Need opinion on if this diamond looks like a vs1 f color

[shaker]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this and looking for some advice on my recent purchase of a diamond. I purchased this diamond from blue nile and it's supposed to be a GIA certified vs1 f color diamond with an ideal cut and .7ct. I asked blue nile for a picture as they don't post them on their website. This is what I got. This is to go on an engagement ring and it is a big purchase for me. Please let me know what you all think of the diamond and if it's normal for a vs1 to look that way. Thank you.

 

[Gypsy]

We need more than that to help you.

Post the lab report.

Vendor cut scores like "ideal" are meaningless at places like Blue Nile.
GIA has no ideal category.

So we need:
Table:
Depth:
Crown Angle:
Pavilion Angle:

You get those off the lab report. And on the diamond diagram. Okay? So post that for us and we'll go from there.

Why do you need such high color and clarity? Is it for cultural reasons?

Also is there a reason you are shopping at Blue Nile.

 

[shaker]

Thank you for your reply. I attached the GIA certificate with the post.

It has

Table: 56%
Depth: 63%
Crown Angle: 36
Pavilion Angle: 41

No reason for high color and clarity. I just need a diamond that would sparkle the best...sorry I am not very familiar with what would look the best at .7 ct so just went with a high color and clarity.

As for Blue nile. A friend recommended them. I have since discovered Zoara who seem to have nice diamonds too.

 

[Gypsy]

That is a terrible stone.
But don't worry you've come to the right place. Good thing you did too!

Round Diamonds 101:

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. With round diamonds even a GIA triple Excellent is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only (HPD in Europe is good as well). EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones generally, though you can. In general, AGS0 trumps HCA though as one examines the actual stone and the other does not.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.

So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD,BE, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.

Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium. Some AGS0's are better than others though, so pay attention to any ASET or IS provided.

In general with rounds, you will want a table 60% or less. A depth between 59 and 62.4. Crown angle 33.5-35. Pavilion Angle: 40.6-40.9 (there is a little give on this). And the crown and pavilion angles must be complimentary which is what the HCA checks for you.

 

[Gypsy]

On color:


It is important to remember is that color is graded FACE DOWN. Where there is NO light return. Not face up where there is light return and refraction. You wear diamonds set. FACE UP.



Within one color grade, even the labs can't agree on the color grades of stones and something could be a "high" H or a "low" E. Within 2 color grades it is hard. Not impossible. But very hard. And it gets harder once set. If you are talking ideal rounds, or any stone with ideal light return and no sharp corners it gets harder still because the ideal light return masks body color.

Generally we say to be conservative stay above H if you DO NOT KNOW YOUR LADY'S COLOR PREFERENCES.

If you are talking fancy shapes without ideal light return (because there is no 'ideal' for EC's Radiant, etc) it's a bit different.

This is how I think of it.

Ever gotten one of those HUGE paint fan decks? Where there are literally 100s of colors of whites? And when they are RIGHT next to each other you can TOTALLY tell that one is bluer/colder and one is a bit warmer and which one is one is TOTALLY warmer. One there's one that's slightly greener. One that's slightly pinker? But really. They are all white?

Then you pick one after agonizing over this white or that white and when it's on the walls and people are like: Oh. You painted again. And it's STILL white. Great.

And you're all... BUT it's BLUE white. Or it's a WARM white now. It used to be ____ white. It's TOTALLY different.

It's like that. You are talking about shades of white. D is colder... J is warmer. But it's all white.

YES. If you have an accurately graded F and an H THAT HAVE THE SAME PERFORMANCE you are going to be able to tell them apart when you compare them side by side. Just like you would be able to tell if you painted your walls a warm white, but painted the crown molding a cold/straight white. But both are STILL white, you only see the contrast because of the proximity. But it's very slight, you could set an F center with G sides and never tell the difference. And even H sides depending on the setting and the size of the sidestones... especially with round brilliants.


I want you notice all the qualifiers thought. I'm talking about stones with the SAME performance. An ideal H will out white an F that has compromised light performance from a poor cut.

NOTHING impacts the appearance of a diamond as much as cut. CUT is king.

You want the shinest whitest and brightest diamond out there: Cut is King. No other factor, not color or clarity or anything else impacts how white bright an shiny a stone is.
In general we advise to stay at H color or above when buying fior someone else in a roumd.

 

[Gypsy]

Clarity Vs2 or Si1 and eyeclean is as high as you need to go in a round. So set that as a floor. And verify eyeclean with vendor or images and vendor (best).

What is your budget and what do you want for it (setting and diamond)?

Also are you sure the wearer wants a round in whatever setting you are thinking of getting? If so, how do you know? My
I do not recommend zoara.

 

[shaker]

Wow you have given me lots to think about. I am going back to the drawing board and going to be busy checking out the HCA. So long as its very good then that should be ok?

Thanks for all your help

 

[shaker]

My budget for ring is 7000 CAD tops that includes taxes. The setting she wants is a Halo. She really liked this one at blue nile.

http://www.bluenile.com/ca/build-your-own-ring/halo-diamond-engagement-ring-14k-white-gold_25642?elem=img&track=product


Yes she does want that setting and she does not like princess cut. She has just suggested a halo setting and a TCW of over 1ct including the setting and the diamond.

I did not know about that HCA tool. I will be checking out all the diamonds in that now just to get an idea. I will stick with an H color and vs2. What would you recommend as a good website for a Canadian?

Thanks again!

 

[shaker]

Any reason you don't like Zoara?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Use a vendor that provides photos at the very least: James Allen, B2C Jewels has some

Photos and light return images and top cut stones: Victor Canera, Whiteflash, High Peformance Diamonds, Good Old Gold