Please help me find a I or J SI2 above 2 carats

[yssie]

Oh no, Jon, you overwrote one of the best videos around!!! I can't believe I didn't save it...


Pink - good that you put the JA on hold, ditto DS have them confirm the stone is nice and clean and brilliant IRL. Re. the GOGs - from the pics and info I prefer the look of the J. Both are going to be amazing stones though - can't really go wrong with either! What did your GOG rep say?

 

[04diamond<3]

I feel like the J is brighter. I'd wait till you get the info from JA because if you can afford it, that'd be a HUGE stone! Not that you don't have huge options, but that one's bigger

 

[justginger]

I plan to talk to WF to see if they can source a stone for me. But don't want to be tied to them if I can find an amazing stone else where. In which case, but I can try selling my current stone on DB or loupetroop. I know it is hard to find a eye clean SI2 but hope wonderful PS'ers here can help me find one. I would like to spend around $16000 ideally.

Just wanted to mention that I may be interested in your current stone if you decide to upgrade through another vendor.

 

[pinkprashu]

I plan to talk to WF to see if they can source a stone for me. But don't want to be tied to them if I can find an amazing stone else where. In which case, but I can try selling my current stone on DB or loupetroop. I know it is hard to find a eye clean SI2 but hope wonderful PS'ers here can help me find one. I would like to spend around $16000 ideally.

Just wanted to mention that I may be interested in your current stone if you decide to upgrade through another vendor.

Well that's great to know. I loooooooooooove my current stone and was thinking may be I should keep both the current and the future stone because it would be tough to part with my current one. It is a fireball and have gotten a lot of compliments on it.

 

[pinkprashu]

Oh no, Jon, you overwrote one of the best videos around!!! I can't believe I didn't save it...


Pink - good that you put the JA on hold, ditto DS have them confirm the stone is nice and clean and brilliant IRL. Re. the GOGs - from the pics and info I prefer the look of the J. Both are going to be amazing stones though - can't really go wrong with either! What did your GOG rep say?

I just spoke to a rep at James Allen and they are going to get the idealscope image and hearts image for me as those are not up on the website. She thinks it is eye clean and will have Jim take a look at it and let me know.

I did not speak to Sarah after she sent the images but considering the price difference between them and I really can't see much difference between the two. I would go with the J SI2 as they appear to be of the same size and J color does not bother me as long as the diamond performs well.

But now I am in a dilemma because I am not sure if I should buy the 2.054 I SI1 from WF because of the upgrade policy or go with 2.2 J SI2
from GOG or buy the 2.6 J SI2 from JA. If I buy the 2.6 then I don't think I will ever upgrade that in my life as it is a huge diamond.

Really torn as the first and the last options are at the high end of my budget.

Any thoughts?

 

[04diamond<3]

Oh no, Jon, you overwrote one of the best videos around!!! I can't believe I didn't save it...


Pink - good that you put the JA on hold, ditto DS have them confirm the stone is nice and clean and brilliant IRL. Re. the GOGs - from the pics and info I prefer the look of the J. Both are going to be amazing stones though - can't really go wrong with either! What did your GOG rep say?

I just spoke to a rep at James Allen and they are going to get the idealscope image and hearts image for me as those are not up on the website. She thinks it is eye clean and will have Jim take a look at it and let me know.

I did not speak to Sarah after she sent the images but considering the price difference between them and I really can't see much difference between the two. I would go with the J SI2 as they appear to be of the same size and J color does not bother me as long as the diamond performs well.

But now I am in a dilemma because I am not sure if I should buy the 2.054 I SI1 from WF because of the upgrade policy or go with 2.2 J SI2
from GOG or buy the 2.6 J SI2 from JA. If I buy the 2.6 then I don't think I will ever upgrade that in my life as it is a huge diamond.

Really torn as the first and the last options are at the high end of my budget.

Any thoughts?

Well, JA also has an upgrade policy. What setting are you putting it in?

 

[yssie]

If the 2.6 is your "final" size then considering those options the JA jumps to the top of my list. Prices only go up and trade-ins are always better value for the vendor - plus you usually need a new setting unless you choose something very simple and easily adapted.

Where are you? Can you have the JA shipped out to inspect in-person? IMO that's vital for a larger SI2 - you need to see it yourself and confirm that it's what you're looking for.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

What year was your current diamond purchased? If it was before 2011, a trade-in is not going to benefit you because of the big price increases that year. You should be able to sell the current stone second hand and get back about what was paid for it. That way, you can be open to all stones.

My only hesitation about going with the JA stone is if you ever decide you aren't happy with J color or SI2 clarity, you'll be stuck because their trade-in policy doesn't compare to Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash. If you were going with a little higher color and clarity, I would maybe take the risk, but I could see these specs not being mind clean for you long term.

 

[pinkprashu]

If the 2.6 is your "final" size then considering those options the JA jumps to the top of my list. Prices only go up and trade-ins are always better value for the vendor - plus you usually need a new setting unless you choose something very simple and easily adapted.

Where are you? Can you have the JA shipped out to inspect in-person? IMO that's vital for a larger SI2 - you need to see it yourself and confirm that it's what you're looking for.

I live in northern virginia and don't see a lot of people here with diamonds over 2 ct in size so I am also a little bit worried that 2.6 may be too large and so I know I will not upgrade it.

I plan to have it shipped and make sure I like it first as it is an SI2. I am trying to follow in your footsteps Yssie . Your diamond is gorgeous for an SI2 and nobody would know it is an SI2 and am all about value as well.

 

[wsblue430]

That 2.6 JA stone is gorgeous and no, its not too big!

 

[pinkprashu]

What year was your current diamond purchased? If it was before 2011, a trade-in is not going to benefit you because of the big price increases that year. You should be able to sell the current stone second hand and get back about what was paid for it. That way, you can be open to all stones.

My only hesitation about going with the JA stone is if you ever decide you aren't happy with J color or SI2 clarity, you'll be stuck because their trade-in policy doesn't compare to Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash. If you were going with a little higher color and clarity, I would maybe take the risk, but I could see these specs not being mind clean for you long term.

I have upgraded my diamond in DEc 2010/Jan 2011 timeframe and I know prices went up after my upgrade. And that is why I plan to sell it myself so I can use other vendors.

I am very happy with my J SI1 stone and it does not bother me that it is a J( I am usually drawn to warmer colors anyway) or an SI1 and for me as long as the stone is beautiful and eye clean from 6 inches away with no black inclusions whatsoever, I am fine. But I respect the fact that you think I may have an issue with those specs in the future.

 

[04diamond<3]

If the 2.6 is your "final" size then considering those options the JA jumps to the top of my list. Prices only go up and trade-ins are always better value for the vendor - plus you usually need a new setting unless you choose something very simple and easily adapted.

Where are you? Can you have the JA shipped out to inspect in-person? IMO that's vital for a larger SI2 - you need to see it yourself and confirm that it's what you're looking for.

I live in northern virginia and don't see a lot of people here with diamonds over 2 ct in size so I am also a little bit worried that 2.6 may be too large and so I know I will not upgrade it.

I plan to have it shipped and make sure I like it first as it is an SI2. I am trying to follow in your footsteps Yssie . Your diamond is gorgeous for an SI2 and nobody would know it is an SI2 and am all about value as well.

Well, keep us updated! I think over time the 2.6 will start to look normal

 

[yssie]

Enjoy that baby loose, they shrink once they're set! On the plus side they look huge again when you unset them

Thank you!! I do love my stone I should be honest though, it's a bit of an odd one, it's actually not eyeclean loose but the main visible inclusion is prongable - which makes it a really fantastic deal. In theory. In practice, because of the size and high crown, jewellers have a really difficult time setting the dratted thing that way! Noone has managed it on the first attempt to date, some can't do it at all. If I was to do it again I'd drop colour and go up a bit in clarity just to avoid that hassle... 'course most people don't reset their stone a dozen times

I think having it shipped out is a very good idea. The feather is likely prong-able w/ a good bench - it'd be easier if it was under a bezel but can't have everything, right? - but you'd need to see how visible those under-table inclusions are IRL. Right now the camera's right in front of the stone and the inclusions are black and the facets underneath are black so everything blends really well, but IRL when the stone is slightly tilted and moving those facets are rarely going to be black like that..

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

That 2.6 JA stone is gorgeous and no, its not too big!

I agree! I hope you love it when you see it! It looks fantastic in the JA video.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If you could keep your current stone, it would make a great pendant to go with your ring, or it could be made into a three stone ring with sapphire or ruby sides (or diamonds, obviously)! So since you got it before the price increases, I would really hesitate to sell it if there is any way you can hold onto it!

I'll be interested to see how you like the size of the 2.6! I recently tried a 2.2 and it was too much of a jump for me (and yes, I am in the minority here)! I guess that is good for the bank account, but I wish I lived where larger stones were more common! The JA stone looks very clean for an SI2 as long as the clouds not shown aren't going to hurt light performance. I never saw the price, but if it was around $20k, then it sounds like a great deal, too!

 

[NWD]

Yssie, just a quick question - are you able to ID painting visually or do you look at the numbers? Apologies for popping in pinkprashu.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yssie, just a quick question - are you able to ID painting visually or do you look at the numbers? Apologies for popping in pinkprashu.

I am also curious about this because neither of these idealscope images look like painted stones to me. The old ones that WF was cutting for awhile had solid red idealscopes and these do not. I wasn't sure which one Yssie meant was painted! Not to mention Jonathan doesn't generally like painting, so I am pretty sure he wouldn't be carrying a stone that had it to any significant degree.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10282/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9940/

 

[yssie]

Yssie, just a quick question - are you able to ID painting visually or do you look at the numbers? Apologies for popping in pinkprashu.

I am also curious about this because neither of these idealscope images look like painted stones to me. The old ones that WF was cutting for awhile had solid red idealscopes and these do not. I wasn't sure which one Yssie meant was painted! Not to mention Jonathan doesn't generally like painting, so I am pretty sure he wouldn't be carrying a stone that had it to any significant degree.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10282/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9940/

I'm sure the 2.3 does (slightly - GIA didn't care) - not the 2.2 though. It's going to sound hokey but I looked at the pic and something really just didn't *look* quite right! The other pics seem to confirm - the IS is best I think since it's perfectly face-up and clearly even all the way around the stone - and then you can see in the still pic how those areas just seem to be... missing... vs. on the 2.2 where the girdle is clearly broken up w/ that on/off pattern of white/black all the way around. I wouldn't try to guess at how visible the effect would be IRL - thinking there's something odd about a macro pic and then having lots of info to confirm with is a pretty different scenario. But if Jon or OP wanted to send them to me to play with for a week or two - since, y'know, you really have to live with them to see the subtleties after all - I'd be more than happy to share my 2c

I saw an EightStar once and on that one it was unmistakeable (IRL) - it was very clear that there was *something* strange going on! It's too bad Jon's video was overwritten because I thought that showed off those different personalities very well

 

[yssie]

ETA Yup just looked at the scans too -

 

[Rhino]

Yssie, just a quick question - are you able to ID painting visually or do you look at the numbers? Apologies for popping in pinkprashu.

I am also curious about this because neither of these idealscope images look like painted stones to me. The old ones that WF was cutting for awhile had solid red idealscopes and these do not. I wasn't sure which one Yssie meant was painted! Not to mention Jonathan doesn't generally like painting, so I am pretty sure he wouldn't be carrying a stone that had it to any significant degree.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10282/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9940/

I'm sure the 2.3 does (slightly - GIA didn't care) - not the 2.2 though. It's going to sound hokey but I looked at the pic and something really just didn't *look* quite right! The other pics seem to confirm - the IS is best I think since it's perfectly face-up and clearly even all the way around the stone - and then you can see in the still pic how those areas just seem to be... missing... vs. on the 2.2 where the girdle is clearly broken up w/ that on/off pattern of white/black all the way around. I wouldn't try to guess at how visible the effect would be IRL - thinking there's something odd about a macro pic and then having lots of info to confirm with is a pretty different scenario. But if Jon or OP wanted to send them to me to play with for a week or two - since, y'know, you really have to live with them to see the subtleties after all - I'd be more than happy to share my 2c

I saw an EightStar once and on that one it was unmistakeable (IRL) - it was very clear that there was *something* strange going on! It's too bad Jon's video was overwritten because I thought that showed off those different personalities very well

Greetings. For clarification/education the diamond you are referencing Yssie has -1.93 degree painting (you can see in the Helium Report) which is so slight it would not be dinged in either GIA or AGS's cut grading systems. In fact it is so slight that neither would it make any visual difference between the 2 diamonds. Both are perfectly fine and pretty darn good SI2's if I say so myself. For the record there does exist tolerances within each of GIA & AGS' cut grading systems in which you can see a visual difference with regards to painting.

Yssie... which video was overwritten? I do in fact have a video demonstrating these visual differences.

 

[yssie]

that neither would it make any visual difference between the 2 diamonds

Good to know


Edit - the one you made for these two:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8892/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8399/

 

[pinkprashu]

If you could keep your current stone, it would make a great pendant to go with your ring, or it could be made into a three stone ring with sapphire or ruby sides (or diamonds, obviously)! So since you got it before the price increases, I would really hesitate to sell it if there is any way you can hold onto it!

I'll be interested to see how you like the size of the 2.6! I recently tried a 2.2 and it was too much of a jump for me (and yes, I am in the minority here)! I guess that is good for the bank account, but I wish I lived where larger stones were more common! The JA stone looks very clean for an SI2 as long as the clouds not shown aren't going to hurt light performance. I never saw the price, but if it was around $20k, then it sounds like a great deal, too!

I got the feedback from David at GOG on the 2 stones I am considering. I asked them how eye clean they are when looking at them from 2 inches away -

"The 2.20 J SI2 is eye clean arms length distance, unfortunately when I start to bring it closer (two inches) it does become visible. the main reason this stone’s clarity is an SI2 is because of the black crystal underneath the table. Personally it doesn’t bother me but it always depends on each person’s eye sensitivity. Overall it IS visible when you bring it close enough, but it definitely does not stick out.

The 2.30 I SI2 is the cleaner of the two SI2’s here. First off the inclusions that make up this diamonds clarity are white which is a plus. The main inclusion in this stone is the thin feather off to the side, which can be covered by a prong and it almost looks as if it is a line separating a facet so it almost blends it. Out of the two clarities this is the winner for me."

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, I like that 2.3 I stone a lot but I guess it all depends on whether you want the larger size of the 2.6 versus the better color and lifetime trade-in policies of the one at GOG. You have some great choices!

 

[pinkprashu]

Well, I like that 2.3 I stone a lot but I guess it all depends on whether you want the larger size of the 2.6 versus the better color and lifetime trade-in policies of the one at GOG. You have some great choices!

Do you think I can use my existing setting and change the head to accomodate a larger diamond? if so, should I have whiteflash do it? or can any jeweler do it?

 

[yssie]

Well, I like that 2.3 I stone a lot but I guess it all depends on whether you want the larger size of the 2.6 versus the better color and lifetime trade-in policies of the one at GOG. You have some great choices!

Do you think I can use my existing setting and change the head to accomodate a larger diamond? if so, should I have whiteflash do it? or can any jeweler do it?

I actually do think they can probably just replace the head on your setting, but call WF and confirm before buying a stone you may also want to ask if there'll be an outside setting fee or anything like that. I'd definitely have WF do it unless you already have a local bench you really trust to do the job properly!

 

[pinkprashu]

Well, I like that 2.3 I stone a lot but I guess it all depends on whether you want the larger size of the 2.6 versus the better color and lifetime trade-in policies of the one at GOG. You have some great choices!

Do you think I can use my existing setting and change the head to accomodate a larger diamond? if so, should I have whiteflash do it? or can any jeweler do it?

I actually do think they can probably just replace the head on your setting, but call WF and confirm before buying a stone you may also want to ask if there'll be an outside setting fee or anything like that. I'd definitely have WF do it unless you already have a local bench you really trust to do the job properly!

So I finally have the idealscope, ASET and hearts images of the J SI2. Here is the picture of the actual diamond

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-...-J-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-178022

Here they go... Let me know what you think of these.....I got these from IDJ and not James Allen.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hmmm, I will be interested to see what Yssie says. My current diamond has one spot with white with no visible effect, but this one almost has the whole ring with some leakage. I think the Good Old Gold stone is better, personally.

Just out of curiosity, why did IDJ provide you with the images?

 

[04diamond<3]

I like it!!! I still think that you'd be happier with the size of the 2.6, and it's clean, and the aset and idealscope looks great!

 

[pinkprashu]

Hmmm, I will be interested to see what Yssie says. My current diamond has one spot with white with no visible effect, but this one almost has the whole ring with some leakage. I think the Good Old Gold stone is better, personally.

Just out of curiosity, why did IDJ provide you with the images?

So I called IDJ on monday morning to see if they can find me something in the same price range. I have made some small purchases with them but never anything big but I spoke to luann and yekutiel many times so it was a comfort thing for me. I told them I was considering other diamonds and was particularly interested in a diamond and yekutiel said that the same diamond was in his inventory as well and knew the supplier very well. I released the hold on that diamond so that yekutiel can get it for me from the supplier and let me know his opinion. He said that the diamond is a fireball and eye clean and the main inclusion a feather is not breaking the surface and can be pronged. He said that it is very rare to find SI2's that are like this diamond.

 

[04diamond<3]

Hmmm, I will be interested to see what Yssie says. My current diamond has one spot with white with no visible effect, but this one almost has the whole ring with some leakage. I think the Good Old Gold stone is better, personally.

Just out of curiosity, why did IDJ provide you with the images?

So I called IDJ on monday morning to see if they can find me something in the same price range. I have made some small purchases with them but never anything big but I spoke to luann and yekutiel many times so it was a comfort thing for me. I told them I was considering other diamonds and was particularly interested in a diamond and yekutiel said that the same diamond was in his inventory as well and knew the supplier very well. I released the hold on that diamond so that yekutiel can get it for me from the supplier and let me know his opinion. He said that the diamond is a fireball and eye clean and the main inclusion a feather is not breaking the surface and can be pronged. He said that it is very rare to find SI2's that are like this diamond.

Sounds like a winner!!!