Need Help Deciding on a Stone - RB

[la_dx22]

Hello all. Very new at this. I've been reading the forums for some time and have started looking lately. I want to get something in the 1.25-1.5 carat, Color H-J, Cut VS1-SI1, Ideal/Excellent cut. I know quite a big range, but my budget is $8000-$9000.

I have found a couple, but am unsure if these are any good. Looking for advice and some suggestions to get the best value for size vs quality.

Thank you all in advance.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1426511.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Very Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1469236.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1445793.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1466607.asp

In the 1.5 carat J SI1.... Are these any good if eyeclean?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1462182.asp

 

[la_dx22]

Also I was looking on Brian Gavin and Whiteflash which are similar prices. How do these compare with JA?

 

[slg47]

JA will only evaluate 3 diamonds so I would choose these three

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1445793.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1466607.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1462182.asp

 

[la_dx22]

I have found a few stones that I would like to get more info from JA. Do they provide idealoscope images? I have also read on here that you can request JA to evaluate up to 3 diamonds; does this apply to ones that are not in house? In other words, will they order them in for an evaluation?

Thanks!

 

[la_dx22]

Ok, so I have requested idealoscopes and inspection for the following 3

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1442134.asp
Carat weight: 1.35
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: VVS2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.4%
Table: 57.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.15*7.13*4.38
HCA: 1.6 ex/ex/ex/vg

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1443303.asp
Carat weight: 1.38
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 59.6%
Table: 58.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.25*7.31*4.34
HCA: 0.8 ex/ex/ex/ex

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1462182.asp
Carat weight: 1.53
Cut: Excellent
Color: J
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.3%
Table: 58.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Slightly thick to thick
Culet:
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.36*7.40*4.53
HCA: 0.9 ex/ex/ex/vg


Thoughts?

 

[tyty333]

Post idealscopes when you get them.

 

[la_dx22]

Should be available by Wednesday. I will post as soon as I get them.

 

[Amys Bling]

Should be available by Wednesday. I will post as soon as I get them.

great.

 

[la_dx22]

There was a delay in getting all the diamonds in. Still waiting for 1 of 3 to show up. Idealscopes will be available on Monday.

So far I did get a quick review of the inspection of the first 2 that came in.

Diamond #1 (1.35ct) - very bright and have very nice light performance. It has a true "J" color and, as expected, faces completely eye clean.

Diamond #3 (1.53ct) - will likely face eye clean, but if the viewer is examining the diamond closely and knows where to look for the crystal in the bezel or the cloud under the table, they may be able to pick up on them. He also found the light performance to be weaker and less desirable than what diamond 1 had.

So, 3 scored better on HCA, but seems to be a weaker performer. And what would the comment about the eye clean exactly mean for diamond 3. Wouldn't this be the case with all SI1 diamonds or are there some SI1 that no matter how hard you look without magnification you cannot see anything?

Monday I will get the review for the last diamond #2 (1.38 ct) and the idealscopes for all 3.

 

[la_dx22]

I got the idealscopes for diamond 1 and 3. Details above

Diamond #1 (1.35)


Diamond #3 (1.53)


Diamond #2 (1.3 still in progress.

Thoughts so far on the first 2?

 

[yssie]

ISs and numbers on both are fine.
A "J" of this size w/ these sorts of proportions is not going to be completely colourless in profile on close inspection, and you'll likely see the difference in body colour face-up if you compare next to a higher coloured stone. At casual glance it'll just look like a "white diamond" though, no worries there (if that is a worry...)
Different types of light return, certainly - since your rep has seen both stones in person he/she is in a better position to comment than we are.
The crystal under the kite on the SI1 is perfectly positioned to be pronged, though you'll want to confirm w/ your setter. Not the one under UGF at this size though.

 

[slg47]

There was a delay in getting all the diamonds in. Still waiting for 1 of 3 to show up. Idealscopes will be available on Monday.

So far I did get a quick review of the inspection of the first 2 that came in.

Diamond #1 (1.35ct) - very bright and have very nice light performance. It has a true "J" color and, as expected, faces completely eye clean.

Diamond #3 (1.53ct) - will likely face eye clean, but if the viewer is examining the diamond closely and knows where to look for the crystal in the bezel or the cloud under the table, they may be able to pick up on them. He also found the light performance to be weaker and less desirable than what diamond 1 had.

So, 3 scored better on HCA, but seems to be a weaker performer. And what would the comment about the eye clean exactly mean for diamond 3. Wouldn't this be the case with all SI1 diamonds or are there some SI1 that no matter how hard you look without magnification you cannot see anything?

Monday I will get the review for the last diamond #2 (1.38 ct) and the idealscopes for all 3.

a lower score on HCA is not necessarily better-anything under 2 is 'equal'. so all of your stones scored equally well on the HCA! plus, the HCA does not matter when you have idealscope images

 

[la_dx22]

So just got some feedback from JA and looks like the 1.38 ct I posted above is not available. Bummer. I was really curious as to how it would have performed against Tue suggested 1.35 ct.

So that being said, between the other the choices 1.53 and 1.35, the recommended choice was 1.35. Idealscopes and details are a few posts above.

What do you guys think? Any other recommendationtjat you might think are better in the 8k-9k range measuring over 1.35 ct or 7.1mm?

 

[la_dx22]

Continuing the search....

Does this SI1 have any chance of being eye clean with all the inclusions on the table?
There is another comment on the Cert stating that additional pinpoints and surface graining now shown.

THanks for the help!!