Opinions on buying in US (Brian Gavin) vs International (India)

[TinsieCat]

Hello All,

I'm looking for an emerald cut diamond 1.7-2.3 carats, Color D-G, VS1 or better. Budget is around $20,000K including the setting and band. Setting/band I would like channel set very small emerald baguette's halfway around the band. (May be able to increase the budget a bit with some negotiation . )

I'm really interested in Brian Gavin's Signature Emerald Cut diamond because they are supposedly cut with a patented technique to maximize light return on EC diamonds. Unfortunately the selection in house is either smaller than what I am looking for (1 carat) or WAAYYY out of my budget at 33K for 2 carat BG black. I emailed them about inventory and they do not know when they will be getting more EC diamonds due to Covid.

Other option is I am considering All Yours Jewels, a seller in India that appears legit with an excellent track record. I watched through a ton of his videos. Only thing is buying online, internationally and wiring money across seas is a very scary thing to do. As a noob, i can't tell if his experience with picking well cut EC diamonds are anywhere near the standards of BGD. Video1 Video2 Video3

I would really appreciate some advice on what you all think about buying from BGD vs an international seller like All Yours Jewels. Also is anyone able to get a slight feel for his expertise in choosing diamonds?


Thanks so much for your input!

 

[Snowdrop13]

If you’re in the US there are other options for buying an emerald cut. You might just have to look a bit harder for a nice one but try James Allan or Blue Nile to start with.

 

[OoohShiny]

This is the second thread you've started about the alternative jeweller:

Opinions on this 0.5C round diamond.

Hello All, I'm currently looking for a pair of 0.5 carat drop, leverback dangle earrings for my mother's birthday. I was presented with 2 diamonds from an international seller based in India. The 1st one had amazing specs but the second one rated poorly on rarecarat for cut. The seller assured...

www.pricescope.com

Have they provided the information that was suggested in the earlier thread, to allay your fears?

Or, being a total cynic are you looking to raise their profile on here?

 

[lissyflo]

If you’re in the US there are other options for buying an emerald cut. You might just have to look a bit harder for a nice one but try James Allan or Blue Nile to start with.

Absolutely. Don’t make this choice a dichotomy! I’d add distinctivegems to the list - the August vintage, antique style emerald cuts are beautiful but may not be the flavour you’re after? (I think they’re cutting them in diamond as well as moissanite?)

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Brian Gavin's Signature Emerald Cut diamond because they are supposedly cut with a patented technique to maximize light return on EC diamonds.

I had a look, there is no mention of patents as that is not possible unless there is an essential change of design.
Looking at the ideal-scope images of several stones it is clear there is a selection process but no single set of proportions.
I am not a fan of those ASET images or of AGS monoscopic grading of fancy shaped diamonds.

 

[TinsieCat]

I had a look, there is no mention of patents as that is not possible unless there is an essential change of design.
Looking at the ideal-scope images of several stones it is clear there is a selection process but no single set of proportions.
I am not a fan of those ASET images or of AGS monoscopic grading of fancy shaped diamonds.

Interesting. What is your reasoning behind not being a fan of aset or ags?

Also are there instances where a diamond isn’t necessarily cut to those hearts and arrow proportions, however can perform just as well as one?

Thank you for your input!

 

[TinsieCat]

If you’re in the US there are other options for buying an emerald cut. You might just have to look a bit harder for a nice one but try James Allan or Blue Nile to start with.

I looked at those places but I definitely don’t trust my judgement with their video and photos. I really wish I could see all of these stones in real life without having to do the “buy and return”.

The thing I’m most worried about is how the light return will look in real life.

 

[TinsieCat]

This is the second thread you've started about the alternative jeweller:

Opinions on this 0.5C round diamond.

Hello All, I'm currently looking for a pair of 0.5 carat drop, leverback dangle earrings for my mother's birthday. I was presented with 2 diamonds from an international seller based in India. The 1st one had amazing specs but the second one rated poorly on rarecarat for cut. The seller assured...

www.pricescope.com

Have they provided the information that was suggested in the earlier thread, to allay your fears?

Or, being a total cynic are you looking to raise their profile on here?

Def the cynic and not trying to raise they’re profile. In fact, I would feel horrible if someone else on here bought something from them after reading my posts, and the diamond turned out to be bad.

From the last post, I got the general feeling that I should be extremely careful about buying from that company especially with all their claims.

I was wondering if anyone more experienced than I could make a better call than I can watching a few of their videos.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Interesting. What is your reasoning behind not being a fan of aset or ags?

I am a fan of ASET - I make the scopes and supply AGS too.
I am not a fan of ASET without backlight.

AGS offer a cut grade for a few types of fancy shaped cuts and some patented branded cuts.
I am not a fan of their approach.
e.g. I once bought and showed them an emerald cut that got AGS6 (very bad) that looks great. The issue is that we have 2 eyes and when you looked at this particular diamond the zones that were dark with one eye were bright with the other - and that creates enhanced brilliance. The AGS approach can not account for that.
This was an exception, and thier system has some value - but it is not a simple thing to grade the cut of fancy shapes and I prefer to look at fancies thruogh ASET while rocking the stone.

 

[TinsieCat]

Absolutely. Don’t make this choice a dichotomy! I’d add distinctivegems to the list - the August vintage, antique style emerald cuts are beautiful but may not be the flavour you’re after? (I think they’re cutting them in diamond as well as moissanite?)

Good point!! I do get into this tunnel vision mode for well... just about everything in life.

I’ll go check out distinctive gems

 

[TinsieCat]

I am a fan of ASET - I make the scopes and supply AGS too.
I am not a fan of ASET without backlight.

AGS offer a cut grade for a few types of fancy shaped cuts and some patented branded cuts.
I am not a fan of their approach.
e.g. I once bought and showed them an emerald cut that got AGS6 (very bad) that looks great. The issue is that we have 2 eyes and when you looked at this particular diamond the zones that were dark with one eye were bright with the other - and that creates enhanced brilliance. The AGS approach can not account for that.
This was an exception, and thier system has some value - but it is not a simple thing to grade the cut of fancy shapes and I prefer to look at fancies thruogh ASET while rocking the stone.

In your opinion, is a video of an EC diamond enough to judge how it will look in real life ? Or is this something that ultimately needs to be checked in person?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

In your opinion, is a video of an EC diamond enough to judge how it will look in real life ? Or is this something that ultimately needs to be checked in person?

Some people in PS say they can make a decision but since the consumer videos are all back and front lit I do not believe it is a good practice.
360 videos are called 'consumer videos' in thetrade.
better than nothing, and can be used for a certain amount of rejecting.
But not for selecting