Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ diff.

[Anonymous6]

This price gap has stressed me out enough to start ANOTHER thread.

I'll go with the regular price (not the wire discount for now)

1.) $12,167
1.531 ct, I, VS2, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517155.htm

2.) $12,423
1.515 ct, I, VS1, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-1445141.htm

3.) $12,300
1.507 ct, I, VS1, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-1466945.htm

4.) $13,945
1.507 ct, H, VS2, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-dia...135.htm?idnos=2517135,2372491,2372488,2219633


Does that seem like quite a big jump in price to basically just jump colors? It was explained to me that if it's whitefash ACA H&G certified, it will be magnificent and that lower grade colors will look just as white and brilliant as non ACA H&A certified diamonds of higher colors. So, my assumption is that an I color ACA H&A would be just as white and sparkly as a non ACA H&A with a G color.

Thoughts?

 

[slg47]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

yeah, there is a big difference in price...if you are not color sensitive then you should be OK with I color, H is more safe...depends on your priorities

 

[AntiqueLove]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Hehe, that reminds me of some stones I was looking at. I found it on James Allen first, and then I found it on Jared, and there was a $1800 price difference for the exact same stone ($6500 at JA and $8300 at Jared). Same GIA Cert and everything.

 

[yssie]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

This price gap has stressed me out enough to start ANOTHER thread.

I'll go with the regular price (not the wire discount for now)

1.) $12,167
1.531 ct, I, VS2, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517155.htm

2.) $12,423
1.515 ct, I, VS1, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-1445141.htm

3.) $12,300
1.507 ct, I, VS1, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-1466945.htm

4.) $13,945
1.507 ct, H, VS2, Whiteflash ACA H&A super ideal RB
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-dia...135.htm?idnos=2517135,2372491,2372488,2219633


Does that seem like quite a big jump in price to basically just jump colors? It was explained to me that if it's whitefash ACA H&G certified, it will be magnificent and that lower grade colors will look just as white and brilliant as non ACA H&A certified diamonds of higher colors. So, my assumption is that an I color ACA H&A would be just as white and sparkly as a non ACA H&A with a G color.

Thoughts?

There is a lot that goes into pricing - lots that is opaque to the customer! But for the consumer that is a big difference

Bolded - nope. An I is an I and a G is a G.
Good cut can help mask colour face-up, but from the side it will be evident - and it very much depends on how the non-H&A G is cut. If it is well-cut (a stone can have excellent light return and not show a nicely defined hearts pattern), depending on what 'type' of light return it exhibits, it can look visibly "whiter" than an I. When these comparisons are made the implication is that the higher-colour stone is unarguably poorly cut; if one compares a well-cut G to a well-cut I of these sizes the G will look visibly whiter, H&A or no.

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

A G I could understand a bit more.... but the links provided were for I v H

I know I started talking about G, but was wondering mainly about the links.

I'm still having a hard time deciding on giving up on finding an H&A stone and instead bumping color to get the white factor that everyone sees...

I can't afford an H&A G color... but could afford say an excellent G color perhaps.

The things you have to give and take huh?!!?

 

[slg47]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

what do you mean that white color that everyone sees?

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Let's say I can get a Whiteflash ACA H&A but it's an "I" color... scoring 1.5 on the HCA

or I could get a good cut say triple ex or triple vg and F color scoring 2.6-3.0 on the HCA for the same price


That would be quite a jump in color for a similar price... what I'm wondering is what would look more brilliant, white, sparkly, etc? The first or the 2nd?


That's the problem I'm having now really is cut vs color. I was pretty color sensitive when viewing diamonds today, but I'm trying to get a gauge at how the ACA H&A white flash diamonds with lower color grades like an "I" would compare to non ACA H&A diamonds with F and E colors... mainly based on sparkle, shine, whiteness, brilliance

 

[yssie]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Let's say I can get a Whiteflash ACA H&A but it's an "I" color... scoring 1.5 on the HCA

or I could get a good cut say triple ex or triple vg and F color scoring 2.6-3.0 on the HCA for the same price


That would be quite a jump in color for a similar price... what I'm wondering is what would look more brilliant, white, sparkly, etc? The first or the 2nd?


That's the problem I'm having now really is cut vs color. I was pretty color sensitive when viewing diamonds today, but I'm trying to get a gauge at how the ACA H&A white flash diamonds with lower color grades like an "I" would compare to non ACA H&A diamonds with F and E colors... mainly based on sparkle, shine, whiteness, brilliance

why did the F score 2.6-3.0?

Remember HCA is a blunt weeding tool

H&A refers ONLY to the hearts phenomenon (and the precision of cut required to acquire this optical symmetry).

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Such as these for instance.... (I think I'm getting too caught up in the whole whiteflash ACA H&A stones... when really, color was what I noticed most today)

Here are some Fs that aren't ACA H&A but still triple EX or very good cuts and score in between 2-3 on HCA. To your question, I'm not sure why they score between 2-3.... but here's the specs for the 1.5 SI1 F color (hopefully eye clean)

depth: 62.1, table: 56, crown angle: 35.5, pavilion angle: 40.8, culet: none...... =2.6 HCA


http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2498618.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2523046.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2518616.htm


I believe they're around $400-$500 more than the ACA H&A stone that was I color... but I would love to see a side by side comparison in person!

 

[yssie]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Such as these for instance.... (I think I'm getting too caught up in the whole whiteflash ACA H&A stones... when really, color was what I noticed most today)

Here are some Fs that aren't ACA H&A but still triple EX or very good cuts and score in between 2-3 on HCA.


http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2498618.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2523046.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2518616.htm


I believe they're around $400-$500 more than the ACA H&A stone that was I color... but I would love to see a side by side comparison in person!

Would ask for more info/pics on that first w/ the 80lgf that GIA may have rounded down, skip the second b/c I prefer a high-crown combo, missing info on the third?

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

I guess if you had to give quick advice based on what you know in my search parameters now, would you recommend I go for the F or greater color as opposed to an I color ACA H&A? The F color stone would be noticeably whiter would it not? But would I miss out on the sparkle from the ACA H&A and to that point... if it's a lower color, that has to negatively impact the sparkle even if it is ACA H&A....

 

[slg47]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

lower color won't negatively impact the sparkle, it will impact how 'icy' the diamond looks. at this point it is really up to you and what you value personally. I think WF might charge to to call in the virtual stones if you don't end up buying, so pick carefully?

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

I'll try and take a look at some WF "F" colored stones in comparison to the "I" colored ACA H&A... to see what jumps out more at me: color "ice" or sparkle

Until then, this is the primary dilemma right now in my diamond search

 

[slg47]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

also I mean, it is very likely that one of the virtual stones will be great, you just have to do more work weeding through the inventory and then taking a (small) risk on calling it in

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Ha, I don't even know what to look for when deciding on which ones to call in... I'd run the HCA scores, but I need to stop living and dying by that.

Hopefully WF will have some F stones in-house that aren't ACA H&A....

 

[yssie]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Ha, I don't even know what to look for when deciding on which ones to call in... I'd run the HCA scores, but I need to stop living and dying by that.

Hopefully WF will have some F stones in-house that aren't ACA H&A....

If you have a Hearts on Fire dealer nearby it is a very good idea to spend a little whilst comparing stones - a HoF H&A vs GIA EXs vs AGS0s of the same sizes, colours, etc. Will give you a better understanding of what H&A does or does not mean for you, how you feel about different colours in well-cut stones, etc.

 

[Siamese Kitty]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Hi Anon,

I apologize, but I can't recall your search criteria or max budget from the other thread. Is 1.5 cts a non-negotiable benchmark? Is the H within your budget? If it is, I dare say it is worth it. I believe the jump from I to H is significant because that is considered the "tipping point" for where the average consumer will notice color. If you are color-sensitive now, please do not buy a 1.5 ct I. In my personal opinion, tint becomes more obvious over time. Yes, the stone is for your intended, but you should be satisfied with it, too. This is a lot of money.

Virtual stones do present a lot of value, and I just struggled with this decision myself. It takes a little legwork, but I believe you could find a good deal. (Yssie, wasn't your amazing stone a virtual call-in?) Ultimately, I wanted an upgrade policy so I ended up with an in-house stone. My new stone is actually a Premium Select with great numbers, and let me tell you, it is amazing. Possibly the prettiest I've owned to date. I own ACAs, ESs, and now the PS. They are all beautiful. Under a loupe, I can see the arrows may not be as perfect on the non-ACAs, but the performance is still top notch. Granted, not all of the ES and PS stones are created equal, but there are clear winners in the bunch.

If it were me on what I believe is your budget, this would be my pick for an ACA:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517128.htm

If you're willing to consider a non-ACA, I think this would be a fantastic option, and even bigger:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2219633.htm

I hope this helps. Hang in there, you're doing great.

 

[yssie]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

SK - yup, my stone was a virtual, WF & I found a winner second time 'round. If I'd had to have four or five stones called in it would have become a significant expense (price to call in a virtual is based on stone value) - but I am super, super nitpicky and I was looking for something quite unusual, a nice 1.5ct H/I should be easy enough to find if our OP chooses that route

 

[tyty333]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Have you watched the color video? I have been pointing it out a lot lately so maybe you have...but it really helps
folks see the relative difference of color between a high color and a lower color.

http://www.vimeo.com/3288695

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Thanks for the great tips,

I'd like to keep my budget on the diamond at no more than $12,500 leaving me $1500-$2000 on the setting for a combined total of UNDER $15,000 (preferably on the lower end of $14,000)

So, with that budget, it's been hard to find a stone >1.5ct with the specs I'm listing... In fact, it's going JUST above it so I'd then have to look for a great deal on the setting (which would be a replica of the Tiffany Novo setting)

Call it being "mind clear" but I really want to stay above 1.5ct... it's a little personal but after looking at 1.5-1.8 this whole time, I did look at some 1.3s and noticed a difference.

I'm going to take that one posters advice and see if I can find a Hearts on Fire dealer and see if this H&A ACA is worth it to me... or should I focus on a triple ex or triple vg but bump up the color significantly. Realistically, I'd be able to afford an ACA H&A color I.... I think when we jump to H at over 1.5ct, it surpasses my budget. If I don't need the ACA H&A, then I could probably jump to G or F color and stay right aroud my budget (from a quick search on the virtual stones on whiteflash anyway)

Thanks again for your suggestions

FWIW, this would be the ACA H&A stone I'd look at, as it's quite close to my price range and I could maybe look for a great deal on the setting. It's a 1.507ct, H, VS2 Whiteflash ACA H&A for $13,247

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517135.htm

but I'd love to compare this to a great cut non ACA H&A and jump to an F or better even... to see what matters more to me... Such as this one

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2269917.htm


I'd say those 2 stones pretty much setup my dilemma.... even though they're both above my max budget on the stone

 

[decodelighted]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Going to a local vendor that carries super ideal stones is a good idea ... if only to check your color sensitivity. I'm very happy with my "H" colored asscher (that appraised as a "G"). And asschers/emeralds show more body color than round brilliant stones.

Another thing you could look for to "boost" the whiteness of stones is a touch of blue flourescense. It tends to make stones appear a wee bit whiter.

If you, yourself are color sensitive. I wouldn't suggest going to "I"s and "J"s. Those colors have a much wider range. You can get a "high I" that borders on a "low H" ... but you could also get a "low J" that borders on a "K". The difference between a "high J" & a "low J" can be as much as a "D" to an "H". (My opinion based on a chart I've seen depicting the range of colors -- I wish I could dig that up to illustrate the pacing of the colors .... the higher the colors, the shorter the span of variations within ... the lower the colors, the WIDER the span of possible "types"). Does that make sense?

 

[slg47]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

on the F I'm not sure about that leaky area at 8 o'clock (is this the lower half facet?) someone like yssie can tell you more, whether that would make a difference IRL or not...

One thing to note also is that with ACA/ES you are comparing H&A and "near" H&A, as opposed to a different make of RB. Maybe in your search you can see if you like the H&A patterning or if you like a different look

Also, I found 2 more diamonds for you to consider

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/7622/
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104047809018

I believe both of these vendors carry very good novo replica settings also.

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Thanks slg!

That first one from GOG is pretty well priced huh? (I was actually just in the process of looking at that signature H&A from brian gavin too)

Basically looking at a $1,000 price difference. One is a jump in color and one is well a signature H&A.... once again, the dilemma


Which of these two would YOU choose?

 

[Anonymous6]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

That Brian Gavin signature H&A "H" color 1.58ct stone was just recommended to me by them as well... they are offering it at $12,067

This diamond hunt is getting pretty precise, now. I need to narrow all of these stones from different sellers to less than 5!

but this one would definitely be in that 5.... scoring a 1.2 on HCA is nice to know as well.

 

[decodelighted]

Re: Same exact stone, ACA H&A.... ones H ones I... $1600+ di

Word of caution. There are lots of lurkers here .... and sometimes stones that people "narrow down" to get snapped up out from underneath them.

If I were you -- I'd SILENTLY accumulate a few (three, four) and then post for advice after putting your fave 1 or 2 on "hold". ESPECIALLY if you're posting "promotional" prices that aren't even public. Up til now -- no one knew the sale price of that stone you just told us about. Knowwhatimean?