Please help me decide on two round diamonds!!

[tna7984]

Hello everyone,

I want to thank all posters, as I have been an avid reader of the forums on this site now for the past couple of weeks. I've been trying to find the perfect round diamond now for my budget, and I found one in person that was a 2.23ct AGS 000 H color, negligible fluorescence, eye clean SI2, dimensions 8.47x8.51x5.09, medium to slightly thick girdle. I'm sorry as I don't have any of the other numbers or pictures from the diamond, but those were some of the "on-paper" stats.

I then came across this one online, almost same stats, but E color with a lower price. Now, I have definitely learned in this process that you usually will get what you pay for, but I called the retailer, and they said that they had this diamond certified as "eye-clean" and certified from the dealer that the fluorescence did not detract from the beauty of the stone; I'm pasting the info from this stone below:

2.26ct GIA XXX certification, E color, SI2.
Depth: 59.9%
Table: 59%
Strong Fluorescence
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Dimensions: 8.5x8.56x 5.11

I'm sorry that there are no pictures, but if anyone has ANY insight whatsoever with this information, please set me straight! Thanks so much in advance to everyone!

 

[04diamond<3]

Pretty hard to give you an informed opinion with the limited stats you provided....It's possible that the stone performs well, and it's also possible that the stone could be eye clean, but NO way for us to know for sure without pictures or ideal scope images.

 

[tna7984]

Thank you for your reply. So I called one of the online vendors, they contacted the vault, and came back with confirmations that the fluorescence provided no negative effects, and then sent the attached picture to me to show the inclusions, and then told me in the email that the diamond was confirmed to be "eye-clean". I'm such a novice to this process that I'm not sure if this picture is "good" or "bad". I was hoping someone could provide more clarity with any opinions they had on this diamond. I'm not sure if the price is allowed, so if not, mods please delete- but this was around the 20k pricepoint (the E, SI2). Thank you so much in advance for opinions.

Depth: 59.9%
Table: 59%
Strong Fluorescence
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Dimensions: 8.5x8.56x 5.11

 

[Christina...]

The good news is that it's an AGS0 stone so it has already been evaluated for light performance and it was determined to have been ideal, so that takes out some of the guess work of the vendor not being able to provide additional images.

Since you are considering purchasing through BN you've pretty much obtained all the additional information they can provide for you. However your purchase is backed by a full money back guarantee and that offers some reassurance. As far as eye cleanliness, it's important to know that there is no industry wide standard. Most vendors maintain that eye clean is in the face up position in natural lighting at a distance of 10 inches with normal vision. That isn't MY definition and it might not be YOURS, if it isn't then I think it's important to express this to the vendor and have the stone evaluated by the dealer again. It appears that most of the inclusions will be at least partially prongable depending on how you intend to set the stone. There are a couple of dark crystals under the table that would concern me, so again, I would contact BN and have them check with the dealer again to confirm, by YOUR definition that the stone is eye clean.

 

[Christina...]

Wait...I think I misunderstood...The photo you posted is NOT for the AGS0? If not then that changes things a bit. I would want to work with a vendor that could offer me ideal scope images. In my previous post I was responding with the impression that the stone had already been evaluated by AGS and determined to have ideal light performance....that offered a bit of reassurance since BN couldn't offer any reflective images for you, however, if this is a GIA stone, then you need more information if you wish to determine it's likely performance. I don't see any warning signs from the single image you posted though. It appears to be a very bright stone, I just prefer to have to added assurance that additional images offer, especially when I can't view the stone in person.

 

[tna7984]

Thanks for the response, Christina.

Sorry for the confusion- the image posted was for the GIA stone that was their "triple excellent" and an E color. That is the only image they could provide unfortunately.

The AGS 000 stone that I was (and still am) very close to purchasing, was from a brick and mortar store in my hometown- but that stone was an H color, and it was just about the same price. It did look beautiful in person, though.

I just can't make up my mind one way or the other- would I be foolish not to buy a GIA E vs and AGS H, especially upon reading on forums that AGS could potentially be a little bit looser on grading color? Someone please tell me if I am being foolish- I'm sure I am, it's just reassuring to hear peoples opinions who know much more than I do on this issue! Thanks!

 

[Christina...]

Ahh!! The whole AGS is looser on color grading deal. Yes, there was a thread not too long ago that discussed this, but then another was started shortly after and the myth was sort of dispelled. Color grading is subjective, it's considered normal and acceptable in the trade to be within one color grade. It's important to realize that there is a range within each color grade, for instance, your stone (AGS) was graded as an H, what is difficult to know is whether or not the stone is an H bordering on an I, or if it's an H bordering on a G or if it's a middle of the road H. Does that make sense? I think that it's these borderline stones that make up the color grading differences between GIA and AGS.

You've had the opportunity to view the AGS stone in person and it appealed to you, you also have the added assurance that the stone has already been evaluated for light performance. That takes a lot of the risk out of the purchase. I personally don't find colorless stones worth the premium. I can't see the difference between an E and a G unless they are upside down, side by side on a white background. You may be more color sensitive and able to appreciate the minute differences, only you can know that for sure. did you have the opportunity to view the AGS H next to another with higher color? Could you see the difference? I guess, if it were me, I would prefer the assurance of an AGS0 that I had viewed in person over the icy white GIA E that left me with lots of questions marks regarding the cut quality. But that's just one persons opinion. For me, GIA's Ex cut range is just too broad to purchase blindly, without additional images to confirm it's cut quality.