S!2 Clarity, be honest with me please!

[butterfly 17]

Hello, I found a very lovely diamond that I am thinking of getting.

It scores a 1.5 on the HCA with EX, EX, VG, VG.

It is not a H&A diamond, but it does show arrows and I am pretty happy with the stone.

The problem is that it is an SI2. The GIA plot shows that it has three twinning wisps and I was told that it is definitely eyeclean, but the pictures that where sent to me make me question whether it is.

I originally thought of getting a higher clarity, smaller stone, but most of the ones I inquired about had been sold or were no longer available.

Please let me know what you think as I need to decide this as soon as possible. Thanks.

 

[butterfly 17]

Here is the GIA Cert.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think if you are in doubt, don''t do it. If you love it, then order it and see if you can live with the inclusions. Can you attach the picture for us to see?

 

[butterfly 17]

The IS image. I can see the the twinning wisp in this one.

 

[butterfly 17]

The close up. What do you think.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''m the wrong one to answer because I wouldn''t buy an SI2 because I am clarity sensitive. But it looks pretty good to me. I''d want to know if there are any possible durability issues, though.

 

[Ellen]

It''s obviously not a super dooper louper, but it would be a pretty diamond. And if they told you it was eyeclean, you can believe them.

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:13:49 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I''m the wrong one to answer because I wouldn''t buy an SI2 because I am clarity sensitive. But it looks pretty good to me. I''d want to know if there are any possible durability issues, though.

I know, that''s my problem. I was told that there were no durability issues with the stone, but I am just clarity sensitive like hell. The clarity plot on my current diamond is so clean, a tiny pinpoint, but I could actually find it.

Still, I like this stone so much better than the other stone that I had in mind. But being completely honest with me, do the inclusions look that bad? I need to decide as soon as possible.

thanks.

 

[Lynn B]

I am not clarity sensitive, although I do insist on totally eye-clean, even at close scrutiny. That looks like a great SI2 to me (and one I would buy in a heartbeat)... but if you think you will have "mind clean" issues, then maybe you should pass?

Or, risk the return shipping costs and buy it and see what you think of it in person? You might be surprised!

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:16:21 PM
Author: Ellen
It''s obviously not a super dooper louper, but it would be a pretty diamond. And if they told you it was eyeclean, you can believe them.

Thanks Ellen. That''s the thing, I am going to go from a super dooper louper, ie: one of the original cut ACA''s, to this stone, not a true H&A, but with decent arrows and ex. polish, symmetry, and cut.

But quite honestly, to get what I really want would cost me about $60K, if not more, in the same size of this stone, but color and clarity as my original, so no, I don''t want to go there, lol.

And pickings are so slim. I found two a few months ago and one sold in less than a week of me posting about it and the other sold a few weeks later.

Hmm, should I just wait to see if anything pops up?

I can ultimately say I would be happy with the stone as long as it is truly eyeclean.

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:31:39 PM
Author: Lynn B
I am not clarity sensitive, although I do insist on totally eye-clean, even at close scrutiny. That looks like a great SI2 to me (and one I would buy in a heartbeat)... but if you think you will have ''mind clean'' issues, then maybe you should pass?

Or, risk the return shipping costs and buy it and see what you think of it in person? You might be surprised!

Lynn B,

You are actually my inspiration to get an SI2 stone and I was praying that I would find one just like yours, with twinning wisps, and now I have found one, yet I am undecided.

The good thing about this stone is that it is $2K less than what my budget allowed, not that I have a ginormous budget, but I feel better knowing that I found a stone within my price range.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:31:51 PM
Author: butterfly 17

Date: 4/3/2008 6:16:21 PM
Author: Ellen
It''s obviously not a super dooper louper, but it would be a pretty diamond. And if they told you it was eyeclean, you can believe them.

Thanks Ellen. That''s the thing, I am going to go from a super dooper louper, ie: one of the original cut ACA''s, to this stone, not a true H&A, but with decent arrows and ex. polish, symmetry, and cut.

But quite honestly, to get what I really want would cost me about $60K, if not more, in the same size of this stone, but color and clarity as my original, so no, I don''t want to go there, lol.

And pickings are so slim. I found two a few months ago and one sold in less than a week of me posting about it and the other sold a few weeks later.

Hmm, should I just wait to see if anything pops up?

I can ultimately say I would be happy with the stone as long as it is truly eyeclean.

Then I would say, if you haven''t already, call and make sure again. By eagle eyes, verifying that it''s eyeclean, totally. They are pretty picky when checking, but it won''t hurt to double check.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:31:39 PM
Author: Lynn B
I am not clarity sensitive, although I do insist on totally eye-clean, even at close scrutiny. That looks like a great SI2 to me (and one I would buy in a heartbeat)... but if you think you will have ''mind clean'' issues, then maybe you should pass?

Or, risk the return shipping costs and buy it and see what you think of it in person? You might be surprised!

I agree with the above; you might be passing up an awesome stone and never know it if you don''t see it in person for yourself

 

[Kay]

I recently purchased an SI2 RB with a twinning wisp from WF for a pendant. Bob had a couple of people with "younger" eyes verify it was eye clean. I can''t spot anything w/o a loupe. It is not an H&A, but the IS did show arrows, and it is a real sparkler. It was quite a deal thanks to the clarity grade.

 

[butterfly 17]

Ellen, I will ask Brian, if he comes in tomorrow, to check out the stone for me.

He was away at Antwerp this week, but I was told he would be in today. Hopefully he will drop by the office tomorrow and I can have him inspect it for me.


Skippy and Lynn, I guess it doesn''t hurt to get it shipped out to me. I just really wanted it set by Whiteflash and I hate having to send it back and forth, but I will do that if I have to.

Kay, I love your stone!! Does your GIA plot look similar to mine. Also, can you see the inclusion in my stone. I went and looked at your pictures and I feel that my twinning wisp is more noticeable. I can''t see any inclusion in yours at all.

Thanks again everyone! I will let you know what Brian says.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:24:39 PM
Author: butterfly 17

Date: 4/3/2008 6:13:49 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I''m the wrong one to answer because I wouldn''t buy an SI2 because I am clarity sensitive. But it looks pretty good to me. I''d want to know if there are any possible durability issues, though.

I know, that''s my problem. I was told that there were no durability issues with the stone, but I am just clarity sensitive like hell. The clarity plot on my current diamond is so clean, a tiny pinpoint, but I could actually find it.

Still, I like this stone so much better than the other stone that I had in mind. But being completely honest with me, do the inclusions look that bad? I need to decide as soon as possible.

thanks.

I would encourage you to be patient and wait if you are clarity sensitive. You are giving up color, clarity, and cut in order to gain size. I really wonder if the stone would be mind clean for you even if it was pretty?

 

[iheartscience]

Well it looks good to me from the picture-better than some magnified SI2 shots I''ve seen here on PS and on WF''s website for sure. I would trust WF if they told me it was eye clean, too. Maybe have a few more people at WF check it out to make sure?

I have an SI1 and I can''t see anything, so I know an eyeclean SI2 would be fine by me. I do have eagle eyes, though, so if I could see the inclusions easily I might be bothered. However, I''d definitely at least get the diamond sent to me from the photos and WF''s recommendation and opinion on eyecleanliness!

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 4/3/2008 8:58:42 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

I would encourage you to be patient and wait if you are clarity sensitive. You are giving up color, clarity, and cut in order to gain size. I really wonder if the stone would be mind clean for you even if it was pretty?

Thanks Daimondseeker2006,


The cut I am fine with. I have seen worse and as long as it is ideal and has some sort of H&A''s pattern, I am fine with it. I know it''s not going to be ACA standards, but I think it meets their ES standards and that is perfect for me. When I call Brian, I wll inquire about it.

The color I am fine with as well. I don''t mind H at all, lower, maybe, maybe not, but not H at all. I have two I''s, two F''s. a G. and an H, and I don''t see color at all.

Now, clarity, yes. I know. That''s my thing. I actually chose my G over an F the same size, because this G only had that tiny pinpoint. One tiny pinpoint on the whole clarity plot. That''s it, and I can find it right away. Yuck, I know.

Okay, I will think about more, but my time is limited since they brought it in from a vendor, it was not an inhouse stone.

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 4/3/2008 9:11:08 PM
Author: thing2of2
Well it looks good to me from the picture-better than some magnified SI2 shots I''ve seen here on PS and on WF''s website for sure. I would trust WF if they told me it was eye clean, too. Maybe have a few more people at WF check it out to make sure?

I have an SI1 and I can''t see anything, so I know an eyeclean SI2 would be fine by me. I do have eagle eyes, though, so if I could see the inclusions easily I might be bothered. However, I''d definitely at least get the diamond sent to me from the photos and WF''s recommendation and opinion on eyecleanliness!

Thanks, I am happy that you said the pictures look okay. I do trust Whiteflash. My friends think I am loco for wanting to buy a diamond online, but I do trust Whiteflash that when they tell me it''s eyeclean, it''s eyeclean.

 

[lovewhitediamonds]

I would trust WF for sure..... if you like it, why not buy it and have it shipped to you and spend some time with it to see if it''s the stone for you... (w/o setting it in case it''s not).

Or...
Would your budget allow flying to Houston and viewing 3 or 4 stones to pick from? That way you can check them all out side by side -- look through the loupe, see the stone on your hand etc etc?? See the stone next to your original to compare size?

When I was looking for my upgrade I viewed a ton of rounds -- some SI1, some SI2 -- and almost all of the SI2''s were too included -- once I knew where the inclusion was, I picked it up with my naked eye, then I knew I would be looking for it everytime I looked at the stone. The person told me that if I had "older" eyes it wouldn''t matter.... but again, that is a personal choice. But if you pick out inclusions easy, make sure it doesn''t bug you !!

 

[mrssalvo]

butterfly, I think this stone might be worth the expense for you to have it shipped to see in person. I totally would trust WF too but since you are probably even more clarity sensitive I think you should see it.

 

[butterfly 17]

loveswhitediamonds, no I can go to Houston unfortunately. I will just let Brian decide for me. If he says it''s eyeclean, fine.

mssalvo, thanks. I did want to ask you what you thought of the si2 clarity. I remember that the Daniel K you got/are getting had a G si2. Are you happy with it? Did you loupe it and see anything? I don''t know if you actually wanted to get an Si2, but did that clarity bother you at first and then when you saw it you were happy?

BTW, where is Jacob? What are you doing online, shouldn''t you be in labor or something.lol.

Answer my questions first though!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Butterfly, when I last posted I had in my mind that it was I color because I was thinking of your other thread. But I agree that you can safely go from G to H. I don''t think the magnified image looks bad at all. In fact, I wouldn''t have guessed it was SI2 just from looking at the magnified image. MrsSalvo''s stone looks perfect to me in all her pictures. It is just so hard to make these kinds of decisions without seeing the stones! But at least you''d still have the 10 day return period, right? Would you have to send them your stone before they sent it??? I hope not.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 4/3/2008 9:58:39 PM
Author: butterfly 17


mssalvo, thanks. I did want to ask you what you thought of the si2 clarity. I remember that the Daniel K you got/are getting had a G si2. Are you happy with it? Did you loupe it and see anything? I don't know if you actually wanted to get an Si2, but did that clarity bother you at first and then when you saw it you were happy?


BTW, where is Jacob? What are you doing online, shouldn't you be in labor or something.lol.


Answer my questions first though!

hehe..I sooooo WISH i was in labor right now

you are correct, my dk is an SI2. i would not have sought out a stone with that clarity but that's what it was. Bill P assured me it was eyeclean so I expected it to be so and honestly i could not see a thing in it. the inclusions are all white though which makes a huge difference obviously. I was a little nervous b/f I saw it in person though. I have not louped it, still don't have it back from being remade but I did see the plot so I know where they are, i'm just not sure i want to go looking for them. my husband was a lot more bothered by the clarity grade (mindclean thing) but also has eagle eyes and could not see a thing.

How are you feeling btw?

 

[Lynn B]

Awww, thanks... always pleased to be of... um... *influence*!!!!

I adore my SI2. I know they aren''t for everyone, and I know they aren''t all created equal... but danggitmartha, when you find a good one, I think it is such a smart buy... so much bang for the buck!

Honestly, I think the twinning wisps are an excellent type of inclusion for an SI stone. I''d much rather have that than a whole bunch of clouds. Those twinning wisps aren''t affecting performace at all, IMVHO! I have a feeling that stone is a stunner.

BTW, maybe I''ve missed it, but what''s the carat weight?

 

[butterfly 17]

Mssalvo, I am fine. I will be 4 months on Sunday. Still ambivalent, but that''s another story.

That is another reason why I am excited about this stone. More babies means less bling money for maw. Other priorities of course and also I won''t be working for a few months as well, so I feel that if I am going to upgrade, it has to not cost me too much and it has to be before the baby and while I still have disposable income. Ha, ha.

I shouldn''t even be upgrading at all probably, but, this June is also my 15th year anniversary and feel that I should get a little something for it. Can you imagine, 15 years, I can''t. Time goes by so fast doesn''t it.

 

[mrssalvo]

well, i hear ya on the upgrade. you definitely should do it now b/f the baby comes b/c you are right..there goes diamond purchases for a while. that''s one huge reason i''m so glad we got mine in b/f my guy comes, that and we''ve got one heading off to college in the fall so no bling budget for me for a loooong while...

 

[butterfly 17]

diamondseeker, I will have to send out my stone first, but I am finally starting to feel better. Once I speak to Brian, I will know for sure.

Lynn B, I never posted the carat weight, but it is 2.73, 9mm. round. It is bigger than I wanted and I actually would have prefered a 2.38 H VS2, but it was sold, a 2.50 G SI1 that was sold, and 2.43 H SI1 that was not available any more.

I wanted twinning wisps after seeing your stone, as I feel they are the best to have , I didn''t even want feathers (afraid of cracks on the girdle), and no black crystals.

When I saw this plot I was so excited. Exactly what I was looking for and not too many of them. And there are no crystals or feathers, so I was super excited about it.

I even want your setting, but for now, I am getting a simple solitaire.

BTW, who is martha? I am not martha, I am butterfly 17, lol.

 

[lovehersomuch]

how much does a diamond like that go for?? and what vendor are you working with?

 

[Kay]

Date: 4/3/2008 8:48:35 PM
Author: butterfly 17
Ellen, I will ask Brian, if he comes in tomorrow, to check out the stone for me.

He was away at Antwerp this week, but I was told he would be in today. Hopefully he will drop by the office tomorrow and I can have him inspect it for me.


Skippy and Lynn, I guess it doesn''t hurt to get it shipped out to me. I just really wanted it set by Whiteflash and I hate having to send it back and forth, but I will do that if I have to.

Kay, I love your stone!! Does your GIA plot look similar to mine. Also, can you see the inclusion in my stone. I went and looked at your pictures and I feel that my twinning wisp is more noticeable. I can''t see any inclusion in yours at all.

Thanks again everyone! I will let you know what Brian says.

My stone is just under a carat, so it came with a GIA Dossier, which doesn''t show a plot. I can see a faint wisp in your IS image. I think maybe I see something between 9 and 10''clock on the magnified picture, but I can''t be sure if I am seeing the wisp or just facet lines. Of course, what you see with the naked eye will be different than in a hugely magnified photo. I would trust Brian''s eyes. Also, the stone looks like it has great potential, so I think it would be worth the postage to check it out if Brian gives it the thumbs up.