PS experts, would you get this JA TrueHeart I or WF ACA J?

[mochi89]

Hi everyone,

Hoping I'm not breaking any rules by posting a new thread, but I couldn't figure out how to modify my first post. I've narrowed my search for a 2 carat, I-J color, SI1-VS2 diamond down to these 4, but are really trying to choose between #1 and #3 as they are basically the same price, despite being 1 color grade apart! I think I am leaning toward the first one but would love to hear what you all think.

#1: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3824114
#2: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-j-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2871971
#3: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3824310.htm
#4: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3932391.htm


On the JA J, it's a VS2 but the incision is right under the table and black. Based on prior feedback I'm not too keen on this one.

I heard fluorescence will make diamonds in this color grade appear whiter, but can cause haziness sometimes. I don't see any haziness in the JA I SI1 but I'm also not too sure what to look for. It looks eye clean when I take the magnification down to ~5x. I can't really tell if it's whiter or warmer compared to the WF I.

WF pictures:


They did say the 2.267 J was a "slightly warmer J", and SI1 diamonds of this size are almost never completely eye clean from all angles/distances. To me I don't see much of a difference between the J and the I on the left, but the J looks markedly more yellow compared to the I on the right. But the 2.126 I does appear noticeably smaller next to the J. I don't like the 2.22 on the left based on these pictures.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[EvaEvans]

I like most #2
It has my favorite proportions with the most clean inclusion's plot. The crystal inclusion that you see on video is most probably invisible when seeing with your eyes. I think that this diamond is eye clean. Also, the Medium blue fluorescence will make this diamond whiter in color.

 

[LLJsmom]

Whiteflash because
1. Both AGS and only 1 color grade difference
2. Whiteflash upgrade policy - inbeatable.
3. Prefer WF inclusion and assuming it’s eye clean. Is it per WF?

 

[AprilBaby]

Ditto

 

[PintoBean]

Let's talk long game. Is this your forever stone, or do you anticipate upgrading over time in color, carat, clarity, etc? Your answer helps us steer you to the appropriate vendors.

 

[mochi89]

Thanks everyone!

@EvaEvans- hmm maybe I shouldn't write this one off just yet. When I take it down to ~5x it is hard to see the black dot unless I specifically look for it., but I can see it when I look for it. I have both on hold and am going to see both in person at their NYC showroom anyway so I guess I will know whether it's eye clean enough when I see it.

@LLJsmom- the WF sales associate is the one who told me all 3 (in the photo) are eye clean from the top view @10 inches, but I would be able to see incisions from the side and/or if I look closer. She said it's very difficult to find an SI1 at this size that would be 100% clean from all angles and distances. She's also the one that told me the J is more warm than my current J, and I trust her judgment.

@PintoBean- I'm not planning on upgrading further beyond this. I had initially started with a $10-15k budget, sure I wanted Tiffany's only, which meant only 1.1-1.2 carat. After doing some research and actually learning about the 4Cs, discovering PS, HCA, etc., I bought this beautiful 1.5 carat ACA from WF which I got a few days ago and is amazingly white:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936410.htm

Since I placed the order with WF ~1 month ago I got a pleasant surprise at work which brought my budget comfortably up to ~20k, so I figured why wait. 2 carats had always been my dream, I don't see myself going any bigger since I'm only a size 4.75 finger. As I looked toward 2 carat stones I started with WF options, but the only 2 carat J they have my sales associate has told me is warmer than my current J and not eye clean from the side. I then started looking at other options to see what I could get for the same price which is how I found the 2 JA ones. And while my experience with WF so far has been absolutely awesome being able to go up 1 color grade for essentially the same price is very very tempting.

WF does have the setting I want tho which is the 1.65mm super thin Ritani solitaire, but JA says they can look into whether they can customize their 2mm solitaire down to a thinner width.

There's so many choices it's kind of paralyzing - now I know why my husband just decided to leave it 100% in my hands!

 

[PintoBean]

Thanks everyone!

@EvaEvans- hmm maybe I shouldn't write this one off just yet. When I take it down to ~5x it is hard to see the black dot unless I specifically look for it., but I can see it when I look for it. I have both on hold and am going to see both in person at their NYC showroom anyway so I guess I will know whether it's eye clean enough when I see it.

@LLJsmom- the WF sales associate is the one who told me all 3 (in the photo) are eye clean from the top view @10 inches, but I would be able to see incisions from the side and/or if I look closer. She said it's very difficult to find an SI1 at this size that would be 100% clean from all angles and distances. She's also the one that told me the J is more warm than my current J, and I trust her judgment.

@PintoBean- I'm not planning on upgrading further beyond this. I had initially started with a $10-15k budget, sure I wanted Tiffany's only, which meant only 1.1-1.2 carat. After doing some research and actually learning about the 4Cs, discovering PS, HCA, etc., I bought this beautiful 1.5 carat ACA from WF which I got a few days ago and is amazingly white:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936410.htm

Since I placed the order with WF ~1 month ago I got a pleasant surprise at work which brought my budget comfortably up to ~20k, so I figured why wait. 2 carats had always been my dream, I don't see myself going any bigger since I'm only a size 4.75 finger. As I looked toward 2 carat stones I started with WF options, but the only 2 carat J they have my sales associate has told me is warmer than my current J and not eye clean from the side. I then started looking at other options to see what I could get for the same price which is how I found the 2 JA ones. And while my experience with WF so far has been absolutely awesome being able to go up 1 color grade for essentially the same price is very very tempting.

WF does have the setting I want tho which is the 1.65mm super thin Ritani solitaire, but JA says they can look into whether they can customize their 2mm solitaire down to a thinner width.

There's so many choices it's kind of paralyzing - now I know why my husband just decided to leave it 100% in my hands!

Stick with Whiteflash. It sounds like the rep you are working with is listening to you and working with your best interest in mind. I'm glad they told you that the J is warmer than your current J.

If this were my forever stone, I think I'd look at I's and high J's and get the biggest I can. I'd go for a smaller I for from WF. But that's just me. I'm excited to see what you end up with. It will be beautiful!!!!

 

[LLJsmom]

Leaving yourself with options open is so important in my book. Thus I would go with WF. Seeing inclusions from the side is not that uncommon. Good luck.

 

[mochi89]

So Pinto and LLJsmoms, between the WF options, which do you think is better?

 

[ringo865]

Going with whiteflash you will get 100% of your diamond's value (what you paid) toward the new stone. How will that work if you buy a stone from JA?

I would stay with Whiteflash too, because once you've had an ACA, even a "true hearts" is going to look different. MmAnd while you might never wish to upgrade size, you may wish to upgrade color and/or clarity. With whiteflash, you will only have to spend "more," but with JA you will still have to spend twice as much .

 

[mochi89]

@ringo865 - I only got my ACA last week so still within the return period.

I am leaning more toward WF now tho after everyone's feedback. There's also the fact they have the exact setting I want. My current ACA J looks super white to me (not very color sensitive) so maybe even tho the 2.267 J is "slightly warmer" it won't bother me... but then the 2.126 I does look much whiter ahh what to do. I suppose I could buy the WF J and if it bothers me upgrade to the I! I'm a sucker for size/value over color.

How does the WF process work with tiny incremental upgrades? i.e. what if I buy the 2.267 J and just wait for a higher/whiter 2 carat J to come along? I assume I will have to pay for return insured shipping, is there also a fee to reset the stone? If I make tiny incremental size upgrades would I have to pay for a new setting?

Thanks again for everyone's help so far

 

[EvaEvans]

@mochi89, The most important is the diamond that you will like and ware for a long time, so chose by diamond, not by company, in my opinion!

 

[ajunes16]

Hi mochi89! I Initially owned a 1.5ct J SI1 hearts on fire diamond. Just like you, I dreamed of owning a 2 carat diamond, but it was impossible and too expensive to upgrade with HOF. I traded my 1.5 HOF for an ACA 1.8 J VS2, and eventually upgraded that to a 2.3 J VS2 ACA. I thought this would be my forever stone but the "tint" on this J was much more noticeable along with DSS sinking in, I ended up upgrading again to a 2.97 I VS1. I'm glad I chose Whiteflash and their upgrade policy is unbeatable and dangerous at the same time. I can totally see myself upgrading again in the future.

 

[LLJsmom]

The upgrade details are in the website. If you upgrade is big enough that you need a bigger setting I seems to make Sense that you would have to pay for it. Talk to WF and ask them directly. I have never upgraded through them. And I am assuming you wouldn’t upgrade by tiny buts but keep your eye out for a stone that is meets all your criteria. I would wear any new stone for a while and get to know it and then figure out what you want on the next one.

 

[Snowdrop13]

Just out of interest- why don’t you like the 2.22 I?