Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Larger diamond roughly the same price

trentdi

trentdi

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 2, 2025
Messages
8
Hi - I'm on a diamond ring search for my fiance and trying to read up on what diamonds are all about.

I'm looking at two diamonds, one 1.2 ct, the other 1.3ct, all other specs roughly the same. However the 1.3ct is only $150 more. What is the reason for this price discrepancy, is it the nature and amount of inclusions?

Thanks!

1.2ct: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...r-si1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-4770699
1.3ct: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...r-si1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-4755287
 
Are you aware that these aren't in-house diamonds? When people talk about purchasing from Whiteflash, they usually mean diamonds they have on hand. You would click "Ready to Ship" to find those.

SI1 is a wide clarity grade so that's one possibility. While some are eye clean with no transparency issues, others have visible defects. There are also differences in cut, different people owning the stock, etc.

Here's an in-house diamond in this size range that's perfectly cut and eye clean according to their standard definition, which may not be yours. You can always ask since they can pull the diamond for you: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...-si1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-a4779171
 
Also...I would ask about these two (as well as the H posted above). Ask for a picture of all 3 together. Side
views also.
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.30 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4698204

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.30 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4698204
www.whiteflash.com
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.22 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4779177

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.22 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4779177
www.whiteflash.com

The price on the 1.30 H you posted is probably lower because the cut doesn't look that great, and it's got a pretty
offensive inclusion on the table. You can ask the Sales Associate about it (and the 1.2 you posted).

The stones that we posted are H&A stones with optimal light return due to the complementary angles and precision cut.
 
tyty333 said:
Also...I would ask about these two (as well as the H posted above). Ask for a picture of all 3 together. Side
views also.
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.30 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4698204

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.30 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4698204
www.whiteflash.com
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.22 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4779177

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.22 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4779177
www.whiteflash.com

The price on the 1.30 H you posted is probably lower because the cut doesn't look that great, and it's got a pretty
offensive inclusion on the table. You can ask the Sales Associate about it (and the 1.2 you posted).

The stones that we posted are H&A stones with optimal light return due to the complementary angles and precision cut.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Curious - what tells you the cut isn’t great (it’s not ideal, but neither is the 1.2ct)?

There is a big difference in price going from excellent to ideal, and I do wonder if a nice ‘excellent’ will be that much noticeably different to an ‘ideal’. I’m also thinking that there’s not much point looking at ASET images unless the diamond is classified as ideal..?
 
trentdi said:
Thanks! Curious - what tells you the cut isn’t great (it’s not ideal, but neither is the 1.2ct)?

There is a big difference in price going from excellent to ideal, and I do wonder if a nice ‘excellent’ will be that much noticeably different to an ‘ideal’. I’m also thinking that there’s not much point looking at ASET images unless the diamond is classified as ideal..?
Click to expand...

I'm not an expert but I still have had enough practice looking at diamond videos and certificates to see some of the cut flaws. People like @tyty333 can see more.

Here's a video from JannPaul that addresses your question in increasing cut quality by showing a comparison between a meh GIA Triple Excellent, one with better angles but still not perfect, and a "super ideal" cut like the Whiteflash stones:

Obviously as things get more and more optimal and symmetrical, there are diminishing returns. Some people have better eyes for this than others do and some people care more than others do. On Pricescope, you'll find that people are primarily focused on cut quality even if it means dropping in size or color or clarity. A well-cut diamond will generally look brighter and whiter than a more poorly cut diamond even if it is a color grade or two lower. It may also look bigger because the brightness extends to the edges. You can find unbranded diamonds that are better choices than the two you found if you don't want to spring for the H&A options, but I don't think either one you found is a good use of your money.

What's your budget? What kind of setting do you want? Is this diamond for you or as a gift? Do you know the wearer's priorities?
 
trentdi said:
Thanks! Curious - what tells you the cut isn’t great (it’s not ideal, but neither is the 1.2ct)?

There is a big difference in price going from excellent to ideal, and I do wonder if a nice ‘excellent’ will be that much noticeably different to an ‘ideal’. I’m also thinking that there’s not much point looking at ASET images unless the diamond is classified as ideal..?
Click to expand...

A nice excellent - and I assume you are talking about a GIA graded triple excellent stone - can vary greatly. Not all are made the same and ASET images will certainly help. GIA rounds their numbers and that accounts for variance as well. Super ideal cut diamonds are cut for light performance and not weight. Therefore, much more rough diamond is discarded during cutting to achieve that - hence the price difference. However, for a diamond that she may wear every day for the rest of her life, it would be worth it to me to get the best cut that I could. The price difference (wire price) between the two that you posted and the two recommended is not vast. However, the choice is yours. Give Whiteflash a call and discuss the diamonds with them. They are very customer friendly and consumer oriented so don't hesitate to give them a call!
 
Wow thanks both for your replies.

I did go into a jewellery store to physically look at some gia excellent cut stones, and to be honest they all liked nice (I don’t think I have an eye for these things). However I do want to try to find something that looks nice ‘on paper’ because I think that over time you may start to pick up on the flaws that at first weren’t so obvious, and also given that my fiancé will be wearing this ring every day, it makes sense to try and purchase the best diamond I can find.

Not 100% sure on priorities. I’ve read that cut is incredibly important so originally was exclusively looking at ideal cut, but spoke to a friend of my brother in law who’s a jeweller, and he said that there’s definitely diminishing returns as you move to ideal, and that he prefers to recommend his clients a good quality excellent. I think my preference is something around the 1.3ct mark, and was thinking to sacrifice a bit of cut for size, mostly because to me a difference in size (1.2 versus 1.3) is more noticeable than the difference in cut when going from excellent to ideal. Definitely want something eye clean (vs1 or vs2) colour in the ghi range.

I’m looking at a platinum 4 prong setting with some pave side stones - something similar to https://www.b2cjewels.com/1/asaj118...micro-prong-accent-diamonds-in-14k-white-gold.

Budget wise maybe around 6k for the stone.

The wearers priorities - my guess is size at around the 1.3 mark, but no larger since she has small hands and anything bigger will look ostentatious.
 
“You can find unbranded diamonds that are better choices than the two you found if you don't want to spring for the H&A options, but I don't think either one you found is a good use of your money.”

How would I find these? Do you look at the diamond measurements? It seems that aset images are only provided for the stones that are graded ideal, so presumably can’t use aset to evaluate for excellent cut stones.
 
Some guidelines:
Table 55-57
Crown angle 34-35
Pavilion angle 40.6-40.9
Depth no greater than 62.2

Remember that GIA graded stones will have rounding of all of these numbers so that gets a bit tricky. Some combos are better than others. Post GIA grading reports and ASETS of any potential stones. People will try to steer you toward what they sell, so take advice with a grain of salt. Make sure that a vendor can SHOW you a diamond’s performance - not just tell you. Buying super ideal cut diamonds is far easier - all of the guesswork has been taken out of it and they have the proof of their product. Many of us have been where you are - questioning the validity of the money. There is a difference in cut, just depends on how important it is to you. Make sure your preferred vendor has a good trade in policy; buyer’s remorse can be no joke. If you want to consider diamonds on your own, come back with info and post here. Many will be happy to help you wade through the info!
 
Last edited:
Awesome thanks! I’ll keep searching and post back stones that I find.
 
The difference between a nicely cut stone and an ideally proportioned stone is with the latter your diamond always is the most sparkly thing in the room and people will compliment you on it every single day and ask why it’s so sparkly lol At least that’s my experience.
 
Dreamer_D said:
The difference between a nicely cut stone and an ideally proportioned stone is with the latter your diamond always is the most sparkly thing in the room and people will compliment you on it every single day and ask why it’s so sparkly lol At least that’s my experience.
Click to expand...

So true! It is also knowing that you have maximized a round brilliant cut to its highest potential. Peace of mind can be priceless!
 
Hi all - sorry for being a bit slow. I've gone searching, and come up with 4 diamonds. 2 that aren't quite right (but a lot cheaper), 2 where the proportions are more ideal (but more expensive). Would be interested to hear if people think the more ideal proportions are worth it

1 - https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-23736817
$4,260 generally good proportions, but thick girdle and strong fluorescence

2 - https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...r-vs1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-4790188
$ 4,217 CA/PA is off a bit, 34.0/40.6 versus ideal 34.5/40.6. Thick girdle and medium fluorescence

3 - https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/27233514/Round-Diamond-H-Color-VS2-Clarity
$6,579 1.32ct proportions good

4- https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/27938362/Round-Diamond-G-Color-VS2-Clarity
$6,591 1.3ct proportions good, slightly more included than 3, but G colour

Thanks for reading :)
 
You've found some interesting stones. Just a few comments.

The first one will have a more "splintery" look due to the longer lower halves (80% means thinner arrows). Nothing wrong
with it just a slightly different look than what most PSers buy (75% lower halves).

Number 2...I would want to see an Aset image. Not sure if WF can get that since it's not an in-house stone.

Number 3...would also like Aset image. I can only see about 2/3rds of the stone in the spinning video. Something is hitting me
as slightly off in the crown area...but not sure.

Number 4 would like a better view of the inclusions, but there is no spinning video. It is a VS2 so hopefully nothing is hiding over
a black arrow.

Have you taken a look at this stone... If I were going with your higher budget, I would get this.
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.25 ct H SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4779171

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.25 carat H color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4779171
www.whiteflash.com
 
trentdi said:
Hi - I'm on a diamond ring search for my fiance and trying to read up on what diamonds are all about.

I'm looking at two diamonds, one 1.2 ct, the other 1.3ct, all other specs roughly the same. However the 1.3ct is only $150 more. What is the reason for this price discrepancy, is it the nature and amount of inclusions?

Thanks!

1.2ct: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...r-si1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-4770699
1.3ct: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...r-si1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-4755287
Click to expand...

As others have said, these two diamonds are from our category of diamonds offered by our vendor network. We have not yet evaluated them, though we do filter our list and only post diamonds that have potential to be worthy of consideration. On this collection of diamonds the vendors set pricing and we just add a small markup to cover the costs of the value we add.

Si1 is a big category and many shoppers target this grade to maximize value, thereby making it possible to get a larger diamond for the money compared to higher clarity grades. But they require more careful vetting than say a VS1. There are some inclusions that may be visible to the naked eye or diminish transparency. We do these evaluations on all of our in-stock diamonds, and on diamonds such as these too that customers select to make sure we protect our customers and meet all of their goals.

ASET and/or IdealScope are tools that give you a graphical readout of how a diamond is handling light. It is worthwhile to evaluate these images to more fully understand your diamond, even if an ideal or super ideal is not your priority. We have an in-house photo team and provide advanced images up front on all of our in-house diamonds, and can provide them on diamonds we bring in, on request. Our team of diamond consultants are very good at helping shoppers find diamonds with high potential, even if they are not in our in-stock brands. We also provide a lot of in-depth info on our site, including the benefits of hearts and arrows precision cutting.
 
tyty333 said:
Have you taken a look at this stone... If I were going with your higher budget, I would get this.
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.25 ct H SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4779171

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.25 carat H color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4779171
www.whiteflash.com
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response!

I've been deliberately avoiding the ideal cuts since imo I think you pay a decent premium for branding and assurance. I've been looking for stones that are still excellent cuts, maybe marginally worse than an ideal cut, but don't attract the ideal cut premium (number 3 looked quite promising in this regard).

Maybe I can ask b2c for an
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top