Please review these two diamonds for me.

[erocker]

Between these two diamonds, which would most likely be an overall better more brilliant diamond? This will be for an engagement ring.

Do either of these have any areas for concern? Thoughts?

These are from Blue Nile so I can't request an image to view them.

1.25 G VS1 (Canadian Diamond)
$12,029
HCA 1.3
GIA: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-cert-viewer?cert_pid=LD02387036

1.31 G VS1 (H&A Diamond)
$12,368
HCA 1.4
GIA: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-cert-viewer?cert_pid=LD02365498

 

[diamondseeker2006]

They are both likely to be beautiful stones! G VS1 is my personal favorite, so I can honestly say that I'd buy either. Even though they are close to the same size, I think I would go for the 1.3 since the price difference is small.

 

[Ravinmad]

Those are both nice stones, but I hope you dont mind I went and dug up diamonds that have actual pictures and certs, idealscopes, etc....

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1426072.asp

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2424951.htm

this is only 1.2ct G vs1 but it comes in under budget!

 

[erocker]

They are both likely to be beautiful stones! G VS1 is my personal favorite, so I can honestly say that I'd buy either. Even though they are close to the same size, I think I would go for the 1.3 since the price difference is small.

Diamondseeker,

I agree that the price difference is negligible so choosing the larger is an easy choice. My hesitation with this larger stone is that the inclusions shown on the GIA certificate looks like they are all over the place and include a feather. Did you have an opportunity to view both certificates? Would your choice of the large stone be swayed based on the type of inclusions it has vs. the smaller stone?

Also do the measurements of both look good? The smaller stone looked a tad on the light side for being a 1.25.

 

[erocker]

Those are both nice stones, but I hope you dont mind I went and dug up diamonds that have actual pictures and certs, idealscopes, etc....

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1426072.asp

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2424951.htm

this is only 1.2ct G vs1 but it comes in under budget!

I appreciate you looking at those other options.

I am hesitant because the 1.206 Whiteflash's HCA score is 2.2 and the James Allen 1.30 HCA score is a 3.5. I want to stay under 2.0 as I understand there is a greater likelihood of the diamonds' brightness and brilliance.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

They are both likely to be beautiful stones! G VS1 is my personal favorite, so I can honestly say that I'd buy either. Even though they are close to the same size, I think I would go for the 1.3 since the price difference is small.

Diamondseeker,

I agree that the price difference is negligible so choosing the larger is an easy choice. My hesitation with this larger stone is that the inclusions shown on the GIA certificate looks like they are all over the place and include a feather. Did you have an opportunity to view both certificates? Would your choice of the large stone be swayed based on the type of inclusions it has vs. the smaller stone?

Also do the measurements of both look good? The smaller stone looked a tad on the light side for being a 1.25.

The great thing about VS1 is that the inclusions are almost invisible with a 10x loupe! You really don't have to worry about VS1 and up! I am picky about clarity, too, and if these were VS2 or SI1, I wouldn't recommend ordering them without magnified images and a vendor who would examine them for you. You should be fine with either of these. (The diamond in my picture is a G VS1 and it is extremely hard to spot an inclusion with a loupe. With the eyes, you definitely will not see anything.)

 

[erocker]

They are both likely to be beautiful stones! G VS1 is my personal favorite, so I can honestly say that I'd buy either. Even though they are close to the same size, I think I would go for the 1.3 since the price difference is small.

Diamondseeker,

I agree that the price difference is negligible so choosing the larger is an easy choice. My hesitation with this larger stone is that the inclusions shown on the GIA certificate looks like they are all over the place and include a feather. Did you have an opportunity to view both certificates? Would your choice of the large stone be swayed based on the type of inclusions it has vs. the smaller stone?

Also do the measurements of both look good? The smaller stone looked a tad on the light side for being a 1.25.

The great thing about VS1 is that the inclusions are almost invisible with a 10x loupe! You really don't have to worry about VS1 and up! I am picky about clarity, too, and if these were VS2 or SI1, I wouldn't recommend ordering them without magnified images and a vendor who would examine them for you. You should be fine with either of these. (The diamond in my picture is a G VS1 and it is extremely hard to spot an inclusion with a loupe. With the eyes, you definitely will not see anything.)

Not to harp too much on this, but should't I be concerned about the feather even on a VS1?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

No, it has to be a very, very tiny one on a VS1. You don't need to worry about feathers until you get to SI range and even then, they usually aren't a problem. I did return a stone one time that was VS2 and had a lot of tiny feathers because I prefer a cleaner stone. But VS1's are very clean. VS1 is my real comfort zone because you don't have to worry about the inclusions and you don't have to pay the price jump up to VVS.

 

[erocker]

Lastly,

While the 1.31 diamond had an HCA score of 1.4, two of the factors returned a grade of Very Good not Excellent.

Thoughts?

Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Very Good
Spread Very Good

 

[slg47]

Lastly,

While the 1.31 diamond had an HCA score of 1.4, two of the factors returned a grade of Very Good not Excellent.

Thoughts?

Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Very Good
Spread Very Good

I would not put too much stock in the individual factor grades. Remember the HCA is a rejection tool not a selection tool, and idealscope images give more information than HCA.

 

[erocker]

Lastly,

While the 1.31 diamond had an HCA score of 1.4, two of the factors returned a grade of Very Good not Excellent.

Thoughts?

Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Very Good
Spread Very Good

I would not put too much stock in the individual factor grades. Remember the HCA is a rejection tool not a selection tool, and idealscope images give more information than HCA.

Very true! Since I am purchasing from BlueNile.com and can't actually see either diamond I have to use other methods to guestimate which is more likely to be brilliant. How would you suggest? Even the fact that the 1.31 diamond is inscribed H&A, it doesn't certify it is.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Both diamonds should be excellent by the numbers. If you want to buy from Blue Nile, these are two great choices! I would choose the 1.3, personally. It may or may not be true H&A, but it may be close. (I wouldn't choose the other two because the WF stone is smaller than the two you chose and I don't like the pavilion angle on the one from JA.)

 

[erocker]

Both diamonds should be excellent by the numbers. If you want to buy from Blue Nile, these are two great choices! I would choose the 1.3, personally. It may or may not be true H&A, but it may be close. (I wouldn't choose the other two because the WF stone is smaller than the two you chose and I don't like the pavilion angle on the one from JA.)

Thanks for your help on this... I went with the 1.31.

 

[erocker]

So I am still waiting for my order to be processed at Blue Nile and now found another diamond that looks promising I still have time to make a change.

Which diamond is likely to be the most brilliant or perfect (if any diamond can be) out of the two. The price difference is $162. I am not trying to just go for size... rather better quality.

Original Diamond
GIA Report: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-cert-viewer?cert_pid=LD02365498&cert_num=1&cert_zoom=false
Price: $11,955
Carat weight: 1.31
H&A Inscription
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Depth %: 61.7%
Table %: 55%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.07 x 7.02 x 4.35 mm

HCA Score: 1.4
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Very Good
Spread Very Good

Other Diamond
GIA Report: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-cert-viewer?cert_pid=LD02402790&cert_num=1&cert_zoom=false
Price: $12,117
Carat weight: 1.39
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Depth %: 61.8%
Table %: 57%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.16 x 7.19 x 4.43 mm

HCA Score: 1.9
Light Return Excellent
Fire Very Good
Scintillation Very Good
Spread Very Good