Please help me choose the best diamond - ready to buy

[vinny809]

Hi all, over the past month I have searched for diamonds in stores and have realized that the best diamond on paper doesn't always mean it shows the most brilliance nor is the best diamond. With that being said, my budget for a diamond is around $7000-9500. Possibly $9,500. I would like the carat to be around .95-1.05. The cut would obviously be H&A type ideal. Color would be in the near colorless or better range. Clarity can be a SI1 or a SI2 (as long as the inclusion is not visible or somewhere on the side where it will be covered from view, not the center). I think I may have come down to these 5 diamonds. Which one is the most brilliant? If there is a better diamond out there, please let me know as well! Thank you.

PS, does it matter if the center of the diamond shows red or green in ideal scope?
Edit: these are all eye clean diamonds according to Brian Davis Rep and WF website.

a)
1.025 ct G SI1 A CUT ABOVE -$8584
Depth % 61.7
Table % 55.7
Crown Angle 34.9
Star 53.0
Pavilion Angle 40.7
Crown % 15.5
Lower Girdle % 77.0
Measurements 6.46x6.48x4.00
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible
Girdle Thin to Medium Faceted
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782643.htm

http://pics5.whiteflash.com/jewelry/thumbnail.ashx?itemcode=is_ags-104057806012.jpg&type=idealscope




b)

Type : Hearts and Arrows
Shape : Round
Color : E
Clarity : SI1
Carat : 1.011
Price : $8,937
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.011-e-si1-round-diamond-ags-104055873005


c)

Type : Hearts and Arrows
Shape : Round
Color : F
Clarity : SI1
Carat : 1.041
Price : $9,181

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.041-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065001


d)



Type : Hearts and Arrows
Shape : Round
Color : F
Clarity : SI1
Carat : 1.060
Price : $9,357

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.060-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065004


e)
Type : Hearts and Arrows
Shape : Round
Color : G
Clarity : SI1
Carat : 1.067
Price : $8,843
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.067-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059545090

Diamond A


Diamond B


DIamond B2


Diamond C


Diamond D


Diamond E

 

[ecf8503]

Looking at the links to the first 3 (are there links to the last 2?), it's hard to go wrong performance-wise. I'd ask if they are eye-clean, as all of them appear to have inclusions under the table looking at the plots. The F SI's is off to the side of the table, which may therefore be "lost" in the junction of facets (a good thing). Have a gemologist pull them for you and take a look.

 

[vinny809]

Looking at the links to the first 3 (are there links to the last 2?), it's hard to go wrong performance-wise. I'd ask if they are eye-clean, as all of them appear to have inclusions under the table looking at the plots. The F SI's is off to the side of the table, which may therefore be "lost" in the junction of facets (a good thing). Have a gemologist pull them for you and take a look.

Thanks for the quick reply! All diamonds are eye clean according to Whiteflash website or BG rep. Original post has been edited to provide links and pictures now. BG rep stated the center should be red. Should I exclude all green center diamonds?

Diamond E - Pic above may be wrong, these images look too similar!

 

[vinny809]

Okay, narrowed it down to 4. Which one would you pick? Please help, this is seriously distracting me from studying(grad student) . I want the best ring for my special lady!

Is there light leakage in
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.026-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059919028#!prettyPhoto??
Seems to have more green than normal?


Category A CUT ABOVE®
Shape Round
Carat 1.024
Color H
Clarity SI1
Cut Ideal
Depth % 61.4
Table % 55.9
Crown Angle 34.8
Star 52.0
Pavilion Angle 40.8
Crown % 15.4
Lower Girdle % 76.0
Measurements 6.48x6.50x3.99
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible
Girdle Thin to Medium Faceted
Eye Clean Yes
Light Performance Ideal
Polish Ideal
Symmetry Ideal
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782635.htm



Personally I like this one the best on paper, but I am no expert. Are there any SI1 diamonds with less inclusions in the center? Should I be patient and wait for something better?
Table %: 56.6
Depth %: 61.4
Crown %: 15.2
Crown Angle: 34.9
Star %: 52.0
Pav Angle: 40.9
Pavillion %: 43.2
Lower Girdle %: 77.0
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Girdle Min-Max %: 1.2 - 3.5
Girdle: Thin To Medium Faceted
Carat: 1.041
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Measurements: 6.52 x 6.54 x 4.01
Lab Cut Grade: Ideal
Light Performance: Ideal
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.041-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065001



Table %: 55.3
Depth %: 61.6
Crown %: 15.5
Crown Angle: 34.8
Star %: 52.0
Pav Angle: 40.7
Pavillion %: 43.0
Lower Girdle %: 77.0
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Girdle Min-Max %: 1.1 - 3.6
Girdle: Thin To Medium Faceted
Report: AGS
Carat: 1.011
Color: E
Clarity: SI1
Measurements: 6.45 x 6.47 x 3.98
Lab Cut Grade: Ideal
Light Performance: Ideal
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.011-e-si1-round-diamond-ags-104055873005#more



Table %: 56.2
Depth %: 61.8
Crown %: 14.9
Crown Angle: 34.2
Star %: 54.0
Pav Angle: 40.9
Pavillion %: 43.2
Lower Girdle %: 76.0
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Girdle Min-Max %: 1.4 - 4.0
Girdle: Thin To Slightly Thick Faceted
Carat: 1.026
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Measurements: 6.45 x 6.48 x 4.00
Lab Cut Grade: Ideal
Light Performance: Ideal
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.026-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059919028#!prettyPhoto

 

[Dancing Fire]

if eye clean i'd prefer B and then A.

 

[JulieN]

They are all really gorgeous and no one here is going to be able to tell you which one you will like the most.

 

[ecf8503]

I prefer fatter arrows, so I'd pick E, but that's just me.

 

[JulieN]

I believe the inclusions are often in the center so that they don't reflect all around the stone. None of them have leakage or too much green in the ASET. Like ecf, the last choice E, has fat arrows and I like fat arrows, too.

 

[vinny809]

Interesting!

Thanks for your replies. For JuliaN and ECF, there is a HUGE feather inclusion on the table. Would that be something I should worry about?

Also, what is the reason that you like fat arrows? I am still learning how to interpret ASET/Idealscope images. Thank you for your help.

 

[JulieN]

I actually don't see it at all. Brian would never sell a stone that had a feature that he felt was something to worry about. You can ask them about the feather to clarify.

75% LGF is not typical for Brian, usually it is 77 like all the other examples. I like the bigger bang that fatter arrows have, it is more eyecatching to me. You can ask BGD if they feel this is as well-balanced as their more typical cuts or if it leans towards a different flavor of performance.

 

[UberClaire]

They're all AGS0, so if they're eyeclean you can't go wrong.

 

[vinny809]

Thanks for all the information. Now I think I do want a LGF of 77>. After watching some educational videos, I also think I'm fine with a H, especially in normal lighting conditions.

 

[sohcpunk]

I recently purchase a diamond with your budget. Is there a reason you want strictly the H&A name? I purchased a 1.2 H VS1 that was not labeled H&A but from looking up the proportions it did exibit the hears and arrows. Got it for a little over 8k. I think if you go the path I went you can get a larger stone.