Overseas Diamond Purchase

[Aussie26]

Ok - I think I have narrowed my search down to these final 3 diamonds. Any help making the final decision would be great!!! I have checked out their GIA certificates and entered the details into the Cut Advisor Tool on here also and listed the score too. They are all at www.jamesallen.com and I love the fact that they have pictures already on their websites. It helps when buying from overseas, so many other companies do not offer this and I think they are missing out because of it, after all a picture tells a thousand words...

Item Number: 1101651
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.81
Cut: Premium
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA 16017339
Depth: 59.0%
Table: 58.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle: Very thin
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.11*6.16*3.62
HCA Score - 0.8

Item Number: 1108481
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.79
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA 16075026
Depth: 60.3%
Table: 57.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.99*6.04*3.63
HCA Score - 0.9

Item Number: 1130191
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.82
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: SI2
Certificate: GIA 16548864
Depth: 61.7%
Table: 56.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.01*6.05*3.72
HCA Score - 2.2

I look forward to some 2nd opinions...

Thanks

 

[Lorelei]

Can you post the crown and pavillion angles too please, for each diamond? I can see they scored well on the HCA, but it would be useful to be able to see those measurements too. Also do you have Idealscope images?

 

[Aussie26]

Here you go... extra info as requested...

Item 1101651
Crown - 31.5
Pavilion - 41

Item 1108481
Crown - 34
Pavilion - 40.8

Item 1130191
Crown - 35
Pavilion - 41

No i don''t have idealscope images, but you can view a magnified version of the diamond via the james allen website. If you input the item number into the search box in the top right hand corner it will take you directly to the page with the picture & gia cert too.

 

[Tam]

im from australia and i think its just best if you buy one locally as you can get to see the stone before purchase. just my 2cents worth mate.

 

[milton333]

I''m not liking #1, because it''s got a very thin girdle (thin-med-slightly thick are okay, v thin is more likely to chip), and because of the only good symmetry.

#2, I''m not crazy about v good polish. This may be nitpicky, and someone feel free to correct me, but I believe excellent or ags ideal polish is going to be better for the flashy light return.

#3 - some people have excellent SI2s. Be aware, however, that it is possible that the inclusions would be visible to you, or otherwise bother you. I have an SI1, and while I cannot see the primary inclusion in the table without magnification, no matter how close I peer, I can see some fleck-type inclusions nearer to the edge if I really bring the stone close to my eye (way closer than anyone but me will ever see it, and I am comfortable with them). The inclusions jump out at me under 10x mag, particularly with an H&A colored light viewer. It is possible that you would be bothered by SI2, because I notice your other options have much higher clarity. I''d just want to be really sure that you are comfortable with the inclusions, and have spoken with someone who can eyeball the stone to give you their thoughts based on your comfort level.

Maybe you want to consider some of the super-ideal or near super-ideal options available out there?

 

[whatmeworry]

Drop #1 because of the v. thin girdle, good symmetry and the shallow crown 31.5

Drop #3 because of the SI2 and you are overseas. Unless they can guarantee beforehand that it''s eyeclean to your standards.

For #2, VGood polish is not an issue. Many experts here have suggested that there is no significant difference between Excellent and VGood polish.

Between #2 G/VS2 and #3 H/SI2, I would rather get #2.

 

[Aussie26]

Thanks for the advice

another company - whiteflash just emailed me 2 options, what do you think of these instead....

Item Code: AGS-9016101
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.79
Color: G
Clarity: SI2
. Report: AGS
. Shape: A Cut Above H&A
. Carat: 0.798
. Depth %: 62
. Table %: 56.7
. Crown Angle: 34.8
. Crown %: 15.2
. Star : 53
. Pavilion Angle: 40.8
. Pavilion %: 42.9
. Lower Girdle %: 76
. Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick Faceted
. Measurements: 5.93-5.99X3.67
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

Item Code: AGS-8986602
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.78
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
. Report: AGS
. Shape: Round Ideal Cut
. Carat: 0.786
. Depth %: 61.6
. Table %: 56.1
. Crown Angle: 34.7
. Crown %: 15.3
. Star : 54
. Pavilion Angle: 40.7
. Pavilion %: 42.9
. Lower Girdle %: 76
. Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
. Measurements: 5.92-5.94X3.65
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[honey22]

Hi - Whiteflash''s ACA are gorgeous stones - you can''t go wrong, They are handpicked as the best quality WF has. A good safe option especially since you won''t have a chance to view the stone. I have NEVER seen a post where someone was unhappy with their ACA. As it''s a S12 however, I would give them a call to ask if it''s eye clean, or if a visible inclusion can be hidden with a prong. Good luck.

 

[D2B]

Hi

I have also lived in australia, wonderful place, but I would never again buy jewellery there (or europe ) from the normal run of the mill places, the mark up is crazy and the quality makes me shudder. the online vendors in pricescope are amazing and so worth the time and effort to do the research. go with one that has an excellent return policy and make sure they will cover your insurance for the return trip (you will have to pay for it, but you use their inusrance and fed ex) and you cant go wrong. it is more time consuming, but the quality and value for $ is so so much better. Your stone and ring will stand out for its quality. Once you get educated in the cut and quality of stones, you just wont settle for second best, especially when you see the prices.

If you have money to spare, you can go locally to the the upper end jewellers, and find excellent stones, but you will pay the mark up for the convenience.

good luck, I am sure it will be amazing, and show us the photos.

D2B

 

[Lorelei]

Definitely shoot for one of the ACA''s in preference, check carefully with Whiteflash that they are eyeclean and match your comfort level of ''eyecleanliness'', you will end up with a superb diamond in this way.

 

[Ellen]

IF eyeclean (and make sure you are both on the same page as to what that means to YOU) I would go with the WF ACA. It looks like their second choice is an Expert Selection?, which has great stats, and would be my second choice, if eyeclean.

 

[Kay]

I would choose the G, SI1 from Whiteflash. It is a great color and clarity combo for the budget. I would be nervous buying an SI2 from overseas because even though WF has a good return policy, it would be difficult for you to use.