Searching for "Eye Clean": VS2 vs. SI1

[esqknight]

Since joining pricescope, what I thought I was looking for in an enagement stone within my budget has changed significantly on how I want to balance the 4 Cs so that I can get the most out of the budget that I have for the purchase. Cut has become king and I''m looking for a "superideal" cut round stone first, and foremost; the color I thought I needed has increased from H to G (maybe F if I can swing it) and the clarity I must have has decreased from VV2 to VS1 to VS2. What most people here seem to value and what I''ve come to want is the most well-cut, whitest, biggest, "eye clean" stone I can afford. With that in mind, I am wondering whether I should decrease clarity one more step to SI1 which would permit me to move into a larger stone and well into the colorless range.

The question is, how likely is it that a superideal cut round diamond (example, ACA from Whiteflash) rated SI1 for clarity will be eye clean? How many people have gotten SI1s and been happy with them? Anyone unhappy? I have pretty good close vision (being near-sighted) and am worried about being able to find the inclusions without effort.

Thanks for the feedback in advance.

Later,
Eric

 

[bluepetal]

I have and ideal cut G/ SI1 2.37 eyeclean. I am so picky and my only wish about my stone is getting a bigger size, and going up in color. I cannot see the inclusion, but I can see that it is not "ice white." However, I am very color sensitive, more so than the average person.

 

[elepri]

Many SI1s have absolutely no eye visible inclusions but some do so you really have to examine the stone (or have a vendor you can trust examine it for you). I have an ideal cut SI1 and can see absolutely nothing. I recently got a loupe and spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for inclusions in my stone, I can''t see them. They''re probably covered by the bezel but I remember i could barely see them with a loupe when the stone was loose too (before we bought it).

 

[bluedawg]

I was quite surprised when I looked at SI1s and couldn''t see a thing without a loupe. I have a VS1 and thought an SI1 would appear different to me. I was wrong.

I did notice that the SI2s appeared different to my eyes, so I now know that SI1 is the lowest I can personally go. I will gladly look at SI1 stones because they are significantly better priced than the VS varieties... which will allow me to go bigger and better in color ( I seem to be more sensitive to color than others).

 

[codex57]

From my experience, all the SI2''s have visible inclusions. I haven''t searched hard for SI1''s, but I have seen an occasional eye clean one. The problem is, I looked at them through a loupe. W/ a loupe, I can easily spot the inclusion. THen, and I don''t know if it''s psychological or what, but after knowing where the inclusion is, I feel like I can see it with the naked eye. W/ that experience, I''d want to personally inspect every stone to make sure it''s eyeclean to me cuz I''m really only comfortable saying VS2 and better is always eyeclean.

THen again, I think I''m one of the more sensitive people. I know I''m more color sensitive than many others.

 

[GETanEDGE]

I purchased an SI2, F color stone. There is a small inclusion on the very edge of the stone that was visible to my naked eyes when examining the stone loose. I guess thats why it was graded an SI2. I had the jeweler set it in a 4-prong white gold setting and he was able to completely cover the inclusion with a prong. I''ve stared at it for hours with my eyes and with a loupe and I can''t see anything. The only way I can see which prong its under is if I really blow up macro shots I''ve taken with my digital camera. I showed it to my mother who is the "jewelry expert" this week and she thought it was a VS1. So I guess what my point here is, what you can''t see won''t hurt you! If you''re concerned about budget and really want to jump up to a larger stone I''d look for something like this. I''m just not sure how common inclusions of this nature are.

Good Luck.

 

[esqknight]

It seems like there is no disagreement that some SI1 diamonds are eye clean while others are not, and that you are getting a really good deal if you find one that is eye clean. However, I guess the key is how common among the SI1 are the eye clean ones? Are they very common, 50% of them, "needle in a hay stack, or somewhere in between"?)

lunch time

Later,
Eric

 

[Regular Guy]

Eric,

I''ve no experience on this, but I think I''ve read here it may be 70/30, with 30 being you''re OK, vs SI2, where you''re 90/10. To me, the question is more who will check it for you. I think I''ve actually asked the question myself of John at WF, and understand that an ACA that''s a Cut Above will be what''s come to be called eye clean. In contrast, he said you''d expect such a make that''s SI 2 to be eye-cleanish. So, the vendor you ask of them, is it eye-clean...if you make your intent known, and you have a sufficient level of trust in them, that may be the deal.

 

[deggles]

Hello,

I have a Whiteflash ACA 1.11ct, Color G, SI1. Upon receiving the stone, I spent a good amount of time looking at it both unmagnified and through several magnified scopes. It is completely ''eye clean''. I have 20/20 eyesight and the only way I could ever tell there were inclusions was through a magnified scope. I would just be sure that before taking the plunge on a particular stone, ask the local in-house expert to verify that it is indeed ''eye-clean''.

Good Luck,

Deggles

 

[JCJD]

My fiance bought me a G/SI2 pear (see avatar), and it faces up completely eye-clean. I haven''t louped it, so I don''t know where the inclusions even are (which is a blessing, some may say

), but I can see absolutely nothing with the naked eye. FH couldn''t even see anything under the loupe, so there you go.

Probably adding to your confusion (sorry!!!) you can find visibly included VS stones but eye-clean I1''s (Patty has a beautiful one, for example), depending on where the inclusions are in the stone and what type of inclusions they are. A black feather below the table in a VS2 stone might be quite visible face up from certain angles, while white feathers closer to the culet or girdle in a I1 could be completely invisible face up.

Bottom line: You need to look at stones in person to see what you''re comfortable with.

 

[sluke]

I have a SI1 stone (from WhiteFlash Expert Selection) that is eye clean. I have to look hard with a loupe to fine the inclusions. Not all SI1''s are alike, some are better than others. I was hesistant to get a SI1 at first, but now, I would consider going to a SI2 if it is fairly eye clean. Almost all of the time you and others look at your ring at arms length.

 

[esqknight]

Thank you for all the responses so far. So my feeling basically is that if I ask Brian Gavin to eyeball the SI1 Whiteflash ACAs I''m looking at and tell me if they''re eye clean, that should be sufficient. When I looked at the prices for SI1 vs. VS2, the price differences were very large, which why I''m considering a SI1.

Later,
Eric

 

[Regular Guy]

If you''ve settled on WF, from what I''ve heard, anyway, perhaps even more than sufficient. But, to be conservative, why not ask.

 

[codex57]

Date: 3/24/2005 4:26:46 PM
Author: esqknight
Thank you for all the responses so far. So my feeling basically is that if I ask Brian Gavin to eyeball the SI1 Whiteflash ACAs I''m looking at and tell me if they''re eye clean, that should be sufficient. When I looked at the prices for SI1 vs. VS2, the price differences were very large, which why I''m considering a SI1.

That''s what I''d do. Whiteflash seems to have a good rep for what they consider "eyeclean." Another thing to remember is that if you don''t clean the stone often after you buy it, dirt and other contaminants dirty the stone. Even if it''s an IF stone, it''s gonna look like there''s crap in it when it''s actually just dirt on top of the stone.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/24/2005 4:26:46 PM
Author: esqknight
Thank you for all the responses so far. So my feeling basically is that if I ask Brian Gavin to eyeball the SI1 Whiteflash ACAs I''m looking at and tell me if they''re eye clean, that should be sufficient.

Thats what I would do.
Or even better if time and schedules allow arrange for him to pull the diamonds out and talk to you about them over the phone.

 

[Iceman]

SI1 eyeclean????? Are these GIA Lab Graded ? If so dont worry.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/24/2005 4:26:46 PM
Author: esqknight
Thank you for all the responses so far. So my feeling basically is that if I ask Brian Gavin to eyeball the SI1 Whiteflash ACAs I''m looking at and tell me if they''re eye clean, that should be sufficient. When I looked at the prices for SI1 vs. VS2, the price differences were very large, which why I''m considering a SI1.

Later,
Eric

Eric
yes,talk to Brian about the stone, i''m sure he would give you his honest opinion, an eye clean G SI1 would be so nice.

 

[solange]

I bought an ideal cut 4.10 SI 2 stone from Whiteflash. I was reluctant at first because, in this size, it is difficult to find an eye clean SI stone, let alone a well cut one. It took a while to find this stone. It was not in their inventory and Lesley had the dealer send it to them after she rejected several more expensive stones because they were not eye clean or the cut was not great.

When it arrived at Whiteflash, I spoke with Brian and told him we would spend more if necessary to get a better stone. Brian said the proportions on this stone were excellent and that the stone had a lot of life. He said we would have to spend a lot more to get a stone that looked better than this one in this size. He said it was a beautiful stone and he highly recommended it.This was an anniversary gift that my husband insisted I have and, since my engagement ring is about 3 carats, there was no point in getting another stone unless it was larger so I went for size. It is an I color with slight flourescence and the appraiser said when he first saw it he thought it was a G because it faces up white because of the cut.

I have had it for several months and still cannot find the inclusions without a loupe and the stone is really gorgeous.

I would definitely trust Brian to give you an very honest opinion as to whether the stone is eye clean.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 3/24/2005 12

1:31 PM
Author: codex57
From my experience, all the SI2's have visible inclusions

Not mine.

My SI2 is completely, COMPLETELY eye-clean. I bought it from Whiteflash, and like others recommended, I spoke with Brian about it.

He actually recommended this SI2 stone over a more expensive SI1 stone that I called about. He said the SI1 stone wasn't as clean as the SI2. He assured me it would be completely eye-clean, and it is.

It took me about 9 months of wearing the ring to FINALLY find an inclusion WITH THE LOUPE. Without the loupe, totally cannot be seen, even though I know where it is.

If Brian says it's eye-clean, it's eyeclean.

 

[esqknight]

Thank you again for all the feedback. Going with a SI1 (or 2, I suppose if Brian were to suggest that it was better) will allow me to get a bigger whiter stone than I would have been able to afford in a VS2 clarity stone. I was shocked at the very large price differences.

Later,
Eric

 

[bobswench]

Date: 3/25/2005 11:31

9 AM
Author: esqknight
Thank you again for all the feedback. Going with a SI1 (or 2, I suppose if Brian were to suggest that it was better) will allow me to get a bigger whiter stone than I would have been able to afford in a VS2 clarity stone. I was shocked at the very large price differences.

Later,
Eric

I'm admitting waaaaaaaaay up front that all I know about diamonds is what I've learned here. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way:

I have a WF Expert Selection 1.01 VS2. It's an I, but nobody I've shown it to that knows anything about diamonds (including an Orlando jeweler) believed it. It has a slight fluorescence and faces up beautifully. In sunlight it has a gorgeous periwinkle/lilac hue, which I love. It has two inclusions, both crystals, and while I know exactly where they are and can see them both clearly at 30x, I can't find them at all with a loupe.

My point is, you might not have to go all the way to an F to get the results you're looking for, and as for WhiteFlash, I just can't say enough good things about them.

Good luck! Half the fun is in the search, so enjoy the time you spend hunting down your perfect stone!