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Need help picking between two options

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stevev2

Rough_Rock
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Following on from my original thread, I'd appreciate any opinions in picking between the following two.

1. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1241711.asp

0.73 Carat, H, VS2, Hearts & Arrows Ideal: $2280
Light Return - Very Good
Fire - Very Good
Scintillation - Very Good
Spread - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 2.3 - Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right

2. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1245487.asp

0.74 Carat, H, VS2, Ideal: $2120
Light Return - Excellent
Fire - Excellent
Scintillation - Excellent
Spread - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 1.6 - Excellent within TIC range

So, #2 is slightly bigger Carat wise, has a better HCA rating, has identical color and clarity certificate ratings and yet is cheaper than #1. However, JA gives #1 it's vendor-specific rating of "Hearts & Arrows Ideal" and "Ideal" ratings for Polish and Symmetry, compared to "Excellent" for the latter two in #2. #1 is certified by AGS while #2 is certified by GIA.

From the thread I linked above, it seems vendor ratings of 'ideal' are not that reliable/important. At least to me, #2 seems like a better stone for a lower price and I could use the cost difference towards a better setting. Of course, I'm very new at this, so I'm probably missing something? :)

Thanks.
 
Request an IS image for #2 the we can make a better comparison.
 
Request a Hearts image for #1 too, since it will be sold as a H&A, with it's accompanying premium.

The IS of this stone actually looks fine. No need to be concern of the poorer HCA score in this case.
 
Stone cold - do you think there will be any visual difference between these 2 stones...as far as the very good
vs the excellent ratings from HCA?
 
Requested the images Stone-cold11 mentioned -- it''ll probably take 1-2 days though.
 
If the IS is similar, probably not. HCA does not take into account of optical symm and the effect of minor facets, thus is only a tool for rejection, score set to <2 to be safe, but if IS/ASET are available, I have seen good IS with score up to 2.5.
 
Date: 9/10/2009 3:00:02 PM
Author: tyty333
Stone cold - do you think there will be any visual difference between these 2 stones...as far as the very good
vs the excellent ratings from HCA?
Can't really tell from the HCA ty, images are needed.

Both diamonds have potential, need an Idealscope image for the first and a hearts image for the second as you know, post them when they arrive and we can take a look.
 
I''m still waiting for the IS and Hearts images for the first two, but I found another good contender that already has this info.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236887.asp
0.70 Carat H-SI1 Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Diamond
$1980 (PS price)

I have already asked for a visual inspection to confirm there are no visible inclusions - will update when I find out tomorrow. The HCA is as follows:

Light Return - Excellent
Fire - Excellent
Scintillation - Very Good
Spread or diameter for weight - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 1.3 - Excellent within TIC range

Given potential allergies with white gold, I have decided to go with a platinum ring to be safe and this of course would reduce the diamond share.

Would appreciate some opinions on the IS, hearts and scope images for this one. Thanks.
 
Perhaps it might help if we knew your intended purpose for the stone and what your budget is.
What factors are most important to you in the diamond you are shopping for?
 
Date: 9/14/2009 11:41:21 PM
Author: stevev2
I'm still waiting for the IS and Hearts images for the first two, but I found another good contender that already has this info.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236887.asp
0.70 Carat H-SI1 Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Diamond
$1980 (PS price)

I have already asked for a visual inspection to confirm there are no visible inclusions - will update when I find out tomorrow. The HCA is as follows:

Light Return - Excellent
Fire - Excellent
Scintillation - Very Good
Spread or diameter for weight - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 1.3 - Excellent within TIC range

Given potential allergies with white gold, I have decided to go with a platinum ring to be safe and this of course would reduce the diamond share.

Would appreciate some opinions on the IS, hearts and scope images for this one. Thanks.
The diamond looks good. There is a grade setting cloud noted so check it isn't interfering with brilliance by asking your rep at JA to check.
 
Received the Hearts image for #1 (the IS image was already available). Waiting on both images for #2 (both available for #3) and the visual inspection for all three.

1. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1241711.asp

0.73 Carat, H, VS2, Hearts & Arrows Ideal: $2280
Light Return - Very Good
Fire - Very Good
Scintillation - Very Good
Spread - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 2.3 - Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right

1241711 - Hearts Image_1.JPG
 
The hearts image of this stone is not that great.
 
Both are not top notch, if only choose from the 2, I would go #3.
 
Thanks. Guess I''ll have to reset a bit. I''ve been checking with Blue Nile and they don''t seem to make available/disclose any actual photographs of their stones, including hearts or IS images. Given this, how do people on the forum do a fair comparison between stones on JA and BN? For example:

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-signature-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD01145237

Assuming this will be visually inspected and passed, is there enough information present in the GIA report for to rank it higher or lower than #1 or #3 from JA?

Thanks.
 
yap, no way to really compare between the 2 different vendors.
 
Sorry to be a bother, but I''m hoping for one last evaluation of my candidate list -- I''ve decided to up the budget a bit. Still sticking with 0.71cts+, but being more restrictive about the clarity. Want some degree of magnified clarity too other than basic unaided visual.

A. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197183.asp - $2460

B. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1225110.asp - $2480

C. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1225098.asp - $2450

D. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1241679.asp - $2390

Oddly, only VS1 stone #1 seems to have an inclusion noted in the AGS certificate. Either way, assuming the budget is $2500, which one of these looks to be the best deal / best stone? The hearts images seem fine to me, but I''m probably missing something and I''m not sure how to differentiate between the IS images...

Thanks again.
 
Absolute final two options (these are from BN).

1. http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-h-color-vs2-clarity_LD01385722
0.70ct, H, VS2, $2311, AGS Ideal 0

Light Return - Excellent
Fire - Excellent
Scintillation - Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 1.2 - Excellent within TIC range

2. http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-h-color-vs1-clarity_LD01385723
0.71ct, H, VS1, $2436, AGS Ideal 0

Light Return - Excellent
Fire - Excellent
Scintillation - Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight - Very Good
Total Visual Performance - 1.1 - Excellent within TIC range

I will basically be picking from one of these two, or one of the four from JA. True, BN does not provide as much info as JA, but the AGS Ideal 0 rating provides some comfort, as do the good HCA ratings.

To my eyes at least, the light spectrum for BN #2 seems better than the one for #1. Is this correct? Would appreciate some opinions on these two and/or comaprison with the JA stones.

Thanks.
 
I like the two 0.71c stones better, prefer the 0.71c G VS2.

BN stone, if I have to choose from them, would be the 0.71c H VS1.
 
Just like the IS, Hearts image slightly better over the H VS1. At those grades, G/VS2 and H/VS1, you won''t notice a difference.
 
Date: 9/17/2009 12:53:03 PM
Author: stevev2
Hi Stone-cold11, regarding the ''two 0.71c stones better'', I assume you''re referring to:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1241679.asp and
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1225098.asp

Just out of curiosity, what makes you rank the G-VS2 over the H-VS1? In general, I thought clarity rankings would have more impact than color deltas? Or, is there something specific in the IS/hearts images?

Thanks.
Both look good and have good images, I prefer the numbers and the IS of the G VS personally.
 
Thanks to you both for all the help -- pretty much settled on http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1225098.asp now. Regarding the ring, do you think a 2mm setting is too thin for this stone, given that it should hold up to daily wear? My gf's ring size is 5. We're both partial to simple settings, so the two I'm looking at are:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-solitaire-diamond-ring.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-solitaire-engagement-ring.html

Reading through the forum, I gathered that with this carat size and the use of platinum, four prongs should be sufficient(?). I'd prefer more of the stone to show through albeit with the slightly square-y shape :)

Thanks.
 
Well, decided to just pull the trigger -- the JA rep confirmed the 2mm setting would go fine with this diamond. Will try and post pics when it comes in...
 
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