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I know nothing about princess cuts! Please help with ASET images, etc.

H

Harst035

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
24
Hi guys, I've done a lot of lurking over the years and have learned mainly about MRBs (and a bit about OEC's and a few fancy shapes). When my little brother asked me to help him find an engagement ring for his girlfriend, I jumped at the chance to keep him out of the mall. As luck would have it, she wants a princess cut, which I know NOTHING about.

I've now speed-read a couple threads and articles and am thinking I should steer him to A Cut Above by WhiteFlash because of the AGS grading report and actual ASETs, as well as what sounds like a great trade up policy. If any PSer knows of other vendors he should consider, please let me know.

There are several different diamonds that show up in my search, and to my untrained eye, all the ASET images look more or less the same to me... Can someone more knowledgeable please weigh in and let me know if there are any that I should weed out or any that stand out as significantly better than the others?

These are all just shy of one carat and G-I, VVS2-SI1— I'll make to find out whether or not the SI1's are eye clean. Is there anything beyond the info in the fancy shape princess resource guide I should also consider?


image.jpeg

image.jpeg


A huge thank you to anyone who weighs in on this (as well as to all of the people who have helped me over the years by responding to others)!
 
Did the GF specifically ask for a princess?
 
There is no reason to weed any out because you have picked the best of the best. These are ACAs right? So they have Ideal light return. They only
thing is that you may see a slight tint from the side of the stone down in the "I" range. If that's an issue then you might want to stick with H and above.

There is really nothing to steer you away from when you are looking at ACAs. You are pretty much down to personal preference. One thing you might
look at what kind of look you like. Princess cuts can have different numbers of "main" facets on the bottom of the stone. The more mains the smaller
the facets look on the front. Fewer mains give you bigger facets on the front. Small facets usually give you lots of little sparkle. Bigger facets
will give you bigger flashes.

More mains
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3756540.htm
Fewer mains
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3918695.htm I usually prefer fewer mains (but it is personal preference)

You can see the number of mains by looking at the AGS report.

The Whiteflash site should provide you with enough information.
 
Like @tyty333, I'd stick with H and above in color for a princess.

Not as generous a tradeup policy, but they are having 25% off settings. Both AGS0. Nice color and performance and good ASET.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.02-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2439109
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.02-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2393538

No setting sale, but another super ideal with a unique cut too.
https://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond...ss Cut-N-GIA-H-VVS1-diamond-stock-13944-cert-

Here you can see a Solasfera vs. Ideal. I really like the Solsfera.

Pre-Loved GIA graded F, VS2 (over 1 carat and under $5k)
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/1-04ct-princess-cut-diamond-gia-f-vs2
 
rockysalamander said:
Did the GF specifically ask for a princess?
Click to expand...

Apparently, yes. (Backstory: he reeaaaalllllllly wants to surprise her and couldn't find any public pinterest board to stalk and he asked her sister; she sent him some pictures but I don't know if I believe that they came directly from the girlfriend.. I'm more than a little concerned that it's a bad game of telephone where anything that is square or square-ish becomes a princess cut. Not a lot of people in our area/her age group have princess cuts so I was especially wary. I voiced these concerns but don't want to force my taste on her, as my brother is pretty positive the pictures look like her style.) I figure that if he purchases an AGS 000 from WF she has more options should it not be the diamond of her dreams. Baby Brother might just have to upgrade her a little early :lol:

The James Allen and Jewels by Grace ones you sent are beautiful though! He didn't mention the carat mark being important to either of them but if he thinks it is, I'll steer him towards the JA one, I think I remember that Grace understandably has a shorter return window.

That Solasfera is pretty fabulous but I think that with the setting, it will be out of his current price range..
 
tyty333 said:
There is no reason to weed any out because you have picked the best of the best. These are ACAs right? So they have Ideal light return. They only
thing is that you may see a slight tint from the side of the stone down in the "I" range. If that's an issue then you might want to stick with H and above.

There is really nothing to steer you away from when you are looking at ACAs. You are pretty much down to personal preference. One thing you might
look at what kind of look you like. Princess cuts can have different numbers of "main" facets on the bottom of the stone. The more mains the smaller
the facets look on the front. Fewer mains give you bigger facets on the front. Small facets usually give you lots of little sparkle. Bigger facets
will give you bigger flashes.

More mains
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3756540.htm
Fewer mains
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3918695.htm I usually prefer fewer mains (but it is personal preference)

You can see the number of mains by looking at the AGS report.

The Whiteflash site should provide you with enough information.
Click to expand...

I will rule out the I's then-- I sometimes forget that people are usually more color sensitive than I am.

Thank you for the great illustration on the mains-- I'm with you and prefer fewer of them! The diamond faceting pattern is just so much more interesting when the mains are bigger and I love the big flashes of light. This might be an instance where my tastes get passed on to her since I'm pretty sure that getting into this level of detail with my brother would just get me a glassy stare.
 
Eek. If you are uncertain about shape, I'd go with WF. She could always trade for a round. From any of the other vendors, he'd have to double cost or start over if he gets the shape wrong. So, I vote WF H or over, fewer mains.:mrgreen2:
 
@rockysalamander He wanted to keep the stone around $4500 so the G SI1 is so perfect! I'm waiting to hear back about which setting he wants to go with but it will likely be along these lines.
image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
 
rockysalamander said:
Like @tyty333, I'd stick with H and above in color for a princess.

Not as generous a tradeup policy, but they are having 25% off settings. Both AGS0. Nice color and performance and good ASET.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.02-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2439109
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.02-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2393538

No setting sale, but another super ideal with a unique cut too.
https://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-search/0.91-The Solasfera Princess Cut-N-GIA-H-VVS1-diamond-stock-13944-cert-

Here you can see a Solasfera vs. Ideal. I really like the Solsfera.

Pre-Loved GIA graded F, VS2 (over 1 carat and under $5k)
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/1-04ct-princess-cut-diamond-gia-f-vs2
Click to expand...

Whoa! The scintillation in the dimmed light is pretty crazy from the Solasfera. I had NO idea about this cut. It's beautiful!
 
@rockysalamander and @tyty333 Thank you for your help with this!

I ended up using your advice to round up 5 different WF ACA princess cuts (F-H, .9-1ct, but didn't weed anything out based on number of mains) and then had him look at pictures and videos and choose the one he found most appealing. He was torn between two but went with the "H" since that will be her last initial when they get married lol (oh the funny sentimental things he cares about).

I then showed him pave settings available through Whiteflash, tried my best to educate him on the different executions of "the little diamonds on the band" and their pros and cons, and let him pick.


He ended up with a 1.002ct H eye clean SI1 (5.50x5.37x4.03) ACA princess cut in the benchmark small pave setting. It arrived yesterday and he is very happy with it-- fingers crossed she is too!


Glamour shot sent from Whiteflash:
Benchmark-Small-Pave-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-in-14k-White-Gold-from-Whiteflash_51034_37827_g.jpg

It was delivered to my office so I had to try it on quick
IMG_1895.png

The inspiration picture he received from her sister and was working off:

IMG_8505.png


Thanks again, guys!
 

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Harst035 said:
@rockysalamander and @tyty333 Thank you for your help with this!

I ended up using your advice to round up 5 different WF ACA princess cuts (F-H, .9-1ct, but didn't weed anything out based on number of mains) and then had him look at pictures and videos and choose the one he found most appealing. He was torn between two but went with the "H" since that will be her last initial when they get married lol (oh the funny sentimental things he cares about).

I then showed him pave settings available through Whiteflash, tried my best to educate him on the different executions of "the little diamonds on the band" and their pros and cons, and let him pick.


He ended up with a 1.002ct H eye clean SI1 (5.50x5.37x4.03) ACA princess cut in the benchmark small pave setting. It arrived yesterday and he is very happy with it-- fingers crossed she is too!

Glamour shot sent from Whiteflash:
Benchmark-Small-Pave-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-in-14k-White-Gold-from-Whiteflash_51034_37827_g.jpg

It was delivered to my office so I had to try it on quick
IMG_1895.png

The inspiration picture he received from her sister and was working off:

IMG_8505.png


Thanks again, guys!
Click to expand...

Beautiful!!! He did a great job! :love:
 
Harst...I think you gave him excellent guidance! Beautiful ring!
 
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