from about 4000 to 15). I also used HCA to eliminate stones that were close to or great than 2. So from 15 stones near my price range, I narrowed down to 4 and that's where I need your help.
I know the best way to judge these diamonds would be to look at them in person but, beacuse this is Bluenile, that's not an option. I went with higher clarity stones since I won't be able to check to see if they are eye clean without buying them. The AGS reports provide simulated ASETs which aren't as ideal as actual ASET images but will they be realtively close? I'm not enitrely sure what I should be looking for either. I could really use your help in figuring out which of these to go for. My girlfriend may not know everything about diamonds but I want to find one that she'll really enjoy for years!
Sorry for the long introduction - on to the diamonds!
1 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamo...ture-ideal-cut-e-color-vs1-clarity_LD02403545
HCA - 1
AGS 000
Carat - 0.53
Color - E
Clarity - VS1
Depth - 61.4
Table - 55.4
Pavilion - 40.8
Crown - 34.0
This is the diamond that I'm leaning toward most. It is the only one of the four that inlcudes the GCAL report which comes with pictures. The price is probably a little higher because it's an E color (I wouldn't mind a G or H at all) but it seems to look great in the picture. There also doens't seem to be alot of light leakage.
2 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-g-color-vs1-clarity_LD02374906
HCA - 1.4
AGS 000
Carat - 0.54
Color - G
Clarity - VS1
Depth - 62.1
Table - 55.5
Pavilion - 40.7
Crown - 35.1
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. The ASET seems to be really good but I'm a little worried about the inclusions. Those shouldn't be visible without magnification because it's a VS1 right?
3 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-g-color-vvs1-clarity_LD02485263
HCA - 1.2
AGS 000
Carat - 0.56
Color - G
Clarity - VVS1
Depth - 62.2
Table - 54.2
Pavilion - 40.7
Crown - 34.7
As with 2 I'm not sure how to judge this one either. I'd guess that the price is higher because of the higher clarity but I don't want to risk visible inclusions. To my eyes, the ASET doesn't look as good as the first two but I don't really have any experience.
4 http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-h-color-vvs2-clarity_LD02384842
HCA - 1.1
AGS 000
Carat - 0.7
Color - H
Clarity - VVS2
Depth - 61.4
Table - 55.4
Pavilion - 40.9
Crown - 33.9
This one is quite a bit bigger than the others but the price isn't all that much more. The ASET seems a little messy but everything else seems good. Would this be a good stone? If this one is as good as the other 3 wouldn't it usually be better to go with a larger stone?
Any tips or suggestions? If you need any more information, just ask, but I don't think there's anything else beyond what is at the links. Thank you so much for your help!
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