Secret sauce of a branded diamond?

[teobdl]

Is there a secret sauce to a branded diamond beyond the specs/idealscope/hearts?

I have had the pleasure of looking at 2 wonderful diamonds. I'm posting this comparison because for whatever reason, every.single.time. I choose the same diamond over the other. I'm wondering--is there something in the specs or images that could have predicted this result?

DIAMOND A -- 0.86 GIA Ex Ex VG H I1
Size: 6.20*6.13*3.75
Pavilion: 40.6
Crown: 34.5
Table: 56
Depth: 60.9
LGF:75
Star F: 55

Idealscope:



Hearts:



DIAMOND B -- 0.84 AGS 0 J VS1
Size: 6.05 x 6.08 x 3.76
Pavilion: 40.8
Crown: 34.2
Table: 55
Depth:62
LGF: 76
Star F: 52

Idealscope:


Hearts:



I've now had the opportunity to look at both diamonds critically and casually in different lighting situations. I shake them up in a basket, choose which one I like better, and inspect with a loupe to see which one I've chosen. I have chosen diamond B each and every time. This is very surprising to me. Diamond A is no slouch--in fact, I had elected to return an AVR because I felt that this diamond out-performed it by every measure. But in a head-to-head comparison between Diamond A and B, Diamond B stands apart because of it's amazing contrast, dynamism, and depth.

It turns out that Diamond B is a Brian Gavin Signature. Other than the brand, is there something that may have predicted that I would choose it every time? I had thought that the hearts image of Diamond A would be suggestive of a discernible difference, but it looks great to me.

Diamond A: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.86-carat-h-color-i1-clarity-sku-207722
Diamond B: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.843-j-vs1-round-diamond-ags-c-104064610058

 

[diamond-enthusiast]

Diamond A has issues with clarity. Very likely to be affecting brilliance. Making assessments based on Idealscopes for low clarity diamonds can be misleading.

 

[diamond-enthusiast]

By the way, shaking 2 diamonds in a basket is a very bad idea. Scratches can form.

 

[bunnycat]

I think we just had this discussion last week under H/A versus near H/A diamonds.

I don't know what the secret sauce is, but my first ering stone was a AGS 000 diamond that was the best of the half dozen or so I looked at. I recently made a switch to a Brian Gavin stone for my ering stone and I could tell the difference between the branded cut and non branded one (though I can't tell any difference between my ering stone which is a BG Blue and my earring studs which are BG SIgnature).

Just by looking at the IS and the info DE is right in that you are comparing an I1 diamond to a VS1 and we don't know what the inclusions are in the I1. Some types of inclusions can hamper brilliance especially as you get past SI range, and there is something odd going on with one of the arrows in the IS image of the I1. Other than that, I couldn't tell you anything but I suspect there's some major attention to details in the arrangement of proportions in the BG one that may not go in to a regular (non branded) AGS 000 or GIA XXX. (Also, the JA one is not XXX but XX VG). He designed those stones and the parameters he wants them cut. None of them are accidents. It's part of why you are paying more for it and it's just my opinion, but I think that attention shows in the overall beauty of the stone.

I like his cutting style and perhaps you do as well.

 

[SB621]

I personally would forget about branded and get away from the I1. Especially if this is for an ering. I don't mind I1 diamonds at all for other projects, but not for something as significant as my wedding set.

 

[TC1987]

Brian Gavin's is probably cut a better than the other. Brian has tight specs that a diamond has to meet. Otherwise it's not a Brian Gavin Diamond. Or a Crafted By Infinity. Or Whiteflash ACA, etc. And as Wink said and demonstrated, people will always pick the best-cut diamond in a side-by-side comparison. (eta: If you had two branded cuts in front of you, or two Brian Gavin diamonds, you might pick one diamond over the other, too. This is one of the limitations of buying over the Internet. Some people travel to Whiteflash or Good Old Gold, etc. in order to make their final selection. Or they do what you did, and buy 2 and then return one. )

Stones that are in-house at a vendor are generally the very best ones that the vendors have hand-picked. Lesser stones get left on the virtual stone list or at the cutters.

The minor facets affect the personality of the diamond and you might prefer one "look" more than another one.

The I1 clarity and brilliance issue that others already mentioned.

 

[Christina...]

I agree with each of the other posters. Stone A has significant clarity issues, and though it may appear 'eye clean' to you, it is likely affecting the stones performance causing the BGD to appear crisper and better performing overall. BGD diamonds are also cut with very tight variances which also improves performance creating a more balanced stone. I know in the HA/near HA thread that we discussed how proportions affect a stone performance but we didn't discuss how inclusions impact a stones performance. I'm guessing that the differences you are seeing are a combinations of the inclusion impacting performance in stone A and the very tight variances and cut criteria of stone B.

By the way, I don't think that there is so much a 'secret' to what is required to cut a super ideal diamond. Brian Gavin has shared much of his knowledge, ideas and insight concerning cut with the diamond community, as have so many of other trades people posting here or allowing their thoughts to be posted here.

 

[doberman]

I second the poster who cautioned against shaking two diamonds in a basket. One thing that can definitely scratch a diamond is another diamond.

 

[pinkjewel]

I second the poster who cautioned against shaking two diamonds in a basket. One thing that can definitely scratch a diamond is another diamond.

I literally cringed when I read that the OP was shaking them up in a basket.

I would imagine if the OP plans on returning either of these diamonds and the vendors have read she (or he) was "shaking them up in a basket"- they will be taking a VERY close look at these diamonds to see if they have been scratched or damaged in any way.

 

[teobdl]

I second the poster who cautioned against shaking two diamonds in a basket. One thing that can definitely scratch a diamond is another diamond.

Thanks for your concern! Shaking in a basket was just a way of saying shuffle them so I don't know which is which. Maybe I should have said "picking them out of a hat" or something else to that effect.