shape
carat
color
clarity

Round Cut Diamond

Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
Hi Everyone!

New to the forum and have been overwhelmed with all the great information this site has to offer. I plan on popping the question in 2020 to my GF but have a few questions about the diamond buying process. After some sly conversations, I know she's looking for at least a 2 carat round diamond in a gold solitaire setting

I've read and read and read and think when I'm searching I should be looking at the following info:
  • Carat: > 2
  • Color: >H
  • Clarity: > SI1
  • Cut: Excellent / Ideal
  • Florence: Min / None
What are your thoughts on that? Is there items I need to "tighten up" or "be flexible on"?

More Questions:
  • Is there any additional value of Blue Niles "Astro Ideal" or James Allen's "True Hearts" Cuts? Or are these just a marketing trick to spend more?
  • How do I get the most bang for my buck?
  • Has anyone used the Diamond Screener? Is it worth it?
  • My budget is ~$20-$25K, is that enough or do I need to save more?
  • Any other tips?
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,031
I suggest using the PS diamond search tool and only considering stones that score "excellent" on the HCA. I would be flexible about fluor, since there really isn't any evidence of fluor having negative effects on stones. No reason to limit yourself to only stones without it.

Cut is by far the most important thing, so don't compromise on it. JA "true hearts" are sometimes nice and other times overpriced. I would choose a stone from Whiteflash or high performance diamonds or Brian Gavin before going with true hearts (because the upgrade policies and overall customer service is better from those vendors than from JA). I'll look around and see if I can find anything!
 

Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
Thank you so much for the information! I read that Fluorescence gave the diamond a cloudy look so that's why I had made it "Min / None".

I'm willing to go higher on the size, as long it has the bling. I always wondered that because it's going to be set in a gold ring, that if I could be flexible on the color...any experience?

Oh and on the HCA page, it says confirm with Ideal-scope, ASET scope or send to an appraiser. Being that I'll be buying only (for cost reasons), any idea how to get this done?

I suggest using the PS diamond search tool and only considering stones that score "excellent" on the HCA. I would be flexible about fluor, since there really isn't any evidence of fluor having negative effects on stones. No reason to limit yourself to only stones without it.

Cut is by far the most important thing, so don't compromise on it. JA "true hearts" are sometimes nice and other times overpriced. I would choose a stone from Whiteflash or high performance diamonds or Brian Gavin before going with true hearts (because the upgrade policies and overall customer service is better from those vendors than from JA). I'll look around and see if I can find anything!
 
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the_mother_thing

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Mar 2, 2013
Messages
6,306
To add to @lovedogs note regarding JA & BN ‘branded’ cuts, the difference between them and HPD/WF/BGD branded cuts - as I understand it - is that the latter have very specific criteria & proprietary processes & cutters for their diamonds and they own the inventory; BN & JA - to my knowledge - simply put their ‘brand’ label on any diamond they have access to (e.g. virtual inventory available to multiple dealers) if it happens to meet whatever their parameters are (I don’t believe they publish them).
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,031
Thank you so much for the information! I read that Fluorescence gave the diamond a cloudy look so that's why I had made it "Min / None".

I'm willing to go higher on the size, as long it has the bling. I always wondered that because it's going to be set in a gold ring, that if I could be flexible on the color...any experience?

Oh and on the HCA page, it says confirm with Ideal-scope, ASET scope or send to an appraiser. Being that I'll be buying only (for cost reasons), any idea how to get this done?
Ideal vendors provide ASET images. And it's definitely wrong the fluor gives diamonds a cloudy look. It's just inaccurate. Yes, you could be flexible on color depending on your GF's preferences. Down to H/I, but it depends on her.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,031
Here are some outstanding options from a super ideal vendor that has a $1 upgrade policy and outstanding customer service. ASET/IS images are included, and no need to check the HCA because it's an AGS 000.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4104629.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962086.htm

Different company but equally outstanding upgrade policy and customer service:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10451
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD10704

Less great of an upgrade policy, but another super ideal vendor. They will provide ASET/IS images upon request:
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.137-i-vs2-round-diamond-bfg-785915
 

OoohShiny

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 25, 2014
Messages
8,228
Fluor may only be a problem in Strong and Very Strong fluor stones, and even then, there are not many with issues.

The anti-fluor position of many jewelers is one based on myth - years ago, stones with fluor traded at a premium, then Tiffany (IIRC?) decided to not sell them and everyone else followed suit. :rolleyes:

(I think that's correct, anyway!)
 

Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
Here are some outstanding options from a super ideal vendor that has a $1 upgrade policy and outstanding customer service. ASET/IS images are included, and no need to check the HCA because it's an AGS 000.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4104629.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962086.htm

I really enjoyed these ones but when I posted originally, I wasn’t ready to pull the trigger. And unfortunately these were sold. Would you have other suggestions?

budget is still 20-25k, with an emphasis on size and ‘bling’.

I also originally had looked at the fecility setting but found out it was too thin! for someone reason, it looks like Blue Nile has abetter selection on settings
 

diamondsR4eVR

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Messages
993
GL! With that budget you should find nice finger real estate and a beautiful stone! Now the fun part begins...
 

Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
GL! With that budget you should find nice finger real estate and a beautiful stone! Now the fun part begins...


Thank you! It's just tough to navigate find a nice stone and diamond...there's a lot of noise out there some have said WF / HP are way too expensive and i should ignore the entire certification gig while others live by them.
 

diamondsR4eVR

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Messages
993
I’ve purchased from WF and BN. I liked both items but my WF purchase has been my favorite. I hear a lot
of wonderful things from HPD. Pull the trigger on something that has a good return policy? I’m old school and love looking at stones in person, but I can definitely understand the lure of online buying. Plus it’s cheaper in a lot of cases.

My stone has SF and I don’t regret it one bit. I was driving myself crazy bc of the SF prior to receiving the ring and large in part due to some of the negative reviews. It turns out-it’s a non issue in a lot of cases and that’s why I’ve said in my threads, look at all stones including the floro ones. Even ones with SF. I have better pics in my threads, but I just snapped this pic of my stone with SF. No cloudiness or milkiness. None whatsoever. Sometimes what you do get, when the sun is bright, is a beautiful (to me anyway), a light blue hue. This pic does not do the stone justice 2EB202CD-33EE-4015-ABAA-5A3FD1A08982.jpeg
 
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Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
I’ve purchased from WF and BN. I liked both items but my WF purchase has been my favorite. I hear a lot
of wonderful things from HPD. Pull the trigger on something that has a good return policy? I’m old school and love looking at stones in person, but I can definitely understand the lure of online buying. Plus it’s cheaper in a lot of cases.

My stone has SF and I don’t regret it one bit. I was driving myself crazy bc of the SF prior to receiving the ring and large in part due to some of the negative reviews. It turns out-it’s a non issue in a lot of cases and that’s why I’ve said in my threads, look at all stones including the floro ones. Even ones with SF. I have better pics in my threads, but I just snapped this pic of my stone with SF. No cloudiness or milkiness. None whatsoever. Sometimes what you do get, when the sun is bright, is a beautiful (to me anyway), a light blue hue. This pic does not do the stone justice 2EB202CD-33EE-4015-ABAA-5A3FD1A08982.jpeg

That's an awesome ring and that setting is beautiful! My GF shares the same taste as you.

Do you mind if i ask where you got that setting?
 

diamondsR4eVR

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Messages
993
That's an awesome ring and that setting is beautiful! My GF shares the same taste as you.

Do you mind if i ask where you got that setting?
We purchased it in person-B&M store. But it’s a classic 4 prong platinum band that you can find anywhere. The only thing for you is- does she prefer 4 or 6 prong- if you go the solitaire route. Also, I asked for tiny claws. I’m a sucker for claw prongs. My personal fav.
 

Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
The only thing for you is- does she prefer 4 or 6 prong- if you go the solitaire route.


I've never asked her directly but my feeling is 4 because of her exact statement of "I want to see more diamond than anything else"
 

diamondsR4eVR

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Messages
993
I've never asked her directly but my feeling is 4 because of her exact statement of "I want to see more diamond than anything else"

Her taste does sound very similar to mine. For e.g., I was also torn with tapered baguettes as side stones, but the metal holding the baguettes bothered me. Too much metal for my taste. Mind you, it was so subtle and most people would not even notice. Including my fiancé who was like, what are you talking about? It’s so thin. Still bothered me. Thankfully, he loves a solitaire like I do and he picked this setting for me.
 

diamondsR4eVR

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Messages
993
Also, keep in minds 4 prong can make a RB look squareish. To me it’s so very subtle that it’s insignificant. Plus a stone is more secure with 6.
 

OoohShiny

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 25, 2014
Messages
8,228
You've got 31 AGS000 stones in the Search tool at the moment with parameters in line with average PS-recommendations that will get you close to the SuperIdeal parameters:

and 339 GIA XXX within the same parameters:

You will see I've stretched the budget to $26k (to account for potential Wire discounts) and the colour down to I, in case any jump out at you.
 

Hiker923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Messages
13
You've got 31 AGS000 stones in the Search tool at the moment with parameters in line with average PS-recommendations that will get you close to the SuperIdeal parameters:

and 339 GIA XXX within the same parameters:

You will see I've stretched the budget to $26k (to account for potential Wire discounts) and the colour down to I, in case any jump out at you.


I finally started playing around with that / discovered it...but it's awesome. I'm also glad the HCA info is free for the time being. And if I understand it correctly, the closer Cut Advisor Score to 0 the better the diamond

Currently I'm looking at these (they seem to achieve the size and bling I'm looking for (unless i missed something)

  1. Option 1 https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4168534.htm?source=pricescope
  2. Option 2 https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4165279.htm?source=pricescope
  3. Option 3: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4202471.htm?source=pricescope
  4. Option 4: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4000702.htm?source=pricescope
 

Dancing Fire

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
33,852
I finally started playing around with that / discovered it...but it's awesome. I'm also glad the HCA info is free for the time being. And if I understand it correctly, the closer Cut Advisor Score to 0 the better the diamond

Currently I'm looking at these (they seem to achieve the size and bling I'm looking for (unless i missed something)


  1. Option 4: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4000702.htm?source=pricescope
I like #4. I'm a sucker for small table % on a high crown. :love:
 

ringo865

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 14, 2014
Messages
2,897
Stones with HCA equal to or under 2 are worthy of deeper investigative tools (imaging, etc).

Whiteflash ACAs do not need to be run thru HCA because AGS has already done a light performance test on them and ACAs are precision cut, so they trump the HCA tool (which is a rejection tool, not a selection tool)
 

Dancing Fire

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
33,852
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