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Need Help Choosing Between 3 Diamonds

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djslik

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 8, 2010
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56
I am looking at 3 different Round Cut diamonds. They all scored below 2 on the HCA test so I'm hoping they show well. I'm most interested in the brilliance or sparkle associated with very well cut diamonds. I do not want a dull diamond no matter how big it is. I'm not so sure about color because I was still happy with the J color I saw at Shane Co. due to the larger size. I definitely do not want a yellow diamond so I'm hoping an excellent cut can overcome a J color. I need your help and I'm willing to order 2 of the diamonds so I can compare them unless you can help me decide. I want to get one of these diamonds by Friday because I'm going to compare it in person to another one I have on hold at Shane Co. I found this website after I visited Shane Co. and I'm ordering an Ideal Scope Expert Kit tonight. Here are the specs along with the GIA reports:

Ring 1
$6351.00
1.55 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 59.7
Table: 59.0
**Link removed by moderator. To reduce broken links and protect privacy please upload photos directly to the forums**

Ring 2
$6144.00
1.54 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61.9
Table: 56.0
**Link removed**

Ring 3
$6416.00
1.29 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: F
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61.1
Table: 56.0
**Link removed**
 
Date: 4/8/2010 5:07:39 AM
Author:djslik
I am looking at 3 different Round Cut diamonds. They all scored below 2 on the HCA test so I''m hoping they show well. I''m most interested in the brilliance or sparkle associated with very well cut diamonds. I do not want a dull diamond no matter how big it is. I''m not so sure about color because I was still happy with the J color I saw at Shane Co. due to the larger size. I definitely do not want a yellow diamond so I''m hoping an excellent cut can overcome a J color. I need your help and I''m willing to order 2 of the diamonds so I can compare them unless you can help me decide. I want to get one of these diamonds by Friday because I''m going to compare it in person to another one I have on hold at Shane Co. I found this website after I visited Shane Co. and I''m ordering an Ideal Scope Expert Kit tonight. Here are the specs along with the GIA reports:

Ring 1
$6351.00
1.55 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 59.7
Table: 59.0


Ring 2
$6144.00
1.54 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61.9
Table: 56.0


Ring 3
$6416.00
1.29 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: F
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61.1
Table: 56.0
Click to expand...
Hi djslik and welcome!

Can you post all the info from the GIA reports directly here please? The info needed is the depth%, table%, crown and pavilion angles etc, everything from the grading reports. Then we can go from there.
 
yap, all look promising from the numbers.

I would be more worried about if the stone is eye-clean or not, at SI2 not all are the same. What did the vendor say about the eye-cleanliness of each?
 
I called this morning and the only one that is eye clean is the 1.29 CT F SI2. I submitted the order and I will have it tomorrow to inspect. I am ordering the Ideal Scope today so maybe you guys can give me some pointers on how to use it correctly. If this comes back eye clean I think I just got a great deal. I''m hoping that the HCA is also correct and that it sparkles beautifully. Do you guys think the smaller carat weight is a big deal between the 2?
 
Date: 4/8/2010 11:25:33 AM
Author: djslik
I called this morning and the only one that is eye clean is the 1.29 CT F SI2. I submitted the order and I will have it tomorrow to inspect. I am ordering the Ideal Scope today so maybe you guys can give me some pointers on how to use it correctly. If this comes back eye clean I think I just got a great deal. I''m hoping that the HCA is also correct and that it sparkles beautifully. Do you guys think the smaller carat weight is a big deal between the 2?
Click to expand...
Between the 1.29 and 1.54? Yes, there will be a visible size difference. With the IS just practise, they are simple to use and you will soon learn what to look for, here is a good page which helps explain.
 
I''m hoping that the better color will be worth the smaller diamond. Honestly 1.25 is my ideal size but I definitely would not mind the larger diamond for my girlfriend. I''m torn between sacrificing size or color, but I''m hoping the better color will also equate to a nicer sparkle along with the cut. I''m not sure if that line of thinking is correct.
 
Date: 4/8/2010 3:17:09 PM
Author: djslik
I''m hoping that the better color will be worth the smaller diamond. Honestly 1.25 is my ideal size but I definitely would not mind the larger diamond for my girlfriend. I''m torn between sacrificing size or color, but I''m hoping the better color will also equate to a nicer sparkle along with the cut. I''m not sure if that line of thinking is correct.
Click to expand...
Colour doesn''t influence sparkle or performance, its just the colour or lack of in a diamond, as long as the cut is excellent any colour diamond will sparkle and show beauty. A great cut can sometimes help a diamond face up a little whiter for its colour grade in some cases. Both diamonds are well cut, what do you think your GF would prefer, a smaller F colour or a larger J colour?

I didn''t post the page earlier that I should have to help you interpret IS images, but I am adding it here.
 
Ditto, buy what your gf would prefer.
 
She already expressed the fact that she is not overly concerned with large diamonds. She says 1 CT is plenty big for a ring and in fact she told me that if she had a 1.5CT ring she would be too scared to wear it in public in case she loses it or something like that. I know that she would be more than happy with the 1.29 CT but I guess for me I like the size of the 1.55. The main thing that the 1.29CT has going for it in this case is that they inspected it to be eye clean and the other two were not eye clean. To me that is the biggest deal breaker. Should I order one of the larger diamonds just to have a side by side comparison? For me personally I like diamonds that sparkle from across the room. The only time I ever notice diamonds is when the sparkle is so bright that it grabs my attention even if I''m not really looking at it.
 
go for the F stone then, non-eye-clean is also a deal breaker for me.
 
The stone is coming in tomorrow morning. I will take pictures with my DSLR and see if I can post for you guys.
 
ok.
 
Date: 4/8/2010 4:54:01 PM
Author: djslik
The stone is coming in tomorrow morning. I will take pictures with my DSLR and see if I can post for you guys.
Click to expand...
Thats fine, we will keep an eye out for images!
 
Just received the diamond and it looks beautiful. I don''t have my camera with me so I will upload pictures later tonight. The diamond is not eye clean, BUT the only inclusion that I can see is located on the edge and will be covered by a prong so no big deal. It does sparkle very nicely I must admit.

After work I will be going to the Shane Co to compare to a diamond that I have put on hold. I don''t doubt that this one will blow it away in terms of "fire" and "brilliance".

Now I found another ring that I am considering bringing in to compare.

Round Brilliant

$6225.00
1.51 CT
GIA Report
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
Depth %: 61.6
Table %: 57
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Crown Angle: 34.5
Pavillion Angle: 40.8
Culet: None
HCA: 1.4
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Very Good
Falls within both the AGS Ideal and GIA Excellent portion of the chart
 
Here is a picture of the GIA inclusions for the 1.55CT

GIA2115876301a.JPG
 
Here is a picture of the GIA 1.29 CT that I have in my possession right now.

GIA2111592531.JPG
 
new stone looks good too.
 
Report back is that the diamond has a large white crystal on table and is faintly visible from 4-6". It is on hold for me today.
 
Date: 4/9/2010 12:57:15 PM
Author: djslik
Here is a picture of the GIA inclusions for the 1.55CT
Click to expand...
This diamond has excellent numbers, see what you think when you compare.
 
I have the 1.29 CT in my possession and I'm ordering 1 more for a direct comparison before I make my final decision. The two contenders are

Round Brilliant
$6225.00
1.51 CT
GIA Report
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI2 NOT EYE CLEAN (diamond has a large white crystal on table is faintly visible from 4-6")
Depth %: 61.6
Table %: 57
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Crown Angle: 34.5
Pavillion Angle: 40.8
Culet: None
HCA: 1.4
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Very Good
Falls within both the AGS Ideal and GIA Excellent portion of the chart


Round Brilliant
$6940.00
1.54 CT
AGS Report
Cut: AGS Ideal 0
Color: AGS 3.0 (J)
Clarity: AGS 4 (SI1) Unconfirmed Eye Clean
Depth %: 59.8
Table %: 57
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: Neglible
Crown Angle: 34.0
Pavillion Angle: 40.8
Culet: None
HCA: 0.9
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Excellent
Falls within both the AGS Ideal and GIA Excellent portion of the chart
Here is a picture for the inclusions on the 1.54CT

AGS154CT.JPG
 
I would call in the AGS0 stone.

What is the report number?
 
Just from the info listed, I vote ring 3 (the 1.29 ct) especially since its eye clean and has nice table and depth measurements. Best of luck!
 
Date: 4/9/2010 6:54:43 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
I would call in the AGS0 stone.


What is the report number?
Click to expand...

AGS Report Number 01040385710005
 
Update on the 1.29CT in my possession and my visit to Shane Co. The 1.29CT is absolutely beautiful, the color is wonderful, the cut shines brightly. I can actually see the inclusions if I look hard enough from the top, you can see the inclusion from the side if you look for it. Being able to see the inclusions does not bother me as much as I thought it would. I believe that most normal people would never be able to see it. I am still torn on this one and will need to spend some time with the ideal scope to make my final decision. I think I will call in one more diamond to make sure I am making the right choice.

Now I took the diamond in to the Shane Co. and was able to compare it to the diamonds they in store. Maybe it''s due to my inexperience, but I had a hard time being able to distinctively say my diamond was much brighter than the Shane Co. diamonds. Maybe the lighting in the store made all diamonds shine brightly. I did notice that when shining my led pen light at both diamonds my diamond reflected back much brighter and with more intensity than the Shane Co. Diamonds. I compared my F color diamond to a J colored diamond and honestly the warmth of the J was not as apparent as I thought. But again I think the store lighting had a lot to do with this.

I''m looking for any tips when comparing diamonds at the Brick and Morter stores. Other than the Ideal Scope how can I qualify one diamond having more brilliance and fire than another.
 
Date: 4/10/2010 12:44:57 AM
Author: djslik
Update on the 1.29CT in my possession and my visit to Shane Co. The 1.29CT is absolutely beautiful, the color is wonderful, the cut shines brightly. I can actually see the inclusions if I look hard enough from the top, you can see the inclusion from the side if you look for it. Being able to see the inclusions does not bother me as much as I thought it would. I believe that most normal people would never be able to see it. I am still torn on this one and will need to spend some time with the ideal scope to make my final decision. I think I will call in one more diamond to make sure I am making the right choice.

Now I took the diamond in to the Shane Co. and was able to compare it to the diamonds they in store. Maybe it''s due to my inexperience, but I had a hard time being able to distinctively say my diamond was much brighter than the Shane Co. diamonds. Maybe the lighting in the store made all diamonds shine brightly. I did notice that when shining my led pen light at both diamonds my diamond reflected back much brighter and with more intensity than the Shane Co. Diamonds. I compared my F color diamond to a J colored diamond and honestly the warmth of the J was not as apparent as I thought. But again I think the store lighting had a lot to do with this.

I''m looking for any tips when comparing diamonds at the Brick and Morter stores. Other than the Ideal Scope how can I qualify one diamond having more brilliance and fire than another.
Click to expand...
It isn''t a perfect test but one thing you can do is this. Hold both diamonds under a desk or table to reduce the lighting, observe carefully to see if either appear to shrink visibly, a well cut stone won''t suffer that much from the light reduction but a lesser cut will diminish in performance and appear to look smaller.
 
Ditto.

The AGS stone looks promising. Its'' has a large lower facet, at 82%, so the arrow shafts will be thinner than the GIA stone you have now, are looking at, depending on the rounding by GIA. But will be a good stone to determine you preference.

http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/1040385710005-PDQDFK.PDF
 
Here is the first Ideal Scope image for this ring:
$6416.00
1.29 CT
GIA Tested
Cut: Excellent
Color: F
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 61.1
Table: 56.0
HCA Score: 1.8

F129REV1.JPG
 
Here is the second Ideal Scope image.

F129REV2.JPG
 
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