please help choose a diamond!

[muckyecm]

Hello everyone, I am looking for a fluorescent diamond with an ideal cut (more sparkly = better). This is my first time diamond-shopping, so I would love some input! I am very worried about getting an overblue diamond, and it seems like the only way to be sure I'm not getting an overblue diamond while still getting at least a near-ideal cut is to get it from the Brian Gavin Blue line (please let me know if there is a better way--I just can't take a lot of time off work to go check out diamonds in person, and even if I could I wouldn't know what to look for). These are the stones I'm looking at currently. Please let me know your opinions!

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.903-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104081043018

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.933-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104081043017

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.931-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104079604010

Thank you in advance!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Proportion wise I like #2..

 

[muckyecm]

Thank you! So between #2 from the first post and these other two below, which do you think I should go for?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.905-f-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104078700022

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.006-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104078700016

 

[UrsTx]

That second option in your original post has an HCA score of 1.5 which is better than the 1ct H that I thought I liked, at a score of 2.7. So in the options you provided, I like the .933ct.

...The HCA #s are just additional food for thought (below 2.0 will have better light performance).

 

[muckyecm]

Thank you! All the HCA scores of the stones I posted are 1.4 or 1.5, so I'm not sure that it makes a big difference between them?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Thank you! So between #2 from the first post and these other two below, which do you think I should go for?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.905-f-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104078700022

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.006-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104078700016

I like stone #2 in your first post. You can ask Brian to eye the stones and give you his honest opinion... All in-house stones from BGD are well cut.

 

[drruby]

Some say AGS bumps grades, not as much as other graders, but most in carbon think GIA is the only cert worth having.

 

[doberman]

Some say AGS bumps grades, not as much as other graders, but most in carbon think GIA is the only cert worth having.

Disagree. Vehemently.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Some say AGS bumps grades, not as much as other graders, but most in carbon think GIA is the only cert worth having.

It's important to remember that simply repeating hearsay usually does not serve to inform, but can in fact perpetuate misinformation.

GIA and AGS are considered in the top tier of grading labs. The main differences are that GIA is huge and well known, and AGS is small and specializes in state-of-the-art cut quality analysis.

 

[drruby]

My OPinions on labs

2005 FBI caught GIA graders with PAY FOR GRADES scandal, since then GIA grades are all suspect IMO
AGL was owned by collectors universe, that is commical.
AGS, all I know is what many have said, it's a good lab but softer than GIA is now, but a good lab, now I haven't researched AGS to any level and if I did I might have a better opinion of them, but for now what I'm told in USA exchanges is dealers still prefer GIA certs over AGS even with the scandal.

Now in CG Gubelin is king.

I see GIA on some CG but's just a no heat or it has heat statement.

I don't even look at their opinion on color, for reason, GIA = Carbon to me.

Now if it's Gubelin and there's color opinion, okay I take that into consideration.

GIA is carbon and they have done it pretty well with just one major scandal, not too bad, but that scandal is there.

Okay I just spent a few minutes on AGS research and I hate WIKI but here is all you need to know just look them up at wiki

The American Gem Society (AGS) is a trade association of retail jewelers, independent appraisers, suppliers, and selective industry members...

So red flag it's NOT a real LAB started by a Phd in say Geology or Mineralogy, it was a bunch of people in the JEWELRY TRADE getting together to figure out to how to SELL to the public better.

Now I know that have a niche with their cut analysis, but the AGS was founded not by GEOLOGISTS with PHD's but by people developing FLUFF to help jewelers SELL common carbon.

Isn't Matlins with them?

I keep her book in my bathroom, it makes me laugh.

 

[muckyecm]

Thank you! So between #2 from the first post and these other two below, which do you think I should go for?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...0.905-f-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104078700022

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...1.006-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104078700016

I like stone #2 in your first post. You can ask Brian to eye the stones and give you his honest opinion... All in-house stones from BGD are well cut.

Thank you very much! I'll go with your advice.