How Are These Lab Diamonds? (Brilliant Earth)

[xb1121]

Hi everyone, new user here and I've been looking at lab diamonds from Brilliant Earth recently.. found 4 that I think I like and are within budget.. but are these any good, and are they worth the price? I'm not color sensitive and I don't mind diamonds with some tint/color. Any help/feedback would be appreciated! Thanks

1. 1.30 carats, J color, VS1 clarity, Ideal cut - $4115 CAD
   https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427539/
   
   
2. 1.17 carats, I color, VS1 clarity, Ideal cut - $4340 CAD
   https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427539/
   
   
3. 1.16 carats, I color, VVS2 clarity, Ideal cut - $4005 CAD
   https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427539/
   
   
4. 1.28 carats, J color, VS2 clarity, Ideal cut - $3920 CAD
   https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427426/
   

 

[xb1121]

Oops.. realized I posted the same link 3 times. These are the correct links.

1. 1.30 carats, J color, VS1 clarity, Ideal cut - $4115 CAD
https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427577/

2. 1.17 carats, I color, VS1 clarity, Ideal cut - $4340 CAD
https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427539/

3. 1.16 carats, I color, VVS2 clarity, Ideal cut - $4005 CAD
https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/3969341/

4. 1.28 carats, J color, VS2 clarity, Ideal cut - $3920 CAD
https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/view_detail/4427426/

 

[ChristineRose]

Hi banaanaa,

I would start by running the diamonds though the Holloway cut advisor. The HCA is not definitive but it will give you a rough idea of how the stone will likely look. The next step is to ask the dealer if they can send you photographs and/or Idealscope images.

I'm not sure if BE will do this though. If not, you might look for a local dealer who is able to call stones in for you. The last resort is to take advantage of their return policy and look at the stones that way.

 

[xb1121]

Hi banaanaa,

I would start by running the diamonds though the Holloway cut advisor. The HCA is not definitive but it will give you a rough idea of how the stone will likely look. The next step is to ask the dealer if they can send you photographs and/or Idealscope images.

I'm not sure if BE will do this though. If not, you might look for a local dealer who is able to call stones in for you. The last resort is to take advantage of their return policy and look at the stones that way.

Hi ChristineRose,

Thank you for your reply. I'm currently waiting for the IGI reports for 2 of the lab diamonds. I did run the 1.28 Carats, J color, VS2 Clarity, Ideal Cut through the HCA and it gave me 1.1 (Everything came back with Excellent except for Light Return which was a Very Good.) And the 1.17 Carats, I color, VS1 clarity, Ideal Cut came back with 1.6 (Very Good on Light Return + Scintillation, and Excellent on Fire + Spread). So is it good as long as it's under 2?

 

[ChristineRose]

Hi ChristineRose,

Thank you for your reply. I'm currently waiting for the IGI reports for 2 of the lab diamonds. I did run the 1.28 Carats, J color, VS2 Clarity, Ideal Cut through the HCA and it gave me 1.1 (Everything came back with Excellent except for Light Return which was a Very Good.) And the 1.17 Carats, I color, VS1 clarity, Ideal Cut came back with 1.6 (Very Good on Light Return + Scintillation, and Excellent on Fire + Spread). So is it good as long as it's under 2?

Those values are good, yes.

The problem is that the HCA does not give you a definitive answer good or bad. It just increases the likelihood of good, and helps you narrow down which stones to pursue further.

Did you ask about Idealscopes? Pictures are helpful also, but not as good.

 

[icy_jade]

Have you heard that de beers will be selling 1 carat mmd at $800 in a few months? Pls Google de beers and lightbox

 

[MelloYello8]

Maybe someone was buying there??

Just joined the forum to respond to this in case it will help someone who is considering ecodiamond. My 10 year anniversary ring was from this store. As I understand it they source their diamonds from a couple different labs in the United States but the salesperson was unable to tell me which as it wasn’t on the IGI report. I did get the original IGI report with the ring and it looks amazing in person. I have a 2.16 ct fancy vivid yellow ideal cut VVS2 round brilliant, set in 14k rose gold. The only slight issues I have are with the setting which was cast — I don’t think the polishing is perfect in a couple areas you can only see from underneath the ring. There is a teeny tiny bit of gold hanging down from the donut at bottom of the halo that I can see if I’m tilting the ring to see under the donut in which the diamond sits. Also from the same angle I can see the milgraining is really smooth, maybe incomplete, in a stretch of a couple millimeters right under the halo as well; again hardly obvious unless looking at a certain angle from underneath. I may mention those to be fixed if and when I send it back for polishing and checking the prongs. I don’t want to make a big deal over it now since it’s my husband’s setting choice and a special occasion. Overall I’m ecstatic over how it came out.

 

[voce]

Have you heard that de beers will be selling 1 carat mmd at $800 in a few months? Pls Google de beers and lightbox

Don't know about MMD as I don't intend to buy one, but I have personally checked out the Lightbox info, and they're not going to go over a carat in size. Plus, Lightbox will only sell jewelry, not loose stones, and so you would have to pry out the diamond from earrings/pendant if you want to use it in a ring. I'm not sure if you want to wait around, but even prying Lightbox stones out from their original settings would be cheaper than paying $4000 on a MMD from Brilliant Earth.

In my opinion, their settings are very expensive and going custom with David Klass would probably not cost you more, unless you want some very simple setting for the center stone.