Newbie choosing between two RB lab stones - seeking help!

[Lpsl]

Hi!

Newbie here - I’ve gone down rabbit hole on GCAL 8x in past couple of weeks. I tuned in for webinar last week - very happy that it’s posted so i can return to it.

I have two lab grown stones, in settings - will choose one of these two to keep. Have 30 days to decide on each — never would have looked at a second stone except for stumbling across GCAL 8x in BlackFriday popups received after searching for and purchasing stone #1 from JA.

1) James Allen IGI cert #LG530219712 2.08 ct I VVS2 Ideal,Ex,Ex,None. HA 1.4, Ex,Ex,Ex, VG, size range ‘BIG’ on size wheel. Paid $3,990 for stone on markdown.
CVD, no evidence of post-growth treatment. H&A images included on cert, though not designated H&* by JA. I viewed live with them — this stone faces up very white and has great light performance. I loved it before stumbling across GCAL 8x week before last.

A dumb pop up ad started me down GCAL 8x road - very intrigued, with limited time to investigate and comparison shop while within return period for JA ring. I’m a PhD (health care research) so… research DORK - you can envision the crash course i took myself on - here on Pricescope, also HA, DiamDB, Prosumer, and others.

2) Adiamor GCAL 8x Cert #LGA313161272 2.52 ct G VS2 GCAL 8x. CVD. Price: listed at $4,820, paid $4,173 after BF sale discount of $647. I’ve been unsuccessful so far with HA because GCAL certs are not searchable and i kept having problems entering proportions correctly (See above: newbie).

I can post pics here if helpful. Before that, interested in take of the experts here based on cert info above. I have them both on finger now, watching light performance as I go about my morning.

The 8x stone did go very dark last night (arrived yesterday) in the car and under parking lot lighting. I understand this is an attribute of super-ideal cuts in direct sunlight, and appreciate. Will be looking at that today in daylight.

So far - other than darkening noted above, both stones perform very similarly on finger, to my naked eye, with the 8x looking — i guess- a bit more crisp, i think that’s as much size differential as anything else.

I am interested in relative value of these two stones given their merits and trade-offs. Particularly intrigued by the 8x given grading precision and transparency (even though it appears i may have purchased after a price jump for 8x stones). I’m also aware that many stones that fall short of 8x can still be beautiful light performers.

I’m not looking to continue search for stones — will keep one or the other of these rings for sanity and domestic harmony.

Thanks for what you do here. I found *you all* through the diamond threads on PurseBlog…. Have been part of that community for over a decade. New to diamonds as with engagement & new marriage. Not new to doing the research and learning from experts!

Thank you - very interested in your thoughts!

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, Lpsl!

I’m a PhD (health care research) so… research DORK

I know how you feel...I went to school for engineering, so all I do is research in order to cram as much info into my brain that I can.
And then more.
And then some more.



Definitely keep comparing both diamonds in your day to day environments to determine which one has the optics and performance personality that you desire more.

Would love to see pictures and videos, if you are willing to share.

 

[Kim N]

For $183 more, you're getting 2 color grades higher and 0.56mm bigger. I would go for the GCAL 8x if it were for me.

 

[Lpsl]

To close the loop here, we kept the original 2.08 from JA.
* Already in and on hand
* Love love love this setting - the proportions, the sparkle and uniform color match of natural-mined melee, the way light hits the stone in this taller setting, the match and fit with 2mm French pave eternity wedding band.
* 2.52 just too stinking big for our collective comfort
* JA lifetime upgrade includes lab grown stones

I’m certain if we kept looking for higher color or size between 2.08 and 2.52 or affinities/ branded super-ideal cut, we could find a sweet deal. We are just plain out of steam for that. I’m pretty sure the final performance of a different stone and/or ring with different stats on paper would *not* make my heart sing IRL than this one does

For closure, some data and some hand shots for your enjoyment:

The side-by-side is original e-ring with 1.5 ct natural mined stone. Included pic here because… arrows!

Thanks to you both for what you do here - what you know, how you communicate, and the time you so generously share. I am making my way through threads, just enjoying the searches, the science, the sparkle, and the resulting joy

 

[DejaWiz]

To close the loop here, we kept the original 2.08 from JA.
* Already in and on hand
* Love love love this setting - the proportions, the sparkle and uniform color match of natural-mined melee, the way light hits the stone in this taller setting, the match and fit with 2mm French pave eternity wedding band.
* 2.52 just too stinking big for our collective comfort
* JA lifetime upgrade includes lab grown stones

I’m certain if we kept looking for higher color or size between 2.08 and 2.52 or affinities/ branded super-ideal cut, we could find a sweet deal. We are just plain out of steam for that. I’m pretty sure the final performance of a different stone and/or ring with different stats on paper would *not* make my heart sing IRL than this one does

For closure, some data and some hand shots for your enjoyment:

The side-by-side is original e-ring with 1.5 ct natural mined stone. Included pic here because… arrows!

Thanks to you both for what you do here - what you know, how you communicate, and the time you so generously share. I am making my way through threads, just enjoying the searches, the science, the sparkle, and the resulting joy

Absolutely beautiful and wow what a difference compared to your EGD!

 

[Kim N]

To close the loop here, we kept the original 2.08 from JA.
* Already in and on hand
* Love love love this setting - the proportions, the sparkle and uniform color match of natural-mined melee, the way light hits the stone in this taller setting, the match and fit with 2mm French pave eternity wedding band.
* 2.52 just too stinking big for our collective comfort
* JA lifetime upgrade includes lab grown stones

I’m certain if we kept looking for higher color or size between 2.08 and 2.52 or affinities/ branded super-ideal cut, we could find a sweet deal. We are just plain out of steam for that. I’m pretty sure the final performance of a different stone and/or ring with different stats on paper would *not* make my heart sing IRL than this one does

For closure, some data and some hand shots for your enjoyment:

The side-by-side is original e-ring with 1.5 ct natural mined stone. Included pic here because… arrows!

Thanks to you both for what you do here - what you know, how you communicate, and the time you so generously share. I am making my way through threads, just enjoying the searches, the science, the sparkle, and the resulting joy

It's just gorgeous and perfect on your hand, and I love the detailed pave on the setting you chose. Very happy for you that you found a diamond that makes your heart go aflutter!