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Oval Help!

T

thebigdiesel5

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 2, 2018
Messages
3
Background: Will be sitting in a yellow gold ring, simple design. Do not want bowtie or visible inclusions, want it to be "eye clean", other than that, exact features do not bother me. More focused on color, clarity, etc. than size. Originally, wanted color to be better than H, but feel as if I would be over paying for better color quality to set in a yellow gold ring. Was always focused ~2.00 carat, but considering the larger stone due to qualities and price. #3 worries me because it is certified by EGL and all of the other diamonds I have researched / seen were certified by GIA. I have seen the first two, both seem eye clean to me, with the second obviously being cleaner.

Any help would be much appreciated, can get pictures in the morning and whatever else is most valuable to help. Thanks.

Deciding between three diamonds at this point:
1) GIA: 6261587017 - quoted at $20,000
- 2.52 carat, H / SI2, 10.78 x 7.71 x 4.83
- Polish: EX, Symmetry: VG, FL: F
- Table: 60%, Depth: 62.7%
- Girdle: Very Thin - Thick (Faceted)

2) GIA: 218323249 - quoted at $17,000
- 2.01 carat, H / SI1, 9.82 x 7.22 x 4.44
- Polish: EX, Symmetry: EX, FL: None
- Table: 63%, Depth: 61.6%
- Girdle: Slightly Thick - Very Thick (Faceted)

3) EGL: 1852035428 - quoted at $18,000
- 2.10 carat, E / SI1, 10.12 x 7.22 x 4.46
- Polish: EX, Symmetry: EX, FL: None
- Table: 59%, Depth: 61.8%
- Girdle: Medium (Faceted)
 
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Hi TBD,
Unfortunately we have to see images of fancy cut stones to give you any feedback. If you have links please post them.

#3...we usually stick with GIA/AGS graded stones. As you can see from the price, the stone is probably at least a lower color and maybe a lower clarity.
Is it graded by EGL USA? They are usually less off than other EGL grading sites. Have you seen the stones in person? Have you been able to compare
the 3 in person? At this point you would know more than we do.

Are you in the US?

What is YOUR definition of a bow-tie. To me it is a dark area through the center of the stone that is not returning light.
Some people define is as an area of large facets that transitions to small facets through the center of the stone (that still returns light).

Please post links if you have them...
 
tyty has asked some great questions!

A "bow tie" can be a positive or a negative.
On an Oval Brilliant cut, the larger facets on the bottom of the diamond will create larger flashes ( in the best case scenarios) or larger dark areas ( a "bad" bowtie)

In an Oval Modified Brilliant, there's far less likelihood of seeing either of the types of bow tie I mentioned- but the cut may have a different sort of sparkle ( sometimes called "crushed ice")

Since there's a lot of different models of ovals, there's really no hard fast rule.

One rule that is hard and fast- ignore EGL grading- and if a seller is advising you EGL is issuing accurate grades, they just outed themselves as bad news......


I hope this helps!!
 
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Here are a few pictures, unfortunately I do not have links. I am in the US, at this point, I think I should eliminate the EGL graded stone. What I do not want to see in a bow tie is a black/dark bow tie. I have seen the stones in person, both look eye clean to me, but I was hoping for a second opinion based on as much as you could tell via the info / pictures I have posted. I care what it looks like, but I care 1000x more what my girlfriend might think. She doesn’t care about size as much as she cares about color/clarity, but if very similar, obviously will go bigger (even if a bit more expensive). Thank you for any help.
041FA5F6-4158-4715-8EEB-58E7641BCA1E.jpeg 6C247FB3-FE51-4309-A63F-25F524AA9AA2.jpeg 96B1C9B4-F46F-4462-BC7A-494945C8783D.jpeg
 
thebigdiesel5 said:
thebigdiesel5
Click to expand...
In terms of pictures- ovals are particularly difficult to photograph.
I mention this because it's really not possible to evaluate the stones you posted the pictures of using the pictures.
What type of setting does she want?
That can make a difference?
 
Even though they are both GIA Hs I'm seeing more color in the smaller one. Not that its bad.

Is the SI2 eye-clean?

As Rock Diamond commented it is very difficult to take good pictures of ovals. I'm wondering if the bright light is causing the stones to go dark though
the center in the first pictures? In reality I think those are nice facets returning light well.

In the outdoor photos how long is the darkness showing through the center of the stones? Is it briefly as the stones move or is the darkness there
all the time?

I have a pear stone...I dont see darkness in it (when its clean), but I guarantee that about 90% of my pictures show darkness in it (go figure:roll).
Pictures only give us one static view of the stone which makes it difficult. Sure which you had links to up close videos.

This is how I like my ovals to look...as the stones moves (turns) you pick up more nicely defined facets headed down towards the rounded ends.
Are you seeing anything like this?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3623417

I believe both the stones you are looking at are 8 main offset stones which will give you that wide area of larger facets in the center. The one I posted
above is is plain 8 main with arrows going straight through the center.

Another plain 8 main
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.00-carat-e-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-4386843
Yours are 8 mains with offset arrows like the one below
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.02-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-4327297

Ok, so I'm rambling. Really, since you have your eyes on them you are in the best position to determine which looks better.
Look for well defined facets that are "lighting" up. See how the stones react as they move. Look for overall brightness in the stones.
Minimize the size of darkness through the center and how much it shows up as the stone moves.

Hope some of this info helps...good luck! Let us know what you decide.

Personally, I like the bigger one but that is based on size and color...not on which has the best light return because I cant tell from the info you've
provided...so, though choice.
 
Thank you so much for the help. I can try and track down actual videos or digital videos from the jeweler. She wants a very simple, yellow gold, solitaire setting. The bigger one looks slightly better colored to me also, but I think both would look fine in yellow gold. Thanks again for the help, the picture do look different, I will try and provide more.
 
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