Need your help picking a rb

[rayimster]

i''m a diamond newbie but i''ve been on ps for the past couple of weeks and my head is spinning right now!
anyways, i decided to register because i need your expert advice

1. WF ACA .738 ct J VS2
.8 HCA
Depth 60.9
Table 57
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-912929.htm

2. JA H&A .72 ct I SI1
1.6 HCA
Depth 60.8
Table 55.7
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1241744.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

everyone is so helpful on this site its amazing, misery loves company maybe?

 

[Lorelei]

Hi ray,

Both look great, if you are interested in the JA diamond then ask them for hearts images as it is sold as a h&a diamond, this is needed in order to judge the overall cut precision. Also make sure it is eyeclean by asking someone at JA to check it for you. Do you have a preference between them?

 

[FB.]

I am very reluctant to go down to a J colour, no matter how well cut. J colour can be noticeable and is also the colour most commonly stocked by high-streeet shops. I colour is borderline noticeable and the colour can't be seen by most people most of the time. I'd probably take an I/SI1 over a J/VS2 - so long as the SI is eye-clean (many SI1's are eye clean).

I am generally reluctant to go down to a SI clarity (I've never bought an SI), no matter how well cut. In SI's, although probably half of them are "eye clean" the inclusions are generally too large and numerous for my taste I and reckon that I can see a slight reduction in light performance, when compared to the VS or higher grades.

Therefore, I would look for something else.

Since you're not reaching the 0.75ct level, I'd drop the weight to 2/3ct and try to up the colour to H and clarity to VS2 - and, of course, get an excellent cut grade.
The size of a 0.73ct is about 5.8mm. The size of a 0.67ct is about 5.6mm.

Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear......

FB

 

[stone-cold11]

Both look good, depends on your preference and budget.

 

[rayimster]

i think i''m leaning towards the WF stone. i was worried about the color at first but after seeing all the beautiful rings in the "j stones in platinum" thread, i was convinced.

the thing my budget right now is $3000 or less, and i''m looking at either the WF petite open cathedral or the JA french cut pave

which means ive got about $2000 to spend on the diamond

i want to get a H&A but i still cant tell from looking through this site if a GIA EX could look just as good

 

[stone-cold11]

A near tolk proportioned could look just as good as a H&A ACA. Just depends on the proportion and optical symm of the stone.

 

[tyty333]

Both the stones look well cut from the numbers. Check for eye-clean on the SI1...then it might just be
a toss of the coin (or go for the higher color or lower cost depending what is important to you).

 

[FB.]

"....i want to get a H&A but i still cant tell from looking through this site if a GIA EX could look just as good...."


It seems as if the only "Ex" part of many stones is the profit margins that can be gained by selling overweight stones that have their angles pushed to the maximum allowed within their cut grades. By pushing angles to the maximum, less rough needs to be trimmed away - meaning a heavier stone with extreme proportions. As a result, both crown and pavilion angles may be at maximum tolerances and many stones can suffer with their light-performance.

I no longer take any notice of the GIA cut grade printed on the report, although colour and clarity information are of some value.
In fact, while having a tantrum, I recently described my GIA-certs as "expensive toilet paper".


But neither does a H&A stone guarantee good light performance.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/6/2009 2:56:52 PM
Author: rayimster
i think i''m leaning towards the WF stone. i was worried about the color at first but after seeing all the beautiful rings in the ''j stones in platinum'' thread, i was convinced.

the thing my budget right now is $3000 or less, and i''m looking at either the WF petite open cathedral or the JA french cut pave

which means ive got about $2000 to spend on the diamond

i want to get a H&A but i still cant tell from looking through this site if a GIA EX could look just as good

Some can, it depends on the overall proportions which are driving the light return and the optical symmetry, if you find a GIA Ex with good proportions and good optical symmetry which is proven by images, then you will have a great looking diamond.

 

[rayimster]

so i requested the hearts image for the JA stone that i posted

can you all offer some advice on the hearts image?

 

[stone-cold11]

Not a very good hearts image.

 

[Todd Gray]

Ah yes, the challenge of taking the perfect Hearts & Arrows image... Not so easy. If I had to guess, I'd say that there is a little bit of tilt caused by the alignment between the platform that the diamond sits upon and the camera which is causing an uneven gap between the arrow tips and the points of the hearts, the precision of the hearts is often only as precise as the alignment of the camera... I'm not getting into the quality of the hearts or the arrows, just what appears to be some platform tilt to me.