Opinions appreciated! 2 pairs of diamonds - and I can only have one!

[Love Street]

I would GREATLY appreciate your opinions on these two sets of diamonds for stud earrings. Although I've been a longtime lurker and have learned a lot, this is my FIRST loose diamond purchase! (I'm starting small before my 5 year e-ring upgrade next year

) I'm also on a tight budget of "$1000 or less" and I want to buy upgradeable studs, so options are limited.

So here they are:

ETA: These are from James Allen.

SET 1:

Diamond A:
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.30
Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: AGS
Depth: 62.3%
Table: 54.3%
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 4.27*4.33*2.68
Crown Angle: 34.8°
Crown %: 15.90
pavilion Angle: 40.7°
pavilion %: 42.80

Diamond B:
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.30
Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: AGS
Depth: 62.1%
Table: 54.8%
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 4.30*4.33*2.67
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown %: 15.70
pavilion Angle: 40.8°
pavilion %: 43.00

Attached is Diamond A:

 

[Love Street]

Diamond B .........

 

[Love Street]

Whoa - sorry for the huge pic - I''ll try to reduce the next set...

The first set is from James Allen - I''d be getting the maritni setting, so while the diamonds in Set 1 are $100 less than set 2, the handmade martini is much more expensive than WF''s cast martini setting, so getting them from JA would be about $100 more.

Here is Set/Option 2:

Diamond A:
A Cut Above H&A
Carat 0.331
Color F
Clarity SI2
Measurements 4.44-4.47X2.73
Table % 56.2
Depth % 61.4
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Certificate: AGS
Diamond B:
Ideal Cut
Carat 0.308
Color G
Clarity SI2
Measurements 4.42-4.43X2.65
Table % 56
Depth % 59.7
Polish : Excellent
Symmetry : Excellent
Girdle :Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Certificate : AGS

Diamond A....

 

[Love Street]

and Diamond B....

Is one of these painted and the other not? I assume that difference would hardly be noticeable, especially on different ears..
I have an "appointment" lol with DH tomorrow to update him on the status of my research - this will be a 30th b-day present from him to me


Thanks soooo much in advance!!

 

[SYC]

I haven''t looked too closely, but the pair from JA seems better matched than the WF pair. As for the WF pair, it looks like one is their "new line" ACA and one is their "classic" ACA cut (not that one is painted while the other is not). I imagine the difference would not be significant, but I have actually never seen a new line ACA, so am not sure.

The Idealscope images for teh JA pair look fantastic, and the measurements look quite close. I am very happy with a pair of stud earrings I have from them. The only drawback could be that their trade-up policy is a little more strict than WF''s. I think they require that you trade up to something twice the value of the original. With WF''s, you can trade up no matter what the value of the new item. So you may want to ask JA about the specifics of their policy.

 

[dmus]

I really like the first set the best. The tables are smaller and I like the large crown %. Yes I think the second stone on the second set looks painted. I also like the fact that the first set is SI1 versus SI2.

Do you have the angles on the second set (pav and crown)?

 

[akmiss]

I am no expert, but the tables sizes seem better on the 1st set. Would these have more fire? Not sure. I believe that you would be happy with both sets so maybe consider the trade in policies of vendor. I also believe that WF has less expensive mountings but I am not sure. Someone mentioned the ACA as being painted? What does this mean?

 

[SYC]

1. Date: 4/15/2008 1:17:30 PM
   Author: akmiss
   I am no expert, but the tables sizes seem better on the 1st set. Would these have more fire? Not sure. I believe that you would be happy with both sets so maybe consider the trade in policies of vendor. I also believe that WF has less expensive mountings but I am not sure. Someone mentioned the ACA as being painted? What does this mean?

I was curious, so ran the numbers for the first set through the Cut Adviser https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp. They came up as 1.3 and 1.4 -- ie, excellent, within the ideal range. They should be very sparkly.

Whiteflash''s ACAs are fabulous, and anything that is an ACA should make very sparkly earrings. But I don''t think you posted the crown/pavilion angles which would be needed for the Cut Adviser.

 

[Lorelei]

I think as you definitely want to upgrade over time, consider carefully the trade up policies of each vendor as someone else mentioned.

 

[Love Street]

Thank you all so much for your incredibly helpful replies - you''re all bringing up some really good points (I''d forgotten to compare table % for example - so busy looking at the other factors).

Here are the angles for the WF diamonds, and HCA results:

Diamond A:
Crown: 34.7
Pav: 40.8
HCA: 1.4, ex/ex/ex/vg

Diamond B:
Crown: 33.8
Pav: 40.8
HCA: 0.8, ex/ex/ex/ex

As far as the upgrade policies, I had decided I was fine with JA''s more strict upgrade policy since this is a pretty small purchase. My ultimate goal for studs - about 1.6 ct total - will be doable (over time) even with JA''s more stringent policy. (It would probably deter me from making a $10k purchase though...).

Akmiss: you''re right the WF''s martini setting is less expensive - $175 compared to JA''s $325, both in WG. JA''s are handmade, however, whereas WF''s aren''t. I saw Jim Schultz'' post in response to someone''s thread here re "Why are James Allen martinis more expensive?" (paraphrased). JA will set their stones in WF''s setting, but the setting fee would be $100 so might not be worth it. I''m still debating the setting issue. JA''s handmade settings do look nice though.

Thanks so much again everyone - I really appreciate your opinions and have been honestly up in the air over the diamonds.

 

[SYC]

Date: 4/15/2008 2:14:21 PM
Author: Love Street
Thank you all so much for your incredibly helpful replies - you''re all bringing up some really good points (I''d forgotten to compare table % for example - so busy looking at the other factors).

Here are the angles for the WF diamonds, and HCA results:

Diamond A:
Crown: 34.7
Pav: 40.8
HCA: 1.4, ex/ex/ex/vg

Diamond B:
Crown: 33.8
Pav: 40.8
HCA: 0.8, ex/ex/ex/ex

As far as the upgrade policies, I had decided I was fine with JA''s more strict upgrade policy since this is a pretty small purchase. My ultimate goal for studs - about 1.6 ct total - will be doable (over time) even with JA''s more stringent policy. (It would probably deter me from making a $10k purchase though...).

Akmiss: you''re right the WF''s martini setting is less expensive - $175 compared to JA''s $325, both in WG. JA''s are handmade, however, whereas WF''s aren''t. I saw Jim Schultz'' post in response to someone''s thread here re ''Why are James Allen martinis more expensive?'' (paraphrased). JA will set their stones in WF''s setting, but the setting fee would be $100 so might not be worth it. I''m still debating the setting issue. JA''s handmade settings do look nice though.

Thanks so much again everyone - I really appreciate your opinions and have been honestly up in the air over the diamonds.

Hi Love Street,

Haha, that was my post! Now that I have the earrings, I can attest to how beautiful the workmanship of the settings is. Jim Schultz''s shop does great work. The quality of the setting is worth the additional price, in my opinion.

That said, Whiteflash is fantastic, and their diamonds are beautiful. I really don''t think you can go wrong with either choice. My only reservation about the WF set would be that the measurements are not as perfectly matched up as the JA set. I also like that the JA set has the same color/clarity. Mine are that way, and I love how well matched they are.

again, I think you have two great choices here! Enjoy the earrings when you get them!

 

[akmiss]

I see that the pair from JA are "no longer available"

The earrings will be absolutely gorgeous!

 

[SYC]

Hooray! They should be beautiful. Enjoy them!

Diamond stud earrings are such beautiful, staple items to wear both everyday and for special occasions.

 

[Love Street]

Hee hee - yes, you are all partly to blame for them being "no longer available" - well, they are on hold pending DH''s approval - but hopefully they''ll soon be on my ears and SMTR

Thank you all for your helpful posts (including your "why are they more expensive" post SYC!!!)