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Low ACA Stock at WF

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RowingMunkeyCU

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
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18
Grrr... the stock of 0.9 - 1.1 Ct F&G SI1 ACAs is so limited, that now, when I''m finally ready to get one, there aren''t any left to get!
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Add the price increase on top of that and I''m getting slowly squeezed out of the market. So now what? Is WF ever going to get more stones? I don''t want to have to wait all summer for it, and I don''t want to go to GOG (their stones never seem to look as nice).

Gah!
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I think Whiteflash have been very busy lately. Have you spoken to anyone there to let them know exactly what you are looking for? I know they will source what you need.
 
I would email WF and see when there next shipment of ACA''s arrives.

I have to disagree on GOG''s stones not being as nice since I am soon to officially own one and it is a beauty :) along with many other PS''ers who have magnificent GOG (and WF and other vendor) stones.

Picture taking quality will vary vendor to vendor
 
I have spoken with Chris Gonzales (he was supposed to be getting a quote on a setting for me, but haven''t heard back in a few days). I thought we just had to wait for whatever comes available since Brian Gavin hand picks the ACAs only a couple of time a year? So you''re saying they can get ACAs in if we send them the specs we''re looking for?
 
Date: 5/30/2008 8:27:39 AM
Author:RowingMunkeyCU
Grrr... the stock of 0.9 - 1.1 Ct F&G SI1 ACAs is so limited, that now, when I''m finally ready to get one, there aren''t any left to get!
39.gif
Add the price increase on top of that and I''m getting slowly squeezed out of the market. So now what? Is WF ever going to get more stones? I don''t want to have to wait all summer for it, and I don''t want to go to GOG (their stones never seem to look as nice).

Gah!
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I''m not sure what you mean by this.... I happen to own one of their stones, and I also own ACA studs. I can assure you they are on the same quality level.
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And you''re never going to run into an abundance of stones in the .90-.99 range in a well cut stone. There just aren''t that many out there. I''d open up your size preferences, they are too restricting.
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Date: 5/30/2008 8:27:39 AM
Author:RowingMunkeyCU
Grrr... the stock of 0.9 - 1.1 Ct F&G SI1 ACAs is so limited, that now, when I''m finally ready to get one, there aren''t any left to get!
39.gif
Add the price increase on top of that and I''m getting slowly squeezed out of the market. So now what? Is WF ever going to get more stones? I don''t want to have to wait all summer for it, and I don''t want to go to GOG (their stones never seem to look as nice).

Gah!
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What exactly are you basing this observation on
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First of all, WhiteFlash cuts their own stones and they usually get new stock in every few weeks (6 or so). As others have said, the .90 range is not common. You''ll find more in the .75-.80 range and then it jumps to the 1.0 range. A cutter will try to cut at the 1.0 mark rather than the .90''s since the 1.0 brings a much higher price.

In addition, I am also the owner of WF and GOG stones and I assure you they are equivalent in quality. I am not sure how you have made that determination. Have you visited both vendors?
 
Date: 5/30/2008 8:48:43 AM
Author: Ellen
I'm not sure what you mean by this.... I happen to own one of their stones, and I also own ACA studs. I can assure you they are on the same quality level.
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And you're never going to run into an abundance of stones in the .90-.99 range in a well cut stone. There just aren't that many out there. I'd open up your size preferences, they are too restricting.
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I'm open to going larger, but I'm pretty restricted in my budget ( <$6500 ) and I don't want to go any smaller. GF is fairly color sensitive, so I can't drop any lower than a 'G' and SI1 is about as low as I can go and still be 'mind-clean'.

Perhaps the picture quality is just higher at GOG and you can see all the imperfections, and there seems to be more light leakage on many of the ASETs. But even then, their selection is rather lacking as well (and they seem to have a lot of proprietary cuts and qualities (optical symmetry) without giving a definition). Also, the prices aren't as good as WF (no extra PS discount, at least as listed on PS).

...and even though it's dumb, GOGs name sounds like something a Pawn Shop would be called.
 
WF has a professional photographer who does a really excellent job photographing their diamonds. I wonder if that's what you're basing your decision on, because the GOG stones are also hand-picked for light performance.

Now, I can understand if you like a particular setting at WF and want to get your diamond and setting at the same place. Or if you want a custom setting...WF does amazing custom work. But otherwise, give GOG a chance!

A quick search returned 4 nice looking stones:
F and G SI1 stones

ETA: I think they give a PS discount, but I'm not sure since I haven't bought anything there.
 
Also, if you''re willing to go to H in color (in a well-cut stone, most people can''t tell the difference from F/G), you have a LOT more options at WF.
 
That first G looks like a nice stone from the pics.
 
Their prices are very close to those at WF. SI1 stones are going to have imperfections visible with magnification, and yes, I think the GOG photography gives you the real picture of what you're getting. Their stones are every bit as nice as those at WF. When I was diamond shopping, I watched both until I found what I wanted. I ended up buying the ring stone from GOG and the matched pair for studs at WF. They are both excellent and have excellent diamonds. I recommend buying from whichever one has the stone with the specs you want.

(GOG has a wire discount that is offered to everyone. There is not a separate discount for PS.)
 
Date: 5/30/2008 9:04:34 AM
Author: jstarfireb
WF has a professional photographer who does a really excellent job photographing their diamonds. I wonder if that''s what you''re basing your decision on, because the GOG stones are also hand-picked for light performance.

Now, I can understand if you like a particular setting at WF and want to get your diamond and setting at the same place. Or if you want a custom setting...WF does amazing custom work. But otherwise, give GOG a chance!

A quick search returned 4 nice looking stones:
F and G SI1 stones

ETA: I think they give a PS discount, but I''m not sure since I haven''t bought anything there.
Click to expand...
For some reason I am only getting the G SI1 1.06 on the search page, not sure why the others aren''t showing. But that''s a great diamond!
 
Oh, that''s strange, Ellen. Here are links to each one individually:
0.97 F SI1
1.06 G SI1
1.03 F SI1
1.06 G SI1

I did a little double-take when I saw that 2 and 4 were the same price, and they do appear to be different stones.
 
Aw, jstar, thank you! You didn''t have to do that. And who knows, my computer does strange things sometimes.

I would go with the first G, it eeks out the other in the size department by a tiny bit. But any of those would be nice, though the .97 is a different cut.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys (or ladies)!

The 1.06 Ct. diamonds from GOG do look pretty nice, but they both look like they have some fairly noticeable inclusions (as does the 1.03 Ct.) It''d be nice if GOG had a listing of only their ''super-ideal'' diamonds like WF does though. Eye clean is a must, and dropping down in cut (below Ideal, including Symmetry and Polish) isn''t an option. Hmmm... still waiting on WF for a response on their next ACA release date.
 
Date: 5/30/2008 9:02:43 AM
Author: RowingMunkeyCU
Date: 5/30/2008 8:48:43 AM

Author: Ellen

I''m not sure what you mean by this.... I happen to own one of their stones, and I also own ACA studs. I can assure you they are on the same quality level.
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And you''re never going to run into an abundance of stones in the .90-.99 range in a well cut stone. There just aren''t that many out there. I''d open up your size preferences, they are too restricting.
28.gif
Click to expand...


I''m open to going larger, but I''m pretty restricted in my budget ( <$6500 ) and I don''t want to go any smaller. GF is fairly color sensitive, so I can''t drop any lower than a ''G'' and SI1 is about as low as I can go and still be ''mind-clean''.


Perhaps the picture quality is just higher at GOG and you can see all the imperfections, and there seems to be more light leakage on many of the ASETs. But even then, their selection is rather lacking as well (and they seem to have a lot of proprietary cuts and qualities (optical symmetry) without giving a definition). Also, the prices aren''t as good as WF (no extra PS discount, at least as listed on PS).


...and even though it''s dumb, GOGs name sounds like something a Pawn Shop would be called.
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A "pawn shop"??! Come on. I am a trademark lawyer, and there is nothing pawn shop sounding about their name. It has great alliteration and really resonates as to the magnificence of precious metals. I love their name.

To your original post, I think the ACA diamonds at WF are the best I have seen, so I can understand why you want to buy from them. (Not sure why there is a need to disparage another vendor in the process, but whatever.) Keep in mind that the entire industry is slow right now b/c the JCK is going on in Vegas. I am sure there will be new inventory and people focused back on the trade once that convention wraps up. Brian is in Vegas for that show. This I know b/c I am waiting to meet with him to see my newly recut RB. Why don''t you circle back with them the beginning part of next week once everyone is back in town?
 
Date: 5/30/2008 9:46:20 AM
Author: Isabelle
A ''pawn shop''??! Come on. I am a trademark lawyer, and there is nothing pawn shop sounding about their name. It has great alliteration and really resonates as to the magnificence of precious metals. I love their name.


To your original post, I think the ACA diamonds at WF are the best I have seen, so I can understand why you want to buy from them. (Not sure why there is a need to disparage another vendor in the process, but whatever.) Keep in mind that the entire industry is slow right now b/c the JCK is going on in Vegas. I am sure there will be new inventory and people focused back on the trade once that convention wraps up. Brian is in Vegas for that show. This I know b/c I am waiting to meet with him to see my newly recut RB. Why don''t you circle back with them the beginning part of next week once everyone is back in town?
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I know, I know, it''s dumb, but when you''re spending that kind of money, for that kind of woman, you don''t want something that''s just good, you want something great, ideal, excellent, above and beyond, perfect, etc. You don''t want something common (even though it might be), you want something that is new, something never worn before, something made only for that one special woman (although family diamonds have a special significance too). And their name completely contradicts that image. I''m not saying it''s right, but that''s just my opinion. But anyway...

Didn''t know there was a major jewelers event going on at the moment, hopefully they will have some new stock coming back :-)
 
Just heard back from WF, looks like they''re getting a new batch of ACAs in late August. Hmmm... guess I''m going to try and special request something (GF would probably kill me if I waited that long
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)
 
Diamonds cut by Infinity are every bit as gorgeous as WF''s ACA. WF has the nicest website but don''t discount GOG or Winfield''s because their cuts are beautiful, too. If you are concerned about waiting or the prices going up by August they expand your search. Each stone will have it''s trade off as far as color or clarity goes but if you start off with an ideal cut you''re already ahead of the game.
 
Date: 5/30/2008 9:40:37 AM
Author: RowingMunkeyCU
Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys (or ladies)!

The 1.06 Ct. diamonds from GOG do look pretty nice, but they both look like they have some fairly noticeable inclusions (as does the 1.03 Ct.) It'd be nice if GOG had a listing of only their 'super-ideal' diamonds like WF does though. Eye clean is a must, and dropping down in cut (below Ideal, including Symmetry and Polish) isn't an option. Hmmm... still waiting on WF for a response on their next ACA release date.
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Rowing, you cannot go by the inclusion pictures. Ever. Each stone needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis, by a real pair of eyes. I have seen pics that showed NO inclusions, yet they were not eyeclean, and vice versa. You need to ask.
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And most of GOG's stones are super ideals, hand picked by Jon. They have no more or less inclusions, and are no less beautiful, than ACA's. There seems to be a slight misconception around here, and that is that ACA's are the best, to which all others must be compared. It's just not true. Yes, they're a great cut stone, but by far not the only ones. There are several cutters cutting just as nice, and maybe even tighter in some cases.

I just hate to see you possibly passing up some of the best of the best.
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No problem, Ellen! I like the G/SI1 too.

With any SI1, you should call to ask if it''s eye-clean, because some SI1s have inclusions visible to the naked eye and some don''t. If you want to virtually guarantee that you will not see an inclusion, you may want to look at some VS2s. I''ve heard that only 1-2 people in 100 can see a VS2 inclusion with the naked eye (someone here said it recently, but I can''t remember who...maybe it was Ellen?). You can stay under budget if you''re willing to look at H color:
1.0 H VS2

Also try James Allen. They have a lot of info about their diamonds (including pics) and are a very reputable vendor. These look promising:
1.07 G SI1
0.91 F SI1
 
It was me j, 1 in 100.

The thing is, there are many stones, even SI2''s, that are completely eyeclean. They just have to be judged individually!
 
Date: 5/30/2008 1:42:31 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 5/30/2008 9:40:37 AM
Author: RowingMunkeyCU
Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys (or ladies)!

The 1.06 Ct. diamonds from GOG do look pretty nice, but they both look like they have some fairly noticeable inclusions (as does the 1.03 Ct.) It''d be nice if GOG had a listing of only their ''super-ideal'' diamonds like WF does though. Eye clean is a must, and dropping down in cut (below Ideal, including Symmetry and Polish) isn''t an option. Hmmm... still waiting on WF for a response on their next ACA release date.
Click to expand...
Rowing, you cannot go by the inclusion pictures. Ever. Each stone needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis, by a real pair of eyes. I have seen pics that showed NO inclusions, yet they were not eyeclean, and vice versa. You need to ask.
2.gif


And most of GOG''s stones are super ideals, hand picked by Jon. They have no more or less inclusions, and are no less beautiful, than ACA''s. There seems to be a slight misconception around here, and that is that ACA''s are the best, to which all others must be compared. It''s just not true. Yes, they''re a great cut stone, but by far not the only ones. There are several cutters cutting just as nice, and maybe even tighter in some cases.

I just hate to see you possibly passing up some of the best of the best.
28.gif
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Ditto to all of this! I would order from GOG, the level of information they provide about their diamons is exceptional. But if you are just set against buying from them, then wait until August or expand your parameters.
 
Don''t forget NiceIce in this discussion.
 
Date: 5/30/2008 8:27:39 AM
Author:RowingMunkeyCU
Grrr... the stock of 0.9 - 1.1 Ct F&G SI1 ACAs is so limited, that now, when I''m finally ready to get one, there aren''t any left to get!
39.gif
Add the price increase on top of that and I''m getting slowly squeezed out of the market. So now what? Is WF ever going to get more stones? I don''t want to have to wait all summer for it, and I don''t want to go to GOG (their stones never seem to look as nice).

Gah!
32.gif
Click to expand...
Hrm ... We generally don''t get this kind of response about our work and efforts but I am always open to constructive criticism. If you were me RowingMunkeyCU what is it about our diamonds or published material that you''d change? Does the photography under the microscope scare you? We try to be as forthright and up front about our products as possible. I''m curious to know as we don''t seek to scare folks.
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Author: Rhino
Hrm ... We generally don''t get this kind of response about our work and efforts but I am always open to constructive criticism. If you were me RowingMunkeyCU what is it about our diamonds or published material that you''d change? Does the photography under the microscope scare you? We try to be as forthright and up front about our products as possible. I''m curious to know as we don''t seek to scare folks.
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Click to expand...

Can I comment on this (sorry for the thread hijack OP)? It seems like Whiteflash has a pic of their diamond under more ''normal'' lighting conditions. True or not, to newbies like myself it may seem like you have a better idea of what you will see with your own eyes from WF versus GOG, where the photos seem to be more "computerized", if that makes sense.

Also, does GOG have a list of stock settings? I personally (though I am far from an upgrade) would like to spend more on the diamond than the setting, and I would be perfectly happy with a non branded tiffany style/cathedral/etc. You have a wonderful search engine for designer settings. But, I''ve noticed in the gallery that you have stock settings too, but I can''t seem to find them elsewhere. Am I missing something?

Hope that makes sense!
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Date: 5/30/2008 4:27:47 PM
Author: jsm

Author: Rhino
Hrm ... We generally don''t get this kind of response about our work and efforts but I am always open to constructive criticism. If you were me RowingMunkeyCU what is it about our diamonds or published material that you''d change? Does the photography under the microscope scare you? We try to be as forthright and up front about our products as possible. I''m curious to know as we don''t seek to scare folks.
33.gif
Click to expand...

Can I comment on this (sorry for the thread hijack OP)? It seems like Whiteflash has a pic of their diamond under more ''normal'' lighting conditions. True or not, to newbies like myself it may seem like you have a better idea of what you will see with your own eyes from WF versus GOG, where the photos seem to be more ''computerized'', if that makes sense.

Also, does GOG have a list of stock settings? I personally (though I am far from an upgrade) would like to spend more on the diamond than the setting, and I would be perfectly happy with a non branded tiffany style/cathedral/etc. You have a wonderful search engine for designer settings. But, I''ve noticed in the gallery that you have stock settings too, but I can''t seem to find them elsewhere. Am I missing something?

Hope that makes sense!
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Now see, I was the oppposite! I liked what I saw on the GOG website and appreciated the detailed pictures and additional info that they provided...
 
I''m going to stay out of the who has better diamond debate but wanted to add a thought.
My opinion is that short term prices are going up and up.
In August you may have to pay a lot more than today''s prices for an equal stone.
Long term who knows but I wouldn''t bet against a another price increase between now and August.
 
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