Just a guy with the 1millionth “help with round” post.

[lunker7]

Talk about information overload! A friend helped tune me in to this forum and I can happily say I’ve never done more late night research than I have done in the past 24 hours.

I am looking for a larger round (H&A ideal) for my wife of 20 years. We have discussed the lab side of life and she is on board with something large and in charge.

I think I can share the 360 video - I’ll try to crop pertinent info out so the masses can’t find this if it’s a good contender.

Should I be concerned about any of these numbers? I have more notes taken on stones and correct proportions than I can ever remember taking in college.

Can any experts chime in?

 

[0-0-0]

Need to see video. Can be a fine choice if precisely cut with good material.

 

[lunker7]

I followed up right away but it says “video awaiting moderator approval” and is currently invisible.

I linked it from imgur - is there a better way to link?

 

[0515vision]

You might be able to find it on Loupe360.com/diamond/xxxxx

For the xxxxx part, insert the certificate number.

Are you purchasing through an online vendor? Congrats on 20 years!!

 

[lunker7]

You might be able to find it on Loupe360.com/diamond/xxxxx

For the xxxxx part, insert the certificate number.

Are you purchasing through an online vendor? Congrats on 20 years!!

I actually tried to link the screen recording of the loupe360 so you could see the actual stone. The error message I got from Pricescope was that my link needed to be approved by moderators to be visible. Sorry about that!

I don’t want to link the stone directly yet since it’s a fairly good deal through an online vendor.

 

[0515vision]

Maybe share some screenshots?

 

[lunker7]

 

[lunker7]

I’m wondering if I should be trying to find HPHT stoves over CVD? The stone above is a CVD stone. Looking for anyone who prefers one over the other, or if anyone has had both and can say if there’s a visible difference in the two.

We won’t be needing an upgrade policy or anything that would require any special “pedigree” outside of it being crisp and well crafted.

This is almost more stressful than the original engagement ring that was nervously purchased back in 2003!

 

[0-0-0]

IMO both cut precision and material quality can be better. If you share your budget and requirements maybe we can help look. No visible difference between CVD and HPHT grown as long as both are similarly cut with good material.

 

[lunker7]

Thanks for your reply!

I'm looking for a 5-6ct H&A (11-11.5ish spread) to be set in a solitaire setting, her hands are pretty short so there's not much room to stack bands or add much width.

Ideal proportions, willing to go down to VS2, H (I know IGI color may be warmer than recorded on the certs and that's ok.) She actually prefers vanilla over icy white white. I have copy/pasted ideal numbers into Ritani and the like to try to vet out stones that are currently available and I feel like my eyes haven't blinked in hours and hours from watching the 360 vids and cross referencing certs to websites for pricing.

Budget is around 5-6k for the whole kit and caboodle.

I'm seeing some of the IGI certs that show the ideal scope on the cert. Is this new and not the norm? Should I be looking for stones with this image included on the cert?

Also, for those stones with GIA certs, is there a reason they don't specify CVD or HPHT?

Thanks for anyone willing to chime in!

 

[0-0-0]

5.28 ct H VVS2 ~4k

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Lab reports with additional info cost more. It’s up to the vendors/suppliers to decide what reports they want to pay for.

 

[lunker7]

Thanks for your reply! I didn't realize that it was up to each vendor to pay for additional info a-la-cart style. Makes sense since I can only find a handful of certs with "Hearts and Arrows" noted on them. Maybe this will be helpful for insurance purposes since it specifies an ideal cut stone too?

When watching the video I can only make out the arrows in the center, is that due to the tilt? Should I not be too concerned by the outer edge points in the spinning 360?

 

[0515vision]

5.28 ct H VVS2 ~4k

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Lab reports with additional info cost more. It’s up to the vendors/suppliers to decide what reports they want to pay for.

Oh I love this one! Great find @0-0-0!

 

[0515vision]

Thanks for your reply! I didn't realize that it was up to each vendor to pay for additional info a-la-cart style. Makes sense since I can only find a handful of certs with "Hearts and Arrows" noted on them. Maybe this will be helpful for insurance purposes since it specifies an ideal cut stone too?

When watching the video I can only make out the arrows in the center, is that due to the tilt? Should I not be too concerned by the outer edge points in the spinning 360?

Since the price of labs keeps dropping, some people don't insure their labs. The insurance ends up costing more.

The Hearts & Arrows designation doesn't always mean that it's the very best cut. It's somewhat of an exclusion tool, but we've seen non-H&A certs for fantastic stones while there have been H&A certs for not-so-great stones.

What do you mean by making out the arrows in the center? You're only supposed to see the arrows when looking at the stone from the front bc those reflections are from the lower facets - I think the pavilion facets, but someone else will know for sure. As the stone spins, the light isn't going to be reflected from those facets to your eye.

 

[0-0-0]

The best cut IGI graded H&A rounds I have actually don’t have the H&A designation. The lab reports also don’t give any insights into the quality of the material. If you opt for insurance I think it’s more important to select an insurer who allows you to choose vendors, reject replacements, or offer payouts.

 

[lunker7]

Since the price of labs keeps dropping, some people don't insure their labs. The insurance ends up costing more.

The Hearts & Arrows designation doesn't always mean that it's the very best cut. It's somewhat of an exclusion tool, but we've seen non-H&A certs for fantastic stones while there have been H&A certs for not-so-great stones.

What do you mean by making out the arrows in the center? You're only supposed to see the arrows when looking at the stone from the front bc those reflections are from the lower facets - I think the pavilion facets, but someone else will know for sure. As the stone spins, the light isn't going to be reflected from those facets to your eye.

I guess I assumed that you should be able to see the arrows all the way to the edge, not just in the center. My fault! That makes sense!

 

[lunker7]

I appreciate the help here!

Can you double check the stone? @DejaWiz if you are in here, could you take a peek?

I confirmed the return process so I feel ok if I have to return or exchange.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[DejaWiz]

I appreciate the help here!

Can you double check the stone? @DejaWiz if you are in here, could you take a peek?

I confirmed the return process so I feel ok if I have to return or exchange.

Thanks again everyone!

Hi and welcome to PriceScope, lunker7!
Which diamond are you referring to?

 

[lunker7]

Hi and welcome to PriceScope, lunker7!
Which diamond are you referring to?

LG595360058

Thanks for taking a look! It came in well under budget with a price match and discounts.

 

[DejaWiz]

LG595360058

Thanks for taking a look! It came in well under budget with a price match and discounts.

I think it's going to be one heck of a sparkly beast that will not just grab some attention, but outright demand it - Looks like an awesome diamond!

 

[lunker7]

I think it's going to be one heck of a sparkly beast that will not just grab some attention, but outright demand it - Looks like an awesome diamond!

Insert sigh of relief!
Thank you, and all the other members here who gave advice!

You don't think it will show too tinted? I plugged the info into the HCA and it came back with s score of 1, so in the late night I pulled the trigger to get it bagged.

I will let the wife choose a setting, but you think 8 prongs would be better due to the size? She's a size 6.25 or about that and I don't want to add anything to the setting since this is already larger than anticipated. The draw for that clear rough had me searching like a dog for HPHT. Alex Park had a few large rounds that were offered but I could see some streaking and this stone just looked so crisp in the video.

 

[DejaWiz]

Insert sigh of relief!
Thank you, and all the other members here who gave advice!

You don't think it will show too tinted? I plugged the info into the HCA and it came back with s score of 1, so in the late night I pulled the trigger to get it bagged.

I will let the wife choose a setting, but you think 8 prongs would be better due to the size? She's a size 6.25 or about that and I don't want to add anything to the setting since this is already larger than anticipated. The draw for that clear rough had me searching like a dog for HPHT. Alex Park had a few large rounds that were offered but I could see some streaking and this stone just looked so crisp in the video.

I don't think it's going to appear too warm since it'll be gathering and reflecting everything in its immediate environment 99.9% of the time...you'll likely need to purposely get it into a controlled environment that will show any body color/hue.

 

[0515vision]

OMG - that's a GOREOUS stone! Congrats!!

 

[lunker7]

OMG - that's a GOREOUS stone! Congrats!!

I don't think it's going to appear too warm since it'll be gathering and reflecting everything in its immediate environment 99.9% of the time...you'll likely need to purposely get it into a controlled environment that will show any body color/hue.

Thank you both! I can’t wait to see it, should arrive sometime next week I think. Will update again when it’s here.

 

[lunker7]

Update time!

It came and it’s a fireball. Like nothing we have seen. It’s big. Big-big! @DejaWiz was right about reflecting the environment! The cut and precision is just amazing! Thank you for everyone’s fast input and all the knowledge in this forum. I learned a lot in a short period of time and was able to move faster than ever because of the info gained in this group.

She’s a little concerned with the size but after the box shock wears off I think she will settle in just fine.

We are sending it off to David Klass to be set. We have talked about setting options and she had the creative freedom to do as she pleases. 16-prong solitaire set reasonably low. Double 8 prongs.

I’ll post a few photos that do nothing to show off the combo of her hand and this stone.

 

[DejaWiz]

lunker7 it's perfect and you're username is also perfect:

Lunker
lun·ker
/ˈləNGkər/
noun
informal • North American
noun: lunker; plural noun: lunkers
An exceptionally large specimen of something

 

[lunker7]

I have actually been an avid fisherman. Started when I was young with my father, grandfather and 6 uncles. In my world the lunker is a trophy sized bass or other large fish, which I now know is also applicable to diamonds!!

 

[DejaWiz]

I have actually been an avid fisherman. Started when I was young with my father, grandfather and 6 uncles. In my world the lunker is a trophy sized bass or other large fish, which I now know is also applicable to diamonds!!

I used to play a PC game way back in the day called Basstour - catching lunkers is always cool!
Also used to rent a Jon boat at the military "base lake" nearby and relax for a few hours with a pole and some turkey livers.
Ironically, I'm not much into fishing now that I have my own little runabout boat...usually my wife and I will cast off early in the morning with a thermos of hot coffee and a batch of biscuits and sausage gravy for a breakfast date on the water before the youngins in the family arrive for tubing, skiing, and swimming.