Please critique my first MMD!

[e2the3rd]

Ok, I was hesitant to ask for advice before jumping on this stone - partly because I didn't want to wait for input in case it sold, and partly because I was so tired of searching I wanted to be done already. It arrived today and now I would love some feedback. I can return it and try again if needed.

The plan is to swap out my larger 8mm (M word) stone that's in a Tiffany style setting with a MMD. I've always wanted to get a diamond in a good size for my e-ring, and thanks to MMD I finally can.

While searching for a stone, aside from getting the best deal I could with my budget, I tried to keep in mind: the numbers I've read here to look for, arrows looking crisp and lining up well, stria, contrast, tint, darkness under the table.

I was attracted to this stone probably because the video stood out from others I was seeing on Rare Carat - it was a little more striking/had some contrast, and I thought I might enjoy the fatter arrows. It's so tough to determine though, with every video on the site varying in lighting.

Now that I have it in person, I can make out those fat arrows and the contrast - and at times wonder is that contributing to the appearance of some darkness in the center? or is that typical? and/or going to be less noticeable once it's set? And once or twice I did see some tint, I believe it was in the brightest lighting, but I grabbed my other (M word) rings and they showed it too. My diamond band has G color stones and I'd like them to go well together.

Please let me know what your trained eyes see. Thank you!


Specs:
1.65 ct G VS2
7.56 x 7.53 x 4.68
Table 57
Depth 62
Crown Angle 35
Pavillion Angle 40.6
HCA score .9 Ex/Ex/Ex/Very Good

Link to video

I took so many photos - some with my phone, some with my real camera and they're shaky from not ideal lighting - all taken indoors. It was overcast most of the day, I opened the blinds and turned on all the lights




this is one where I can see tint:

 

[e2the3rd]

tagging some names because I’ve seen your very helpful threads and comments elsewhere - would love your input ! Is this stone a keeper or return and try again ?

@anangel @lovedogs @Eeveepenny @FL_runner

 

[lovedogs]

I think this looks really great!

 

[FL_runner]

I think it looks great! The darkness that you see is likely normal due to the cut and being in direct lighting https://www.hollowaydiamonds.com.au/some-good-diamonds-look-dark-in-sunlight/

I think it faces up very white in most pics- even colorless stones can sometimes have a bit of tint depending on lighting conditions and color of the surroundings. But if you’re seeing a significant difference between the diamond and your “m” Stone and that bothers you, I can understand wanting to return and go higher in color. I have found that some lab stones seem not to be graded as strictly for color as GIA graded mined stones.

for me, I think it has great cut and fire and the slight warmth would not personally bother me per my taste, but agree with you that it is a bit warmer than I would expect for a G.

 

[e2the3rd]

I think this looks really great!

Thank you!

 

[e2the3rd]

I think it looks great! The darkness that you see is likely normal due to the cut and being in direct lighting https://www.hollowaydiamonds.com.au/some-good-diamonds-look-dark-in-sunlight/

I think it faces up very white in most pics- even colorless stones can sometimes have a bit of tint depending on lighting conditions and color of the surroundings. But if you’re seeing a significant difference between the diamond and your “m” Stone and that bothers you, I can understand wanting to return and go higher in color. I have found that some lab stones seem not to be graded as strictly for color as GIA graded mined stones.

for me, I think it has great cut and fire and the slight warmth would not personally bother me per my taste, but agree with you that it is a bit warmer than I would expect for a G.

Thanks so much!

 

[anangel]

The cut looks fantastic! I don’t want to speak to the color because I find photos aren’t always true to life, and sometimes diamonds pick up colors from their surrounding. I think on color, your eyes, in person are the best judge.

 

[e2the3rd]

The cut looks fantastic! I don’t want to speak to the color because I find photos aren’t always true to life, and sometimes diamonds pick up colors from their surrounding. I think on color, your eyes, in person are the best judge.

Great, thank you! Yes. It’s so tough to capture the true color in photos. Especially a phone camera, mine always makes everything brighter. Most of the time this stone is looking plenty white. I can’t wait to see it on a sunny day

 

[e2the3rd]

Thanks all for your replies. I was feeling good about it last night, and then I went straight for the stone this morning and immediately saw it looking like a champagne color, in different lights.

Now I'm leaning towards returning this and searching for a color upgrade. And possibly a slightly larger size. I wanted to go smaller than my 8mm moiss but this one looks a lot like my 7mm, rather than the 7.5+ it's supposed to be.

>> I noticed in my search that the majority of stones have a crown angle around 35 combined with a pavillion angle around 41. Based on the chart I found here, that combo doesn't equate with fire or brightness - does anyone know what it does mean? Usually they were paired with around 58-59% table and 61-63% depth. ETA I'm researching other threads now and seeing these should not be discounted.. I was ruling them out before and only following the table chart I found so I'll consider them now and keep the video appearance and all the other factors in mind.

 

[Sprinkles&Stones]

sooooo pretty! What vendor is this from on Rare Carat?

 

[anangel]

Take the weekend to look at it in different lightings, and if you don’t love it by Monday, send it back.
It took me three tries to get the right diamond; The J was far too tinted, the F was cut for more white light return, and the H was just right. If you don’t love it, send it back and keep searching- you’ll know when you find the right one.

 

[e2the3rd]

sooooo pretty! What vendor is this from on Rare Carat?

It really is. It’s from Ascot Diamonds NY. They were super nice too over email before and after the purchase and shipped quickly. I didn’t see many from them on rare carat

 

[e2the3rd]

Take the weekend to look at it in different lightings, and if you don’t love it by Monday, send it back.
It took me three tries to get the right diamond; The J was far too tinted, the F was cut for more white light return, and the H was just right. If you don’t love it, send it back and keep searching- you’ll know when you find the right one.

Thanks! I really dread the thought of returning it and searching more but I know I need to be sure I’m in love

 

[PM83]

That’s a gorgeous diamond looks so white and shining bright!! As someone else said, do take a few days to decide. It’s gorgeous!

 

[Kim N]

Thanks all for your replies. I was feeling good about it last night, and then I went straight for the stone this morning and immediately saw it looking like a champagne color, in different lights.

If you have warm walls or warm lighting, the diamond will reflect the surroundings and be warm as well.

>> I noticed in my search that the majority of stones have a crown angle around 35 combined with a pavillion angle around 41.

That combo is considered steep/deep and can lead to leakage. A 41 pavilion angle pairs better with a 34 crown angle.

 

[e2the3rd]

That’s a gorgeous diamond looks so white and shining bright!! As someone else said, do take a few days to decide. It’s gorgeous!

Thank you. I love the set in your pic! I saw it in a thread and I have that band on my wishlist now - the profile looks so pretty

I definitely am taking my time deciding, and yes, it is gorgeous! I would be so happy if it was the one because as much as I love looking at diamonds and rings, I really do not enjoy this stone searching process.

Plus it's looking like I'll not only have to increase my budget by several hundred but I'll need to sacrifice on clarity as well in order to go up in color and size. I wish I could just see a tray of these stones in person and pick by looks !

 

[e2the3rd]

I’m so curious about ordering one of the E color stones I’m looking at online, but if the cut or proportions etc are similar but perhaps not quite as great as this one, will I be able to tell ? would I regret returning this one? Is there an advantage to a G vs E aside from personal preference in color , such as the appearance of depth or contrast ?

 

[anangel]

I’m so curious about ordering one of the E color stones I’m looking at online, but if the cut or proportions etc are similar but perhaps not quite as great as this one, will I be able to tell ? would I regret returning this one? Is there an advantage to a G vs E aside from personal preference in color , such as the appearance of depth or contrast ?

I think pictures are truly worth a thousand words! The reality is that the angles on certs are averages (you must remember these are three dimensional objects being diagramed as a flat image); there are some diamonds that look like they should be a knock out based on certs alone, but the images were less than impressive, and on the flip side there have been some diamonds that really needed to be judged by images and asets to be appreciated.
The super strict “PS ideals” tend to be a good guideline because diamonds within those tight parameters typically fall within a GIA excellent or AGS 0, and score well on the HCA. It would be a gross misstatement to say any diamond outside of the PS ideals or higher than a 2 on the HCA is automatically a dog of a diamond.

 

[e2the3rd]

I think pictures are truly worth a thousand words! The reality is that the angles on certs are averages (you must remember these are three dimensional objects being diagramed as a flat image); there are some diamonds that look like they should be a knock out based on certs alone, but the images were less than impressive, and on the flip side there have been some diamonds that really needed to be judged by images and asets to be appreciated.
The super strict “PS ideals” tend to be a good guideline because diamonds within those tight parameters typically fall within a GIA excellent or AGS 0, and score well on the HCA. It would be a gross misstatement to say any diamond outside of the PS ideals or higher than a 2 on the HCA is automatically a dog of a diamond.

Right on, I’ve been trying not to get too hung up on the numbers. I wish I could tell more from the videos though. At least on rare carat - most of their vendors’ videos don’t have the same quality as say James Allen with their striking appearance and consistent lighting. I suppose ordering and seeing in person is the best way to know, especially if the vendor doesn’t have the stone on hand to take any photos

 

[AprilBaby]

It looks gorgeous but shrinkage is real. If you are thinking about going bigger and you can, do it.

 

[e2the3rd]

It looks gorgeous but shrinkage is real. If you are thinking about going bigger and you can, do it.

Yeahhh, I haven’t loved how large my 8.10mm moissanite looks on my hand for the past few years, never got used to it! so I thought 7.5mm would be just right, but now I’m definitely wondering if somewhere in between would be better

 

[AprilBaby]

My diamond is 8.10 mm round and now it looks small.

 

[Kim N]

What if you went to F color so you wouldn't have to increase the budget as much but it'll still be colorless?

 

[e2the3rd]

What if you went to F color so you wouldn't have to increase the budget as much but it'll still be colorless?

I’d be great with F, I’ve only seen a couple E color come up in my price range/size