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Picking out a diamond for an upgrade

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NoviceAP

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
36
Hi all,

I've read A LOT of the threads here but it is my first time posting :) My husband and I've been married for a few years but we are looking for a diamond again as I would like to get an upgrade.

When we bought the diamond a few years back, 360 videos were not available and we made the purchase just based on the certificate. When we picked out the diamond, the GIA certificate looked really clean for an SI2 diamond so we were thrilled that we found a "great deal" for the price...but it turned out that the stone has clouds and is milky. I didn't really notice it back then because I didn't see a lot of diamonds in real life so didn't really know what I should have been looking for. Anyways, I came to learn that there are reasons why two diamonds with the same specs could be priced very differently...

So (sorry for the long introduction), we are looking for a new diamond to upgrade, and following are the specs:

Carat: 1.9
Measurements: 7.89 x 7.94 x 4.88
Color: I (I'm not as color sensitive and was trying to increase the carat size and go down on color a bit; my current stone is an H)
Clarity: VS2
Cut, polish, symmetry: all excellent
Fluorescence: Strong blue

Below are the angles:
Screen Shot 2018-12-30 at 10.01.14 PM.png
And below shows clarity (the comments section just mentions additional pinpoints not shown):
Screen Shot 2018-12-30 at 10.00.42 PM.png

And here are snapshots of the 360 video of the diamond. The vendor has told me that this stone is 100% eye clean (and it's a VS2) but they called my current SI2 stone "eye-clean" even though it has clouds and is milky, so not sure how to interpret it when they say it's eye-clean..

IMG_0895.jpg
IMG_0896.jpg

Three questions:

1) The crystal on the left is not shown on the GIA certificate - is it common to have an inclusion this big not show up on the GIA certificate scope? This crystal is also reflected as shown in the first image (I put a red circle over it). The vendor said this is eye-clean and I understand this image is under 40x magnification, but I wonder if it will really be eye-clean.

2) This diamond is priced at around $13000. I know that's on the really cheap end for a nearly 2-carat diamond. With the inclusion above, I'm wondering whether I should go for a slightly smaller sized diamond but with better specs.

3) The black arrows seem a little thicker than I understand that might be because of the smaller lower girdle facet(?). Just wondering if this would make the diamond look "dark".

Anyways, I've tried to read as much as I could online, but would greatly appreciate your thoughts and opinions. Again, we chose the current diamond based on just the certificate, and we don't want to make the same mistake of getting a less than stellar quality diamond even though we have the video this time.

Thank you all so much and happy new year!
 
For that amount of money, you could buy a CBI, since your'e flexible on color and clarity. CBI is one of the top recommended super-ideal vendors that many like, including myself.

Here is a 1.73 I SI2 that just came in like a week ago, literally. It is almost the same measurements that you wanted, and the light show would be spectacular.

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10567
 
Thank you Sandy! Unfortunately I have to purchase from the vendor I oroginally purchased from as it is an upgrade.... I wish the vendor I have ti use also provided those idealscope/light performance images but they don’t have that now..
 
Oh, I'm sorry I didn't get that from your original message! I thought you were looking for a great stone. My apologies. :rolleyes2:
 
Is the vendor online? If so members can help analyse better and find other options. Also do you want only strong blue fluorescence?
 
This is Blue Nile. I would avoid strong fluorescence.
Your diamond is milky-hazy, try to avoid strong fluorescence when buying online.
I would only trust BGD Blue or CBI if such an amount of fluorescence is involved.
But the proportions look great!
 
What you see close to the girdle is not a crystal, but the feather inclusion, shown on the GIA inclusion plot. The inclusion in the center is a crystal, and the 3rd inclusion is also a feather. VS2 clarity is mainly eye clean. You should trust GIA grading.
The thicker arrows will not make diamond to appear darker. I personally prefer thicker arrows.
There is nothing bad with the strong blue fluorescence, as far as diamond looks crispy. Based on the pictures, I see this diamond free of haziness. However, you should evaluate this stone with your own eyes.
Price sounds excellent.
 
Thank you so much everyone! Yes, buying from an online vendor is tricky since I can’t see it in person before purchasing. So, because this is an upgrade, I can’t get a refund if I don’t like the stone and can only exchange it ONCE to a stone that is of the same or greater value... if I had known about BG or WF I would have bought from them, but I can only upgrade through BN.

Anyways, I will ask the vendor whether it looks milky/hazy and we will see what they say. Their “eye-clean” seems to be used pretty broadly though.

@Stephan Stephan, do you mean you can see milky/haziness from the pictures I uploaded or you think it has a strong possibility of being milky/hazy because it has strong fluo? This is what I was most afraid of as my current diamond is somewhat milky/cloudy and I definitely would like to avoid purchase if it would be milky/cloudy.

In case helpful, here is the video of the diamond: https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD11531780
 
What I your budget for the stone? There are some available ones with no fluorescence but starting at about $1000 more?
 
@Matilda Thanks! I was looking for a stone between $12600 and $13000. I know the price range is narrow, but I have to pick a diamond priced at least $12610 (double the amount of what we paid for the original stone) and didn’t want to pay so much over that. I understand strong fluo diamonds are priced at a slight discount and also heard it might help with color especially in low grades like the one I picked out so didn’t think it would be an issue. Do you also think it’s hazy/milky?
 
From the video, I would say no. I definitely think it's worth it to ask BN on the potential for haziness. Would you be okay with an SI1 eye clean? Could swap discount of fluorescence for clarity instead?
 
@Matilda thanks again! Yes I am ok with a lower clarity grade as long as it’s eye clean. So glad I posted the question on this — you guys are so helpful!
 
Based on the video, I don't see any transparency issue with this diamond. Also, Blue Nile has better priced diamonds than other vendors, so don't regret.
 
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I don't like the fluo of the 1.9 and I don't like the cut of the 1.82. :(2
 
With them being a drop shipper, are they immune to post holiday supply shortages?
 
I think there's a somewhat irrational fear of flour. It really doesn't make diamonds hazy / milky very often. I wouldn't rule out a stone based on flour, especially from a trusted vendor.

ETA: I much prefer the 1.9 you have. I think it's gorgeous.
 
AFAIK, BN's diamond are not in-house , so there's no way they can eye it for you.
 
beardog said:
With them being a drop shipper, are they immune to post holiday supply shortages?
Click to expand...

Thanks @beardog Since I'm not in a rush, I guess it may help to wait to see if there will be more diamonds uploaded over the next few weeks. I thought a lot of people will keep ordering because of Valentine's Day so I felt rushed haha

@Dancing Fire - Yeah, I think for the diamonds that they don't have in their vault, which is probably a majority, they ask local jewelers if the diamond is eye-clean or not, and I can't truly rely on it when they say it is eye-clean. I know most VS2s are eye-clean, so perhaps it's ok?

@Stephan Thanks for the suggestions - I do like the 1.7 J as well :clap: Hopefully I can find something similar but slightly bigger..
 
NoviceAP said:
@Dancing Fire - Yeah, I think for the diamonds that they don't have in their vault, which is probably a majority, they ask local jewelers if the diamond is eye-clean or not, and I can't truly rely on it when they say it is eye-clean. I know most VS2s are eye-clean, so perhaps it's ok?
Click to expand...
VS2 will be safe 90% of the time, but then I'm old, so every stone looks eye clean to my pair of eyes. :lol:
 
lovedogs said:
I think there's a somewhat irrational fear of fluor. It really doesn't make diamonds hazy / milky very often. I wouldn't rule out a stone based on fluor, especially from a trusted vendor.

ETA: I much prefer the 1.9 you have. I think it's gorgeous.
Click to expand...
I agree 1000%. Fluor has a negative impact somewhere in the range of 1-2 percent of the time, so the likelihood of you finding one through these bigger, more reputable dealers, is likely slim. I believe the current attitude of fluor being a flaw is slowly being replaced by information and acceptance, and BGD is forging the way towards this acceptance with their beautiful line of stones.

I personally love fluor, and stones of all colors, I find them all beautiful in their own way. Once you've done all of your research, the only way to know is to see it with your own eyes.
 
If you are willing to wait maybe a wee or so I do think you may have more options.If you are happy with J colour that will potentially open up other options and give more size.

I know the proportions on these are not necessarily perfect, not all in the ideal parameters, but just in case:

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-comparison

The first one seems to have potential, stock number:LD10639482
 
Matilda said:
If you are willing to wait maybe a wee or so I do think you may have more options.If you are happy with J colour that will potentially open up other options and give more size.

I know the proportions on these are not necessarily perfect, not all in the ideal parameters, but just in case:

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-comparison

The first one seems to have potential, stock number:LD10639482
Click to expand...

Thank you Matilda!
 
Hi @NoviceAP - and welcome!

Firstly - do you have your diamond on hold? If not, pick up a phone and ask BN to put it on hold.

Secondly, Blue Nile are NOT drop shippers any more. This changed about a year ago and I actually started a thread on it. Every stone they sell now goes to their place of business and goes through 3 lots of quality control to make sure the info on the cert matches what their own eyes see, before it's shipped out.

There is No. Way. Breathing. you will see those inclusions with your naked eye, so put that concern out of your head immediately.

Next - does it have to be a round brilliant? You can trade up to any shape, and round brilliants are the most expensive shape. Are you interested in a cushion? An emerald cut? A pear?

Make it VERY CLEAR to the person with whom you're dealing that you don't want milkiness or any visible effect from the fluorescence. Put this in writing. Get them to confirm.

I think the diamond you're interested in looks lovely. Be aware, you'll probably see some degree of sideways tint, but it should be minimal.

Good luck!
 
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