need diamond selection advice between BN and WF

[bob24]

Hi All,

So I finally am looking into buying an engagement ring! I know the setting I want. A channel-set with either princess or round diamonds in the channel, with a round center stone. I have found plenty of settings that I like. Some examples,

http://www.bluenile.com/princess-diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_12956
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/channel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-1084.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/cathedral-channel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-511.htm

Any similar ones that get favorable reviews from other sites? It's difficult to go through all of the sites!

Ideally, I would like a ~1ct, F color stone with a VS1 or better clarity without having to spend more than ~11.5k or so.

Doing some searches on bluenile brought up the following diamonds. They are all signature ideal. The # before the price is the computed HCA value.

LD02180457, 1.01ct, F, VS1, 1.5 $11075
LD02632748, 1.00ct, F, VS1, 1.3 $11440

LD02493074, 1.04ct, G, VS1, 1.6 $9949
LD02595391, 1.00ct, G, VS1, 1.2 $9803

LD02472865, 1.02ct, F, VS2, 1.7 $9969
LD02472856, 1.02ct, F, VS2, 1.4 $9980

However, I do like the fact that other vendors have the pictures/magnified images of the actual diamonds. I would be willing to spend a little bit more for that, but looking on whiteflash I found the following using the same criteria and the diamond being ACA:

AGS-104051733007, 1.010ct, F, VS1, 1.5 $13351
AGS-104051733010, 1.033ct, F, VS1, 1.1 $13663

AGS-104056259013, 1.012ct, G, VS1, 1.1 $11361
AGS-104052379006, 1.022ct, G, VS1, 1.7 $11473

AGS-104056259001, 1.003ct, F, VS2, 1.3 $11259
AGS-104052379013, 1.010ct, F, VS2, 1.6 $11338

So, the diamonds are about 2-2.5k more expensive with my ideal characteristics(F,VS1), and ~1.5k more expensive when dropping either the color or clarity one grade. If the additional expense was in the 500-800 range (which I find reasonable), I would have already pulled the trigger. Also, the signature ideals bluenile has in their possession so that is not a difference.

I also looked for Expert Selection(ES) diamonds, but they have surprisingly few with this criteria. I would insist on F and VS1 if going with a ES stone.

So, I suppose my question is whether or not this is reasonable and worth the additional cost. And if I did drop to a G or VS2, which one is better of the 2 to drop to achieve the best diamond?

Thanks!

 

[LetItShine]

I bought a BN Signature Ideal a couple months ago and LOVE IT. I researched other vendors and didn't find anything close in price with similar specs. They do own the stone so it isn't virtual inventory. You can request that a gemologist look at it. They don't offer idealscope but their Signature Ideal stones are also GCAL certified. They also have a 30 day return period, which is nice. However, their trade up policy requires that you spend double the original cost. You may want to consider that if you think you will want to trade up for a different stone in the future.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My personal preference of those two is definitely WhiteFlash since you can see the magnified stone images as well as the idealscope images. I wouldn't buy a stone I couldn't see in images first.

 

[bob24]

I hadn't noticed that GCAL certification on BN. That is helpful. Just wish they had images as well. Not sure why they wouldn't for the stones they have, I don't think I would every exchange/trade up the ring. We're both the sentimental type.

Thanks!