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hyeteck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
20
Currently in the market for a 1.55 to 1.85 carat round diamond. Its going on a gold setting. I've been shopping around at local shops and online. I thought I had found a good stone yesterday and put an $800 deposit on it to pick up today but last night I came across this site and read a lot more about the different measurements and how they affect the light performance. I was under the impression that all GIA XXX stones would be great stones but after running it through the HCA Calculator it came back as 3.8. Went back today to get my deposit back from the store and they wouldn't give it back. They wanted the remaining $10,200 to complete the sale.

So now I'm out $800 but I didn't want to be stuck with a stone that I wasn't 100% satisfied with. This is the stone I was about to purchase and backed out of. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6197987358

I'm currently looking for an I color and clarity of vs2 or higher but also open to H color if the price is right.

What do you think of these stones?

1. https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab
2. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6207251936
3. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2205337697

My goal is to get the best possible sparkle from a 1.5 to 1.8 carat round stone in the I color range.

Thanks
 

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jp201845

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 24, 2018
Messages
560
hyeteck said:
Currently in the market for a 1.55 to 1.85 carat round diamond. Its going on a gold setting. I've been shopping around at local shops and online. I thought I had found a good stone yesterday and put an $800 deposit on it to pick up today but last night I came across this site and read a lot more about the different measurements and how they affect the light performance. I was under the impression that all GIA XXX stones would be great stones but after running it through the HCA Calculator it came back as 3.8. Went back today to get my deposit back from the store and they wouldn't give it back. They wanted the remaining $10,200 to complete the sale.

So now I'm out $800 but I didn't want to be stuck with a stone that I wasn't 100% satisfied with. This is the stone I was about to purchase and backed out of. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6197987358

I'm currently looking for an I color and clarity of vs2 or higher but also open to H color if the price is right.

What do you think of these stones?

1. https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab
2. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6207251936
3. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2205337697

My goal is to get the best possible sparkle from a 1.5 to 1.8 carat round stone in the I color range.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Welcome to Pricescope,

You have come to the right place for any advice or questions you might have.
Sorry to hear about your experience with your local jeweler . Did the jeweler say that the deposit was final when you put down for the diamond ? Was that also in writing?
In my opinion you should be able to get your deposit back. What is your budget you are working with now?
 
lovedogs

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,278
Glad you didn't end up purchasing the other stone!

The last one you posted scores a 4 on the HCA, so that's a no. The first BN option you linked looks nice, and the 2nd option scores well on the HCA but I always like having pictures of the stone itself.
 
lovedogs

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,278
EDIT. For the price you are paying for the BN stone, I think you could be going with a super ideal vendor who will have a $1 upgrade policy if you ever want to use it in the future. Super ideal stones are guaranteed to be ideal performers, and take out all the guesswork.
Examples:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10725
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10674

Whiteflash is the other vendor who I think has stones in your price range and size preferences, but their site is down for me right now.
 
H

hyeteck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
20
jp201845 said:
Welcome to Pricescope,

You have come to the right place for any advice or questions you might have.
Sorry to hear about your experience with your local jeweler . Did the jeweler say that the deposit was final when you put down for the diamond ? Was that also in writing?
In my opinion you should be able to get your deposit back. What is your budget you are working with now?
Click to expand...

The jeweler didn’t say the deposit is final. In fact he even mentioned that the sale isn’t final until I pay the remaining amount and take possession of the stone. He mentioned that once I walk out with the stone, any returns or exchanges are not possible. I even have a receipt for the deposit. I never took possession of the stone and it’s not like I ordered some custom jewelry. I don’t understand why he can’t refund the deposit. Very frustrating to say the least.

My budget was $12k but now looking a little lower in the $11k range.
 
H

hyeteck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
20
lovedogs said:
EDIT. For the price you are paying for the BN stone, I think you could be going with a super ideal vendor who will have a $1 upgrade policy if you ever want to use it in the future. Super ideal stones are guaranteed to be ideal performers, and take out all the guesswork.
Examples:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10725
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10674

Whiteflash is the other vendor who I think has stones in your price range and size preferences, but their site is down for me right now.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I didn’t really look at Whiteflash before because I was told to only get GIA diamonds due to their color grading bring more strict than other certifications? Is that not the case?

This one on Whiteflash seems nice as well.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4130457.htm
 
J

jp201845

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 24, 2018
Messages
560
hyeteck said:
The jeweler didn’t say the deposit is final. In fact he even mentioned that the sale isn’t final until I pay the remaining amount and take possession of the stone. He mentioned that once I walk out with the stone, any returns or exchanges are not possible. I even have a receipt for the deposit. I never took possession of the stone and it’s not like I ordered some custom jewelry. I don’t understand why he can’t refund the deposit. Very frustrating to say the least.

My budget was $12k but now looking a little lower in the $11k range.
Click to expand...

If the jeweler didn't verbally tell you the deposit is final and it's not written on the receipt as final then legally in my opinion he or she has to give you your money back ( I'm not a lawyer ) If they still refuse not to give you your money back be firm and point out that nothing was said or written on the receipt was final on the deposit. I would then tell them if they don't give you your money back you would report them to the Better Business Bureau and also report them to the local authorities that their practice is Fraud. Then I would also add that you would put a review on yelp online and let everyone know of their shady business practice.
I really hope you get your money back this is absurd.
 
Last edited:
bmfang

bmfang

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Messages
1,851
hyeteck said:
Thanks. I didn’t really look at Whiteflash before because I was told to only get GIA diamonds due to their color grading bring more strict than other certifications? Is that not the case?

This one on Whiteflash seems nice as well.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4130457.htm
Click to expand...

Anecdotally, GIA is more strict on colour but given how many labs there are now around the world, if a stone was submitted to GIA Carlsbad it could differ from the colour (or clarity grade) assigned to it if the same stone was graded in Hong Kong or India. The usual tolerance for grading is one grade per characteristic. Hence why some stones that go to GIA may be a G SI1 and if at AGS, it could be the same as GIA or it could be a G VS2.

The one thing that is undisputed about AGS vs GIA is that GIA sucks at cut grading compared to AGSL. GIA’s XXX range is far too wide and they have not adopted light performance grading which is where AGSL excels at.

Furthermore, I’m not a fan of how GIA rounds proportions on its grading reports. AGSL doesn’t do that.
 
headlight

headlight

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2003
Messages
3,302
bmfang said:
Anecdotally, GIA is more strict on colour but given how many labs there are now around the world, if a stone was submitted to GIA Carlsbad it could differ from the colour (or clarity grade) assigned to it if the same stone was graded in Hong Kong or India. The usual tolerance for grading is one grade per characteristic. Hence why some stones that go to GIA may be a G SI1 and if at AGS, it could be the same as GIA or it could be a G VS2.

The one thing that is undisputed about AGS vs GIA is that GIA sucks at cut grading compared to AGSL. GIA’s XXX range is far too wide and they have not adopted light performance grading which is where AGSL excels at.

Furthermore, I’m not a fan of how GIA rounds proportions on its grading reports. AGSL doesn’t do that.
Click to expand...
Agree GiA needs to “button up” their cut grading system, but I think AGSL needs to work on color grading. I can’t say I agree with the issue of GIA different locations given their long-established & consistent color grading protocol.
 
Matthews1127

Matthews1127

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 7, 2017
Messages
5,207
Tossing in my $0.10.

While GIA May be more strict on color grading, AGS is more strict on cut.

That being said, an ideal cut/super ideal cut stone will not show body color in the near-colorless range because of its cut.

You cannot go wrong with HPD CBI or WF ACA. You get so much more quality for your money.

Remember: focus on the spread in mm of your diamond, not the carat weight. Super ideals have fantastic spread for their weight.

Reach out to HPD and WF for help. You’ll be happy you did! Both have excellent return policies, and upgrade options.
Good luck!
Please come back with updates!!! :mrgreen2:
 
H

hyeteck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
20
Thanks, I'll check out some more stones on WF and HPD. Their prices are slightly on the higher side compared to local jewelers in Downtown LA but I guess you get what you pay for.

I noticed a lot of the WF diamonds hat a culet of "pointed" instead of none. Is that the same thing or should I be only looking for none on the culet?

For example, this stone. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4130457.htm
 
bmfang

bmfang

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
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Messages
1,851
bmfang

bmfang

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
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Messages
1,851
GIA Excellent cut grade is very very wide. You ideally want a stone that falls within GIA XXX and AGS000 proportion ranges.

This one isn’t one of those stones. CA is more likely to be between 36-36.2 degrees and PA closer to 40.7 running it through gm89uk’s cut stats calculator. If at maximum 36.2 CA and PA of around 40.7, HCA score worsens our to >3
 
J

jp201845

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 24, 2018
Messages
560
hyeteck said:
What about this one?
https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2203253494&s=1560978785084

It’s a 2.2 on HCA.

GIA says it’s an excellent cut out the cut doesn’t fall in the green area using the HCA tool.

What price would be a fair offer on it if it’s a good stone?
Click to expand...

This stones proportions dosen't fall in the recommended Pricescope ideal range. And based on the HCA score of 2.2 this stone would be an easy pass for me you can definitely find something better.
 
H

hyeteck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
20
thank you! the search continues...
 
lovedogs

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,278
hyeteck said:
What if I increase my budget a bit and go for this?

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10725

Is that HPD diamond worth the price?
Click to expand...
It's hard to say. WF ACA and HPD are on par with one another in terms of both being excellent cuts and good companies who care about their customers. That said, some people prefer one to the other, but there is no wrong choice here. Just go with the one that catches your eye the most, or with the vendor who has a setting you think she'd prefer.
 
L

lydial

Guest
You can ask HPD to make a video of the stone for you, or mail it to you for your approval. Mine is a K and is beautiful. It was quite higher priced than a similar ACA WF stone that was available at the same time though. For me: the technology of what CBI offers and the upgrade policy and the trade in policy was what made me go with HPD. Either vendor is well respected and you will get a quality diamond.
 
H

hyeteck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
20
No pics...no longer available as well. :/

Came across this one. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=7206166826 Going to go see it tomorrow after I check out an HPD 1.65 that was shipped to a local retailer.

Kinda scared of SI1 stones being too dirty and affecting the sparkle regardless of the HCA score.
 
J

jp201845

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 24, 2018
Messages
560
hyeteck said:
No pics...no longer available as well. :/

Came across this one. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=7206166826 Going to go see it tomorrow after I check out an HPD 1.65 that was shipped to a local retailer.

Kinda scared of SI1 stones being too dirty and affecting the sparkle regardless of the HCA score.
Click to expand...

This one is more of a 60/60 type stone, proportions look good if you don't mind a bigger table and more white light return.
Don't be scared of SI1 stones if you do your homework and find one that is eye clean you will get great value for your money.
 
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