Need opinion on these two stones

[kthan]

1. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=GIA-14357266

Item Code: GIA-14357266
Price: $6,930.00
Report: GIA
Shape: Round Ideal Cut
Carat: 1.00
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Depth: 60.9
Table: 57
Crown Angle: 34.5
Crown %: 14.8
Pavilion Angle: 41
Pavilion %: 43.4
Girdle: Medium faceted
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent


2. http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/diamond_detail.cfm?did=8011440

Cash Price: $6,835
Stock Number: 8011440
Shape: Signature Round
Laboratory: GIA
Carat Weight: 1.05
Color: G
Clarity: VS2

Measurements: 6.52-6.56x3.99
Depth: 61%
Table: 57%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Girdle: Med-Slightlk Thick
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None

Crown Angle : 34.5¡Æ
Crown %: 14.6
Pavillion Angle : 40.7¡Æ
Pavillion %: 42.8
Lab Comments: None

I am currently in the market and found two stones here.
I want to hear your opinion about the two. They doesn''t seem to be super ideal cut, but I need to compromise it given my budget(max $7000).

Also, how good Dirtcheapdiamonds.com? I haven''t heard about them not as much as Whiteflash.
I initially chose the two because they are the only stones that had crown/pavilion data and/or Sarin report.
In case the data is not available at a vender, can I request to have the data available? I doubt it if the vender does not have the stone in stock.
It seems to me that there are other (maybe better) choices out there, but there''s no way to verify the quality of cut until the indepdent appraisal,
if the vendor do not provide the data.

Thank you for your valuable advice in advance.

 

[belle]

with any stone you will be paying a premium at the 1ct. mark. 7k is a nice budget, but you may want to have a look at stones that hit just under 1ct. in the .8-.9 range. you can still say you have a 1ct. stone, yet save $$.

 

[ecf8503]

Date: 9/15/2005 2:25:36 PM
Author: belle
with any stone you will be paying a premium at the 1ct. mark. 7k is a nice budget, but you may want to have a look at stones that hit just under 1ct. in the .8-.9 range. you can still say you have a 1ct. stone, yet save $$.

Here''s one for $5875
Here''s one for $4640
Numerous options here
Wink has this one

Whiteflash has MANY A Cut Above stones in your price range and size desire

What are you looking for in terms of color and clarity?

 

[kthan]

This stone is for a big errand from my aunt overseas.
Since she most care about color and clarity (F-G, VS1-VS2), I have to try
to make best balance between cut and the other factors. Also, she want to have
at least 1.0 carat.

ecf8503, I did not see any ACA in Whiteflash on 1.0 and above. I guess you are talking about
0.99 Ct. or under, right?

It seems to be hard to find one given the budget and the preference of my aunt.
I should have educate(?) her. But, in real world, most people, like my aunt, care about color and clarity (as well as size),
but not the cut quality. They just thought the brilliance of the stone came from the combination of the above three, not the cut.

 

[ecf8503]

How dead-set is she on color and clarity? If you broaden the range to include h color and SI 1 clarity (many of which are eye-clean) you have more options.

Here''s an ACA H VS2 1.06ct for $6900

Bank wire price on this 1.004ct G VS2 from Good Old Gold is $7094 - is that close enough?

Personally I like the Imagescope pic on that Expert Selection F VS2 from Whiteflash -

 

[kthan]

It''s not only her misconception. A lot of people buy diamonds just by size, color, and clarity.
Many vendors doesn''t explain the importance of cut quality.
Given the spread misconception, however well I explain her, it would not be understandable
to sacrifice the color/clarity/size for a better quality cut.

I think the most important meaning of jewerly for her is self-satisfaction.
It would not come by her knowledge on the stone, nor by her brilliant eyesight.
What I have to do is to maxmize her satisfaction by considering her own (misinformed) crieteria.

Another funny thing I experienced: when I contact local jeweler (probably, I select a wrong store),
they don''t even know what AGS certificatae is. The same thing will apply to her. All she knows
and want to have (believe it should be) is GIA one. If I bought a stone with AGS certicate,
even if how well I explained, she would not boast the stone to her friends because they simply
don''t know how authoritative AGS is. My shopping for my aunt seems to be more difficult than one
for my wife.

 

[Shay37]

When shopping for someone else, sometimes you just have to bite your tongue and do what they want. It''s hard for people who know better, but understand that your aunt doesn''t, and she will not listen to you unless you have some sort of credentials that apply to this.

My MIL is the same way. I have a ring in the works that is going to be nothing short of stunning, but she heard the clarity grade and kind of curled her lip. It''s eyeclean, and I have no intentions of passing out loupes for viewing, but that won''t matter to her. Oh, well.

As far as the stones go, number 1 has a lovely IS.

Shay

 

[ecf8503]

Hmm. Well given the pickle you are in, I''d say the first two you picked look just great! They both meet all her criteria, and you know she has a pretty darn good cut to boot! You can call WF and DCD and have them pull those stones and look at them to give an honest opinion on how they look (the photos look great) - and DCD may be (likely will) be able to provide you with much more info than what they make available online.

I know you said 1ct, but is she looking for a specific diameter?

 

[kthan]

Thanks so much for all of your valuable opinion so far.
She is not looking for any specific diameter.
I will definitely contact DCD for more information.
I will also try to find other stones for equal/better quality at lower price.

 

[kthan]

Can you compare #1 with this stone below?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_02ct_g_vs2_ideal.htm

Your helpful comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ecf8503]

Toss a coin!

The idealscope images from WF are taken differently than GOG''s Lightscope photos. But to me, it seems the WF has better definition and symmetry. The arrows are straighter. The blacks between the arrows are more prominent and much more symmetrical on the WF one, which I believe adds to the fire seen to the eye. Also, the WF has red all the way to the edges, including at the arrow tips - the GOG one has the white triangles at the arrow tips. This also adds to the scintillation or contrast, but from the way some experts decribe it, it can possibly make the stone look a bit smaller to the eye, as this blatant leakage fools the eye to think there is an irregular edge. My own ideal cut RB has these "white tips", and I think I can see what they mean by this. I''d love to have a blood-red-to-the-edge stone someday! Just the thought of pure light return appeals to me more than adge contrast.

Besides, if she is into size, the WF will look a little bigger due to this effect if I am understanding it''s effects on what the eye sees.

I''d get the WF.

 

[kthan]

Any other comment/opinion?