Opinions on Ideal vs. Branded Ideal

[LadyluvsLuxury]

Ok, I am wrecking my brains trying to decide if buying a branded ideal is truly worth the extra cash. How many of you have actually seen an ideal and branded ideal side by side? Was there truly a difference as to how it looks to the eye? I should add that by ideal I mean AGS0, so I''m not referring to the subjective term ideal that is used loosely. How many of you purchased AGS0 NON-branded stones? Can you refer me a link to your thread so I can take a peek? Thanks so much! Oh BTW, I am referring to a RB.

 

[valeria101]

There have been a couple of recent threads (one still on the front page!) about choosing between the ''expert selection'' list and the branded ''A Cut Above'' line both from Whiteflash. True enough, the ''expert selection'' comes with pictures (and not all AGS0 out there do) but those stones are not labeled ''H&A'' per se. Some seem darn close (down to impossible to distinguish from the branded ones from the otherwise detailed descriptions).

Besides AGS0 is a brand too... perhaps the label allows a bit more variation than the H&A presented here. IMO, if there is a return policy so that you can see what you are getting, get the AGS0 and an IdealScope to be able to compare what you see with some of the IS refference pictures of H&A around here.

Not sure if this helps, but...

About side by side pictures: well, perhaps those will not help much to show subtle differences. However, there have beensome. You might want to follow the ''Show me the ring'' threads of ''Solange'' and THIS for some hints

 

[LadyluvsLuxury]

Hey Valeria thanks for responding! I know about the Whiteflash''s expert selection but these stones are part of Whiteflash''s in-house stock and therefore they can run as many tests and take as many pics as you request at no cost to you, but my issue is some of the stones I am considering are not a part of the vendors in house stock, however it was labled "ideal" by the vendor, who explained to me this is based upon what AGS would label a ''0''. Considering every stone I request for the vendor to ship, if it happens to be one I don''t like will cost close to $160 to send back, I was trying to determine if it was worth bringing in one or two, or to just go with the branded stone. So I wanted to see what other''s experiences were with stones that WEREN''T part of a vendor''s in house stock but yet was labeled "ideal".

 

[valeria101]

Date: 8/19/2005 7:10:06 PM
Author: LadyluvsLuxury

if it happens to be one I don''t like will cost close to $160 to send back

Is the price difference between that and the ones with pictures worth a couple of trials like that ?

You could also ask the seller to do a first hand selection for you. After all, they do not like returns either and you might well be the only customer asking for such details ! - Well, hopefully not, but who knows ? If this seller already deals with AGS0 they may be able to accomodate such request for further quality refinement too.

 

[LadyluvsLuxury]

I''ll take your advice and try that! So hard for me to give up control! Thanks V!

 

[Dancing Fire]

LLL
i have seen .....8* ,LK,HoF,Infinity branded stones and bought a unbrand from GOG.if a stone is well cut,i don''t think it matters. if you''re planning to purchase online,i think you should have certain specs in mind and shoot for those specs as a first step towards your purchase.

here a link to my wife''s rings from 3 different (un)brand "ideal cuts".
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/hand-shots-of-my-wifes-rings-gog-3-34ct-infinity-recut-1-15ct-aca-1-27-ctw.28588/

 

[Mara]

Hmmm I am pretty picky and sometimes think I will consider virtual stones that have the numbers that I want, but I need that H&A pattern and great light return, and I figure that many of the virtual stones, even if labeled ideal (which is such a loose term by the way!) will not have it. At least with the in-house stones I can look at the IS image and see how crisp the arrows and light return are. This is for a ring BTW...for an earring or a pendant maybe I could be a bit more lenient, but having had a stone which did not have the pattern and now that all my stones do, I am spoiled forever!!!

But if you do have something called in and it does have a fab pattern, be sure to let us know because I would love to be wrong.

ETA: If you do call a vendor re: virtual stone, you could possibly say that you want to consider stones that have a certain number range but also look good under IS and have a sharp pattern. Maybe they can hand-pick virtual for you? I'm unsure how it works but good luck.

 

[LadyluvsLuxury]

Thanks for the info all. I pretty much know what ''specs'' to look for. I guess the problem comes when the manufacturer does not have the available equipment to provide more than SARIN info. Therefore, the next step would be to have it shipped to the vendor to inspect and test, however, I guess my concern arises in how many times would one run the risk of calling in virtual inventory (at a cost of $160 a pop) to get images that may or may not be to your satisfaction? By the way the price difference I am referring to is in the neighborhood of $4000 granted color is the same but clarity is VS1 vs. SI1. Other than that the non-branded stone I am considering scored a 1A on the AGA Cut grade chart. But what else can I really do with just SARIN numbers?

Also, do you all know how to value the "price" of a custom setting (i.e. being overcharged?)

 

[noobie]

When looking at virtual stones, I''ve found the best source to be Mark at Engagement Rings Direct. His office is in the diamond district so he can walk to pick up a stone, hence no shipping. I was considering a stone once and one vendor would have had to ship it and then back at some expense. I asked Mark about it, and when he contacted me he was looking at it

. His prices on virtual stones are virtually unbeatable as well.

And to your original question, I don''t think a normal person can tell a great H&A super ideal non-branded from a branded.

Buying a inventory stone is safe. However there are some great values in the virtual databases. It just takes more work.

Good luck