James Allen shopping experience

[tony_stark]

I have put a couple RB diamond on hold at JA and am talking to their customer service hoping to get ideal scope, asset and H&A images so I know what I am buying…

But…the lady claimed that they only provide ideal scope (and nothing else) and said that aset images are only useful for fancy shaped diamond. Not H&A images for non TH diamonds.

Is there even true??

I start shopping on JA since people on pricescope seem to rave about their services but so far I have to say I am quite disappointed by it…am I just getting a bad rep or what I am asking is too much?

 

[delight]

I have put a couple RB diamond on hold at JA and am talking to their customer service hoping to get ideal scope, asset and H&A images so I know what I am buying…

But…the lady claimed that they only provide ideal scope (and nothing else) and said that aset images are only useful for fancy shaped diamond. Not H&A images for non TH diamonds.

Is there even true??

I start shopping on JA since people on pricescope seem to rave about their services but so far I have to say I am quite disappointed by it…am I just getting a bad rep or what I am asking is too much?

ASET images are more useful than idealscope images for round diamonds IF you know how to interpret it. Personally, I don't deal with dealers who don't provide ASETs. If you aren't comfortable with that, work with someone else like Whiteflash or BGD for example.

Not H&A images for non True Hearts diamonds - Well, you shouldn't expect a diamond with great optical symmetry for a generic GIA triple ex or AGS 000 diamond. So, the H&A images aren't useful in that aspect. Only when you intend to buy super ideal cut diamonds would these be useful. If you are looking for one such stone, there are many other vendors who will provide you with this information. I would agree with JA on this point.

They do have good service considering they can pull in and review 3 diamonds for free on your behalf. You don't get that anywhere else.

 

[Christina...]

I have put a couple RB diamond on hold at JA and am talking to their customer service hoping to get ideal scope, asset and H&A images so I know what I am buying…

But…the lady claimed that they only provide ideal scope (and nothing else) and said that aset images are only useful for fancy shaped diamond. Not H&A images for non TH diamonds.

Is there even true??

I start shopping on JA since people on pricescope seem to rave about their services but so far I have to say I am quite disappointed by it…am I just getting a bad rep or what I am asking is too much?

ASET images are more useful than idealscope images for round diamonds IF you know how to interpret it. Personally, I don't deal with dealers who don't provide ASETs. If you aren't comfortable with that, work with someone else like Whiteflash or BGD for example.

Not H&A images for non True Hearts diamonds - Well, you shouldn't expect a diamond with great optical symmetry for a generic GIA triple ex or AGS 000 diamond. So, the H&A images aren't useful in that aspect. Only when you intend to buy super ideal cut diamonds would these be useful. If you are looking for one such stone, there are many other vendors who will provide you with this information. I would agree with JA on this point.

They do have good service considering they can pull in and review 3 diamonds for free on your behalf. You don't get that anywhere else.

+1

 

[Niel]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/do-not-request-aset-images-for-round-diamonds.153890/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/do-not-request-aset-images-for-round-diamonds.153890/[/URL]

 

[mwilliamanderson]

When doing your search at James Allen, if you go to Advanced Options and choose Lab AGS you will see only diamonds with an AGS report. The DQD reports contain a computer generated ASET image which you might find helpful. Unfortunately, this won't help if you have your heart set on a GIA graded diamond.

 

[wesli]

True – for some amateur buyer like myself just looking for the ering for my lady, looking at aset image probably won’t be as helpful as for some pros. But when buying online, whatever helps!!

As for the H&A images - I was shopping on WF before and have my eyes on a ACA and another excellent cut, the sales associate was trying to persuade me to go with the less expensive excellent cut (about $1k less) claiming that the excellent cut offers better value for the money instead of paying for the premium for a ACA. She said the excellent cut offers the *almost the same* brilliance and fire as ACA, just the ACA is a better diamond on paper.

That got me thinking – I mean the sales associate should be maximizing the company’s profit, right? She didn’t know my budget but only my search criteria. Since then, I start asking for H&A images for comparison…

Thoughts?

 

[Niel]

True – for some amateur buyer like myself just looking for the ering for my lady, looking at aset image probably won’t be as helpful as for some pros. But when buying online, whatever helps!!

As for the H&A images - I was shopping on WF before and have my eyes on a ACA and another excellent cut, the sales associate was trying to persuade me to go with the less expensive excellent cut (about $1k less) claiming that the excellent cut offers better value for the money instead of paying for the premium for a ACA. She said the excellent cut offers the *almost the same* brilliance and fire as ACA, just the ACA is a better diamond on paper.

That got me thinking – I mean the sales associate should be maximizing the company’s profit, right? She didn’t know my budget but only my search criteria. Since then, I start asking for H&A images for comparison…

Thoughts?

Vendors like WF take the stance that honesty and integrity will benefit them more in the long term than your extra 1k.

Plus typically people spend their budget. Whether that's in a slightly nicer setting or slightly larger stone.

And that's great customer service! Keeps you coming back.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hearts images are only going to be offered on stones with almost perfect hearts. That is why they are posted for ACA's and not the other WF stones. I love ACA's and think there is great value in having a top cut quality stone.

That said, if you are not looking for a superideal cut, idealscope images are FINE for rounds. If you want a superideal cut, just buy a WhiteFlash ACA or Good Old Gold Superior H&A stone. Easy! Stones that aren't designated as such, aren't true H&A stones, therefore, no reason for them to post hearts images.

 

[wesli]

Although my login name is tony stark, I am not the real ironman so I’m just trying to work around my tight budget…

Can someone please school me on techniques on using all these parameters? From my research I understand that H&A, HCA score, GIA XXX or AGS 0, idealscope and aset images can tell you the light performance of the stone and how brilliant and sparkling it is. However, sometimes data points would just contradict each other. E.g. a GIA XXX will score well over 2 on HCA or a H&A would score lower than a GIA XXX.

How should I consider all these factors to make a informative decision??